Showing posts with label Toronto Blue Jays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto Blue Jays. Show all posts

Sunday, March 9, 2008

AL East preview

Of course, I could just say Red Sox and Yankees and be done with this division. But, everyone says that, I'm going to try and go deeper then that.



The Red Sox and Yankees in my opinion didn't really do much over the off season, but then again with the Red Sox having won the World Series over the Rockies, they don't really need to do much. As far as the Yankees are concerned, other than re-sign A-Rod and hire Joe Girardi as the new manager, what did they really do? Answer: nothing! Morgan Ensberg on a minor league contract, ooooo start shaking in your boots AL East. The Yanks did nothing, and it might come back and bite them in the ass.



Now that I got what most people are saying the top two teams in the AL East are, let me get to the teams that can actually scare some fans in the Northeast.


As far as the Orioles are concerned, they are trying to recover from trading Miguel Tejada this off season. When you look at the Orioles roster, in the trade for Tejada with the Astros the O's picked up Luke Scott, along with a few others. Scott should make the opening day line-up as a corner outfielder (more than likely Left). On the other side you have Nick Markakis , and in center you could see young Adam Jones who in parts of two seasons has a MLB average of .230. Backing up Jones or challenging him for the starting job will be Jay Payton, although recent rumbleings out of both baltimore and Chicago's south side have Payton and Brian Roberts going to the Cubs for prospects. If this deal goes through, it will be another long summer in Maryland.

Down in Tampa, the Rays should be the entertaining bunch that they have been for the last couple of years. From my point of view, you don't have to be winning 90 games in order to be entertaining. You can be entertaining by having guys that hit 30 HR, and steal 40. If Carl Crawford, BJ Upton, and Rocco Baldelli have there standard years, it should be fun on the offensive end. The problem with the Rays is that they really have no pitching depth. After Scott Kazmir, they have no one. They have the veteran Troy Percival as the closer, but in order to have him come through for you, you need a lead.

Up in Toronto, they have a bunch of vets that if they can produce, it could be a fun year North of the Border, but.... who knows if they can come through.

Next edition I'll look at the AL Central, which will be one hell of a division.