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05/24/2005 Archived Entry: "MLB News: AL Preview"
Take a peek into tonight's games and some quick notes for the teams... By Trent Harrison
How about we tackle this thing a little differently today- instead of telling you what happened in the previous night's action, let us take a look into tonight's games and see if I can pull off a prediction, nay a premonition if you will, about the American League.
Starting of with the 7:00 pm games( Alright, they are really 7:05 or 7:15, but you get the jist)...
Detroit will head into Yankee Stadium to take on New York for three days, starting with the 2-3 Wil Ledezma squaring off against Mike Mussina(4-2) in a series that could give the Yanks a much needed boost in the standings going into a series with the Red Sox. No Yankee has faced Ledezma more than two times, only A-Rod has faced him twice, and both times he went yard. I look for another impressive performance by Moose to give the Yanks a win tonight, and take at least two out of three from the cats.
The Twins roll into Cleveland for a four-game stand bringing Joe Mays to the hill with his 3-1 record to go against the best 1-7 pitcher in the league, Jake Westbrook. Jake whatever you did to those eight boys behind you, apologize, ask forgiveness, and ask that they start hitting the ball for you. The Tribe has won three in a row, and won their last four out of five against the Twins, and even though I see a split series here, I got to go with Westbrook giving a solid performance and his teammates to contribute to a win in this series opener.
Boston will head into Canada for three games to take on the Jays, with Boomer Wells back(2-4) and hopefully feeling better going to the mound versus Dave Bush(0-4) seeking his first win of the year. Speaking of fat ballplayers, "Papi" Ortiz is leading the AL with 16 doubles, amazing. Take Boom-Boom tonight and give two of three to the Sox.
Oakland will follow undefeated Seth Etherton(1-0) into Tampa Bay to go against Doug Waechter(1-3) and the Devil Rays for a best-of-three series tonight. Tampa is a respectable 12-12 at Tropicana Field, but an abyssmal 3-18 away from home. This series just may go to the Rays, but I like the A's tonight.
In what should be three days of some serious offense, Seattle will take the recently recalled Joel Piniero(2-3) to pitch against Bruce Chen(5-2) and the Baltimore Orioles in Camden Yards tonight. Seattle's defense has pulled off more than one double play in a game six times this season already. Take Chen with a solid showing tonight and look for a probable sweep for the Orioles.
Where have you gone George Brett? Hell, Kansas City could use Seitzer, Tartabull and White to help right this ship. So why not go to Texas, where f-16's are try to escort some of those homeruns back towards the Ballpark. A three-game set kicks off tonight with the Royals Ronel Hernandez(2-5) pitted against Ryan Drese(3-4). Quick note: all of Mark Teixeira 10 Homeruns have come from the left side of the plate. I forsee nothing less than a clean sweep by the Rangers here, but that's why they play the game.
The only game for the AL on the West Coast is a three game set between the White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels, with Chicago going with ace Mark Buehrle(7-1) and the Angels countering with Bartolo Colon(5-3) in the series opener. Talk about a workhorse, Buehrle has gone at least six full innings in his last 36 starts, that leads all major league pitchers right now. Might as well ride this horse and take the Sox in a low scoring game tonight, and I'll give them two of three against the busted-up halos.
So there you have it for tonights matchups, and remember folks, these are merely premonitions from God, Hunter Thompson, and a few others colleagues of mine up above. Enjoy the games, folks!!!
Trent Harrison
