OK, baseball is here, sort of, possibly, if everything breaks right. I’m ready to watch some baseball and forget how evil the owners are. Which means it’s time to take a look at which teams are the most interesting to watch besides yours. You know you want to watch your team, but what about those three nights this year your team will be off. You have to watch SOMETHING. You don’t want to be stuck with reruns of CSI. I’m here to help. I am going to give a simple breakdown of each team to help you figure this out. We are going to fire off a quick ranking of all the AL teams against one another in watchability. To be helpful, I will group them by division, since a lot of people want to watch a rival lose almost as much as they want to watch their team win. Last, I will give out a potential reason for you personally to watch each team (well, almost) or even choose them as your favorite if you are new to baseball.
AL East
1. The Yankees - Pros: Tons of talent in the lineup means they will put up crazy scores. Guys like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit and Gary Sanchez are going to put the Bronx and Bombers in Bronx Bombers. Runs will be scored aplenty. Gerrit Cole is a no hitter waiting to happen, so there will be an element of intrigue to his starts. How his season bears out will be interesting as the Yankees have had trouble developing pitching, and the Astros have been great at it. Will Cole drop off, or is the talent all him? Whether or not they are a rival, any non-yankee fan enjoys watching them so they can hate on them. If you are here to watch them lose, be careful, they are projected to do a lot of winning. Games against the Red Sox are always intense. Cons: The drop off in talent after Gerrit Cole means they will probably give up a fair amount of runs. Question marks surround Severino, German and Tanaka. Injury ravaged for several years now, this team can’t seem to stay healthy. Will the stars be there to watch? Despite his arm talent, Gary Sanchez is a bad defensive catcher, and pitchers seem to get worse with him behind the plate. They have a monster void at shortstop and a big question is… will they make a run at Francisco Lindor? This is a good team for you if you like showing the haters what’s up. Overall ranking: 1
2. The Blue Jays - Pros: They probably won’t do a lot of winning this year, and they are going to give up a fair amount of runs. So what. The reason why they are number 2 over bigger contenders is because they have Vlad Jr., Baby Biggio and Baby Bichette. Let’s also not forget Lourdes Gurriel Jr., son of an Olympic gold medalist and Cuban star Lourdes Gurriel. Vlad Jr. alone is worth tuning in for, but this is like some sort of early look at the future of baseball cloning. We are all dying to know where this ends up. Is one of these guys the next Ken Griffey Jr.? There are some big personalities here too. Cons: Can Hyun Jin Ryu stay healthy? Just like Cole, he may have been a product of the system in LA that churns out quality pitchers. Someone has to start after Ryu, so there will be a lot of losses there. Their bullpen is bad, and with no days off, they will have to go deep into it. They won’t be flying, but they will be falling… with style. This is a good team for you if you like clicking on those clickbait links about stars before they were famous. Overall Ranking: 5
3. The Rays - Pros: Tampa is one of the most adventurous teams in baseball from their bizarre use of alternating closers, to interesting shifts, to heavy use of the opener, to having one of only two two-way players to have a major role (Brendan McKay), to the potential debut of Wander Franco thanks to a possible service time loophole (how will the short season impact service time?) and to Yandy Diaz’s biceps. They have a very talented rotation with Glasnow, Snell, Morton, and possibly McKay. Their hitters are better than you think with guys like Hunter Renfroe, Austin Meadows, and Ji-Man Choi. You won’t notice the empty stands at the Trop since everyone will have empty stands. Who knows what they have up their sleeves this year. Cons: There are not really any big name offensive players, and we still don’t know what they are going to do with guys like McKay and Franco (and several other hot prospects). This is a good pick if you are the kind of person who wants to try all five new Lays flavors that are coming. If you prefer plain Lays, this might not be the team for you. Overall ranking: 8
4. The Red Sox - Pros: They are still the Red Sox. They will likely still be competitive in their division. This is another one of those teams people love to hate (especially after some feedback from Torii Hunter, David Price and Adam Jones) and they will likely be worse than usual, offering more to savor than the haters usually get. There are still some big name offensive players like Xander Boagerts, Rafael Devers, JD Martinez, Andrew Benintendi and hot shot rookie Alex Verdugo. There will be a lot of 10-9 affairs from this group. Plus this team has that great rivalry with the Yankees. Fenway Park is beautiful. Cons: They scaled back payroll this offseason and moved on from their most exciting player, Mookie Betts, for some lottery tickets. It’s tough to make a buck over there in Boston. Their pitching staff as currently constituted is poor, especially with starters. They are counting on a lot of help from a bullpen that has been very up and down. It is unlikely this is a playoff group, so there is going to be a lot of mediocre baseball here. Honestly, this team just seems tired, and, without Big Papi, boring. This is a good team for you if you enjoy talking a lot of junk but not really being able to back it up. Overall Ranking: 9
