The A.L. Central Preview
by Zac Pringle - zipringle@hotmail.com

For the 2000 season it seems like the best of the best are all compiled in the American League Central division. Last year's American League Champions reside there, along with what some say that is as good or even better - the Fort Gibson Sand Gnats. Along with a very competitive Colorado ballclub and the up and coming Iowa franchise this will be a very exciting division to watch.

Lets start off with the last year's Champs, who's lineups seems invincible. Last years MVP, Tino Martinez, leads the charge only this year he has Juan Gonzalez behind him. Gonzalez was one of the NL best hitters last season, atop the leaderboard in homeruns. Add those two to the supporting cast of Chad Curtis, Brady Anderson, Delino DeSheilds, Butch Huskey and you have a lineup that will have AL pitchers waking to nightmares even weeks later. To go with this outstanding offensive punch, the Tulsa pitching staff is almost as dominant with Radke at the front, there are no apparent weak links in the starting rotation, the only minor concern is that there is no dominant, established closer to put out late inning fires.

Right on the heels of Tulsa are the Ft. Gibson Sand Gnats, Ft. Gibson suffered a very disappointing season last year and are seeking revenge. The most outstanding strength of this team is it's pitching. Appier, Pavano, Astacio, Moyer and Benes make a very intimidating starting 5, each could be number 1 starters on lesser teams, but together are very tough. Add to that a bullpen that features Trevor Hoffman at closing time, Ft Gibson plans to keep opponents down. The Sand Gnats aren't too shabby with the lumber either, having 3 outfielders who hit for power and Jim Thome in the 4 spot the Gnats aren't anything to laugh at.

The Colorado Lumberkings will also throw their hat into the ring with Larry Walker leading the charge, and in Coor's field, anything can happen. Along with Walker, Colorado will send E. Martinez, B.J. Surhoff and Jeremy Giambi to the plate. If you add Matt Williams to the mix, Colorado will scare a few pitchers itself. The only reason Colorado isn't among the top 2 in this division is their pitching. It is good, but doesn't seem to match up on paper, but then again games aren't played on paper, so anything can happen.

The Iowa Franchise has it's eye on the future, with too many pitching prospects to name, along with many up and coming position players, the Killer Swine has it's eyes on future prizes.

With all of this in mind, I will attempt to make a prediction for this division, I believe that the only deciding factor will be how each team deals with it's injuries, neither team is too deep, but the do have comparable backups. But if a Thome or Tino Martinez were to go down, it might mean the AL wild card instead of the division crown. Colorado will factor in but only if their staff does an outstanding job. Iowa will concentrate on building for the future. But all things being equal I believe that in a hitter's league, like the American League is, I give the slight edge to Tulsa, but this edge is ever so slight as I believe Ft. Gibson will be right there too, leaving Colorado and Iowa behind.