MLB Chatter: Trout for MVP, Strasburg Limit, Bobby V

Name your AL MVP candidates coming into this season: Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols or maybe a little Josh Hamilton? Probably not Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Trout, who turned 21 yesterday, is hitting .346 (top in the AL), has 60 runs batted in and has nailed 20 home runs. Not mentioning at all his amazing ability to field. So, forget AL Rookie of the Year, something he has basically locked down, let's start talking AL MVP. Hey, Justin Verlander won it last year as a pitcher, a rarity. It will be tough to beat Miguel Cabrera but Los Angeles is the market to do it. He has been the most impressive player on a championship contender if they can manage a Wild Card spot in a tough race. So, Trout for MVP? Well, yes.

Many things can derail a team from winning a title. Injury, player struggles and maybe road games. But, for the Nationals the thing that could pull them away from a championship may be worry. Stephen Strasburg, the team's ace, who is 12-5 this season with a 2.97 ERA will likely be shutdown at around the 150-160 innings pitched mark. The Nationals want to be careful with their future star who already has had health issues in his short career. This move would mean the likely playoffs rotation (if they get there) would consist of Ross Detwiler, Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson and Jordan Zimmerman. Detwiler would replace Strasburg as the top pitcher and despite his 6-4 mark and a 2.99 ERA many people think it will be a significant drop off. GM Mike Rizzo has already said he will shut down Strasburg when he thinks it is right. It will be a tough decision one that could mean the difference between a World Series and a disappointing playoff exit.

Before you start saying how ridiculous it is for a team to fire their manager after just one season, a .500 season let me tell you what city this manager is in: Boston. That should explain it. Bobby Valentine made headlines when he stepped in for Terry Francona by his cockiness. He might talk the talk but unless something changes in a big way he hasn't been able to walk the walk. The traditional power Red Sox are currently 55-56 and 9 games out of first place in the AL East. Frustration is everywhere on this team and they should be as they have the talent to be right along with the Yankees in this divsion. So would it be so ridicolous if the Sox fired Bobby V after just one, disastrous season? Maybe, but hey, I'm not from Boston. In the end its not the organization's decision. In this city, the fans decide who stays or who goes.

Special Edition: AL East

The X-Factors: John Lackey(Sox), Robinson Cano(Yanks), Ben Zobrist(Rays)
1. Boston Red Sox Key Additions: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, OF Carl Crawford, RP Bobby Jenks
After a non-playoff year the Red Sox have done all they can do to win the tough AL East. They snatched Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. If Gonzalez is healthy by Opening Day the Red Sox have a dominant hitter. David Ortiz isn't the hitter he used to be but can still put up 20 homers and 80 RBI's. The pitching staff has John Lackey and Josh Beckett who's one of the best pitchers in the MLB when healthy.
2. New York Yankees Key Additions: C Russ Martin
New York resigned Derek Jeter and signed Russ Martin. It may not be much but it's enough to make the Yanks a wild card possibility. C.C. Sabathia is a dominant pitcher but A.J. Burnett needs to improve for the staff to be the best in the AL East. Alex Rodriguez isn't as good as old times either but he will make plays. Robinson Cano had a breakout year and likely will continue. Speedster Brett Gardner may not be a star but he will improve.
3. Tampa Bay Rays Key Additions: OF Johny Damon, OF Manny Ramirez
Tampa Bay has a lot of young talent so they added two veterans. Johny Damon nor Manny Ramirez aren't near as good as they were with the Red Sox but they were mainly just added to give wisdom to the young guys. David Price had a breakout year and will likely continue it in 2011. Ben Zobrist is a good fielder and can hit for average making him a dangerous threat.
4. Toronto Blue Jays Key Additions: RP Jon Rauch, OF Rajai Davis
The Jays are the only team based out of the United States which may be a disadvantage. The declining Canadien dollar has effected the franchise. They still added reliever Jn Rauch and great get-on-baser Rajai Davis. The staff has lost a lot of talent over the years (Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett and now Shaun Marcum) but it was some talent with Ricky Romrero and Brandon Morrow. Travis Snider is a great hitter and Jose Bautista had a career year. Aaron Hill is a great player also.
5. Baltimore Orioles Key Additions: 3B Mark Reynolds, 1B Derek Lee, SS J.J. Hardy
The O's might not be a pushover this year thanks to the signing of Derek Lee and the acquisition of 3B Mark Reynolds. He doesn't hit for average but he hits for power(32 homers and 85 RBI's). They also brought in J.J. Hardy who is trying to restart his career in Baltimore. They have a decent staff in Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Guthrie.

