On the Yankees beat

Patterson will be back within two weeks in my opinion, probably to replace Bruney.

I don't know why the Yankees lie so much about their injury situation. We are led to believe that Pettitte is fine and it's nothing to worry about and yet it's ALWAYS something to worry about.

I'm surprised that Albaladejo made the team, he didn't impress me much.

There is no justice here. One hit. Patterson gives up one hit all spring and gets cut? How does this happen? I can deal with Bruney and Ohlendorf making the team over him, but Albaladejo? How did Albaladejo make the team over Patterson?

Two very simple questions ...

Can the people who gave us Iraq, Katrina, Afghanistan, Bear Stearns/sub prime mortgage securitization, 20 million illegal immigrants/open borders, 9/11, women in combat, Paris Hilton, Brittany Spears, Dennis Rodman, MTV values, Arkansas body count, Wen Ho Lee, LORAL, Reverend Wright's Aids critique - Rhodesia/South Africa -analysis and the republishing of the Hamas Terror Manifesto on their chuches' website ... can they fix our economy by simply turning up their counterfeit printing presses and running off more money?

In league with that ...

Can Brian Cashman and the S-Family, the people who gave you C-Rod's tank top, McNamee's ER/police half passed out gal, Igawa at 46 million for 2 wins, Pavano at 45 million for 5 wins or so, Irabu, Brown, Giambi, Clemens/HGH/Congress, Farnsworth, Meyers, Nieves and Vasquez, continue to do business with our Super Friends in Mainland C. (while Richard Gere roams the clubhouse and Tibet burns), and sign away 16 year old children from their parents and siblings in the Caribbean ... well, can these same people raise all the prices from A to Z, build a new Stadium, run the Yes Network, continue to maintain the highest equity value and payroll, while at the same time watching the on field and off field performance continue to decline?

Possible Answers:

A. Yes

B. No

Someone will get hit hard or hurt, and Patterson will be back.

There are always hard cuts to be made and deserving people get messed around.

Look at the Affirmative Action and jobs, or the Ivy League admissions, or how so many decent blacks in America went through such discrimination until the last two decades.

Often the very best, most moral and talented people don't get what they deserve.

Patterson will be with the Yanks or another team in short order.

IMHO ...

Remember Michael Jordan, Jim Palmer and Jose Canseco (gag) all were cut from their high school teams. Ed McCaffrey was cut by the NY Giants, then started in the Super Bowl and the Pro Bowl with the Denver Broncos as a white WR. You go boy! Again, many deserving people are cut ... the very best will stand back up.

Look at our President ... he ran an oil company into the ground, but stood back up to kill millions of innocent people and destroy Iraq!

Anything is possible!

God, I am so, so funny!

Come on!!!!! Albaladejo ? Not Patterson ? Thats wrong!

Albaladejo has a big upside. You'll see.If Patterson continues to pitch well for Scranton he'll be with the parent club by May 1st. Yanks will make a deal or someone will end up on the DL.Girardi said 'he agonized' over the decision so he's well aware of what Patterson can do.

Patterson did pitch well in ST but his pedigree maybe getting in the way. Never drafted but signed off the roster of an Independent league team. The Yankees are probably letting him get some more work at AAA to see if he holds up.

Bruney is one of those guys who you hate to give up on plus stuff as they say in the TV booth. And Albaladejo, the better pedigree but if you can't make it with the Nationals who hunger for every aspect of the game than you time in the AL East will be short lived.

I do believe our pitching staff is getting better with more improvement as the season moves forward.

Larry,
If the Yankees were Bruney's first team or if this was his first spring with them I'd say the Yanks made the right moves, but Bruney has had more than his fair share of chances and he simply cannot get the ball over the plate when it counts. He has a great arm but a small brain and we already have cornered the market on those types with Farnsworth on the roster. A 99 MPH ball is still a ball.

As I said last night and other posters seem to agree, the Yanks are giving guys like Bruny what appears to be their last chances at the big league level and when they fail, Patterson will be back.
There is some justice in that Igawa is going to Scranton. If I were him I'd buy a home there.
Albaledejo actually pitched very well for the Nats last season in his short time at the ML level so we'll see what happens with him but he did nothing to deserve this chance in spring training. Maybe he has some type of clause in his contract that keeps him w/ the big club?

Albaladejo is a guy Cashman traded for and hopes for big things from...

