MLB 2026 preview, part 4: The rest of the American League

 Let's take a look at the AL Central:

Detroit is building their pitching around Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. To that end, they welcomed back prodigal son Justin Verlander (San Francisco), and signed Framber Valdez (Houston) to fortify the front side of the rotation. They also brought in closer Kenley Jansen (LA Angels) to help the bullpen. Other than that, it's the same crew as last year. In contrast, Cleveland relies heavily on their offense, led by Jose Ramirez. The pitching really isn't the same after Shane Bieber left for Toronto after the 2024 season. Losing closer Emmanuel Clase (legal issues) isn't helping.

In Minnesota, the Twins have similar issues. They signed catcher Victor Caratini (Houston) and infielders Kody Clemens (Philadelphia; he's Roger's son) and Josh Bell (Washington) in the hope of fortifying their offense. The pitching, however, is on the same level as Cleveland's.

You would think Kansas City gained a few more fans in the 518 with Bethlehem product Matt Quatraro as manager, and, maybe they have. They're banking on World Baseball Classic heroes Vinny Pasquantino and Bobby Witt, Jr. to fuel the offense, with Seth Lugo anchoring their pitching rotation. They also acquired veteran Michael Wacha (San Diego). However, it's going to take time for everything to come together.

In Chicago, the White Sox are hoping speedy infielder Luisangel Acuna (Mets) can kickstart the offense. Unfortunately, there's a reason the White Sox have been trapped in the division basement the last few years.

Projected order of finish:

1. Detroit.

2. Kansas City.

3. Cleveland.

4. Minnesota.

5. Chicago.

Now, let's move to the AL West:

Major League Baseball is bent on not merchandising uniforms for Sacramento, choosing to wait until the Athletics move on to Las Vegas in a couple of years. It's this kind of short-sighted thinking that has the A's in the sad state of affairs they've been in. Houston invited Cavan Biggio (Toronto) to camp, thinking that maybe, just maybe, playing in the city where his father became an icon might help his career. As of this writing, however, Cavan hasn't made the opening day roster. With Framber Valdez gone (see above), there's a battle to fill the rotation spot in back of Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers, Jr., and Hunter Brown. The offense is basically the same.

After a magical run to the ALCS last year, Seattle looks poised to win the division again, but teams will be keying on star slugger Cal Raleigh, whose bat was MIA in the WBC. After a year away, Skip Schumacher (Miami) is back in the dugout, this time in Texas, which heisted Brandon Nimmo from the Mets, reuniting Nimmo with pitcher Jacob deGrom. Ex-Met farmhand Sam Haggerty (Seattle) came over last year. The bigger story lies in the rotation, with MacKenzie Gore (Washington) joining deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter, & Kumar Rocker. Los Angeles is praying they can keep Mike Trout healthy for a full year, just to give them a chance at a playoff spot. Non-roster invitee Nick Madrigal was injured a year ago in camp with the Mets, and is a risk.

Projected order of finish:

1. Seattle.

2. Texas.

3. Houston.

4. Los Angeles.

5. Sacramento.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Tomorrow: We close out with the NL Central & West.

Musical Interlude: 'Til I Hear it From You (1995)

 Gin Blossoms scored another hit with 1995's "'Til I Hear it From You", off the soundtrack to "Empire Records". This got a lot of play on adult contemporary channels after it left the top 40.

On The Shelf: Old school crime noir, Dick Tracy celebrates St. Patrick's Day, and a creator passes on

 Rather than do another Valentine's Day special, Mad Cave decided to give Dick Tracy a St. Patrick's Day special as an interlude before the next story arc, launching next month.

88 Keys makes his first appearance in the series, rebooted as an Irish pianist turned serial killer, or, vigilante, depending on how you look at it, as he's going after some smaller crooks. Craig Cermak is the guest artist on this one, and it looks great. Tim Seeley wrote the backup, drawn by Rebekah Isaacs, about a leprechaun causing some trouble. Begorra!!

Rating: A-.

Marvel may be preparing for a new slate of Ultraman adventures, which might explain the misleading title, The Fall of Ultraman, in a 1-shot special. Hopefully, when they do reboot, they'll find better writers.

Rating: C-.

In relaunching Vertigo, DC brings out a modern take on old school crime noir.

