After a tumultuous winter filled with steroid allegations, trades and way too much Barry Bonds, the baseball season has finally arrived. The big-money teams have loaded their rosters with more superstars than ever, and the game looks set to enter a new, no-steroid era.
While the teams at the top will probably continue to perform, it's the little guys who inspire the baseball world each year. This season, there are five no-name teams that could make a significant splash.
First are the upstart, red-hot Cleveland Indians. Playing in the American League Central Division makes things a little easier for this squad full of young talent. C.C. Sabathia anchors a rotation that includes Kevin Millwood, Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee. Lee should be the X-factor for this group, and if he's able to perform the Indians should win the division easily.
On the field the Tribe will rally behind center fielder Coco Crisp. Crisp hit .297 last year, but in the vital on-base-plus-slugging category, his was .790, impressive for a non-slugger. Look for Crisp and the Tribe to dominate their power vacuum of a division.
The Texas Rangers are also capable of stirring up trouble this season. Last year the Rangers were in the playoff hunt until the final weekend, and it should happen again. The key for this team is pitching and whether or not it can keep its guys healthy. Kenny Rogers needs to remain steady, but if the team can pick up the 18 wins that it did from him last season it should have no problem winning again.
The problem for Texas is the division it competes in. The AL West is one of the toughest in baseball, and again Anaheim has a great squad. But if the Rangers get hot early and Michael Young, Hank Blalock and Mark Teixiera produce like they did last year, the Rangers have a great shot at the division title.
The third team looking to make waves this year will be the San Diego Padres. Khalil Greene returns for his sophomore season at shortstop, one that shouldn't include the slump. The team is backed by a great pitching core that includes Woody Williams, who came over from St. Louis.
The key for this team will be the play of the other NL West teams. The Dodgers lost key players like Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green and should be deep in rebuilding mode. If the Dodgers and Arizona stay cold and Barry Bonds remains inactive, the Padres should march to a division championship.
The penultimate team to watch this year will be the Baltimore Orioles. Most experts predict the Orioles won't have a chance in the top-heavy AL East, but the facts may prove otherwise. Sammy Sosa was unhappy in Chicago, and a change of venue may be exactly what the slugger needs to get his game back on top. The team finished strong last season, and pitchers Jorge Julio and Sidney Ponson both looked good.
The deciding factor in this situation will once again be the team's play against the powerhouse Yankees and Red Sox. The Orioles' road trip to the Bronx is on April 8, and this should prove interesting. If the team can get off to a good start against its rival Bombers, that confidence should push it throughout the season.
The last team to watch is one that doesn't seem to have much of a chance at all, a team that for a while did not have a home - that's right, the Washington Nationals.
Your hometown team actually looks decent this season and should surprise a lot of analysts. Now no one is suggesting it will make the playoffs or that it will even have a winning record, but .500 baseball is possible.
Tony Armas Jr. will start the season on the DL, but when he comes back he could be a dominant pitcher. Jose Vidro and Cristian Guzman should and will star in the field and at the plate. It should be a fun season to watch baseball in the District.