...so everybody didn't start ST with a *completely* clean slate, as Girardi promised.

We can see this from the choices, no statement necessary.

If that had been true, Patterson would be coming to New York.

Kat, could the Albaladejo over Patterson thing have anything to do with minor league options? Larry M.'s pedigree point is interesting, but one hit in 24 batters faced is pretty convincing, even if it is ST. The only other thing that would seem to make sense is if there's a trade in the works. Any ideas on that front?

Glad Ensberg made it, but does anyone else think the middle infield is looking pretty thin if Jete or Cano goes down?

Four thoughts:

1. Albaladejo will be sent down when Andy comes off the DL

2. Patterson was sent to Scranton - not Bangladesh - it's true he only gave up one hit but I don't seem to recall him pitching all that much and usually when he did pitch it was against guys that other teams are sending to Trip A themselves - lets see how he does before declaring this an injustice. Plus, at Trip A he will get regular work versus the spot duty he could expect in New York. If he does well, I'm sure he'll be back.

3. If Jeter or Cano miss a game or two - I guess they feel Betemit can handle those spots - if they are going to miss more time, I assume Cody Ransom and Nick Green were both assigned to Trip A and so they can pluck one of them to fill in.

4. I hope Morgan Ensberg handles a part time role better than Josh Phelps did - some players can't handle coming off the bench once every few days and being productive. Do we know if Jason Lane accepted minor league assignment?

And one non-Yankee note: The Braves picked up Ruben Gotay off waivers from the Mets - I bet he's starting at second at some point this season while Luis Castillo is on the DL.

Chip, I'm not sure I follow your argument about Patterson?

How would the pitchers he 'pitched against' (whom you believe are also going down) affect how many hits he gave up??

Diane, where did we go wrong? I've been banished from your clique? Horrid! You keep publishing the rules, but I don't know where I went wrong. Oh well. Enjoy your crass little world.

DC,
I think if Jeter or Cano goes down for any amount of time, and either of them goes on the DL, you will see Alberto Gonzalez get recalled just for his defense. The Yanks won't need his offense.

Diane,
I believe Chip meant "hitters" as opposed to pitchers that Patterson faced. The hitters he pitched against will be going to triple A.
I still don't really agree though, the man pitched well enough to make the team and I think he'll be there before long if he continues his success in the minors.

I wonder if Ty Clippard made the Nats team?

Jim A., you may be right about what Chip meant to say. And I believe you're certainly right about Patterson.

DC,

???

I can't find anything offensive I've said to you, and you've always been reasonable before, so I'm assuming this must be an imposter.

Will the real DC please post his reasons if there is some actual quarrel between us that I'm unaware of?

Diane - Jim's right. I meant that Patterson faced hitters who were slated to go to the minors.

Ty Clippard did not make the Nationals

I'm sure that between injuries and ineffectiveness and the usual progression of a ML season we have not seen the last of Patterson, Henn, Veras, Igawa, Rasner, Britton, or Edwar Ramirez.

By the way, Baseball America has ranked the Scranton Yankees as having the best pitching staff in the minors with a projected rotation of:

Al Horne
Jeff Marquez
Steve White
Igawa
Rasner

and that doesn't include Humberto Sanchez and Chris Garcia who are both expected back from injury in mid-may to join the rotation and Daniel McClutchen and Jason Jones at AA who will likely make the leap as well.

I've read in a lot of publications that Jeff Marquez may be joining the Yankees and be an important part of the team by the end of the season, much like Joba last season. That will be very interesting to see. When I met him in Tampa he seemed like a really nice kid so I hope it happens for him.

Chip, sorry I misinterpreted your remarks.

It's definitely true that in ST relief pitchers who came in during the later innings -- sometimes anytime after the first half of the game -- all faced mostly replacements after the first string retired to the showers.

