2011 Rewind: The Tigers cruised to an AL Central title by winning 95 games a year ago, 15 more victories the division’s next best team.  Only three teams in baseball scored more runs than the Tigers’ high-powered offense and the club’s starting rotation was loaded at the top, but overall the team 4.04 ERA left the ranked in the middle of the pack in the American League. Detroit got eliminated in the ALCS by the Rangers.

The Good:  Ace Justin Verlander was the AL’s pitching Triple Crown winner and became the first starting pitcher since 1986 to win MVP as he went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA adding a no-hitter to boot. First basemen Miguel Cabrera laid claim to AL Batting Title by hitting a career-high .344 to go along with 30 HR and 105 RBI while appearing in 161 games for the Tigers. He remains as one of baseball’s elite hitters heading into 2012.  Catcher Alex Avila enjoyed a career season as he hit .295 with 19 HR and 82 RBI. Expecting similar numbers from this season may prove overly optimistic, but in this stout lineup he will get opportunities to succeed.

The Bad: Centerfielder Austin Jackson took a step back offensively in 2011, finishing with a .249 BA in his sophomore campaign.  He needs to cut down on the 181 strikeouts he had a year ago and not hit as many fly balls if he’s going to turn things around.  Brandon Inge lost his starting spot this offseason after the worst season of his career. The veteran hit just .197 and managed just a career low 3 HR and 23 RBI in 262 plate appearances. The team defense is terrible and did nothing to improve over the offseason.  That could translate into Tigers’ starters needing to get extra outs on a regular basis.

Biggest Loss: The biggest blow to the team this winter was the news of a season-ending knee injury to Victor Martinez. The DH/catcher hit .330 a year ago while driving in 103 runs batting in the heart of the order.  Veterans Maggilo Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Brad Penny were not retained. 

Best Addition: The team made a big splash when they broke the bank to sign free agent first baseman Prince Fielder, easing the blow to the lineup left by the departure of Martinez. Fielder returns to his old stomping grounds in Motown after signing a $214 million, nine-year contract. Over the past six years the slugger has averaged 37 long balls per season while boasting a career 282/.390/.540 hitting line. To make room for Fielder at first base

Fantasy Slant: Left fielder Brennan Boesch is a trendy breakout pick for many fantasy websites this preseason and rightfully so. With a full-time job and good health on his side look for him to get 100+ more at bats this season. The 26-year old hit .283 with 16 HR and 54 RBI in just 428 at bats during a breakout sophomore campaign. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta enjoyed one of his best seasons of his career with a .299 BA, 21 HR, and 86-RBI performance.  Normally a good value option with multiple position capability, Peralta won’t come as cheap as he used to.  Closer Jose Valverde has top 10 potential. Starters Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Rick Porcello all possess upside and provide good mid-to-late round value.

Final Take: Just like last season, the Tigers will be the class of the AL Central. They will be hard-pressed to match last year’s 95-game win total, but winning the division by double-digit games could be within reach if they live up to their full potential.  If their pitching holds up the Tigers will be legitimate pennant contenders…2012 PREDICTION: 93-69 – 1st Place AL Central

Fantasy Baseball, MLB 2012 mlb team previews, detroit tigers, al central, fantasy outlook

2010 Rewind: There was plenty of excitement in Minnesota last year as the Twins opened their new ballpark, Target Field. And although the venue may have changed, the result was very similar – another AL Central Division crown. It was the second year in a row the Twins won the division and the sixth time in nine years. But the regular season success has yet to translate into any post-season fun. The Twins were again swept in the Division series by the Yankees. They have lost 12 straight playoff games and have not won a series since 2002.

The Good: The pitching staff was the force behind the 2010 winning season. Carl Pavano led the team with 17 victories while Francisco Liriano posted a team-leading 3.62 ERA and 201 strikeouts. The bullpen was just as good as the starters. Jon Rauch saved 21 games before giving the job to Matt Capps, who was acquired in late July. The Twins finished the season with 4th best ERA in the American League.

The Bad: While Target Field may not be a hitter’s paradise, injuries to some of the key members of the Twins didn’t help. Justin Morneau was shut down just after the All-Star break with a concussion. Joe Mauer had surgery in the off-season to repair his knee that had bothered him for most of the year. Both should be ready for opening day and the Twins need them to stay healthy if they plan on winning another title.