SE: AL East

1. New York Yankees 103-59 Key Additions: CF Curtis Granderson, DH Nick Johnson
The former champs return most of the 2008-2009 team. Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira return. The Yankees also added former Tiger Curtis Granderson, a speedy player that can also hit with some power (30 home runs last season). The pitching staff is led by the 1-2 punch of C.C Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Mariano Rivera will close games.
2. Boston Red Sox 95-67 Key Additions: 3B Adrian Beltre, SP Jon Lackey
Boston signed vets Adrian Beltre and Jon Lackey showing that they want to win the AL and the World Series. Jacoby Ellsbury is young and talented along with Dustin Pedroia. The Sox need David Ortiz to return to form if they want to make a true run come October.
3. Tampa Bay Rays 84-78 Key Additions: RP Rafael Soriano
After a dream 2007-2008 season the Rays pulled out as an average AL team last season. The Rays said good bye to second basemen Akinori Iwamura and replaced him with rookie Sean Rodriguez replacing him. But, they still have young stars like Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton and Carlos Pena. Ben Zobrist played seven positions last season and made an all-star appearance. The bullpen was buffed up by the signing of Rafael Soriano.
4. Baltimore Orioles 64-98 Key Additions: 3B Miguel Tejada, 1B Garrett Atkins
Baltimore would like to forget last season's 98 losses. There is hope with talented catcher Matt Wieters, and an underrated outfield led by Nick Markakis and Adam Jones. The pitching staff got a lot skilled and experienced by the signing of Kevin Millwood.
5. Toronto Blue Jays 75-87 Key Additions: RP Kevin Gregg, C John Buck
The Blue Jays had one of the off seasons people will talk about for a while. They traded off all-star pitcher Roy Halladay to the Phillies and replaced him with untested Ricky Romero. After last season, in which the Jays moved Scott Rolen and Alex Rios away the team is left with Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Needless to say, the Jays only chance of winning the AL East is if all of the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays stars get injured. Yeah, that puts their chances in perceptive.
Predicted Records: New York, 99-63, Red Sox, 95-67, Tampa Bay, 90-72, Baltimore, 75-87, Toronto, 66-96.

Speacial Edition:Spring Training Begins:AL East

The 2009 baseball season has begun and I have my MLB preview for the AL East. This is a start of a series of previews for each division:

1.New York Yankees Key Editions:C.C Sabathia, A.J. Burnett...
Alex Roriguez, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada will lead the Yanks on offense and the additions of pitchers C.C Sabathia and A.J Burnett will strengthen the rotation.
2.Tampa Rays Key Editions:None
The Rays are filled with momentum with Evan Longoria and B.J Upton and trying to prove last season wasn't a fluke will make them work even harder.
3.Boston Red Sox Key Editions:Brad Penny
The Sox don't have Manny Ramirez. But they have David "Big Papai"Ortiz,Jason Bay and Dustin Pedroia. Plus they added Brad Penny to a nice rotation.
4.Baltimore Orieles Key Editions:None
Baltimore has underrated Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts. Don't count the O's out yet.
5.Toronto Blue Jays Key Editions:Kevin Millar
The Jays lost A.J. Burnett and made no major moves except for Kevin Millar.