By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.
PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Michael Brantley
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
RF Shin Soo Choo
C Carlos Santana
DH Travis Hafner
1B Casey Kotchman
2B Jason Kipnis
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
LF Aaron Cunningham
** Grady Sizemore (out 8-112 weeks)
PROJECTED ROTATION
Ubaldo Jimenez
Justin Masterson
Derek Lowe
Josh Tomlin
Kevin Slowey
**Carlos Carrasco (out until September)
**Fausto Carmon AKA Roberto Heredia (status unclear)
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
RF Shin Soo Choo
C Carlos Santana
DH Travis Hafner
1B Casey Kotchman
2B Jason Kipnis
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
LF Aaron Cunningham
** Grady Sizemore (out 8-112 weeks)
PROJECTED ROTATION
Ubaldo Jimenez
Justin Masterson
Derek Lowe
Josh Tomlin
Kevin Slowey
**Carlos Carrasco (out until September)
**Fausto Carmon AKA Roberto Heredia (status unclear)
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Vinnie Pestano
Set-up - Tony Sipp
Closer - Vinnie Pestano
Set-up - Tony Sipp
** Chris Perez (out 4-6 weeks)
Top Prospect - Francisco Lindor (SS)
Breakout
Jason Kipnis - Kipnis did not the set the world on fire in his first 36 big league games, but this 25-year old second basemen has a chance to become one of the best offensive players at his position. I believe Kipnis is 15 homers and 15 steals in the bag and would not be shocked if he flirts with a 20-20 season. His batting average may suffer in his first full season, but that will only improve with experience.
Jason Kipnis - Kipnis did not the set the world on fire in his first 36 big league games, but this 25-year old second basemen has a chance to become one of the best offensive players at his position. I believe Kipnis is 15 homers and 15 steals in the bag and would not be shocked if he flirts with a 20-20 season. His batting average may suffer in his first full season, but that will only improve with experience.
Bust
Asdrubal Cabrera - After 18 homers in his first four years Cabrera belted 25 long balls in 2011. Cabrera comes into camp for his age 26 season as the cornerstone of the future along with catcher Carlos Santana. While I don't think Asdrubal will be sent down or anything drastic, the all-star numbers he put up last season will be extremely tough to duplicate. I can see the batting average, the RBIs and the homers all going down.
X-FACTOR
Shin-Soo Choo - With injuries all over the 40-man roster already the Indians need Choo to be someone they can count of for 162 games. He only gave the coach Manny Acta 85 games last season as he battled his injuries, but this year they cannot afford to lose him for an extended period of time. He needs to become the all-star Cleveland thought he was becoming in 2010.
Shin-Soo Choo - With injuries all over the 40-man roster already the Indians need Choo to be someone they can count of for 162 games. He only gave the coach Manny Acta 85 games last season as he battled his injuries, but this year they cannot afford to lose him for an extended period of time. He needs to become the all-star Cleveland thought he was becoming in 2010.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 80-82
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| Will Grady Sizemore ever get it together? |
PROJECTED FINISH: 5th in American League Central
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
Check back tomorrow for the San Diego Padres
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