Biggest Loss: The bullpen was so good in 2010 that most of its members left the club for more money. Matt Guerrier, Jesse Crain and Jon Rauch all signed with new clubs in the off-season.  And while those guys aren’t the ones people go to the ballpark to see, they are the ones that keep the club in the win column. The Twins will have a difficult time re-building as good of a bullpen in 2011.

Best Addition: The Twins did not make a lot of news in the off-season, but they did revamp the middle of their infield. In December they signed Tsuyoshi Nishioka from Japan. Nishioka has won Gold Gloves at both shortstop and second base. Last year he won the Japanese batting title with a .346 average. He also has speed with 174 stolen bases in his career. He’ll be batting at the top of the order for the Twins while likely playing second base.

Fantasy Slant: Mauer is the stud Catcher in fantasy baseball, but injuries are certainly a concern. Morneau was on an MVP-pace before the concussion last year. If he can put that behind him, he has the ability to win another MVP award and could be a steal after the top 7 or 8 first basemen are off the board. Pavano, Liriano and Scott Baker will all find their way on fantasy squads in the later rounds of drafts. Michael Cuddyer’s HR total went from 32 in 2009 to 14 last year but he still drove in 81 runs and batted .271 making him a nice fourth outfielder. Delmon Young is coming off of his best season and may still improve upon his 21 HRs and 112 RBI.

Final Take: The Twins are rarely favorites at the beginning of the season but generally prove the experts wrong every year. While they did improve their defense and should have a healthier offense, questions loom in the bullpen. It does not help that their two biggest opponents in the AL Central made strong improvements in the off-season. Still, don’t count the Twins out as the division race is likely to go down to the wire…2011 Record: 88-74, third place in the AL Central

Fantasy Baseball, MLB 2011 preview, minnesota twins, al central, fantasy outlook, 2011 mlb preview

2010 Rewind: The Royals have had just one winning season since George Brett retired in 1993. After a couple of 4th places finishes they found themselves back at the bottom of the AL Central. After a slow start Trey Hillman was replaced as manager by Ned Yost. He managed to breathe some life into to team. But even the best managers would struggle to win with the lowest payroll in the game.

The Good: The Royals finished with the second-best team batting average last season - .274 to the Rangers .276 average. Unfortunately they were in the bottom half of the league in runs scored and only two teams hit fewer homeruns. That brings up Billy Butler. The Royals' first baseman batted .318, but hit just 15 HR and had 78 RBI. Three of his teammates also finished the year above .300, including infielder Mike Aviles. After a great rookie year at shortstop in 2008, Aviles bounced back at second base last year with a .304 average. He looks to open this season at third base. The best pitcher on the staff finished the games for the Royals last year – Joakim Soria. With 43 saves a 1.78 ERA Soria is not just the pitcher in Kansas City, he is one of the top closers in the game.

The Bad: The Royals finished the season with the highest staff ERA in the AL (4.97). Of the 10 pitchers that started games only four had an ERA under 5.00 for the season. Zach Greinke and Bruce Chen tied for the team’s best ERA at 4.17 and Chen led the way in victories with 12. What made the pitching even worse was a league leading 121 errors by the defense.

Biggest Loss: Although he is not coming off of a very good season, Zach Greinke will be sorely missed in KC. He took the ball every five days, logged another 220 innings and struck out 181 batters. Sure, a 4.17 ERA isn’t good enough for another Cy Young Award, but he still has an award winning arm. What is worse for the Royals is that they did very little to replace him.

Best Addition: The Royals are attempting to improve their defense with the additions of Jeff Francoeur and Melky Cabrera. Both have pretty good gloves and some experience to share with the young team. Francoeur could provide some power and will likely hit in the middle of the lineup. The Royals also swapped shortstops in the Greinke deal with Milwaukee and added a better glove in Alcides Escobar.

Fantasy Slant: The first member of the Royals to go off the board in nearly every fantasy draft this year will be Soria. He was second in the AL in Saves last season and has a good chance to finish in the lead this year. The Royals have some guys that can help on offense with a solid batting average but little else. Butler is a solid corner infielder who won’t hurt a fantasy squad. The same can be said for Aviles, who should be eligible at CI and MI.

