League Preview Part 2-Continuing the American League East

Cleveland Indians
Postseason Appearances-1920, 1948, 1954, 1995-99, 2001, 2007 (total-10)
World Series Titles-1920, 1948 (total-2)
Best Season-1954, 111-43
Worst Season-1914, 51-102

Cleveland, it is safe to say, has not had a great existence. The occasional post season appearance and wonderful season (like 1954's 111-43 record, the notable exception being the 1995-2001 era) has been marred by poor play, bad breaks (can you say Vic Wertz and Dusty Rhodes?) and multiple calamities (including the only on-field fatality in MLB history). Ironically, Ray Chapman's death as a result of a Carl Mays fastball spurred the Tribe to its first WS crown in 1920. The Indians' best era was in the last 15 years, when the Tribe made 6 post season appearance in a 7 year span, including two World Series appearances. Despite players such as Manny Ramirez, Albert Belle, Jim Thome and Kenny Lofton, the Indians are now the longest suffering AL teams in terms of waiting for a World Series win (62 years & counting) and second in MLB only to the Cubs.

Pitching-The strong point of the Tribe, although not from recent years. Hall of Famers galore dot this rotation, with Bob Feller 1941 (25-13, 3.15, 260 K), Bob Lemon 1954 (23-7, 2.72), Early Wynn 1954 (23-11, 2.72), Addie Joss HOF (21-11, 1.74) and Satchel Paige (22-8, 2.24, the one and only player from the Strato Negro League set placed on a MLB roster for this league). Another pitcher from that 1954 season, Mike Garcia (19-8, 2.64) and flamethrowing lefty Sam McDowell 1970 (20-12, 2.92, 304 K) add depth. The pen is led by Jose Mesa 1995 (3-0-52, 1.13) with another pair of 54's, lefty Don Mossi (6-2-7, 1.94) and righty Ray Narleski (3-3-13, 2.22) setting up for Mesa. Rafael Betancourt 2007 (5-1-3, 1.47, 0.75 WHIP) could also see action.

Catching-Sandy Alomar Jr 1997 was the best season for this injury marred career (21, 83, .324). Duke Sims 1970 (23, 56, .264 in only 345 AB) backs up Alomar, with the star crossed Ray Fosse 1970 (18, 61, .307) and defensive minded Jim Hegan 1948 (14, 61, .248) also in tow.

Infield-Hard hitting Eddie Morgan 1930 (.349, 26, 136) gets the call at first due to his decent fielding, leaving Jim Thome 2002 (52, 118, .304) as the DH (against RHP). Hall of Famer Napoleon Lajoie is at second (7, 97, .275), fellow HOFer Lou Boudreau 1948 is at SS (18, 106, .355), and Al Rosen 1950 is at third (37 (an AL Rookie record for HR which stood for 37 years), 116, .287). Bobby Avila 1954 (.341, 15 HR), Tito Francona 1959 (.363, 20, 79 in less than 400 AB) and Al Smith 1955 (.306, 22, 77) add versatility and bench strength. Joe Sewell (the HOFer who only K'd 114 times in his CAREER-that's half a season's worth for Mark Reynolds) chips in with his 1924 season(4, 106, .316, only 14 K in 594 AB).

Outfield-It's a mid 90s reunion in the Tribe OF, with Albert Belle 1994 in left (52, 145, .357), Kenny Lofton 1994 in center (17, 81, .349, 86 SB) and Manny Ramirez 1999 (44, 165, .333) in right. Rocky Colavito 1959 (42, 111, .257) will platoon with Thome, playing RF against LHP and moving Manny to DH. Francona and Smith can also play the OF, providing depth. Allie Clark 1948 (.310) gives bench strength against lefties, and two HOFers are in reserve (Earl Averill 1934 (31, 113, .313) and Elmer Flick (6, 80, .324).

Outlook-The strong pitching could lift the Tribe into contention, but poor defense at the corners could and likely should scuttle Cleveland's hopes. Except for Lajoie and Lofton, there's not much team speed either.

Detroit Tigers
Postseason Appearances-1907-09, 1934-35, 1940, 1945, 1968, 1972, 1984, 1987, 2006 (total-12)
World Series Titles-1935, 1945, 1968, 1984 (total-4)
Best Season-1984 (104-58)
Worst Season-2003 (43-119)

It's never been a dull moment in the Motor City. Twelve post season apperances, four WS titles and many HOF legends have dotted the Tiger roster over the years. Usually the Tigers have roared, and even when they fell flat on their face, they do it with a vengeance (example-2003, just missing the post 1900 record for most losses by 1).

