Before getting into the AL Central, let's take a quick look at one issue that the Darryl Strawberry issue has raised. Strawberry was suspended by Major League Baseball for one year after testing positive for cocaine. This is not the first time Strawberry has tested positive, nor is it the first time he's been suspended. But even after multiple offenses, Strawberry will still be allowed to play Major League Baseball after his one year suspension. Some people have asked the question, "How can Strawberry be allowed to return after repeatedly violating league rules, but Pete Rose continues to be banned from baseball for one violation?" The answer to that question was given by Commissioner Bud Selig in an interview with Jim Rome. When Rome posed the question issued above, Selig basically said that the offenses were not comparable. Strawberry has a problem. He has issues that he needs to deal with. But what Pete Rose did brings the entire integrity of the game into question. Strawberry's problems are off-the-field. Rose's violation could have directly affected on-the-field performance. If Rose did affect the game itself, then baseball is nothing better than professional wrestling.
Now for the AL Central...
The AL Central consists of one major power and four runner up's. Here are five articles written by the home town newspaper of each team outlining the chances of their team. Even though Cleveland is clearly the dominant team, the expectations in the other four cities is that each team could start winning any day now.
Cleveland Indians - The addition of Finley can only help them get past the Yankees.
http://ohio.com/bj/sports/indians/docs/0...
Detroit Tigers - Can Juan Gonzalez get Detroit over the hump?
http://www.freep.com/sports/tigers/tiger...
Kansas City Royals - Where should they start?
http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/sports....
Chicago White Sox - Will Frank Thomas return to All-Star form?
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sports/1h...
Minnesota Twins - Tom Kelly is not giving up on this team.
http://www.startribune.com/stOnLine/cgi-...
Here's my prediction:
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals
