Part two of this year's MLB preview brings us to the stupid strong AL East, where every single team is good enough to win any other division in baseball and 85 wins can easily land you in fourth place.
1) Boston Red Sox
What to like: One of the big league's best rosters got even stronger in the off-season with the high profile signings of OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The lineup is fast, athletic and filled with excellent defensive talent. Anyone in the starting rotation except Daisuke Matsuzaka is capable of winning the American League Cy Young.
What not to like: Daisuke Matsuzaka. And Boston sports fans.
Outlook: The Red Sox look great on paper, but it remains to be seen how the pieces fit together on the field. Right now, they look like the favorites for the AL East and for the World Series.
Key Player: Crawford and Gonzalez. The two headline newcomers immediately become threats 1 and 1A in a lineup that was already potent without them.
X-factor: Josh Beckett, RHP. Boston's ace has disappointed somewhat since his remarkable run in 2007, when he led the league in wins, finished second in the Cy Young voting and won the ALCS MVP. He was 6-6 with an ERA approaching six during an injury plagued campaign last year. If he can regain 2007 form, or even the form from his All-Star season in 2009, the Red Sox could be looking at a deep postseason run.
Notable additions: Crawford, Gonzalez, RHP Bobby Jenks
Notable subtractions: 3B Adrian Beltre, C Victor Martinez
2) Tampa Bay Rays
What to like: Despite heavy losses in the off-season, the Rays still have a great young core of superstars in 3B Evan Longoria, LHP David Price and OF B.J. Upton. They also have one of the best farm systems in baseball, filled with prospects like up-and-coming fireballer Jeremy Hellickson, so while their losses have been significant, they're already starting to reload.
What not to like: The losses of OF Carl Crawford (to the division rival Red Sox, no less), 1B Carlos Pena and CL Rafael Soriano will hurt the Rays this year, and they'll have to turn to several young, unproven players to fill those voids. As a team, Tampa Bay hit just .247 last year, and the talent level in the lineup certainly hasn't increased any over the off-season.
Outlook: This season could go in many directions for the Rays this year. In the toughest division in baseball, its tough to see the rebuilding Rays not taking at least a small step backward, but the talent is still there for the Rays to make a push for the playoffs.
Key player: Price. The Rays young ace was outstanding in 2010, notching 19 wins and a 2.72 ERA while finishing second in Cy Young voting. If Tampa Bay expects to contend again in 2011, he'll have to be as good, if not better, this year. The bar has been set high, but I don't expect to see anything less from the lefty.
X-factor: Manny Ramirez, OF. The future Hall of Famer, and one of the best right-handed hitters of all time, has caught on with the Rays as a DH in the twilight of his career. If he can produce - and keep his ego in check - he can help offset the loss of Crawford.
Notable additions: Ramirez, OF Johnny Damon, RHP Kyle Farnsworth
Notable subtractions: Crawford, Pena, Soriano, SS Jason Bartlett, RHP Matt Garza
3) New York Yan
kees
What to like: The shutdown back end of the Yankees bullpen just got even tougher with the addition of Tampa Bay's All-Star closer Rafael Soriano in a set up role for Mariano Rivera. If you intend to beat the Yankees, you better get it done in seven innings. The all-world infield is still in tact with the signing of Derek Jeter, and those pinstriped uniforms still look outstanding, no matter how you personally feel about the Yankees.
What not to like: It's hard to imagine that the Yankees ' starting rotation could ever look this ugly given their seemingly limitless resources. C.C. Sabathia is still a stud, Phil Hughes is serviceable, but the rest of the staff is in shambles. A.J. Burnett has been a disaster since being acquired from Toronto two years ago, and the rest of rotation will be filled out from a list of unknowns and has-beens.
Outlook: A great lineup and an outstanding bullpen can only take you so far when the starting rotation is in as bad a shape as New York's is. That is, until mid-season, when the Yankees gut the cellar-dwellers of their top talent to shore up their weakness. The question is whether they'll be able to hang around in the playoff hunt until then.
Key Player: Jeter. Mr. Yankee's batting average was under .300 in 2010 for the first time since 2004, and at .270, was the lowest in his 15-year career. He'll need to have a resurgence after signing his 3 year, $51 million contract in the off-season if the Yankees want to contend in the cut-throat AL East.
X-factor: Burnett. The former Blue Jay has largely disappointed in New York, especially after tallying 15 losses and a 5.26 ERA last summer. If he can recover even some of the form that prompted the Yankees to sign him to a big contract two years ago, it will go a long way toward keeping the Yankees alive in the playoff race.
Notable additions: Soriano, C Russell Martin
Notable subtractions: LHP Andy Pettitte, RHP Javier Vasquez
4) Baltimore Orioles
What to like: The Orioles appear to finally be headed in the right direction, making several off-season moves to compliment their newly arrived batch of prospects. Baltimore went out and signed a trio of big boppers in OF Vladimir Guerrero, 1B Derrick Lee and 3B Mark Reynolds. Together with holdovers like 2B Brian Roberts and OF Nick Markakis and young stars like C Matt Wieters and OF Adam Jones, the Orioles would have one of the best lineups in their division if they weren't stuck in the AL East.