Final Take: The Royals still have a lot of question marks but they have a lot of young talent ready to answer those questions. They can already hit but need to produce runs. They improved their defense which will help a young staff. And they have a great closer to avoid late inning melt-downs. If everything goes well they will be a much improved ball club from 2010. They still are not ready to contend but may make some noise...2011 record: 70-92, fifth in the AL Central

Fantasy Baseball, MLB 2011 preview, kansas city royals, al central, fantasy outlook, 2011 mlb preview

2010 Rewind: The Tigers got off to a solid start last year, but stumbled down the stretch on their way to an 81-81 season and a third-place finish in the AL Central. The 2010 season did provide many of the Tigers’ talented young players to get experience and that should translate into success in the future.

The Good: First basemen Miguel Cabrera turned in the best season his amazing career last year as he finished second in the AL MVP voting. The veteran topped 1.000 OPS for the first time in his career while leading the league in RBI (138) and on-base percentage (.420).  Despite his off-the-field drama this spring, Cabrera remains an elite talent.  Justin Verlander has emerged as a legitimate ace. The righty has won 17 or more games in four of the last five years and averages 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings for his career.  Starter Max Scherzer performed well down the stretch as he posted a 2.46 ERA and being recalled from the minors in late May.

The Bad: Right hander Rick Porcello experienced a sophomore slump a year ago, finishing 10-12, a 4.92 ERA and a 1.393 WHIP in 27 starts. Outfielder Brennan Broesch was a strong candidate for the AL Rookie of the Year at the All-Star break last season, but flopped during the second half as he batted just .167 with 2 HR and 18 RBI. After making the All-Star game in 2009, third basemen Brandon Inge saw his homerun totals drop from 27 to 13 last year while batting .231. 

Biggest Loss: It was addition by subtractions for the Tigers this offseason as they got $75 million off the books as contacts expired on outfielder Johnny Damon and starting pitchers Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman.  The team will not miss any of their contributions.

Best Addition: Adding Victor Martinez was huge! His bat and versatility will be beneficial to the Tigers’ lineup. Expect him to DH most of the time, but he will likely catch a few games a week and get an occasional look at first base. Free agent Joaquin Benoit was brought in to solidify the bullpen as late-inning setup man from the right side.

Fantasy Slant: Closer Jose Valverde converted 26 of 29 save opportunities and provides nice value in the later rounds of your draft.  Center fielder Austin Jackson had a nice breakout rookie campaign and should only get better, especially if he can cut down on those 174 strikeouts from a year ago. Though durability is a concern, 37-year old Magglio Ordonez managed to hit .303 with 12 HR and 59 RBI in 323 at bats. He will prove to be a nice fourth or fifth outfielder if he can stay healthy. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta has multiple-position eligibility and has some decent pop in his bat. That makes him a nice option as a bench player to grab late in any fantasy format.

Final Take: Despite seeing their win total decline last season, the year was important for the Tigers to do a quick reload. Expect them to improve on last year’s win total and be major players in the AL Central throughout the season. If the young players progress and the veterans stay healthy a post-season run could follow…2011 Prediction: 91-71, first place AL Central

Fantasy Baseball, MLB 2011 preview, detroit tigers, al central, fantasy outlook, 2011 mlb preview

2010 Rewind: 69-93, 4th place in the AL Central. Injuries plagued the Indians in 2010 and on a team lacking depth that causes major problems. The team finished near the bottom in nearly every batting and pitching category. A rebuilding mode was already in place before the season and hit full gear throughout 2010.

The Good: The Indians have a couple of guys to build their young team around. On offense, Shin-Soo Choo has shown the ability to do everything. He hit 22 HRs, drove in 90 runs and stole 22 bases while batting .300 last season. Those numbers should improve as the players around him get better. Fausto Carmona re-emerged as a dominant pitcher on the mound. He won 13 games while posting a 3.77 ERA last season. More importantly for a young team, he logged more than 210 innings and threw four complete games.

The Bad: The Tribe’s superstar centerfielder Grady Sizemore blew out his knee in mid-may last season and was lost for the year. Recovery has been difficult and it does not look like he’ll be ready for Opening Day. Running is a big part of Sizemore’s game and this injury could hamper him for some time.