The Peril of The Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery is a 6 issue miniseries which introduces Cain to readers. I don't think I'd read that it was originally marketed as a miniseries, but learned a week ago that it has been cut to 6 issues, due to poor pre-orders. Artist Jacob Phillips captures the mood and the aesthetic of Chris Condon's script. Get ready for a wild ride.

Rating: A-.

Zorro has found a new home at IDW, starting in May, with Howard Chaykin writing, but not drawing. Thank goodness, since Chaykin has a particular look for his lead characters (i.e. American Flagg!, Dominic Fortune) that wouldn't work with Zorro.

We have to close on a sad note.

Sam Kieth, co-creator with Neil Gaiman of the acclaimed Sandman series at DC/Vertigo in the late 80's, and creator of The Maxx, later adapted by MTV for a short-lived adult animated series, passed away at 63.

One of Kieth's last works with The Maxx, for IDW.

Originally published at Image in 1994-5, The Maxx was a surrealistic fantasy in a dream world of some sort, as if Kieth was using his work with Gaiman as a template. His style was modeled after Berni Wrightson,  and fell along the same lines as a contemporary, Kelley Jones. He will be missed.

Remember Korkers? (1972)

 In 1972, Nabisco thought they had a snack to rival Bugles, which was a General Mills product.

54 years later, Bugles is still with us. Korkers, Nabisco's corn snack, isn't.

This ad feels like a sketch lifted from Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Patti Deutsch & Edward Herrmann are featured. Depending on when this was filmed, Deutsch had either joined Laugh-In or soon would.

Weasel of The Week: Bari Weiss

 She has no broadcasting experience in mainstream media. However, Bari Weiss is overseeing the destruction of CBS News as we know it, in order to please president Trump.

On Friday, Weiss announced that she was slashing 60-70 jobs at CBS News, AND closing down their radio division, effective in May, claiming economics and "changing radio strategies".

BOLLOCKS & BALDERDASH!!

Weiss has tasked herself to clear out any opposition to Donnie Diapers at the network, which prompted Anderson Cooper of CNN, a contributor to 60 Minutes, to leave the network recently, keeping his dignity intact. With CBS & CNN soon to be under the same roof if the merger goes through between Warner Bros Discovery & Paramount-Skydance, Cooper may leave CNN, too.

Locally, CBS radio news briefs on WROW only run for about a minute or so per hour between 5 & 8 am weekdays, and it's been that way since before Weiss came along to ruin things further. Come the end of May, CBS Radio will be no more, and that's a shame.

We know that Trump doesn't like it when he's being criticized. He doesn't understand that constructive criticism is meant to help him, not hurt him, but he can't see it. With the help of ill-prepared types like Weiss, he is ruining this country, bit by bit, because at the end of the day, he is a miserable old man who wants to remold the country as he sees fit, even if his vision is skewed.

Bari Weiss, on the other hand, gets something that Trump has a lot of. A Weasel of The Week award for her contribution to the destruction of American tradition. Deal with it.

Family Fridays: The Bradys expose a scammer (1972)

 From season 3 of The Brady Bunch:

Carol (Florence Henderson) gets into an accident, and is taken to court by the other driver, who is claiming whiplash. Mike (Robert Reed, ex-The Defenders) acts as his wife's attorney. Jackie Coogan (ex-The Addams Family) made his 2nd & final appearance in the series.

This climatic scene exposes the scam before the judge (Robert Emhardt). 

Chuck Norris (1940-2026)

 Martial arts, movie, & TV icon Chuck Norris has passed away at 86.

Norris initially made his fame in martial arts, and made one of his first film appearances with training partner Bruce Lee in 1972's "The Way of The Dragon". Prior to this, Norris had appeared on television shows such as To Tell The Truth and Room 222.

The 80's brought Norris back to movies with films such as "Lone Wolf McQuade" (with David Carradine), "Silent Rage", and the "Delta Force" & "Missing in Action" films. Norris parlayed this into the 90's crime drama, Walker, Texas Ranger, in which he not only had the title role as Ranger Cordell Walker, but he also recorded the theme, "Eyes of a Ranger".

During his Walker days, Norris appeared at a WWF Survivor Series to help the Undertaker thwart a conspiracy concocted by heel managers Mr. Fuji, Jim Cornette, & Ted DiBiase to help Yokozuna. In return, wrestling icons Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, and Sting appeared on Walker (all were in WCW at the time).

Thanks in part to Conan O'Brien, Norris became the subject of a series of exaggerated memes by internet fans. Those memes won't go away with Norris' passing, however.

Rest in peace.