Pitching-A cornucopia of Detroit's best, with Denny McLain's phenomenal 1968 (31-6, 1.96) leading the way. Rounding out the Tiger rotation are Mickey Lolich 1971 (25-14, 2.92, 308 K), Jack Morris 1986 (21-8, 3.27), Hal Newhouser HOF card (20-13, 2.51), and "Yankee Killer" Frank Lary 1961 (23-9, 3.24). "Schoolboy" Rowe 1934 (24-8, 3.45), Mark "The Bird" Fidrych 1976 19-9, 2.34) and Justin Verlander 2009 (19-9, 3.45) add depth. The bullpen is full of star closers like Willie Hernandez 1984 (9-3-32, 1.92, NO blown saves), Aurelio "Senor Smoke" Lopez 1979 (10-5-21, 2.41), John Hiller 1973 (10-5-38, 1.44) and Mike Henneman 1988 (9-6-22, 1.87). Terry Fox 1961 (12 saves, 1.42) could also see work.

Catcher-Lance Parrish 1985 (28, 98, .273) is a narrow winner over another Tiger mainstay, Bill Freehan 1968 (25, 84, .263) to don the tools of ignorance. Matt Nokes 1987 (32 HR, .289) and Mickey Tettleton 1991 (31 HR) provide pop in reserve.

Infield-A brutal first base platoon here with Norm Cash 1961 against RHP (41, 132, .361) and Cecil Fielder 1990 against lefties (51, 132, .277). Combine their lefty-righty numbers and you get: 579 AB, a .385 BA, 144 runs, 136 RBI, 52 HR and 116 walks. OUCH. HOFer Charlie Gehringer 1934 is at second (11, 127, .356), Alan Trammell 1987 is at SS (28, 105, .343) and another HOF, George Kell 1950 (.340, 101 RBI, 56 doubles to compensate for only 8 HR) is at third. Jack of all trades Tony Phillips 1992 (.276 with 114 walks) is the backup. Dave Bergman 1987 is the glove man backing up first.

Outfield-Hard hitting is the way to describe this bunch. Willie Horton 1968 (36, 85, .285) is in left, relegating Hank Greenberg's HOF card (40, 147, .322) to a DH role. The all time Tiger star, Ty Cobb 1911 (career high .420 BA, 127 RBI, 83 SB), patrols CF and will leadoff to strike fear into Tiger opponents. An almost as talented and infinitely nicer human being, Al Kaline 1955 (27. 102, .340) is in right. Harry Heilmann 1927 (14, 120, .398) and Gates Brown 1968 (.370, 6, 15, 1.127 OPS in only 92 AB) are the pinch hitter deluxes for the Bengals.

Outlook-similar to Cleveland, with better hitting but inferior starting pitching. Another potential spoiler if all goes well.

Indianapolis ABC's

This team is the wild card of the division. It's one of the two teams comprised of Negro League stars (the other being the Birmingham Barons, who will play in the NL East).

Pitching-A lot of names people may not recognize, but decent nonetheless-the one feature this team has is lots of flexibility. Smokey Joe Williams (21-11, 2,30), Double Duty Radcliffe (13-7, 3.11 and can also catch), Leroy Matlock (22-8, 2.62), Nip Winters (21-10, 2.82) and Ray Brown (24-6, 2.75) head the rotation. In the absence of a true closer, Jose Mendez (15-6, 2.81, another versatile player who can also play six positions in the field), John Donaldson (12-9, 2.51, also can play CF)
and Rube Foster (13-8, 2.67) will try to keep leads safe in the late innings. Expect a lot of CG's out of this crew.

Catching-Biz Mackey, one of the best (12, 83, .353) is the man behind the dish providing a steady hand and superb D with a cannon arm to deter base stealers. Spoony Palm joins Radcliffe as backups here.

Infield-Buck Leonard is at first (24, 110, .344), Tubby Scales is at second (20, 86, .361), Willie Wells is at SS (32, 95, .354) and Judy Johnson is at third (6, 65, .339). John "Pop" Lloyd is the top defensive sub at SS. Jud Wilson, due to a poor glove, gets the DH role (18, 82, .383). Look for Buck O'Neil, the great storyteller from Ken Burns's Baseball series, as a backup first baseman.

Outfield-"Turkey" Stearnes, a powerful hitter (36, 126, .362) is in left, Oscar Charleston (32, 125, .391, 50 SB), perhaps the team's most complete player, is in center, and Rap Dixon is in right (19, 79, .336). Wild Bill Wright is the top backup OF (19, 95, .348) and could supplant Dixon if Rap doesn't produce.

