The Cleveland Indians became the favorite team in the American League to reach the World Series again this year after last season being the revelation team that fell short of the title of the “Classic World Series.”
However, the historic and legendary New York Yankees, although they have changed their policy of maintaining a roster based on the young talent they have formed and achieved through transfers, they remain the team with the greatest economic power and will seek to return to the top.
After their prominence in the Fall Classic of 2016, in which they lost in the seventh game in extra innings against the Chicago Cubs, the Indians monopolized all the attention for the great team they had formed based mainly on the young talent that possess.
The “tribe” strengthened its teams and has a solid group of pitchers, and also enlisted the services of Dominican third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, an explosive veteran with the bat, who will be of great help.
They also have the Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor, the promising youngster who gets bigger every day with his game.
Encarnacion signed with the Indians to be the fourth batter of that ninth, after hitting 42 home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Their rotation remains dominant with Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin, each with at least 11 wins last season.
The Indians will once again play under the direction of veteran manager Francona, who will be a guarantee for the great work he has developed at the head of the team with the growth of young talents.
It is true that they will have to play in the shadow of a loss to the Cubs filled with frustration as they let themselves snatch a title when they had a 1-3 lead in the series.
But Francona is convinced that they will come back stronger mentally and physically, as well as more experience that will be reflected in their performance when they start the new championship.
The Yankees are still looking to rediscover the path of leadership, but they continue to remain as a team in transition that will aim to reach the final phase, but which at the same time continues to strengthen itself for the future.
With a host of new players, their most since 1996, the Yankees aim to find their true potential, like that team that had Derek Jeter make his debut at 22 years old.
Pitcher Andy Pettite had 21 wins at age 24, and Panamanian closer Mariano Rivera was starting to stand out.
This year’s rookies join some Yankees who finished fourth in the East Division last season, and who have invested large sums of money, such as the 86 million dollars to get the services of the Cuban closer Aroldis Chapman with a contract of five seasons, and that the last one was a key piece in the relief box, especially with the Cubs.
The big absence on the field for the Yankees will be Alex Rodríguez, who was released last August, but who remains attached to the team as an advisor.
Another team to look out for is the Detroit Tigers, who feature star pitcher Justin Verlander, who along with Michael Fulmer will be a force this season.
Both pitchers will have the backing of Venezuelan star bat Miguel Cabrera.
But the Kansas City Royals can displace the Tigers, if they improve their rotation, less effective than that of the Indians and Detroit, after losing their star Yordano Ventura in a car accident that cost him his life. and his compatriot Edison Volquez in free agency.
While the Red Sox will begin a new era without the presence of their star David Ortiz, after his stellar retirement last season.
The future Hall of Fame slugger hung up the bat at age 41, after a season in which he hit .315 with 38 homers and 127 RBIs.
Inside the West, the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners will also have a lot to say.
Especially the Angels, who are confident of regaining their status as a finals team after they’ve made major adjustments to their starting roster.
However, all teams are aware that in the end, the big difference will be in the luck factor in relation to injuries and the way in which some of their stars emerge with their best inspiration.
Most important of all, the time to “play ball” has come back to the Major Leagues, and this year the national pastime sport also has the incentive to see how its image is projected more than ever throughout the world. with the dispute of the fourth edition of the Baseball Classic that the United States won for the first time.
However, the historic and legendary New York Yankees, although they have changed their policy of maintaining a roster based on the young talent they have formed and achieved through transfers, they remain the team with the greatest economic power and will seek to return to the top.
After their prominence in the Fall Classic of 2016, in which they lost in the seventh game in extra innings against the Chicago Cubs, the Indians monopolized all the attention for the great team they had formed based mainly on the young talent that possess.
The “tribe” strengthened its teams and has a solid group of pitchers, and also enlisted the services of Dominican third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, an explosive veteran with the bat, who will be of great help.
They also have the Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor, the promising youngster who gets bigger every day with his game.
Encarnacion signed with the Indians to be the fourth batter of that ninth, after hitting 42 home runs for the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
Their rotation remains dominant with Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin, each with at least 11 wins last season.
The Indians will once again play under the direction of veteran manager Francona, who will be a guarantee for the great work he has developed at the head of the team with the growth of young talents.
It is true that they will have to play in the shadow of a loss to the Cubs filled with frustration as they let themselves snatch a title when they had a 1-3 lead in the series.
But Francona is convinced that they will come back stronger mentally and physically, as well as more experience that will be reflected in their performance when they start the new championship.
The Yankees are still looking to rediscover the path of leadership, but they continue to remain as a team in transition that will aim to reach the final phase, but which at the same time continues to strengthen itself for the future.
With a host of new players, their most since 1996, the Yankees aim to find their true potential, like that team that had Derek Jeter make his debut at 22 years old.
Pitcher Andy Pettite had 21 wins at age 24, and Panamanian closer Mariano Rivera was starting to stand out.
This year’s rookies join some Yankees who finished fourth in the East Division last season, and who have invested large sums of money, such as the 86 million dollars to get the services of the Cuban closer Aroldis Chapman with a contract of five seasons, and that the last one was a key piece in the relief box, especially with the Cubs.
The big absence on the field for the Yankees will be Alex Rodríguez, who was released last August, but who remains attached to the team as an advisor.
Another team to look out for is the Detroit Tigers, who feature star pitcher Justin Verlander, who along with Michael Fulmer will be a force this season.
Both pitchers will have the backing of Venezuelan star bat Miguel Cabrera.
But the Kansas City Royals can displace the Tigers, if they improve their rotation, less effective than that of the Indians and Detroit, after losing their star Yordano Ventura in a car accident that cost him his life. and his compatriot Edison Volquez in free agency.
While the Red Sox will begin a new era without the presence of their star David Ortiz, after his stellar retirement last season.
The future Hall of Fame slugger hung up the bat at age 41, after a season in which he hit .315 with 38 homers and 127 RBIs.
Inside the West, the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners will also have a lot to say.
Especially the Angels, who are confident of regaining their status as a finals team after they’ve made major adjustments to their starting roster.
However, all teams are aware that in the end, the big difference will be in the luck factor in relation to injuries and the way in which some of their stars emerge with their best inspiration.
Most important of all, the time to “play ball” has come back to the Major Leagues, and this year the national pastime sport also has the incentive to see how its image is projected more than ever throughout the world. with the dispute of the fourth edition of the Baseball Classic that the United States won for the first time.