PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles
Red Sox and Yankees battle it out throughout the season, with the eventual difference between the two coming down to who can avoid or adjust to injuries to key players, especially Papelbon and Rivera. The Rays shake off the name Devil and the move pays dividends as the perpetual rebuilding with youth finally pays dividends. Joe Maddon becomes a cult figure and an early candidate for manager of the year. The Blue Jays and Orioles try to retool around some questionable contracts and battle for the basement.
Boston Red Sox
Pitching - Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling begin to show wear and tear. Tim Wakefield should be pitching until he's 50 something. Daisuke Matsuzaka is the wild card for this team. If he has a great year, they cruise, if he struggles, either Jon Lester or Clay Bucholz will have to step in and produce, and both are ready. Jonathan Pepelbon, Hideki Okajima and Mike Timlin are as deep and effective a bullpen as any in the league.
Lineup - Jason Varitek holds down the catching slot, Doug Mirabelli becomes a luxury the Sox feel they can't afford until Wakefield lobs 4 or 5 passed balls by his replacement and then he'll be back. Kevin Youkilis 1B and Mike Lowell 3B on the corners are perfect for the Green Monster. Julio Lugo SS struggles at times but Dustin Pedroia 2B became an overnight sensation, with Alex Cora backing up. Sean Casey provides bench strength. David Ortiz seemingly can DH for another ten years. The only question in the outfield is when Jacoby Ellsbury takes over for Coco Crisp in CF. The over/under is Opening Day. J.D. Drew in RF and Manny Ramirez in LF are firmly entrenched. Bobby Kielty provides back-up along with Crisp, until he's dealt.
Prospects - Clay Bucholz RHP and Michael Bowden RHP, a local product from Waubonsie Valley, both appear to be ready to join the starting rotation. Jacoby Ellsbury CF will add speed to the lineup. Justin Masterson RHP could be a Derek Lowe-clone. Jed Lowrie IF is said to remind scouts of Dustin Pedroia.
New York Yankees
Pitching - Strong and becoming more of a balanced mix between veterans and youth. Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina continue to be the top three. Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy battle for the final two spots. Mariano Rivera continues to hold on to the closer spot. Kyle Farnsworth and LaTroy Hawkins will set up and close in spots where Rivera needs a break. Kei Igawa and Jeff Karstens provide depth, while Carl Pavano is still around to provide comic relief.
Lineup - Jorge Posada is still solid, bordering on spectacular as a hitter (20-90-.338) Jason Giambi 1B (14 HR's) and Alex Rodriguez 3B (54 HR's) provide power from the corners, Robinson Cano 2B (.332) and Derek Jeter SS (.322) hit for average, while providing occasional pop. The outfield mix is mainly provided by Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui in LF Melky Cabrera in CF and Bobby Abreu in RF. Shelley Duncan backs up here and for Giambi at 1B. Wilson Betemit is the infield depth. The DH spot is rotated between tghe LF-1B platoon spots.
Prospects - The furture is now for RHP's Phillip Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. RHP Ian Kennedy flies under the radar, but can pitch. Dellin Betances RHP (19 years old) is 6-9 and touches 98 MPH. Good combination. OF Austin Jackson (20) is a year or two away, but a potential five-tool talent. OF Jose Tabata (19) can hit.
Tampa Bay Rays
Pitching - This area could finally be turning into a strength. Scott Kazmir, James Shields and former Twins Matt Garza should be a strong top three. Andy Sonnanstine seems to have a leg up on the fourth sport for now. J.P. Howell and Jef Niemann should crowd out talented, but non-productive, Edwin Jackson. The bullpen adds veteran Troy Percival to close, moving Al Reyes to set up and spot closing duties. Veteran Dan Wheeler can set-up.
Lineup - The offense can put up runs. Dioner Navarro C needs to hit a bit more. Shawn Riggins will be the backup. Carlos Pena 1B (46-121-.282) had a monster year. Rookie phenom Evan Longoria may step in at 3B. Akinori Iwamura moves to 2B and Twins import Jason Bartlett will stabilize the SS position. The outfield is loaded with superstar Carl Crawford in LF B.J. Upton in CF and Jonny Gomes in RF. Cliff Floyd will fill in, pinch-hit and DH. Willy Aybar provides depth in the IF with SS prospects Ben Zobrist and Reid Brignac.
Prospects - Other than the aforementioned Evan Longoria at 3B, an early favorite for ROY, there's Reid Brignac at SS and the pitching, oh the pitching!!! If LHP's Jacob McGee, #1 Draft Pick David Price and RHP's Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann progress as expected, this club will be well-stocked for many year. All could be top of the rotation starters.
Toronto Blue Jays
Pitching - Roy Halliday, A.J. Burnett and Dustin McGowan are as good as anybody when healthy. After that it's anyone's guess, but it will be a RHP. Blue Jays could use a southpaw. Shaw Marcum and Jess Litsch should round out the starting staff. B.J. Ryan and Jeremy Accardo are strong in the bullpen. Ryan needs to stay healthy.
Lineup - Gregg Zaun is OK behind the dish. Sal Fasano is the backup straight out of central casting. Lyle Overbay 1B and newly acquired Scott Rolen 3B both both need to have stronger years. Rolen battles back from injuries, a common theme north of the border. Aaron Hill 2B and former Cardinal David Eckstein SS patrol the middle of the diamond. Marco Scutaro provides the fans an opportunity to develop creative chants.
Frank Thomas will be the full-time DH. Vernon Wells is a stud in CF. Alex Rios RF may be another one. Reed Johnson in LF may share time with Matt Stairs. EEK!!!
Prospects - Robinson Diaz C can hit, he has to prove he can catch. Travis Snider OF (20) is a year or two away. LHP Brett Cecil is needed this year, but may have to wait.
Baltimore Orioles
Pitching - Daniel Cabrera (9-18) is their best, his record should be the opposite. Jeremy Guthrie is average, but he's number a number two here. Adam Loewen pitched thirty innings last year, pencil him in as the #3 starter. Steve Trachsel may challenge for a starting slot. Are we sensing a theme here? This team stinks. Hayden Penn (16 saves may start) and George Sherrill (3 saves with Seattle) will lead the bullpen, for no particular reason. Ex-Ray Danys Baez (0-6 last year) may have to regian his D-Ray form. That's how bad it is in Baltimore. Reliance on former D-Ray castoffs to produce is a recipe for disaster.
Lineup - Ramon Hernandez is a journeyman catcher. Kevin Millar cowboys up at 1B with Melvin Mora 3B hoping to regain his 2006 form. Brian Roberts is an All-Star at 2B, therefore he has to go. Freddie Bynum backs him up and hopes for the trade. Luis Hernandez takes over for Miguel Tejada at SS. That's a brilliant trade-off. Luke Scott LF comes over from the Astros (18-64-.255) Adam Jones may be the starting CF, if not him, then back-up Tike Redman plays. Your staring center fielder may be named Tike?? Nick Markakis (23-112-.300) is a future star in RF, at which point, he will escape this moribund franchise. I pity the players, the fans, and their families that they are trapped in this baseball hell. The over/under on the fans protesting the Angelos regime is the All-Star break.
Prospects - As Mr. T said in Rocky II, "PAIN". Matt Wieters C (21) can flat out rake, a future all-star catcher. After that, not so much. Could be the most painful franchise to watch in the majors, along with the Giants.
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