Early projection: Indians No. 1 in '06ESPN.com

 

 

The Chicago White Sox just won the World Series. Free agency hasn't even started yet. We're five months from the next major-league game. Yet it's never a bad time to project how teams will look when they suit up on Opening Day in 2006. And for now, ESPN.com's early front-runners are the Cleveland Indians.

 

How would you rank the teams going into 2006? Here's your chance.

 

POWER RANKINGS

1. Cleveland Indians: Can they sign Kevin Millwood? That'll be the key. Other than closer Bob Wickman, the rest of the team is locked up. The Indians may be baseball's best team from top to bottom. They are young, loaded and hungry from their final-week collapse in '05. Cleveland could earn its first Series title since 1948.

 

2. Chicago White Sox: Here's believing the White Sox will sign free agent Paul Konerko. They'll also add young Brandon McCarthy to an already solid staff. And with Bobby Jenks in the closer role for an entire year? Watch out. The Sox could be even better in '06. At the same time, it's tough to continue one year's glory into the next.

 

3. St. Louis Cardinals: The Cards will have to replace Admin Walker (retirement) and likely Reggie Sanders (free agency). But Scott Rolen will be back. Couple his return with Pujols and Edmonds in the middle of the order, a strong staff led by Chris Carpenter, and the excitement over the new Busch Stadium, and an NL pennant is highly possible.

 

4. Oakland Athletics: There will be little offseason movement in Oaktown. But then again, all the A's need is a bit more maturity from their young players. The pitching is there; now the offense needs to catch up. And with Bobby Crosby, Nick Swisher and Dan Johnson a year older, they should score enough to win the AL West crown.

 

5. New York Yankees: The Yankees haven't missed the playoffs since '93, so here's betting they'll make it again. The lineup will be set, once they re-sign Hideki Matsui. They'll most likely fill their hole in center field. Their fortunes, once again, will rise or fall on the legs of an old staff, aside from Chien-Ming Wang.

 

6. New York Mets: The Amazin's could be the team to beat in the NL East. Their rotation is aging, but strong with Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine. Don't expect Carlos Beltran to have another year like '05. David Wright is a rising star. Look for Rafael Furcal to join Jose Reyes at the top of the order and in the middle of the infield.

 

7. Los Angeles Angels: The Angels will lose starter Jarrod Washburn and catcher Bengie Molina. But pitcher Ervin Santana is ready to step up. The offense needs a big jolt. And if Manny Ramirez doesn't come to Anaheim, Casey Kotchman, Dallas McPherson or Kendry Morales could provide support for superstar Vladimir Guerrero.

 

8. Atlanta Braves: OK, they lost Leo Mazzone. But don't cry for the Braves, who were blessed in '05 with a boatload of contributing rookies. Jeff Francoeur and company will be a year older, to go with vets Andruw Jones, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz. They'll compete for a 15th straight NL East title, but it has to end sooner or later.

 

9. Philadelphia Phillies: Ryan Howard or Jim Thome? Here's thinking they'll somehow deal Thome. They may have to eat part of his big contract, but they need pitching help, especially since they'll lose Billy Wagner through free agency. And the Phils are unlikely to add more payroll. The Phils were close in '05 ... and will be just as close again.

 

10. Boston Red Sox: While Theo is gone, there's a distinct possibility they'll lose Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez as well. That would be a huge blow to a team that relied heavily on offense to compensate for its mediocre pitching. Boston needs its young pitchers (Jonathan Papelbon, Craig Hansen, Manny Delcarmen) to develop in a hurry.

 

11. Milwaukee Brewers: Who's at first, Lyle Overbay or Prince Fielder? It'll be one or the other for the up-and-coming Brewers. New owner Mark Attanasio is expected to increase payroll and could add Wisconsin native Jarrod Washburn. With a healthy Ben Sheets and a burgeoning young lineup, the Brewers will rise to second in the NL Central.

