The return of baseball: AL EAST
Baseball is back, fans are buying tickets, the players are warming up and everyone is heading down to the ballpark. In today's issue, I will review the AL East's offseason, grade its teams and project next season final standings.
AL East
1. Toronto Blue Jays
They have improved in almost every single position. Starting pitching rotation is now completed with star A.J. Burnett in the mix and all-star close B.J. Ryan closing out games. Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay and Bengie Molina make this team my pick to win the AL East.
Bottom Line: Expect a great season from the Jays, 85-95 wins is now a possibility.
Grade: A-
2. New York Yankees
The Yanks didn't pull off as many moves as last offseason but the additions of Kyle Farnsworth behind Mariano Rivera and Johnny Damon making the switch from the Bean Town to the Bronx Bombers will definetely propel this team...but nit enough. Age is a concern, and so is consistency.
Not enough magic despite the biggest payroll in baseball.
Bottom Line: The Yanks will contend, but they definetely won't have another 100-win season.
They should set their sights on minimum 85 wins.
Grade: B+
3. Boston Red Sox
They really dissapointed me this offseason, especially when Theo Epstein left. But now he's back and in charge. The losses of Bill Mueller, John Olerud, Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon will seriously damage this team's chances of contending. Curt Schilling will anchor and injury prone rotation with names like Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, David Wells and Tim Wakefield which were all injured last season.
Mike Lowell and Coco Crisp will compensate for the losses of Damon and Mueller.
Willy Mo Pena still needs developing.
Bottom Line: The Red Sox need some more talent in their system. Besides Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp and David Ortiz, who do they have? They don't have enough to win.
Don't be surprised if they fall under .500
Grade: B-
4. Baltimore Orioles
This mediocre squad will once more reign under the influence of Sam Perlozzo minus Rafael Palmeiro. Ramon Hernandez, Kevin Millar, Jeff Conine and Kris Benson were added, but it will not address this team's need of chemistry and passion.
Bottom Line: This team is in serious need of a mood swing and a possible rebuiling stage.
Miguel Tejada needs to step it up, so does Javy Lopez and Jay Gibbons.
Cross them off your list, they'll be lucky if they reach 70-75 wins.
Grade: C-
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Rays are a young team with many promising prospects and future superstar players.
Scott Kazmir, Danys Baez, Jorge Cantu, Julio Lugo and Aubrey Huff had great seasons but that's basically the team.
All the other players are inconsistent and inexperienced.
Rocco Baldelli will be back after missing all of 2005 with an injury.
Wait a few more years...
Bottom Line: Inexperience, Inconsistency, horrendous pitching and no chemistry= last place.
Expect a repeat of last season.
Grade: D
AL East
1. Toronto Blue Jays
They have improved in almost every single position. Starting pitching rotation is now completed with star A.J. Burnett in the mix and all-star close B.J. Ryan closing out games. Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay and Bengie Molina make this team my pick to win the AL East.
Bottom Line: Expect a great season from the Jays, 85-95 wins is now a possibility.
Grade: A-
2. New York Yankees
The Yanks didn't pull off as many moves as last offseason but the additions of Kyle Farnsworth behind Mariano Rivera and Johnny Damon making the switch from the Bean Town to the Bronx Bombers will definetely propel this team...but nit enough. Age is a concern, and so is consistency.
Not enough magic despite the biggest payroll in baseball.
Bottom Line: The Yanks will contend, but they definetely won't have another 100-win season.
They should set their sights on minimum 85 wins.
Grade: B+
3. Boston Red Sox
They really dissapointed me this offseason, especially when Theo Epstein left. But now he's back and in charge. The losses of Bill Mueller, John Olerud, Kevin Millar and Johnny Damon will seriously damage this team's chances of contending. Curt Schilling will anchor and injury prone rotation with names like Josh Beckett, Matt Clement, David Wells and Tim Wakefield which were all injured last season.
Mike Lowell and Coco Crisp will compensate for the losses of Damon and Mueller.
Willy Mo Pena still needs developing.
Bottom Line: The Red Sox need some more talent in their system. Besides Manny Ramirez, Coco Crisp and David Ortiz, who do they have? They don't have enough to win.
Don't be surprised if they fall under .500
Grade: B-
4. Baltimore Orioles
This mediocre squad will once more reign under the influence of Sam Perlozzo minus Rafael Palmeiro. Ramon Hernandez, Kevin Millar, Jeff Conine and Kris Benson were added, but it will not address this team's need of chemistry and passion.
Bottom Line: This team is in serious need of a mood swing and a possible rebuiling stage.
Miguel Tejada needs to step it up, so does Javy Lopez and Jay Gibbons.
Cross them off your list, they'll be lucky if they reach 70-75 wins.
Grade: C-
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
The Rays are a young team with many promising prospects and future superstar players.
Scott Kazmir, Danys Baez, Jorge Cantu, Julio Lugo and Aubrey Huff had great seasons but that's basically the team.
All the other players are inconsistent and inexperienced.
Rocco Baldelli will be back after missing all of 2005 with an injury.
Wait a few more years...
Bottom Line: Inexperience, Inconsistency, horrendous pitching and no chemistry= last place.
Expect a repeat of last season.
Grade: D
You are seriously underestimating the Red Sox, I believe. For starters, Wakefield was never injured last lear, and Mat Clement's "injury" was a line drive off the head. Schilling has rehabed all off season, he has no concerns anymore. The only thing is Beckett might miss 2-3 starts due to blisters and Wells is likely to get hurt. But we have Papelbon to come up for us. The bullpen was dramactically overhauled as well with a bunch of pitchers brought in to help Timlin.
John Oleurd and Kevin Millar? are you kidding? Millar did nothing last year and Olreud was a defensive replacement. Now we have J.T. Snow and Youkilis along with Lowell, which improve over the three that left. Then you add Mark Loretta at 2B and Alex Gonzalez is solid at D at SS, we have vastly improved defesne.
Besides for Manny, Coco and Ortiz? let's see, All Star Jason Varitek? Do I have to mention Loretta again? I suggest you re-evaluate.
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:15 PM
I guess I did underestimate them.
They are a very old squad though.
But Olerud could actually hit, he was slated to be their 1B until he retired.
Posted by
The Wilkernator |
4:51 PM