Post-Gazette national baseball writer Paul Meyer breaks down the 2006 division races in the American League and offers his predictions(in order):

Chicago White Sox

2005: 99-63, first place, beat Houston Astros in World Series in four games.

Manager: Ozzie Guillen, third season.

Key newcomers: 1B Jim Thome, INF Rob Mackowiak, RHP Javier Vazquez.

Key departures: CF Aaron Rowand, LHP Damaso Marte, DH Carl Everett, RHP Orlando Hernandez.

Possible batting order: LF Scott Podsednik (.290, 0, 25), SS Juan Uribe (.252, 16, 71), RF Jermaine Dye (.274, 31, 86), 1B Paul Konerko (.283, 40, 100), DH Jim Thome (.207, 7, 30), C A.J. Pierzynski (.257, 18, 56), 2B Tadahito Iguchi (.278, 15, 71), 3B Joe Crede (.252, 22, 62), CF Brian Anderson (.176, 2, 3).

Rotation: LHP Mark Buehrle (16-8, 3.12), RHP Jose Contreras (15-7, 3.61), RHP Freddy Garcia (14-8, 3.87), RHP Jon Garland (18-10, 3.50), RHP Javier Vazquez (11-15, 4.42).

Closer: RHP Bobby Jenks (6 saves, 2.75).

Should finish: First. Last season a washer load of things went right for the White Sox, and stuff might not turn out so fresh and clean this season. Last year, including their postseason sprint, the White Sox were 68-35 in games decided by one or two runs. They won 15 games in which they scored one or two runs. They were 37-20 in one-run games. They held a lead at some point in each of their first 37 games, a major-league record. And this season they don't have standout center fielder Aaron Rowand, a certified gamer who was a real spark for them. Still, the White Sox have a ton of starting pitching, a solid bullpen anchored by roly-poly Bobby Jenks and enough offense -- especially if Jim Thome can return to his power form. A return to the postseason would be nice for the fans of the South Siders -- and a really neat trip for good guy Rob Mackowiak, the former Pirate who grew up on Chicago's South Side.

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Cleveland Indians

2005: 93-69, second place, six games behind.

Manager: Eric Wedge, fourth season.

Key newcomers: OF Jason Michaels, RHP Guillermo Mota, 3B Andy Marte, RHP Jason Johnson, RHP Paul Byrd, 1B Eduardo Perez, OF Todd Hollandsworth.

Key departures: RHP Kevin Millwood, CF Coco Crisp, LHP Arthur Rhodes, RHP Scott Elarton, RHP Bob Howry.

Possible batting order: CF Grady Sizemore (.289, 22, 81), LF Jason Michaels (.304, 4, 41), SS Jhonny Peralta (.292, 24, 78), DH Travis Hafner (.305, 33, 108), C Victor Martinez (.305, 20, 80), 2B Ronnie Belliard (.284, 14, 78), 1B Ben Broussard (.255, 19, 68), 3B Aaron Boone (.243, 16, 60), RF Casey Blake (.241, 23, 58).

Rotation: LHP C.C. Sabathia (15-10, 4.03), RHP Jake Westbrook (15-15, 4.49), RHP Paul Byrd (12-11, 3.74), LHP Cliff Lee (18-5, 3.79), RHP Jason Johnson (8-13, 4.54).

Closer: RHP Bob Wickman (45 saves, 2.47).

Should finish: Second. This team chased the White Sox until the final week of the season , improved by 13 victories over its 2004 total of 80 wins and seems poised to go toe-to-toe with the White Sox . T he Indians don't have Kevin Millwood, who led the American League in earned run average (2.86). Nor do they have Scott Elarton, who did a fine job as the fifth starter. But they picked up free-agent starters Paul Byrd and Jason Johnson and should have a bullpen just as effective as the 2005 group that led the major leagues in earned run average (2.80). The tradeoff of Coco Crisp for Jason Michaels seems a negative, however. And can Bob Wickman, at age 37, register 45 saves again? Then again, the Indians aren't likely to lose 36 games by one run, as they did last season. Nor are they likely to play 24 extra-inning games -- most in the big leagues -- as they did last season and win only 11 of those. If the Indians can avoid an April like they had last year (9-14) they should be in the race from wire to wire.

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Detroit Tigers

2005: 71-91, fourth place, 28 games behind.

Manager: Jim Leyland, first season.

Key newcomers: LHP Kenny Rogers, RHP Todd Jones, Leyland.

Key departures: RHP Jason Johnson, OF Rondell White.

Possible batting order: 2B Placido Polanco (.331, 9, 56), C Ivan Rodriguez (.276, 14, 50), RF Magglio Ordonez (.302, 8, 46), DH Dmitri Young (.271, 21, 72), 1B Chris Shelton (.299, 18, 59), SS Carlos Guillen (.320, 6, 23), 3B Brandon Inge (.261, 16, 72), LHP Craig Monroe (.277, 20, 89), CF Curtis Granderson, CF (.272, 8, 20).

Rotation: RHP Jeremy Bonderman (14-13, 4.57), LHP Mike Maroth (14-14, 4.74), LHP Kenny Rogers (14-8, 3.46), LHP Nate Robertson (7-16, 4.48), RHP Justin Verlander (0-2, 7.15).