 

12. Houston Astros: Roger Clemens' future is uncertain. Plus, he's 43, with back and leg problems. It's unlikely Andy Pettitte will pitch as well as he did in '05. And the Astros may hope that Jeff Bagwell, owed $17 million next season, wishes to retire instead of coming back. The 'Stros also need offense. A full year of Lance Berkman helps, but another playoff berth may be too much to ask.

 

13. Florida Marlins: A.J. Burnett won't be back, and the Marlins could also lose Alex Gonzalez, Juan Encarnacion and Jeff Conine. But new manager Joe Girardi still inherits a strong team on paper, with Dontrelle Willis and Josh Beckett in the rotation and a lineup with Miguel Cabrera, Carlos Delgado and young Jeremy Hermida in the middle. That's not bad.

 

14. Minnesota Twins: Look for the Twins, who have pitching to burn, to make a trade to improve their lackluster offense, the AL's worst in '05. They could lose Jacque Jones to free agency, so they'll need a bold move for an explosive bat or two to keep up with Chicago and Cleveland in their own division.

 

15. San Francisco Giants: The Giants will greatly benefit from Barry Bonds' presence, even if it's only for 120 games. They have a nice blend of old-timers and youth, especially with Noah Lowry and Matt Cain in the rotation. If they don't lose a key player like Jason Schmidt or -- of course -- Bonds to injury again, the Giants may win the NL West title.

 

16. Toronto Blue Jays: Will A.J. Burnett come to Toronto? It's possible due to his relationship with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg. The Jays will spend for either Burnett or Jarrod Washburn. They also need one more big bat. But with Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay back to go with a strong, young nucleus, the Jays are on the rise.

 

17. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks made progress in '05, and they should make more in '06. Brandon Webb and Javier Vazquez make a nice 1-2 punch, if Vazquez returns. And the lineup has potential with Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin ready to help Troy Glaus, Chad Tracy and Luis Gonzalez. Watch them battle the Giants for the NL West.

 

18. Detroit Tigers: Jim Leyland has landed a team with tons of promise. The Tigers will add pitching to a staff led by blossoming young ace Jeremy Bonderman. Hot prospect Justin Verlander should join the rotation. They should get a full season from Magglio Ordonez, and Chris Shelton is a masher. Keep an eye on the Tigers.

 

19. Texas Rangers: The question: Will new, young GM Jon Daniels pull the trigger? As always, the Rangers need pitching in the worst way. Kenny Rogers, their best pitcher in '05, won't be back. Unless they trade from their surplus of bats (Soriano?) for an established starter or two, Texas will struggle again to reach .500.

 

20. Baltimore Orioles: The O's would love to forget '05, and adding pitching coach Leo Mazzone was a huge boost. He has talent to work with in starters Daniel Cabrera and Erik Bedard, although they'll lose closer B.J. Ryan. The lineup still has Miguel Tejada, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora and Javy Lopez. Expect better results and less controversy.

 

21. Washington Nationals: Somebody will own the Nats by Opening Day, and the front office situation will be settled. But on the field, the Nationals, who played over their heads in the first half of '05, should get little help through free agency or trades. Rookie Ryan Zimmerman will make a big impact, but the Nats should take a step back in '06.

 

22. Chicago Cubs: First, the Red Sox. Then, the White Sox. Is it the Cubs' turn? Not yet, unless Mark Prior and Kerry Wood can both remain healthy. Given their histories, don't bet on it. And don't count on the Cubs signing Nomar Garciaparra. But Prior and Wood are all that matter. Without either of them, the Cubs will have to wait another year.

 

23. San Diego Padres: The Padres won the woeful NL West in '05, but more by default. It will be even harder for them to stay above .500 in '06. Expect Brian Giles, Ramon Hernandez and longtime closer Trevor Hoffman to leave Southern California. They still have ace Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene, but not much else to predict another division crown.

 

24. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: The GM and manager will be in place soon. In the meantime, the Rays are brimming with talent; they were 39-34 in the second half. They'll trade Aubrey Huff to make room in their outfield for someone like Delmon Young. And players like Jorge Cantu, Jonny Gomes and Carl Crawford give the D-Rays a reason to hope.