What not to like: While the young staff has the potential to be great, they're young, inexperienced and unproven. They'll also play a combined 54 games against Boston, New York and Tampa Bay.
Outlook: There's a lot to like in Baltimore, but they're stuck in the wrong division to be thinking about a run at the playoffs. A .500 record will be tough to achieve when nearly a third of their games are against three of the league's best teams, but they might finally have the talent to climb out of the division cellar.
Key player: Jeremy Guthrie, RHP. The Orioles' 31-year-old ace leads a staff of talented but young pitchers who will look to Guthrie and fellow veteran Justin Durscherer to lead them. Guthrie will have to have a fantastic season to keep the Orioles afloat in the AL East.
X-factor: Wieters. The highly touted prospect took a step backward offensively last year after a promising debut in 2009. With a much improved lineup surrounding him, Wieters will be a popular breakout candidate again in 2011.
Notable additions: Lee, Guerrero, Reynolds, Durscherer, SS J.J. Hardy, CL Kevin Gregg
Notable subtractions: None
5)Toronto Blue Jays
What to like: The Blue Jays potent lineup clearly has a lot of pop, coming out of nowhere to lead the majors in home runs last year, even during a down year for two of their best hitters, 1B Adam Lind and 2B Aaron HIll. A trio of talented young pitchers in Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero and Brandon Cecil are all primed for break out years in 2011.
What not to like: The loss of Vernon Wells hurts, as does the loss of staff ace Shaun Marcum. The lineup overachieved last year, and isn't likely to reproduce their gaudy numbers from last year.
Outlook: The Blue Jays don't have a significantly different look from the team that won 85 games last year, which in the highly active and highly competitive AL East, is part of the problem. They'll likely lose some ground in 2011 only because they failed to keep up with the improvement made by other teams in the division.
Key player: Jose Bautista, 3B. Bautista came out of nowhere in 2010 to lead the major leagues in home runs with 54, nearly as many as he hit during the first six years of his career combined. Putting the obvious suspicions that kind of power outburst incurs aside, the Blue Jays will need Bautista to stay at or near the production levels he showed in 2010, rather than regressing to 2009 levels, when he was merely serviceable.
X-factor: Romero. With Brandon Morrow set to start the season on the DL, Romero becomes the de facto ace of the staff, and expectations will be high after a solid 2010 campaign. The 26-year-old will need to continue to improve if the Blue Jays want to avoid finishing last in the East.
Notable additions: OF Rajai Davis, RHP Octavio Dotel, RHP Chad Cordero, C Mike Napoli
Notable subtractions: Marcum, Wells
1) Boston Red Sox
What to like: One of the big league's best rosters got even stronger in the off-season with the high profile signings of OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The lineup is fast, athletic and filled with excellent defensive talent. Anyone in the starting rotation except Daisuke Matsuzaka is capable of winning the American League Cy Young.
What not to like: Daisuke Matsuzaka. And Boston sports fans.
Outlook: The Red Sox look great on paper, but it remains to be seen how the pieces fit together on the field. Right now, they look like the favorites for the AL East and for the World Series.
Key Player: Crawford and Gonzalez. The two headline newcomers immediately become threats 1 and 1A in a lineup that was already potent without them.
X-factor: Josh Beckett, RHP. Boston's ace has disappointed somewhat since his remarkable run in 2007, when he led the league in wins, finished second in the Cy Young voting and won the ALCS MVP. He was 6-6 with an ERA approaching six during an injury plagued campaign last year. If he can regain 2007 form, or even the form from his All-Star season in 2009, the Red Sox could be looking at a deep postseason run.
Notable additions: Crawford, Gonzalez, RHP Bobby Jenks
Notable subtractions: 3B Adrian Beltre, C Victor Martinez
2) Tampa Bay Rays
What to like: Despite heavy losses in the off-season, the Rays still have a great young core of superstars in 3B Evan Longoria, LHP David Price and OF B.J. Upton. They also have one of the best farm systems in baseball, filled with prospects like up-and-coming fireballer Jeremy Hellickson, so while their losses have been significant, they're already starting to reload.
What not to like: The losses of OF Carl Crawford (to the division rival Red Sox, no less), 1B Carlos Pena and CL Rafael Soriano will hurt the Rays this year, and they'll have to turn to several young, unproven players to fill those voids. As a team, Tampa Bay hit just .247 last year, and the talent level in the lineup certainly hasn't increased any over the off-season.
Outlook: This season could go in many directions for the Rays this year. In the toughest division in baseball, its tough to see the rebuilding Rays not taking at least a small step backward, but the talent is still there for the Rays to make a push for the playoffs.
Key player: Price. The Rays young ace was outstanding in 2010, notching 19 wins and a 2.72 ERA while finishing second in Cy Young voting. If Tampa Bay expects to contend again in 2011, he'll have to be as good, if not better, this year. The bar has been set high, but I don't expect to see anything less from the lefty.
X-factor: Manny Ramirez, OF. The future Hall of Famer, and one of the best right-handed hitters of all time, has caught on with the Rays as a DH in the twilight of his career. If he can produce - and keep his ego in check - he can help offset the loss of Crawford.
