QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Dec 27, 2012 -> 11:04 AM)
This is going to be brutal.
1. RF Alejandro DeAza
2. 3B Jeff Keppinger (if healthy)
3. DH Adam Done
4. 1B Paul Konerko (is this the year of the massive decline?)
5. CF Alex "every other year" Rios (he's do for an "other" year!)
6. LF Dayan Viciedo
7. SS Alexei Ramirez
8. C Tyler Flowers (at this point he's going to have to start 162 games)
9. 2B Gordon Beckham
That might, honestly, be the worst lineup in the AL. We have to expect regression from our best hitter in his age 36 season after watching his OPS+ plummet in the 2nd half of last season.
It's not a terrifyingly powerful lineup and it is a little rusty but I'm basing our success this year on our pitching rotation more than anything. If this lineup can produce four runs a game, which I think it can (and it might even be improved a little bit by the time we get to opening day) we have a good shot at the wild card and a decent shot to upset the Tigers if our pitching staff achieves its potential.