 

25. Seattle Mariners: Much hope rests on the mighty right arm of young Felix Hernandez. King Felix will be expected to pitch like a staff ace in '06. But where's the pitching beyond Felix? And a lineup with Ichiro, Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez was 13th in the AL in runs scored. Expect another season in the AL West basement.

 

26. Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates' rich, young talent is surfacing just in time for Jim Tracy's arrival in the Steel City. Zach Duke was brilliant in his '05 debut, and there's more where that came from. Still, the Pirates will lack offensive firepower around Jason Bay, one of the game's unsung performers. The Bucs are built more for '07 and beyond.

 

27. Los Angeles Dodgers: A manager like Bobby Valentine could coax a few more wins out of this team, and Eric Gagne's return is a big plus. Still, the starting pitching is suspect, and so is the lineup beyond Jeff Kent. Look for the Dodgers to draw from their deep and talented farm system. That'll be great for 2007, but not 2006.

 

28. Cincinnati Reds: There's no doubting the Reds' offense. They hammer the ball, leading the NL in runs scored in '05. But like the Rangers in the AL, the Reds are all bats, no arms. Dealing offense (Dunn? Griffey? Kearns?) will return pitching, but the uncertain ownership situation complicates matters -- and keeps the Reds in the same spot as '05.

 

29. Colorado Rockies: The thin air did a number again on the Rockies' pitching. Jeff Francis looks like an ace, and was better on the road than at home. But can they surround Francis with more quality arms? Uh, no. And despite the emergence of Barmes, Atkins and Holliday to go with Helton, the offense still won't be good enough to compensate.

 

30. Kansas City Royals: Dead last in pitching. Dead last in wins -- 12 lower than the next worst team. Is there any reason to expect a different scenario in '06? The Royals will have to take their lumps for at least another season before Zack Greinke and the rest of their young players can start producing on the major-league level.

 

 

I know this is early, but come on. The Mets and Brewers ahead of us?

The Mets at #6 is really idiot.

 

I guarantee the Mets will not make the playoffs next year.

The Mets are going to have a very good offseason. I see them as the favorite to win the east next year.

 

The Brewers are sorta like the 2004 Indians.

The Mets have had several good offseasons, but it seems as if none of their moves pan out. I dont see how they can be ranked that far ahead of us, or any other team in the NL east for that matter.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

Remember, they're the Mets. I am completely confident they will eff up again like they always do.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

Remember, they're the Mets. I am completely confident they will eff up again like they always do.

 

Remember we're the cost cutting Marlins...all the talk is of players leaving...none coming in.

They have no clue what the composition of these teams will be by the start of the season. They're retarded.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

Remember, they're the Mets. I am completely confident they will eff up again like they always do.

Just like the Braves in the NLDS

They make it seem like losing AJ was a bad thing.... :lol

This is retarded to have out this early...and isnt it like once every few years it becomes the Mets 'year'.

 

Laughable.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

 

The talk is of everyone leaving? Besides AJ, who is guranteed to be gone? Gonzalez and Conine want to stay. Of course theres no talk of anyone coming in, the only surefire thing right now is the Cardinals really want Brian Giles.

 

I know your hoping this is finally the Phillies year, just come clean already.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

Remember, they're the Mets. I am completely confident they will eff up again like they always do.

They really screwed up on that Pedro Martinez deal.

 

 

:plain !!!!

Honostly that's rubbish... There's no way the Mets are going to take the East by any means and from an objective view, the Marlins' ranking is far too low than it should be...

 

The Mets at #6 is really idiot.

 

I guarantee the Mets will not make the playoffs next year.

 

 

I second that, there's no f***ing way... It's basically putting a positive spin on the mets once again... Remember last offseaon when everyone was picking the Mets? It's just not going to happen

Weren't most people picking us last year? And I ate 14 white castle cheeseburgers today, I am not feeling good at all.

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

 

The talk is of everyone leaving? Besides AJ, who is guranteed to be gone? Gonzalez and Conine want to stay. Of course theres no talk of anyone coming in, the only surefire thing right now is the Cardinals really want Brian Giles.