For those in need of a touch of history - the Rockies just signed former Yankee prospect Fernando Seguinal to a minor league deal. Here are Baseball America's remarks on the signing:

Once a touted prospect with the Expos, the switch-hitting Seguignol hasn’t played in the U.S. since 2003 and spent the past four seasons in Japan. Signed by the Yankees out of Panama in 1993, Seguignol was able to fetch righthander John Wetteland from Montreal in an April 1995 trade. All Wetteland did for the Yankees was save 74 games in two years—preceding another Panamanian, Mariano Rivera, as closer—and win World Series MVP honors in 1996. As for Seguignol, he hit .249/.303/.451 in five big league trials from 1998 to 2003, totaling 366 at-bats. His minor league line of .269/.326/.475 didn’t portend a whole lot more, though he did mash 146 home runs, with a season high of 31. He fared much better in Japan, swatting 145 homers in five seasons there (he also spent 2002 overseas) and batting .274/.362/.525. While it’s easy to write off Triple-A sluggers who thrive in the Far East, not many of them fare so well as Seguignol did. The trouble is, he’s now 33 and will have to fight Joe Koshansky for playing time at first base for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

and here are some notes on the three young catchers in the Yankee system (Cervelli, Montero, and Romaine)

TAMPA—It is impossible to find a voice in Yankees camp that doesn't gush about catcher Francisco Cervelli. Normally when it comes to prospects you can find one person who reserves judgment on a talent, particularly with catchers due to the position's defensive demands.

Yet, when the 22-year-old Cervelli is talked about, the praise spills out.

"He has a lot of tools and he is making big strides," said first base coach Tony Pena, a former major league catcher. "He throws good and blocks balls. From what I have heard from the minor league people, pitchers like to throw to him. He takes pride in what he does and works his butt off."

Jorge Posada is in the first year of a four-year deal at age 36, so there is a chance for a vacancy behind the plate before Posada's $52.4 million contract expires. The way Posada sees it, 18-year-old Jesus Montero and Cervelli can battle to be his replacement.

"I told them in four years they can fight for it," Posada said.

However, by then there could be a third entry. Austin Romine, 18, was invited to camp and the second-round pick in the 2007 draft was also opening eyes.

"I want to see how they do in games," Girardi said before the exhibition games began. "They are 18 and in big league camp. I was 18 and a freshman in college."

Montero displayed big power during the early days of camp in batting practice but he is far from a finished product defensively.

"He is a good defender, has a good arm and blocks balls well," Posada said.

Cervelli impressed Phil Hughes last summer when Cervelli caught the righthander on a minor league rehab assignment.

"He has a lot of energy behind the plate and handles pitchers," Hughes said. "Guys like that will always have jobs and he swings the bat pretty well."

Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' fifth starter, worked with Cervelli last year at Tampa.

"For a guy that young he did a pretty good job calling a game," Kennedy said. "He is a good defensive catcher."

YANKEE DOODLES

• Righthander Mark Melancon, who missed all of 2007 due to Tommy John surgery, threw pain-free in the early part of camp. He could reach the big leagues at some point this season.

Well, just for the record, I had 23 of the 25 in our picks from a few days ago. 24 if you figure Andy would have been on it. My missed pick was Karstens. He got hit hard though and should have been sent out. He was probably beat out by Olendorff.

Also, many things such as options, contracts, experience, etc. go into this selection process. I'm sure there is some weird reason why Patterson got sent down. It's not about talent or ST results.

Jim A: I don't disagree with your opinion. Its just that Bruney does have major league ability if he throw or mix up his pitches. I believe he could be Joba like. Its a head game as you say. Patterson on the other hand needs some more proving work. I picked him and Ohlendorph to go North with the Alfabet going to AAA. I thought Igawa would stay only because of his contract but Girardi did the correct move there IMHO. Rasner, Karstens and Britton should not pitch above AAA for the Yankees unless we are overwhelmed by injuries.

There are better possibilities on the farm than the last three guys that I mentioned. Igawa should be given one more season with the Yankees at AAA or the big club. He was a very decent performer in Japan. So, maybe his head and neck need a litle adjustment along with more pitches on the knees or there abouts.

I like Betemint he would be a quality replacement if someone in the IF goes on the DL. He's got a good glove and pop in the bat which would get better with some playing time. Ensberg, he's a big leaguer coming off injuries. He could surprise.

Trades: the Yankees maybe able to package a bunch of youth for some quality but it would be a lopsided trade of a major leaguer for some AAA quality but their are teams looking to bolster their systems.

I'll go on record as predicting that the Yankee do not make the playoffs this year. I know this is sacrilege, but I've always thought of this year as sort of a transition year when the young guys hone their ML skills and the older guys get phased out.

I just feel that Boston, Cleveland, Detroit and the Angels are better right now and if one of them falters, the Mariners might actually surprise people.

