Early 2009 A.L. East Predictions
Yankees Spend Big to Retain Division Title and Beat Red Sox, Rays
Mar 18, 2009 Derek J Griebenow
After thirteen straight trips to the playoffs, the Yankees hit a wall in 2008 and went home early. Their fall left the door open for the surprising Rays to take the division and make a World Series appearance. After being embarrassed, the Red Sox and Yankees will renew their rivalry and once again compete for the division crown in 2009. Here's a summary of how the American League East will stack up in 2009.
1.New York Yankees: 100+ Wins
The Yankees won 89 games in skipper Joe Girardi's first season in the dugout, hardly Joe Torre-esque. So how does management respond? They spend nearly half a billion dollars on three top flight free agents (“CC” Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and A.J. Burnett). Once again buying the top talent to get back to the top. Also showing that anything less than a World Series Championship in New York is a failure of a season.
Third baseman Alex Rodrigeuz will be out the first 6-9 weeks of the season, but the lineup is stacked and will continue to score runs in his absence. First baseman Teixeira and his switch hitting power will make sure of that. Team leader Derek Jeter will hold the team together in tough situations as always.
The pitching rotation is a HUGE improvement from last season. With the signings of “CC” And A.J., 2008 ace Chein-Ming Wang moves to the third spot in the rotation, making him more effective versus weaker staffs. “CC” Is an inning eating monster, at 6 foot 7 and 290 pounds, he is one heavy duty left hander. If he can continue the dominance he showed with Milwaukee after being traded from Cleveland (11-2, 1.65 ERA, and 7 complete games in 17 starts), “CC” can easily win 20-25 games.
2.Boston Red Sox: 90-100+ Wins
The Red Sox will enter the 2009 season finally without the Manny Ramirez headache. New full time left fielder Jason Bay will have fans forgetting all about Manny; if he hasn't already. Bay was a stud for Boston after Pittsburgh dealt him, and was also a quality bat in the playoffs (.341 AVG. 9 RBI).
The Sox doesn't have problems scoring runs, and the trend should continue in 2009. They have the power ( DH Ortiz, 1B Youkilis, Bay), and batting for average ( CF Ellsbury, 3B Lowell, 2B Pedroia). Opposing pitchers will need to do their homework to face this lineup.
Boston may have the deepest pitching rotation in the league. With Josh Beckett, Dice K, Lester and newly acquired Brad Penny and John Smoltz; the arms are there. At their best, any of these guys could go the distance, leaving master closer Jonathan Papelbon to slam the door in the ninth inning on opponents.
3.Tampa Bay Rays: 80-90 Wins
The Rays will get a reality check in 2009. Taking advantage of the Yankees rare flop, and the Red Sox Manny distractions, the Rays rode “we're winning finally” momentum all the way to a World Series loss in 2008. It won't be easy duplicating that success the way the Yanks and Sox bolstered their rotations.
With just one starting pitcher with over three years experience in the bigs in Scott Kazmir, the rotation could prove shaky. Ace James Shield was great the first half of the season and slowly declined and was so-so in the playoffs. The Rays are also betting rookie David Price can dominate all year, but can 14 innings of MLB work be enough to ga-ga over?
Tampa did add power to support their lineup by adding DH/OF Pat Burrell from Philly. Burrell will add consistency to a young lineup featuring second year stud Evan Longoria and power 1B Carlos Pena. If healthy, scoring runs won't be an issue in Tampa.
4.Toronto Blue Jays: 75-85 Wins
Besides dominate pitcher Roy Halladay, there isn't much to talk about in Toronto. They are usually competitive on a day-to-day basis, but a threat to the division they are not. With former 18 game winner Burnett now in pinstripes, the rotation is weak behind Halladay.
If RF Alex Rios can finally be consistent over an entire season, along with CF Vernon Wells and 3B Scott Rolen staying healthy; there is talent in their lineup. Health will play a factor in how well the Jays fare in 2009.
5.Baltimore Orioles: 60-70 Wins
Ah yes, the Orioles, once a good franchise, now a team in flux. Baltimore did have five batters with 20+ home runs in 2008, but that does nothing when you don't have pitching. And 2009 should be the same old story, offense, but no defense. Young CF Adam Jones needs to emerge as the consistent player Baltimore thought they were getting when they traded with Seattle in 2007; instead he has been a strikeout machine and very inconsistent. Not much going on in 2009 for Baltimore.
2009 A.L. East Round-Up
It's the return of the Yankees in 2009. Boston and Tampa will most likely be battling each other for the lone wild card seed in the playoffs. It's a three team race in the East, but if healthy the Yankees are the clear favorite to win the division outright. May the best team win!
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