5. The Orioles - Pros: Will Chris Davis pitch again? Probably not. Are they better than last year? Maybe. Have they added talent? Doesn’t really look like it. Do you get to see Camden Yards in the background? Yes! If you love to watch the underdog, maybe you could make it through a game? Probably not. I feel like their best bet to matter is to spring a critical upset or two against the big dogs at the wrong time. Cons: They have no players you have heard of in a good way. For a team that is supposedly rebuilding, they have virtually no one on the regular 25 man roster under 25, which should be very concerning for Orioles fans. This means there aren’t really even hot shot rookies to watch. Even in a season that is a relative toss-up, they have no shot. On the plus side…. we’re not Detroit! This is a good team for you if you enjoy Bull Durham and have an affinity for older Triple A players. Overall Ranking: 14
Al Central
1. The Indians - Pros: There is a lot to enjoy here, even with the inconsistency and some offseason losses. Francisco Lindor is the most watchable player in baseball. Jose Ramirez might be second. When Mike Clevinger is on the mound, he might be in the top ten with his ADHD delivery style. Watching Franmil Reyes hit is like seeing a young David Ortiz. Shane Bieber is a Cy Young candidate. Adam Cimber is the first true submariner I have seen in years. Bebo Perez throws out anything that moves. Tito Francona is a top 5 manager for quotes. They have a number of talented youngsters graduating to the big club. If this team puts it all together, they are a major contender. Forget about that though, this is a great mix of personality and fun. Sit back and watch the shenanigans. Cons: The loss of Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber takes away a lot of entertainment and talent, as well as lowers the ceiling of this group. If injuries strike the rotation again, the questionable line-up and mystery outfield might not be able to keep them in contention. It’s not likely they will win 22 in a row again. This is a good team for you if you wish baseball players liked baseball more. Overall Ranking: 3
2. The White Sox - Pros: There is major drop off in watchability from the Indians here, but that doesn’t mean there is a drop off in talent. The White Sox have successfully rebuilt their group, and in a short season they could easily win the division. There is a lot of talent here, from vets like Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Abreu, Lucas Giolito, Dallas Keuchel and Yasmani Grandal to young studs like Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, and Yoan Moncada. This team could explode or implode, and the intrigue should play out nightly. Jimenez in particular could find himself in the upper echelon of players very suddenly. This team should be very interesting. Cons: While there is a lot of talent here, some of it is either old or unmaterialized. The only players on the team I feel confident in are Abreu, Giolito and Grandal. They are also mostly non-household names due to the ongoing disaster they have been for the last several years. Sadly Michael Kopech won’t be joining this team with his huge fastball due to some unidentified but concerning personal issues. The Father wishes him well. Watching Yoan Moncada stare at pitches in the center of the strike zone is extremely annoying. This is a good team if you want a surprise… good or bad. Overall Ranking: 10
3. The Twins - Pros: A rebuilt group of Twinkies shot up to first last year, surprising a lot of experts. They did it with sound pitching and heavy hitting. There are some talented players here, Nelson Cruz, Jorge Polanco, Jose Berrios, Josh Donaldson (he’s here now), Byron Buxton, and Max Kepler. These are all consistently very good players. Byron Buxton is a defensive star whose web gems steal the show. These stable veterans and some incoming young talent mean a much higher floor than the White Sox. However, last year they got a performance for the ages from a rather blasé group of starting pitchers (behind Berrios) and the magic started to fade down the stretch. Proving that last year wasn’t a fluke rests on starters 2-5. Cons: the talent is there, the name power isn’t. Most casual baseball fans couldn’t name anyone on this team, and they aren’t really anyone’s major rival. Outside of Berrios there is nothing interesting in the pitching staff. No major power pitcher potential and the relievers are mediocre. This team needs to pack on the runs, and they have a real chance with this offensive group. This is a good team if you love to watch the small market squad overcome the odds and make the playoffs. Overall Ranking: 11