The Yanks may actually slug their way to the playoffs but I just don't think they will this season as I don't see Posada and A-Rod repeating their monster seasons of '07.
I will also predict that the Yankees win a WS within the next 4 years though, even as soon as next year if they sign Sabathia and Tiexeira to plug two enormous holes on the team.

I hope I'm wrong about my '08 prediction, and nobody would be happier to eat crow than I if they make the playoffs.

I will also predict that Mike Hampton gets hurt. I figured while I was out their on the limb I might as well get really crazy.

Let the spanking begin.......

Jim,

I'm not sold on Detroit. Yes, they can pound you into pudding with their sticks, but their pitching is in even worse shape than the Yanks.

I like Seattle over the Angels. LAA have already lost Escobar for most of the season and Lackey for a good month, if not longer. It's hard to play championship ball when your two best starters miss significant time.

I think the Yanks will make the playoffs and it wouldn't shock me to see them win the East. Boston is still the favorite but they've lost Schilling for at least half the season and they didn't improve themselves over the offseason. I also think Beckett won't be as dominant. That rotation has more questions than people realize.

Chip, Patterson pitched as much as Bruney and Albaladejo, and he was continually brought into games to get out of jams -- and he never ONCE allowed an inherited runner to score. Not once. And he often pitched against the other team's starters. He earned the right to go north with the team. The Yankees have the right to put him in AAA, fearing his lack of experience, but to say he didn't win the competition for the bullpen is simply not true.

I see no reason why these Yankees can not go as far as last year's Yankees did, and make the playoffs by hook or by crook.

'Lowering expectations' is a politician's strategy -- I can't see its having any particular value in baseball.

I liked the quote a Marlins player gave from Girardi, who thinks you go out there to do it, not to 'try'. He said he could get a truck driver to go out and try...

baileywalk,

Well said.

Besides, he looked good out there. Albaladejo looked half-baked. IMO

The simple truth is that Albaladejo got the final slot over Patterson because he has never pitched above Double-A and Albaladejo pitched in the majors last season with the Nats.

It certainly wasn't because of effectiveness in ST because Patterson outpitched every reliever in camp.

We'll see. I have a feeling Patterson won't be pitching at Scranton too long before he gets the call.

Jim A, I have to disagree with you. Yanks will win the AL East. Boston has some parts that are ready to break down - Varicose, Manny to name two, and as Diane said - Schilling the Sharpie and Beckett are hurting. I think the kid - Buckhole, also got smacked around a little this spring.Our hitters are in better shape because of Camp Girardi and the style of play will be much more agressive and smart (sorry Clueless Joe).

We are ready to make our move now. Gotta trade Bruney and bring back Patterson. He is the real deal.

Not in love with this security posting stuff. Not sending any anti-Bosox threads (today). Do not know why it is taking 3 tries to post.

Sorry Viper, Gotta give you credit for mentioning Schill the Sharpie and Becketts injuries. Still respect Diane's knowledge.

You are on point as usual.

This is absurd! Patterson should be up over Albaladejo! Im guessing when Pettitte comes back, Albaladejo will be sent down, but Patterson would still deserve to be there more than Bruney! Does anyone agree?

Isles,

No question.

If you think that Boston has question marks or people who got knocked around in spring training then just look at the Yanks:
Wang got whacked; Mussina got mauled; Hughes got hit; Mo gave up a run; Damon hit. 220; Farnsworth is still on the team;
Pettitte is on the DL.

You can't say "ignore ST stats" when it comes to the Yanks and then throw them out there for other teams.

Every team has questions: Detroit (Bullpen); Boston (Some starters, 'pen besides Paps); Indians (power); Seattle (power) and the Angels (starters, injuries, LH power).

I am not "lowering expectations" as Diane says to be political, but I've been watching baseball for 35 years and my eyes tell me this team is no better than the team that got beat by Cleveland last year and other teams have improved.
Sure, the Yanks might crush the ball all the way to the first round of the playoffs where they will most likely get beat again.

I'm much more optimistic about next year and the years after. That's when the learning curve for the youngsters will be over.

Jim A.,

I think I see where you are coming from (but correct me if I'm wrong): the Yankees are not worse than last year's team, the opposition is just better.

You've got me there (if that's what you're saying), because I am not so well informed about the other teams. What I've been saying is that this team is as good as last year's and for that reason I would expect no less of them.

