American League East Preview
A Look At Baseball's Toughest Division
This is the first of a six part series previewing each of the divisions in Major League Baseball. Up first is the American League East.
Baltimore Orioles
Not much to say about the Orioles except that they are not very good and have no chance to compete in this division. Their starting pitching is too young and inexperienced and they don't have enough power in the lineup to be a winning team.
Prediction: Fifth Place
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox won 95 games last year and made it to the ALCS before losing to Tampa. They have quite possible the best manager in baseball right now in Terry Francona. They boast a sold pitching staff with a quality starting rotation and a deep bullpen. Their rotaion is led by ace Josh Beckett, along with Matsuzaka, and Lester. They have a very deep lineup from top to bottom. Their lineup is led by Ortiz, Youkilis, Bay, and MVP Dustin Pedroia. If Lowell is healthy they will have one of the top offenses in baseball. If Smoltz is healthy he will be a huge addition, especially come playoff time where he is one of the best post-season pitchers ever. The Red Sox will be one of the favorites to go all the way.
Prediction: First Place
New York Yankees
The Yankees are coming off a disappointing year where they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993. They have strengthened themselves greatly with the additions of Sabathia, Burnett, and Teixeira. This team, though, still has a lot of question marks. Their biggest star, Alex Rodriguez has had a tumultuous off-season and will be out until May wtih an injury. The lineup is average at best without A-Rod. Their core group of Jeter, Posada, Rivera, and Pettite is aging. Their starting rotation looks good on paper but their are questions. Pettite look terrible in the second half of last year, Joba has never been a starter for a full season, Wang is looking to bounce back from an injury plagued 2008, Burnett has been injury plagued his whole career, and Sabathia is a great pitcher, but many big stars have come to New York and struggled, especially in their first year. The Yankees will get off to their typical slow start before coming on strong in the second half but it won't be enough to make the playoffs.
Prediction: Third Place
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays are looking to prove that last year's suprising run to the World Series was no fluke. They boast quite possibly the best young pitching staff in baseball. They have a great rotation and a deep, quality bullpen. Their rotation brings back four doube-digit winners in Shields, Kazmir, Garza, and Sonnanstine. Their bullpen is led by Balfour, Wheeler, and Howell.They have a solid lineup led by young sluggers Pena and Longoria. The addition of Pat Burrell should infuse some much needed power in the middle of the lineup. The Rays should be in the mix for the division title again but will come up just short and have to settle for a wild card.
Prediction: Second Place
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto is a solid team, but the division is just too tough for them to compete. They have one of the best starting pitchers in baseball in Roy Halladay and one of the best closers in B.J. Ryan. Past them, though, their pitching staff is very shaky. They wil miss A.J. Burnett, who had a very good year for them last year. Their lineup is solid, led by Alex Rios who is a legitimate star. Their pitching staff and lineup, however, do not stack up with the top three teams in the division.
Prediction: Fourth Place
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