AL Central

Indians (95 – 67): Even though they lost out on Millwood and had to settle on Wickman again, the core of this team is still solid. They learned how to win last year, but it was too late. In 2006 they’ll use that knowledge and experience of how to win starting on opening day instead of taking the first month off. For all you fantasy baseball players, Grady Sizemore might be next year’s Bobby Abreu. With over 20 HR and 20 SB in 2005, to go along with 111 Runs and 81 RBIs, he’s about to be Brady Anderson on steroids. . . oh, wait. DIVISION WINNER

White Sox (94 – 68): Ozzie Guillen is wacky and his act may wear thin at times, but he’ll put a winner on the field every game. Can he overcome the year-after pressures and keep his team focused through all the defending champ hoopla? How will Vazquez fare being a couple hundred more miles closer to the East coast than he was, and can he pitch in the cold of Chicago and readjust to the American League. He has been jerked back and forth between leagues from Montreal (NL) to New York (AL) to Arizona (NL) to Chicago (AL) for four years in a row and his stuff has not adjusted. Is Guillen the right manager for his fragile ego? WILD CARD WINNER

Twins (85 – 77): They’re a good enough team to be eight or so games over .500, but they just don’t have the hitting to rank up there with Cleveland or Chicago. They will be better than they were last year, but not by much. Until they develop someone who can hit more than 23 home runs in a season their ability to catch the two teams ahead of them in their division will be limited.

Royals (74 – 88): Aside from the best 3-4-3 double play combination in baseball (Mientkiewicz to Grudzielanek and back to Mientkiewicz) they made some other no frills additions, and those will be enough to pull them out of the cellar. In signing the afore mentioned infielders as well as Reggie Sanders, they’ve added some solid hitters to surround Mike Sweeney, and they’ve bought time for some of their young players to develop while they put a more competitive team on the field. Elarton, Redman, and Dessens will eat some innings while posting ERA’s north of 5, but they’ll rack up double digit wins and take pressure off last year’s over-taxed bullpen.

Tigers (69 – 93): Does it even matter who their manager is? Leyland’s just going to sit on the bench with his legs crossed smoking cigarettes. One must check out all the former Pirates on his coaching staff. Could this team be full of more average players than they already have, oh wait, Rondell White is no longer a Tiger. And the Bobby Higginson era finally comes to an end to every Tiger fan’s delight. Can I-Rod do any worse than last year’s .290 on-base percentage; we’ll see.