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//  Saturday, September 4, 2010

Pre Season Top 9

Saturday, February 6, 2010
Posted by John Shields

As I sit here snowed in, and yes I mean that literally as the snow plow driver decided to pile all the show in front of our dorm room window, I guess I learned my lesson about living on the bottom floor of this building, but I digress. So here I sit like a rodent trapped thanks to the mountainous amount of snow sitting outside and I wonder what exactly I want to write about this Saturday. I want it to be something that is intriguing and informational, yet arguable. So with spring training right around the corner, I am going to go through my Pre-Spring Training top 9 teams, since pitchers and catchers report in less than 2 weeks not I figured this was appropriate. So I present to you know my top 9 teams in 2010, at least at this very moment.

9. San Francisco Giants – The Giants stand ahead of the Dodgers on my list thanks to their dominating pitcher. All the Giants need to be an elite team is add some offense and they have added a few pieces this offseason that may help them in the long run. However, with the Dodgers’ appearance of losing more talent than they are taking in, the Giants are my favorite to win the NL West as this time. Besides, is there a better pitching duo than Lincecum and Cain?

8. Seattle Mariners – The Mariners may be the only team on this list to have a 1-2 that is matchup of what the Giants have. By now everyone knows how good Felix Hernandez. All the Mariners needed was solidity behind him in the rotation. Well this offseason, they found it. The Mariners were involved in that three team blockbuster which the Phillies traded one ace and landed another. Seattle was the team that acquired the ace they traded away.  The Mariners picked up Cliff Lee and now Hernandez has someone behind him in the rotation and not just anyone, but a former CY Young winner. Watch out for the Mariners this season.

7. Texas Rangers – Yes I know there are three AL West teams on this list, I have a strong feeling this is going to be a very tight battle this year amongst the three teams I have on this list. The Rangers are right there in the hunt; last year they were in a fight for the West and Wild Card and just ran out of steam at the end. However, courtesy of new acquisitions Vladimir Guerrero and Rich Harden, the Rangers are primed to make a serious run at the AL West title this season.

6. Minnesota Twins – The Twins have quietly upgraded their offense this off season. They were already good enough to win the AL Central last year as they did in the tiebreaker game against the Tigers. However, the Twins have added Jim Thome, a serious power threat still at his growing age, and Orlando Hudson, who can play all the infield positions and is an upgrade over what the Twins had there. Hudson may get the chance to hit before superstar catcher Joe Mauer which should make it easier to see better pitchers. Watch for the Twins to win the AL Central this year.

5. The Los Angeles Angels – The Angels are here tentatively for now. I have already expressed my opinion that Seattle or Texas could overtake the Angels and I still believe it. However, one cannot deny how good the Angels are and how good of a manager they have.  Mike Scioscia may just be the best manager in all of baseball and there is no doubt that his Angels have a high chance of being one of the elite baseball teams again this year despite their offseason losses of Chone Figgins and Jon Lackey.

4. St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals are the same team they were last year minus starter Joel Pineiro. They still have aces Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainright. They still have superstar Matt Holliday, who they signed to a lucrative deal this offseason, and of course they still have Albert Pujols, who may just be the best player in the game of baseball and one of the greatest that ever lived. Having said that, is there any reason you do not see the Cardinals competing this year? I don’t see one.

 3. Philadelphia Phillies – The Phillies return much of the same team. They have a new third baseman, in Placido Polanco, who is really not a change in talent from what Pedro Feliz was. They have a new ace in Roy Halladay who just may be the best pitcher in baseball so there may be an upgrade over Cliff Lee, but it remains to be seen. Their bullpen losses were adequately replaced and the one evident improvement is the bench. The Phillies’ bench, which one will admit was a weak spot last year, has upgraded and look to contribute better in 2010. Having said that, The Phillies are many people’s NL preseason pick once again this season; I will not make such a claim because those kinds of things always end up biting me in the behind later on so I will refrain from saying anything.

2. Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox made a serious boost in their rotation this offseason with the signing of John Lackey. This sets the Boston rotation to start out as Josh Becket, Jon Lester, and John Lackey. Is there a better 1-2-3 trio that even comes close to being as good as this? The Sox are primed to send a certified “ace” to the hill 3 out of every 5 games. No other team has this luxury and it should make the Red Sox the one team that nobody wants to face come playoff time and one of the best teams in baseball.

1. New York Yankees – Was there any doubt that the defending champs would sit on top of this list? Let’s face it, they were the best team last year and have upgraded this offseason. The acquisition of centerfielder Curtis Granderson adds to an already terrific offensive lineup which should get more danger with the 5-tool outfielder. They also added Javier Vazquez, which now gives them 4 quality starters in an already stacked rotation. It looks like they will be serious contenders for another World Series title in 2010.

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