Biggest Loss: Outside of injury concerns to Sizemore and starting catcher Carlos Santana, the Indians have not lost any major personnel from last year. Former top prospect Andy Marte opted for free agency but he will be seen as a bust in Cleveland, never having played in more than 80 games in a season and posting a lifetime .218 batting average.

Best Addition: Like any other club rebuilding with young talent, the Indians have brought in a few veterans for support. Right-handed hitting Austin Kearns will spell the three lefties projected to start in the Indians outfield. Adam Everett and Orlando Cabrera will help the young infielders progress and provide good leadership in the clubhouse.

Fantasy Slant: Shin-Soo Choo has big upside in both real and fantasy baseball. He will contribute in all categories and may end up as one of the top outfielders by the end of the year. Catcher Carlos Santana’s season ended in early August last year thanks to a bad collision busting his knee. It looks like he’ll be ready for opening day and should be targeted as one of the top fantasy catchers. Carmona somehow managed to win 13 games for the Tribe last year. If this team improves at all, he has the stuff to pick up a few more while posting another sub-4.00 ERA.

Final Take: The good news for the Indians is that anyone could win the AL Central (yes, even the Royals!) The Twins, Sox and Tigers are not any better than they were last season, and in some ways they all took steps backward. If everything goes right and they avoid injuries and a few prospects shine and they get a little lucky, the Indians could be in the hunt for the division this year. But in reality, the Indians are at least a year away from being competitive once again…2011 Record: 73-89, fourth in the AL Central.

Fantasy Baseball, MLB 2011 preview, cleveland indians, al central, fantasy outlook, 2011 mlb preview

2010 Rewind: The White Sox finished the 2010 season with an 88-74 record, but that was only good enough for a second-place finish in the AL Central, a division they’ve only managed to win twice over the past decade. The team faltered down the stretch with an eight-game losing streak, including a sweep by the rival Detroit Tigers that sealed their fate.  The offense produced with four players driving in more than 70 runs, but the pitching did not live up to expectations with the starting rotation finishing eighth in the AL with a 4.26 ERA.

The Good: Outfielder Alex Rios finished with his best season since 2007 as he got it done both in the field and at the plate. The veteran batted .284 with 21 HR, 88 RBI and posted a .457 slugging percentage.  Fellow outfielder Juan Pierre posted the fourth-best on-base percentage in the AL a year ago while hitting .275 with 96 runs and a career-high 68 stolen bases.  Tall and lanky lefthander Chris Sale jumped from the June draft to the big league roster late in the season and dazzled with his triple-digit heat and great command. The future staff ace will likely start the year in the bullpen and could spell closer Matt Thornton from time to time.

The Bad: The acquisition of starting pitcher Jake Peavy has yet to pan out for the White Sox. Since joining the team during the 2008 season, the righty has only managed to go 10-6 with a 4.41 ERA. He is coming back from shoulder surgery so his status for Opening Day remains up in the air.  Carlos Quentin disappointed many in 2010 by failing to hit .250 for the second year in a row. The right fielder has never played in more than 131 games.

Biggest Loss: Veteran sluggers Andruw Jones and Manny Ramirez both departed via free agency. The duo combined to hit 28 homers and drive in 90 runs in 543 at bats a year ago. Neither player proved to be dependable on a consistent basis. 

Best Addition: Signing Adam Dunn will more than make up for the loss of power left by the departures of Jones and Ramirez.  Dunn will benefit from being in a better lineup and playing his home games at US Celluar Field and that should be enough to put him back over the 40 HR mark and more than capable of driving in 100-plus runs. A move to DH is long overdue for the big guy.

Fantasy Slant: Alexi Ramirez has emerged as one of the best overall shortstops in the American League as he finished 2010 by hitting .282 with 18 HR and 70 RBI. Second baseman Gordon Beckham is a nice bounce-back candidate after a bit of a sophomore slump and provides great value at a thin position. Starters Gavin Floyd, John Danks, and Edwin Jackson all offer nice upside and should be considered solid No. 3 and No. 4 fantasy starting options.