Closer: RHP Todd Jones (40 saves, 2.17).

Should finish: Third. It's a tossup here between the Tigers and Minnesota for third place, and we'll give the edge to the Tigers, figuring Leyland truly has regained the enthusiasm he had for managing. Leyland, who hasn't managed since 1999, has an intriguing coaching staff full of other former Pirate personnel. Former Pirate managers Lloyd McClendon and Gene Lamont will handle the bullpen and third base coaching duties . Former Pirates Andy Van Slyke (first base), Don Slaught (hitting) and Rafael Belliard (infield) also are on Leyland's staff. This will make for an interesting reunion June 30 at PNC Park when the Tigers and Pirates begin a three-game interleague series. Jeremy Bonderman and Mike Maroth, two of the Tiger wunderkind starting pitchers from a few years ago, should have breakthrough seasons in 2006. And the Tiger clubhouse atmosphere, which was a bit contentious last year, should become more professional with Leyland and his buddies doing the rounds. This team was four games under .500 through August . It collapsed in September amid speculation about manager Alan Trammell's status. That won't be a factor this September.

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Minnesota Twins

2005: 83-79, third place, 16 games behind.

Manager: Ron Gardenhire, fifth season.

Key newcomers: 2B Luis Castillo, 3B Tony Batista, OF Rondell White, DH Ruben Sierra.

Key departures: LHP J.C. Romero, OF Jacque Jones, RHP Joe Mays, assistant GM Wayne Krivsky.

Possible batting order: LF Shannon Stewart (.274, 10, 56), 2B Luis Castillo (.301, 4, 30), C Joe Mauer (.294, 9, 55), 1B Jason Morneau (.239, 22, 79), 3B Tony Batista (.263, 27, 90 in Japan), CF Torii Hunter (.269, 14, 56), RF Michael Cuddyer (.263, 12, 42), DH Lew Ford (.264, 7, 53), SS Jason Bartlett (.241, 3, 16).

Rotation: LHP Johan Santana (16-7, 2.87), RHP Carlos Silva (9-8, 3.44), RHP Brad Radke (9-12, 4.04), RHP Kyle Lohse (9-13, 4.18), RHP Scott Baker (3-3, 3.35).

Closer: RHP Joe Nathan (43 saves, 2.70).

Should finish: Fourth. The Twins, long a model for low-revenue teams to follow, seem a team in transition now. During the previous couple of seasons, it was fashionable to admire the Twins but just as trendy to wonder what would happen to them when they had to start really paying all their good young players. That moment has arrived and it won't be positive for the Twins. Outfielder Jacque Jones left as a free agent. Plus, Wayne Krivsky is gone. General manager Terry Ryan's right-hand man, Krivsky became Cincinnati's general manager a couple weeks before spring training began. Krivsky is a solid baseball guy, and his contributions will be missed by Ryan and the Twins. Minnesota still has Johan Santana, though, so it should be able to avoid long losing streaks. Santana, whom White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen last season called the best pitcher in baseball, is 48-16 the past three seasons.

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Kansas City Royals

2005: 56-106, fifth place, 43 games behind.

Manager: Buddy Bell, second season.

Key newcomers: LHP Mark Redman, RHP Scott Elarton, 1B Doug Mientkewicz, OF Reggie Sanders, 2B Mark Grudzielanek, RHP Joe Mays, RHP Elmer Dessens.

Key departures: OF Terrence Long, RHP Jose Lima, RHP D.J. Carrasco.

Possible batting order: CF David DeJesus (.293, 9, 56), 2B Mark Grudzielanek (.294, 8, 59), DH Mike Sweeney (.300, 21, 83), LF Reggie Sanders (.271, 21, 54), RF Emil Brown (.286, 17, 86), 3B Mark Teahan (.246, 7, 55), 1B Doug Mientkewicz (.240, 11, 29), SS Angel Berroa (.270, 11, 55), C John Buck (.242, 12, 47).

Rotation: RHP Zack Greinke (5-17, 5.80), RHP Scott Elarton (11-9, 4.61), RHP Runelvys Hernandez (8-14, 5.52), LHP Mark Redman (5-15, 4.90), RHP Joe Mays (6-10, 5.65).

Closer: RHP Mike MacDougal (21 saves, 3.33).

Should finish: Fifth. No way will this team be as bad as it was last season when it set the franchise record for losses overall (106) and road losses (59). Like the Twins of several years ago, the Royals are getting their promising young players to the major leagues, and they spent the winter doing a Toronto-like face-lift that netted veterans Reggie Sanders, Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkewicz to ease the way for the young position players, and Mark Redman and Scott Elarton to help the young pitchers. And can anybody root against a team that has an innings-eater like Jimmy Gobble in its bullpen? The Royals finally got a breakthrough season from former Pirate Rule Five pick Emil Brown in 2005. Brown, never known as a work ethic guy with the Pirates, had a fine offensive season, but reports are he still hasn't decided defense is necessary. With old-school guy Buddy Bell as the manager, Brown might wear out his new welcome quickly.