4. The Royals - Pros: This team is always a scrappy group, just a few years removed from a World Series win. There are some winning players in this group, and you never know what they might have left in just 60 games. Veterans like Greg Holland, Whit Merrifield, Alex Gordon, Jorge Soler, and Adelberto Mondesi will keep this team invested. Mondesi in particular looks like a budding star with his incredible defense, speed on the bases and improving hitting skills. This is a great team for you underdog lovers out there. There are some hints of the Major League Indians group. Cons: Unfortunately, those names are where the consistent production ends. A bunch of the big names from the glory years have moved on, and while there are replacements in the wings, they will take a while to develop. This team has very little in the starting rotation and not much more in the bullpen. This team will more likely lose a lot even if they make good with Jobu. This is a good team for you if were really into baseball 5-6 years ago. Overall Ranking: 12
5. The Tigers - Pros: You can still see a person who looks like Miguel Cabrera, so that’s fun. There are a lot of starting pitchers here with potential, and one or two of them might even be very good. On offense, you will see a name you recognize here or there, but it won’t be because they are good now. Cons: These are paper Tigers. This team is still several years from contention, and without any sort of significant winning veteran leadership beyond Cabrera, and his leadership is a bit suspect, things could go off the cliff quickly. There is not much to see here. I have a better chance of making the playoffs. This is not a good team for you. Overall Ranking: 15
AL West
1. The Astros- Pros: This rating has as much to do with how other teams are going to act playing the Astros than what the Astros will do themselves. There is still plenty to enjoy from a team standpoint. They are loaded with big bats like Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Aledmys Diaz, Michael Brantley and George Springer. All of these guys can hit a ton, and this basically guarantees a bunch of high scoring games. From the pitching side, they have lost some of their big arms, but Justin Verlander (albeit a bit banged up), Zach Greinke, and Roberto Osuna are all at the top of the position. Verlander and Greinke have the added distinction of being… interesting… personalities. None of this is why most fans will watch though. Most fans will be watching for 3 things. Will their hitters show a noticeable decline in their hitting this year, will they try to cheat in some new way to compensate, and will pitchers go head hunting out of anger for the lost opportunities that the Astros’ cheating might have cost them. Everyone has a rivalry with the Astros now. Cons: This team is likely to see a little drop off this year. Two straight years of losing a key pitcher (Cole and Morton) without seeing a clear young replacement develop has left the rotation weaker than normal. The heavy schedule over the last few years has started to have physical consequences as guys like Verlander, Brantley, Altuve and Correa are all possible injury risks. Non-Astros fans don't care about any of this though. The only thing that could ruin this experience is MLB going super heavy handed with any bean ball suspensions. This is a good team for you if you are a glutton for punishment. Overall Ranking: 2
2. The Angels - Pros: The best player in baseball resides here, and it’s not close. Mike Trout has consistently stood above the pack in any metric you choose. He’s it. Shohei Ohtani threatens to be the most interesting player to watch if he can stay healthy, as a potential 30-100 guy on offense (in a full season) and a Cy Young candidate on the mound. No other player can do anything remotely like that. Andrelton Simmons remains one of the great underrated players in baseball, combining a solid bat and probably the best defensive career at short stop anyone has ever had (yes I know who Ozzie Smith is). Tommy LaStella has a lot of potential and might be able to take the next step forward. The adddition of Anthony Rendon also provides Trout with the best lineup protection he has had. The statue of Albert Pujols hasn’t been taken down, because it is the actual Albert Pujols. Cons: The problems with the Angels have long been both how top heavy they are and how they have not had pitching help (either starters or relievers). That… hasn’t really changed. After the key guys I mentioned, the other elements of the team are untested, or worse, tested and found wanting. Outside of Trout, they don’t exactly have Angels in the Outfield. Andrew Heaney has some strikeout potential, but that hasn’t really translated into a low ERA or wins. This team will remain just out of the playoff picture unless some of the lesser lights in the rotation step up. Still, the top end stars keep them from slipping much. I’d rather watch one of the greatest players ever than five really good players. This is a good team for you if you wish you could have watched Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, or Stan Musial. Overall Ranking: 4