Final Take: Expect the White Sox to stay in the division race once again this year and come close on equaling, if not improving upon their 2010 record. The key is going to be pitching and how much improvement their starters can make in the new season. The AL Central remains a tough division though, so a playoff spot is far from a given…2011 Record: 89-73, second place in AL Central

Fantasy Baseball, MLB 2011 preview, chicago white sox, al central, fantasy outlook, 2011 mlb preview

As a Reds' fan, I haven't watched a meaningful baseball game since the 4th of July, but the Twins-Tigers playin game on Tuesday may have been one of the best games I've ever watched. Not only did the two teams need 163rd game to decide an AL Central champ, they needed 12 innings to do it.

Playing in what could have been the final baseball game ever at the Metrodome the 50,000+ fans proved to be the difference in an amazing game, highlighting an amazing finish by the Twins. They were seven games out to begin September and became the first team in MLB history to overcome a three-game deficit with less than a week to play.

But they also seemed uncommonly appreciative to have participated in a game that we will see on October highlight reels for years to come — even though it was technically a regular-season game.

At one point, while the Twins batted in those interminable late innings, Minnesota third base coach Scott Ullger turned to Detroit third baseman Brandon Inge and asked if he'd ever played in a better game. No, he replied.

"This is awesome," Inge said.

"I love it, too," Ullger said.

MORE ON THIS GAME (FoxSports.com)

MLB mlb playoffs, minnesota twins, detroit tigers, al central

The American League Central is one of the toughest divisions in all of baseball to figure out. You can seemingly always count on Minnesota to be in the mix. The Tigers underachieved big time in 2008 and the White Sox overachieved. The Indians have some holes and the Royals, like every other year, will be eliminated on Opening Day. It’s time to make our picks for this year’s divisional race.

ORDER OF FINISH
Twins – Minnesota is not as good as they’ve been in previous years, but they are still the cream of this crop. They have nice, young talent in both the lineup and the rotation. Joe Mauer’s back problems could haunt the team, but assuming he is in his customary three-spot in the batting order for the bulk of the season you can expect the Twins to carry the division. Justin Moreneau is still underrated despite his MVP-caliber numbers. They will get a big boost with a healthy return of ace Francisco Liriano to go along with right-handers Scott Baker and Kevin Slowley at the top of the rotation. Joe Nathan is a top-notch closer and easily the division’s best at nailing down a win.

Indians – The line-up has some serious thump. Grady Sizemore is the best all-around player in the division. Expect Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner to bounce back in 2009. Shortstop Jhonny Peralta is poised for a breakout year. The problem that will haunt the Tribe is their pitching. Closer Kerry Wood was signed to help shore up the bullpen, and he is an improvement. While I expect a nice bounce back from Fausto Carmona, Cliff Lee will be hard pressed to match ‘08’s numbers. The 3-4-5 spots in the rotation though are horrendous and will ultimately doom the Indians.

White Sox – Here is where things really start to drop off. The White Sox have some bright spots, but they aren’t as good as last year’ playoff run suggested. Simply put, the Sox are going to have a tough time scoring runs. Carlos Quentin and Jim Thome are legitimate run-producing threats, but the lineup surrounding them is as weak as it has been in years on the South Side. Mark Buerhle, Gavin Floyd, and John Danks are legitimate big league starting pitchers, but none of them are better than a No. 3 at best. Bobby Jenks is one of the few bright spots in a makeshift bullpen.

Royals – After four straight last-place finishes, the Royals got out of the basement in the standings during 2008. They have a young team and this off-season they finally kept one of their young stars when they inked ace Zach Greinke to a long-term deal. He joins Gil Meche to give the Royals a nice 1-2 punch in the rotation. Closer Joakim Soria is a player on the rise. The line-up still has questions and I’m not sure that Coco Crisp and Mike Jacobs helped the team answer them. They could move up the list if everything goes right or they could wind right back up in the cellar.

Tigers – The auto makers aren’t the only ones that need a bailout in the Motor City. The Tigers sold their soles to the devils and had the whole thing blow up in their faces. Miguel Cabrera is still one of the best players in the game and the lineup still has plenty of potential. However, when you got nearly $40 million tied up into Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson, you staff is in trouble. If Justin Verlander can return to his ace status they might not finish last, but they are going to sniff .500 this year.