Outlook-Could finish anywhere from third (maybe even second) to seventh. I just don't know how this team will fare until it steps onto the field. The hitting is ferocious, but a lack of arms, especially a full time reliever, will come back to haunt this team.

New York Yankees
Postseason Apperances-1921-23, 1926-28, 1932, 1936-39, 1941-43, 1947, 1949-53, 1955-58, 1960-64, 1976-78, 1980-81, 1996-2007, 2009 (total-a record 47).
World Series Titles-1923, 1927-28, 1932, 1936-39, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1949-53, 1956, 1958, 1961-62, 1977-78, 1996, 1998-2000, 2009 (total-also a record 27).
Best Season-1927 (110-44)
Worst Season-1912 (50-102)

The preeminent franchise in all of professional sports, the New York Yankees are the first team people think of when they think of MLB. Forty-seven post season appearances, twenty-seven (including the most recent) World Series crowns, and a laundry list of baseball immortals either makes you swell with pride or look for the nearest gutter to spit in (which is the case with this author). There's no middle ground with the Yanks-either you love 'em or hate 'em.

Pitching-the secret to this club's success over the years, the pitching is wide and deep. The rotation has Ron Guidry 1978 (25-3, 1.74), Waite Hoyt 1927 (22-7, 2.64), Jack Chesbro HOF card (22-11, 2.37), Lefty Gomez 1934 (26-5, 2.33) and Russ Ford 1911 (22-11, 2.27 (not Whitey Ford, whose 1956 (19-6, 2.47) doesn't make the cut)). Red Ruffing 1934 (19-11, 3.93), Bob Shawkey and Carl Mays (both 1920-Shawkey 20-13, 2.46 and Mays 26-11, 3.06) add depth. The bullpen is led by the Ice Man in the 9th, Mariano Rivera 2008 (6-5-39, 1.40, 0.61 WHIP). Only because of Mo's presence do such stalwarts as "Goose" Gossage 1981 (5-3-30, 0.77), Luis Arroyo 1961 (15-5-29, 2.19), Sparky Lyle 1972 (9-5-35, 1.92) and Wilcy Moore 1927 (19-7-13, 2.28) get relegated to a backup role. Even 2007's wonderkind, Joba Chamberlain (0.38 ERA in 24 IP), is in reserve.

Catching-Only here do HOF Bill Dickey 1934 (12, 72, .322) and Elston Howard 1961 (.348, 21 HR) have to take a back seat-only because of another HOFer, Yogi Berra 1955 (22, 125, .307). Thurman Munson 1973 (20, 74, .301) and Jorge Posada 2000 (28, 86, .287) provide depth, and super subs Jim Leyritz 1993 and Johnny Blanchard 1961 (a combined .307 avg with 35 HR and 107 RBI in only 502 AB) will help out.

Infield-Poor Don Mattingly 1986 (.352, 31, 113)-only here does Donnie Baseball get a seat on the pine. That's what happens when you have the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig 1927, at first (47, 175, .373). Mattingly will have to make do with the occasional defensive appearance. At second is Willie Randolph 1980 (.294, 119 walks), at short the Captain, Derek Jeter 1999 (24, 102, .349) relegates Phil Rizzuto 1950 (.324) to the broadcast booth, and Graig Nettles 1978 (.278, 27 HR) platoons with Scott Brosius 1998 at third (19, 98, .300). HOFer Tony Lazzeri 1927 (18, 102, .309) is the top infield reserve.

Outfield-how this for a choice-Joe DiMaggio or Mickey Mantle in CF? The choice here is DiMaggio 1941 (30, 125, .357), with Mantle's triple crown season of 1956 (52, 130, .353) saved for a lethal DH role. Paul O'Neill 1994 (30, 119, .359) patrols RF, and the Bambino himself, Babe Ruth 1927 (60, 164, .356) is in LF (only because O'Neill has the better arm). No team, across both leagues, has this kind of attack in the outfield. In reserve is Roger Maris 1961 (61 HR), Bernie Williams 1998 (26, 97, .339) and everyone's favorite "ringer", Shane Spencer 1998 (.373, 10, 27 in only 67 AB for an OPS of 1.321).

Outlook-how does this team NOT win? Anything short of a World Series win will be a disappointment, and missing the post season altogether will be a MAJOR shocker. There are NO-repeat-NO weaknesses here. First in the division, and in all likelihood, a World Series crown when it's all over.

Next time-we round out the AL East with Toronto and Tampa, and start the AL West preview.