Notable additions: Ramirez, OF Johnny Damon, RHP Kyle Farnsworth
Notable subtractions: Crawford, Pena, Soriano, SS Jason Bartlett, RHP Matt Garza
3) New York Yan
keesWhat to like: The shutdown back end of the Yankees bullpen just got even tougher with the addition of Tampa Bay's All-Star closer Rafael Soriano in a set up role for Mariano Rivera. If you intend to beat the Yankees, you better get it done in seven innings. The all-world infield is still in tact with the signing of Derek Jeter, and those pinstriped uniforms still look outstanding, no matter how you personally feel about the Yankees.
What not to like: It's hard to imagine that the Yankees ' starting rotation could ever look this ugly given their seemingly limitless resources. C.C. Sabathia is still a stud, Phil Hughes is serviceable, but the rest of the staff is in shambles. A.J. Burnett has been a disaster since being acquired from Toronto two years ago, and the rest of rotation will be filled out from a list of unknowns and has-beens.
Outlook: A great lineup and an outstanding bullpen can only take you so far when the starting rotation is in as bad a shape as New York's is. That is, until mid-season, when the Yankees gut the cellar-dwellers of their top talent to shore up their weakness. The question is whether they'll be able to hang around in the playoff hunt until then.
Key Player: Jeter. Mr. Yankee's batting average was under .300 in 2010 for the first time since 2004, and at .270, was the lowest in his 15-year career. He'll need to have a resurgence after signing his 3 year, $51 million contract in the off-season if the Yankees want to contend in the cut-throat AL East.
X-factor: Burnett. The former Blue Jay has largely disappointed in New York, especially after tallying 15 losses and a 5.26 ERA last summer. If he can recover even some of the form that prompted the Yankees to sign him to a big contract two years ago, it will go a long way toward keeping the Yankees alive in the playoff race.
Notable additions: Soriano, C Russell Martin
Notable subtractions: LHP Andy Pettitte, RHP Javier Vasquez
4) Baltimore Orioles
What to like: The Orioles appear to finally be headed in the right direction, making several off-season moves to compliment their newly arrived batch of prospects. Baltimore went out and signed a trio of big boppers in OF Vladimir Guerrero, 1B Derrick Lee and 3B Mark Reynolds. Together with holdovers like 2B Brian Roberts and OF Nick Markakis and young stars like C Matt Wieters and OF Adam Jones, the Orioles would have one of the best lineups in their division if they weren't stuck in the AL East.
What not to like: While the young staff has the potential to be great, they're young, inexperienced and unproven. They'll also play a combined 54 games against Boston, New York and Tampa Bay.
Outlook: There's a lot to like in Baltimore, but they're stuck in the wrong division to be thinking about a run at the playoffs. A .500 record will be tough to achieve when nearly a third of their games are against three of the league's best teams, but they might finally have the talent to climb out of the division cellar.
Key player: Jeremy Guthrie, RHP. The Orioles' 31-year-old ace leads a staff of talented but young pitchers who will look to Guthrie and fellow veteran Justin Durscherer to lead them. Guthrie will have to have a fantastic season to keep the Orioles afloat in the AL East.
X-factor: Wieters. The highly touted prospect took a step backward offensively last year after a promising debut in 2009. With a much improved lineup surrounding him, Wieters will be a popular breakout candidate again in 2011.
Notable additions: Lee, Guerrero, Reynolds, Durscherer, SS J.J. Hardy, CL Kevin Gregg
Notable subtractions: None
5)Toronto Blue Jays
What to like: The Blue Jays potent lineup clearly has a lot of pop, coming out of nowhere to lead the majors in home runs last year, even during a down year for two of their best hitters, 1B Adam Lind and 2B Aaron HIll. A trio of talented young pitchers in Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero and Brandon Cecil are all primed for break out years in 2011.
What not to like: The loss of Vernon Wells hurts, as does the loss of staff ace Shaun Marcum. The lineup overachieved last year, and isn't likely to reproduce their gaudy numbers from last year.
Outlook: The Blue Jays don't have a significantly different look from the team that won 85 games last year, which in the highly active and highly competitive AL East, is part of the problem. They'll likely lose some ground in 2011 only because they failed to keep up with the improvement made by other teams in the division.
Key player: Jose Bautista, 3B. Bautista came out of nowhere in 2010 to lead the major leagues in home runs with 54, nearly as many as he hit during the first six years of his career combined. Putting the obvious suspicions that kind of power outburst incurs aside, the Blue Jays will need Bautista to stay at or near the production levels he showed in 2010, rather than regressing to 2009 levels, when he was merely serviceable.
X-factor: Romero. With Brandon Morrow set to start the season on the DL, Romero becomes the de facto ace of the staff, and expectations will be high after a solid 2010 campaign. The 26-year-old will need to continue to improve if the Blue Jays want to avoid finishing last in the East.
Notable additions: OF Rajai Davis, RHP Octavio Dotel, RHP Chad Cordero, C Mike Napoli
Notable subtractions: Marcum, Wells
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