3. The Rangers - Pros: The Rangers narrowly defeat the Athletics in watchability by having bigger names and a better ballpark. It is simply more fun to watch Joey Gallo hit lots of homers than to watch Sean Manaea throw 7 shutout innings. The Rangers have lots of names that you might know, Gallo, 2 time Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, and Shin Soo Choo. The farm system has been cranking out lots of young talent as well to keep this team balanced. This team could be solid if all the pieces fall into place. Cons: Those big names I mentioned also have been up and down an awful lot. Even Kluber has shown some weaknesses the last few years. None of these players is certain to be great. They have a high ceiling, but also a very low floor if players like Minor, Lynn and Kluber can’t be what they have been in the past. Uncertainty is more fun to watch than certainty, though, and this team could end up at the top or the bottom. And you will still get lots of homers. This is a good team for you if you like watching the long ball. Overall Ranking: 6
4. Oakland Athletics - Pros: This team is more talented than the Rangers despite the names. As always they have been carefully built with some big young arms and solid OPS hitters ready to impact. The problem is, guys like Sean Manea, Jesus Luzardo, Frankie Montas, AJ Puk, Liam Hendricks, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Marcus Semien, Mark Canha, Khris Davis and Stephen Piscotty aren’t household names despite being very good. They are all talented young players either in, or entering, their primes. This team is a real threat to dethrone the Astros, especially in a short season. If these players played for, say, the Red Sox, then we would never stop hearing about them. Spoiler alert: this Cons: No big names and a bad stadium. The field in Oakland constricts offense with it cavernous size (both to the fence and with foul ground) and sea level air density. This helps those young pitchers but suppresses what their hitters (and visitors) can max out at. If this same team played in Texas, the numbers would be overwhelming offensively. As it is they hit a lot of homers. These young guys haven’t quite reached the point yet where there numbers are consistent, however. If 3-4 of those guys could maintain their top end for a season or two, they would be amongst the best in baseball, but we don’t quite have proof of that yet. Hopefully this year they will put it all together and be the best versions of themselves in unison. This is a good team for you if love being on the ground floor of a potential skyscraper before it gets built. Overall Ranking: 7
5. The Seattle Mariners - Pros: Their fast start last year was a mirage (but they knew that and traded away several pieces of that mirage for some minor league help), but there is hope starting to peak over the horizon. The army from the minors is starting to seep into the regular club. At this point, there isn’t much to spotlight, as no one is really proven at the major league level. The closest thing this team has to a star is Daniel Vogelbach, who has some raw power. Outside of him though, it is hard to know what to expect from anyone. Cons: This is especially true on the pitching side where there are no elite options with Felix Hernandez’s glory days long gone. Justus Sheffield, Taijuan Walker and Yusei Kikuchi have the pedigree, but not the performance. Vets like Marco Gonzales, Kyle Seager, and Dee Gordon are probably trade bait. This team is a few years away from serious contention, but at least they know it and are working on the problem. If you enjoy watching a mystery bag team, this might be the one. It could be anyone, at any time, who becomes a key player for this club moving forward. Only six players on the roster have been in the bigs more than 4 years, and most of those will probably be gone by season’s end. They are the Bizzaro Orioles. This is a good team for you if you like being on the sub-basement level 4, standing in dirt, of a potential skyscraper before it gets built. Overall Ranking: 13
Bonus Content: Predictions for 60 games
Al East:
Yankees 42-18
Tampa Rays 38-22
Boston Red Sox 33-27
Toronto Blue Jays 25-35
Baltimore Orioles 15-45
AL Central:
Cleveland Indians 40-20
Minnesota Twins 39-21
Chicago White Sox 36-24
Kansas City Royals 18-42
Detroit Tigers 13-47
AL West
Oakland A’s 39-21
Houston Astros: 38-22
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (ha) 31-29
Texas Rangers 28-32
Seattle Mariners: 15-45
Playoffs:
Wild Card:
Tampa Rays over Minnesota Twins
Division Round:
New York Yankees over Tampa Rays 3-2
Oakland A’s over Cleveland Indians 3-1
AL Championship:
Oakland A’s over New York Yankees 4-3
I mean, dude I mostly agree about the Red Sox, but a David Ortiz reference? C'mon, man. He retired four years ago. We won the World Series without him. ;)