AWARDS
MVP – Justin Moreneau (MIN)

Cy Young Candidate – Cliff Lee (CLE)

Biggest Bust – Kerry Wood (CLE)

Biggest Breakout – Jhonny Peralta (CLE)

Comeback Player – Francisco Liriano (MIN)

Rookie of Year – Matt LaPorta (CLE) - though he may start season in minors

MLB 2009 mlb predictions, al central, twins, indians, white sox, royals, tigers

The Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox will meet in a one-game tiebreaker this evening at U.S. Cellular Field to determine the American League Central title.

Chicago, which was swept in a three-game set by the Twins last week, caught a break when it won the coin toss, allowing the game to be played in the Windy City, where Minnesota lost seven of its nine games played this season. I am still trying to figure why the Twins, who had a 10-8 edge head-to-head against the White Sox, had to play on the road after a coin flip. It's just another thing baseball doesn't get right.

This is the AL's fourth tiebreaker contest and the first since Seattle beat the California Angels for the AL West title 1995. Last season, Colorado beat San Diego 9-8 in 13 innings in an NL wild-card tiebreaker game.

Of course, the winner of tonight's contest will play the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS starting on Thursday at Tropicana Field. 

TWINS WRITER NOT OPTIMISTIC
LaVelle E. Neal of the Star-Tribune gives 6 reasons the Twins will lose:

1.The game was sold out within a hour. It will be the most hostile environment many Twins players will have experienced to this point in their careers. I have NOT forgotten the 2003 All-Star Game in Chicago, when fans booed Eddie Guardado mercilessly during introductions.

2. The Sox have called it a black out game. They have urged all fans to dress in black and will hand out black, `Sox Pride’ towels. The place will rock.

3. The Sox hate playing in the Dome to the point where they feel they the Twins can’t beat them at The Cell. I’m not kidding. Sox officials told me last week that they can’t wait until the Twins move out the Dome because the Twins get away with bloops and chop hits and luck - I guess they’ve forgotten the 90-something horseshoes they had up their rears in 2005. But they are convinced that the Twins are a different team out of the Dome. I agree. The home-road splits back that up. But it’s not because of bloop hits, it’s because their pitchers - especially the relievers - have been awful at times on the road.

4. The Sox hate losing to the Twins. Read this…and this. The Sox talk more stuff about the Twins than any team I know. They will be fired up. Expect A. J. Pierzynski to be at his best tonight.

5. Weather. It’s expected to be in the 60’s with wind gusts up to 30 mph blowing toward center-right center. Not good for a fly ball pitcher like Blackburn.

6. Nick Blackburn. Is he ready for what he’s about to experience? Sox fans will be all over him. Ozzie Guiilen talks like his team is about to make mincemeat out of him. Blackburn was 0-2 with 7.20 ERA in The Cell this season. The wind is blowing the WRONG way. He’s got to keep the ball down and mix his pitches - and the batting champion catcher needs to make sure he does that!

MLB mlb playoffs, white sox, twins, al central

Neither the Twins or the White Sox could take care of business this weekend to lock up the AL Central. Minnesota dropped two of three to the Royals over the weekend and Chicago couldn't take advantage, dropping two of three to Cleveland.

Both teams were able to get a win on Sunday. That leaves the White Sox 1/2 game behind the Twins and forces them to take on the Detroit Tigers today in a game that was originally postponed due to rain.  The Tigers were hoping for their season to end yesterday so it remains to be seen how much they will show up for the game this afternoon, but they are throwing White Sox-reject Freddy Garcia and that should keep it interesting. Knocking out the White Sox would be a perfect way for the Tigers, a team that was supposed to be a World Series contender, to finish the season.

Should the White Sox win today they will host the Twins on Tuesday night in an 1-game playoff to decide the division crown.

The playoffs start on Wednesday and the White Sox are just hoping to get there.

"We get paid to play 162 games, so we're going to get all of our money's worth," catcher A.J. Pierzynski told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Hopefully if we win, we'll get to play 163."

Not that No. 162 is going to be a cakewalk. Besides Garcia, don't think for a second that Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez wants to do his former team any favors.

"I'm sure the last thing [the Tigers] want to do is get on that plane,'' White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko said. "If I was them and I had to get on that plane, I would want to make it hurt."

MLB white sox, twins, royals, indians, al central, mlb playoffs, aj pierzynski, freddy garcia, maggilo ordonez, paul konerko