Ranking AL Central pitching staffs

Tom Olmscheid, Associated Press - Ap

Fausto Carmona, a bust as Cleveland's closer in 2006, became a dominant starting pitcher for the Indians in 2007.

By LA VELLE E. NEAL III, Star Tribune

Last update: March 29, 2008 - 2:57 PM

RANKING AL CENTRAL ROTATIONS

1. Indians Cleveland starters had the lowest ERA in the American League last season. Big lefty C.C. Sabathia, one of the game's top pitchers, can be a free agent after the season and should be motivated by Johan Santana's huge contract. Sabathia and righthander Fausto Carmona, who was 19-8 last season, form one of the better 1-2 punches in the game. Righthanders Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrook are solid in the middle. Cliff Lee won the battle for the fifth spot.

2. Tigers Who cares what Kenny Rogers does this season? Detroit has ace righthander Justin Verlander at the top of very good rotation. Righthander Jeremy Bonderman hasn't turned 26 but has more than 150 major league starts and could be primed for a good year. Lefthander Dontrelle Willis should benefit from being in a good pitchers park. Lefthander Nate Robertson is what you want out of a back-end-of-the-rotation starter. He takes the ball 30 times and grinds out wins.

3. White Sox Chicago is the only AL team with starters that have thrown at least 1,000 innings in each of the past five seasons -- but don't look for six in a row. Lefthander Mark Buehrle anchors the rotation, and righthander Javier Vazquez is coming off a good season, but righthander Jon Garland is gone and the kids (lefthander John Danks and righthander Gavin Floyd) need to grow up fast. The White Sox also have the skeletal remains of Jose Contreras.

4. Twins Veteran righthander Livan Hernandez is the Opening Day starter, but the bulk of this rotation is inexperienced. Righthander Scott Baker, the team's best option as the new staff ace, must build on the encouraging outings he had last season. Righthander Boof Bonser's ERA must drop like his weight did during the offseason. Sorry, nothing should be expected out of Francisco Liriano this season as he settles in after Tommy John surgery in late 2006.

5. Royals Kansas City paid righthander Gil Meche $55 million for five seasons last year -- admittedly overpaying to get an innings-eater -- and got nine victories out of him in 2007. If the Royals are going to get out of the division basement this season, righthanders Brian Bannister and Zack Greinke need to develop behind Meche. The rest of the rotation is in flux, but Minnesota players and fans will be relieved to learn Twins killer Jorge De La Rosa was designated for assignment last week.

RANKING AL CENTRAL BULLPENS

1. Indians Rip Joe Borowski all you want, but he saved 45 games for a very good bullpen last season. Lefthander Rafael Perez emerged as a force, and Rafael Betancourt might be the best eighth-inning man in the game. Jensen Lewis was a big boost down the stretch last season. Can Borowski do it again? Masa Kobayashi, a closing machine in Japan, is Plan B.

2. Twins Battle-tested group will be challenged this year. The bullpen is anchored by one of the finest closers in the game in Joe Nathan, but Jesse Crain has to prove that he is all the way back from shoulder surgery; Juan Rincon is coming off of a rough 2007; and lefthander Dennys Reyes might not be able to handle the workload. Other than Nathan, Pat Neshek is the most reliable reliever coming back, but even he wore down at the end of 2007.

3. Tigers This should be one of the better bullpens in the game, but Joel Zumaya might not be ready until midseason because of shoulder surgery and fellow righthander Fernando Rodney battled shoulder soreness during camp and eventually was placed on the disabled list. And how long can closer Todd Jones keep tricking hitters?

4. White Sox Bobby Jenks is a good closer, and righthander Octavio Dotel and lefthander Matt Thornton are decent setup men. But Mike MacDougal has been erratic, and Scott Linebrink has to prove he's not in decline.

5. Royals Joakim Soria is a talented closer. Jimmy Gobble is a good lefty, and righthander Joel Peralta was effective last season. Not a pushover here, but the group lacks name recognition and a track record.

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