JiM A: I believe the Yanks can win the AL East or take the WC spot. My thought process is our health and the pitching staff is younger with a ST under its belt to have a better feel for the majors. If we can stay relatively healthy and hit to our ability. Many teams will have a tough time scoring enough runs to win. There is no team in the AL that has it all.

Everyone counts the Red Sox's as the team to beat. I can't disagree and they are a very nice club on the field but the ball bounced there way in '07 and guys had career years on the mound and in the field. We can't expect a guy like Pedroia to have another career year and Arod and Posada to falter. There pitching staff has pluses but I believe the Yanks have enough pitching and more than enough offense to get it done.

I have seen some predictions of 84-78 for the Yanks. A little low and with a little luck and not many injuries. Line one can come true.

Playoffs, the hot team wins. Its in the bible.

What's funny is that if you assume that the Yankees, Red Sox, M's, Angels, Detroit, Indians, and I'll throw in Toronto are the teams that are going to be slugging it out for the playoffs and a trip to the WS then they all pretty much have the same issues.

The Yankees have a balky Pettitte, an old guy at the end in Moose, and two unprovens in Hughes and Kennedy. In the pen they've probably got the best setup/closer combo right now, but not terribly strong/proven behind them.

Boston has a balky Beckett, an old guy at the end in Wake, and two unprovens in Bucholtz and Lester. In the pen they have a great closer and a very good set up guy - but not much behind them.

Detroit has an old Rogers, Bonderman coming off a poor year, who knows what with Willis and little or no depth to go with them. They lost their two best relievers in Zumaya and Rodney and have an average closer in Todd Jones.

The Indians have their own Mussina in Paul Byrd, who knows if Carmona can repeat what he did last year. Westbrook is alright and Lee was so bad last year he spent the season in Triple A. They have the best pen but the worst closer in Borowski.

The Angels just lost Escobar for the year, Lackey is out for the first month of the season as is Scot Shields. Their opening day rotation will have Jon Garland as the number one followed by Ervin Santana and Jared Weaver who had up and down years last season - behind them are two complete unknowns in Joe Saunders and Dustin Mosely.

The Blue Jays rely a ton on three pitchers who can't stay healthy (Burnett, Halladay, and Ryan) they've already lost Casey Janssen for the year and Ryan is starting the year on the DL and not expected back any time soon.

The Mariners probably have the best rotation with Bedard, Hernandez, Washburn, Batista and Silva. And they have a very good closer in Putz and a really good set up guy in Morrow.

In the end, the regular season will not be decided by pitching, it will be decided by the lineups. If that rings true then I like the Yankees' chances of making the post season again.

And I say the Mariners "probably" have the best rotation because we have yet to see Felix Hernandez live up to his title of "King Felix" and Silva and Batista could as easily be good or terrible. I am also curious to see how Bedard handles being the ACE of a team that is actually supposed to contend rather than a team like the Orioles.

I'd argue that the team will be better by default because of the rag arms and no talent bums the Trinity are replacing this season.

I've said it a thousand times over the last few months but let's not forget that Igawa, Clippard, Henn, Karstens, Rasner, Wright, and DeSalvo made a whopping 36 starts for this team a year ago. That's essentially 1 of every 5 starts over 162 games.

Personally, I don't think besting that production is an especially tall order.

Also keep in mind that Hughes missed half the season. Kennedy made three starts in September. Joba didn't make his debut until August 7th. They now have a full season of all three. I think getting off to a better start in April could make all the difference in the world.

Are these kids going to have growing pains? Absolutely. But with an offense that will score 900+ runs again, I think they can overcome a lot of those growing pains.

I love Chip's analysis of certain players. Paul Byrd is our Mussina. You mean the same Paul Byrd that won 15 games last year and was the Indians post season MVP? The guy that DOMINATED the vaunted Yankees lineup? Hahahaha

Borowski is the leagues worst closer. Yeah, but the guy just lead the league in saves! How is that possible if you're the worst closer in the league?????? Must be doing something right????

Who knows if Carmona can repeat? Let me go out on a limb here and make a statement - the guy is potential Cy Young material and he WILL repeat!

Oh, and by the way Chip, all 3 of them were on the BBB Championship team! That's how I know a little something about each of them.