 

I know your hoping this is finally the Phillies year, just come clean already.

 

Jones, AJ, Gonzalez, Encarnacion all have been rumored to go and for a team whose cost cutting...more will be coming...I'm just saying i'd rather have a team marked "Buyer" then a team marked "Seller"

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

 

The talk is of everyone leaving? Besides AJ, who is guranteed to be gone? Gonzalez and Conine want to stay. Of course theres no talk of anyone coming in, the only surefire thing right now is the Cardinals really want Brian Giles.

 

I know your hoping this is finally the Phillies year, just come clean already.

 

Jones, AJ, Gonzalez, Encarnacion all have been rumored to go and for a team whose cost cutting...more will be coming...I'm just saying i'd rather have a team marked "Buyer" then a team marked "Seller"

 

We knew Encarnacion and AJ were gone after the season. Seabass has said he wants to stay, as well as Conine. Easley will only leave for a starting job. No big shocker. I wouldn't call us sellers as we are losing people to free agency. If we started trading off valueable pieces, then we would be sellers. As far as I know, every team goes into the offseason as buyers.

 

So who are your beloved Phillies going to sign?

Take off your teal glasses....Who should be ahead...a team whose willing to go spend the money to improve and will get big pieces or the team whose cost cutting and will lose more players then it will gain including a couple of starters.....The Mets should and probably will be ahead of us.

 

 

The talk is of everyone leaving? Besides AJ, who is guranteed to be gone? Gonzalez and Conine want to stay. Of course theres no talk of anyone coming in, the only surefire thing right now is the Cardinals really want Brian Giles.

 

I know your hoping this is finally the Phillies year, just come clean already.

 

Jones, AJ, Gonzalez, Encarnacion all have been rumored to go and for a team whose cost cutting...more will be coming...I'm just saying i'd rather have a team marked "Buyer" then a team marked "Seller"

 

We knew Encarnacion and AJ were gone after the season. Seabass has said he wants to stay, as well as Conine. Easley will only leave for a starting job. No big shocker. I wouldn't call us sellers as we are losing people to free agency. If we started trading off valueable pieces, then we would be sellers. As far as I know, every team goes into the offseason as buyers.

 

So who are your beloved Phillies going to sign?

 

Despite all of the board's hatred for AJ, he's going to be missed. I'm glad that Bass and Conine want to stay but if the Marlins don't pay then they won't stay and considering they've got younger options in AAA, I don't see Bass coming back. Alfonseca and Jones are FA's and Jones is due a big deal which the team won't give. Mecir is retiring, Mota is being rumored to being dealt and Moehler and Valdez are both FA's which the team has said they have no interest in bringing back so therefore explain to me how we're not sellers.

Honostly that's rubbish... There's no way the Mets are going to take the East by any means and from an objective view, the Marlins' ranking is far too low than it should be...

 

 

The Mets at #6 is really idiot.

 

I guarantee the Mets will not make the playoffs next year.

 

 

I second that, there's no f***ing way... It's basically putting a positive spin on the mets once again... Remember last offseaon when everyone was picking the Mets? It's just not going to happen

They finished ahead of us. Most people did pick us to make the playoffs.

they also made it sound like the mets having tom glavine in the starting rotation is a good thing...did he even finish about .500

The Marlins finished at about #12 last year so this seems about right.

 

I just like the idea that Kevin Millwood is somehow the key to the season.

FishFanInPa...we cant be sellers. Players signing away does not make us sellers. Us trading away important pieces, THEN we would be sellers. That seems to be what you dont get. I know you WANT us to be sellers, it would make it easier on that hometown favorite team of yours, the Phillies, but we are not sellers.

 

And we did not finish behind the Mets. We finished in 3rd place.

I just like the idea that Kevin Millwood is somehow the key to the season.

 

 

Probably the whole "led the AL in ERA" thing.

OK, put us 4th in the NL East. We play better as the underdog anyway.

I just like the idea that Kevin Millwood is somehow the key to the season.

 

 

Probably the whole "led the AL in ERA" thing.

No dude. Any pitcher not on the Marlins sux!