Rick - Paul Byrd throws about 12 mph and was found to be on HGH last year. Borowski posted an ERA north of 5 - that's called walking a very fine line, that the Indians didn't upgrade from him is a joke. And as good as Carmona was in 2007 is as bad as he was in 2006 - lets see which was the norm and which was the exception before getting out the annointing oil (to paraphrase a Bill Parcells quote)

Isn't Borowski the same guy who finished the 2007 season with a 5.07 ERA, a WHIP of 1.43, and 8 blown saves?

That's hardly impressive for a closer.

By comparison, Mo had an un-Mo like season and still finished with a 3.15 ERA, a WHIP of 1.12, and four blown saves.

And I'm inclined to believe that the Raffy Bros. in Cleveland had a lot more to do with Borowski's save total last season than his ability to mow hitters down.

By the way Rick - "Paul Byrd is our Mussina" was that a slip up or are you an Indians fan now? Not being a jerk, just curious if it was your way of saying you have changed teams - if so, could you please go find a Cleveland site and hammer them for letting Coco Crisp or Josh Bard go the way you obsess over Ted Lilly on this site?

Chip

You're right that Byrd throws 12 mph. So what? He was unbeaten in post season and DOMINATED the vaunted AR lead Yankee offense. Those are the FACTS. And like I am fond of saying - he's simply one of those guys that can Git-R-Done when it counts. And, that is what I look for in players, not fancy stats over a 162 game schedule. Eckstein is another one of those types.

Carmona will be just fine and somehow Borowski saves games. It doesn't matter HOW. It just matters that they do.

Chip

I have been since the 50's and will ALWAYS be a Yankee fan! I just know the Indians because they are the "local" team.

It's funny how you always take a cheap shot at A-Rod. He's just not trying hard enough with those three MVPs.

You should consider that the Yanks were down 6-1 by the 4th inning in Game 4 of the ALDS. Even the best offenses are going to press when they are put in such a hole early in addition to being an elimination game.

Carmona's production will suffer this season. He had an enormous increase in innings pitched last season over his 2006 campaign, and oftentimes, pitchers don't feel the lingering effect of that workload until the next season.

Tom Verducci has done a ton of research on this. It's not an exact science, but I'd bet that Carmona will not be the same pitcher as he was last year.

Diane,
Yes, that was my point. I feel other teams made some improvements that will inch them closer to the Yankees and I also feel that it will be nearly impossible for Posada and A-Rod to duplicate last season, when they carried the team for what seemed like 3 months. Let's hope Abreu, Damon and Cano get off to better starts than last year.

There is also the "addition by subtraction" factor to consider in the Yankees favor. If the kids can stay healthy, the Yanks aren't getting pitching from Pavano, Karstens, Igawa, Wright etc. so maybe they will improve that way. Maybe nothing would surprise me this season. I wouldn't be all that surprised if they finished behind Toronto and I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up in the World Series...it's a crapshoot!

It does feel that way sometimes, especially at this time of year. I'm glad that we'll soon be seeing just how our guys interact on the real field of play -- speculation will give way to reality, and I'm ready for some reality to set in... ;-)

Ah yes, Rick's famous "Get-R-Done" argument. Exactly what has Byrd gotten done? By my count he has exactly as many rings as I do. He had 1 good game in the post season - even with it he is 3-1 in 7 games with a 4.80 ERA. For the record, Carl Pavano is 2-0 with a 1.40 and a ring...so makes me wonder why you're not a bigger Pavano fan. I mean if we're talking about Getting-R-Done he certainly has the lead on Byrd.

Just wanted to throw my two cents worth in ,the Yanks will win the AL East .

Boston will not get the same caliber yr out of Lowell as they did in 2007.Schilling is toast.Beckett will not repeat his season of 07.Lester has yet to prove he can pitch effectively on the major league level.Wakefield ?

Detroit has a very overrated pitching staff with no reliable mid relief.

Los Angeles has no Escobar and an injured Lackey who I feel peaked as a starting pitcher in 07.They traded Cabrera who had a major impact on the offense last yr.Catcher ? 3rd baseman?

Cleveland .If they win 90 games I'll be surprised.Pale Hose and Minnesota as well as a greatly improved Kansas City team will put far to much pressure on Cleveland in the AL central.You can forget about Paul Byrd winning 15 games once again.

Seattle is the sleeper team this year.