2012 AL East Preview

My final preview is finally here - The AL East.

I find the East very interesting as it contains big names on big market teams, and nobodies on frugally small markets.

Red Sox Nation hit rock bottom last year. The Boston Faithful witnessed the return of the Curse of the Great Bambino, as everything fell apart. After parting ways with their feisty, yet successful manager and their long term franchise closer, the Red Sox are back and ready for a full 162 game season of progress. Once again the Bosox will have a feared lineup that could make even Jon McGraw cringe. With Adrian Gonzalez providing unnatural power to compliment his precise fielding, he is once again an MVP candidate. Good old Dustin Pedroia will provide his Napoleon attitude of big things from a little man. The Greek God of Walks, Kevin Youkillis can once again provide a high average, on base percentage, and RBI total. Last season's free agent bust, Carl Crawford hopefully will return to his usual persona that he undertook in his preliminary seasons, as a Tampa Bay Ray. Last season Jacoby Ellsbury was having a career year, until he got hurt. The loss of The Ellsbury Dough Boy was crucial to the September collapse as there wasn't that igniting spark, leading off, to accelerate the rest of the lineup. Ryan Sweeney is an experience veteran who can provide quality at bats and clutch performances. Jarrod Saltalamachia is an okay backstop, as the only category he has, or will ever lead the league in is the new sabermetric, space taken up on jersey by last name, or STUOJBLN. Saltalamachia is actually a sturdy guy to throw out on the field everyday, he's not great but he executes and knows his role. Mike Aviles is a quality young shortstop and he will blend nicely with Pedroia as a good double play duo. Big Papi will be well...... Big Papi. David Ortiz has already established himself as a frightening figure in the batter's box and will continue to destroy opposing pitchers. Cody Ross will provide versatility as a 4th outfielder and some pinch hitting opportunities. This offense, if they can all stay healthy, as most of the players are aging, will be productive, it will be strong, and it will be one of the best out there. Likewise, the pitching appears to be just as dominant. Like the Philadelphia Phillies, the Red Sox have a dominant Big 3, consisting of Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, and Clay Bucholz. These three could all qualify as aces on at least 85% of the other teams. Behind the 1-2-3 punch of LB2 (instead of H20) is a little uncertain, between Alfredo Aceves, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Daniel Bard. These 3 have shown potential and if they perform at their fullest ability, they can assist this Red Sox team. The bullpen may be the weakest part of this ball club, and it isn't so bad. Andrew Bailey will close out games, and hopefully returns to how he performed in his Rookie of the Year campaign. After a horrifying collapse less than 6 months ago, the Bosox are ready to reclaim their throne as No. 1.

In any other division, the Blue Jays could win and enter the postseason. The Toronto Blue Jays are a talented group of guys who are capable of winning a pennant. However, while most of the arising players on the Jays are in their prime, teams like the Red Sox, Rays, and Yankees will dominate the division. An economically stingy team like the Blue Jays won't be able to keep up with the free willingly spending of the Yankees and Red Sox. Like the Rays, the Jays are good at building their own talent, rather than splurging on All Stars for 9 figures. The Jays lineup consists of quality guys that have tremendous talent. First, let's start with Jose Bautista. Nobody has hit the ball like Jose Bautista in the past two seasons. With Bautista, the Rogers Centre is a pinball machine as balls cross the fence more often than not. Yunel Escobar is a decent middle infielder who can hit with more power than your average shortstop. Kelly Johnson is looking to have a rebound year, after a plummeting few seasons as of late. Johnson also has a surprising amount of power for his position, at the exception of Chase Utley and Robby Cano. Third baseman, Brent Lawrie, is one of the most exciting young and arising players in the league and he too, has a powerful bat. Look for Lawrie to forever establish himself as a big name. The Jays have to invest in Bautista and Lawrie, before the big markets like the Yankees and Red Sox can give them seemingly all the money in the world. Another power threat in the lineup is first baseman, Adam Lind. Together, the whole infield can hit close to 90 homeruns, and that is without Bautista, with him it could be close to 130. Like the offense, the rotation is full of homegrown talent with potential. Ricky Romero can be effective at times, and has proven he can pitch. If Romero stays on top of his game, he will be a competitive starter. Brandon Morrow is a young, arising pitcher. His fledgling years in Texas proved his dominance, look for him to establish himself as future Cy Young award winner. Brett Cecil is a strong starter, likewise with Dustin McGowan. If the pitching holds up and either the Sox, Yanks, or Rays fall apart, the Jays are in a position for a possible playoff spot.

There will once again be players, stolen away from their primary organization, wearing the pinstripes. Yet again, the Yankees have stacked their team with all stars. The lineup is once again full of multi millionaires and the rotation is loaded with over payed hurlers. Jeter and Rodriguez you know about. Mark Teixeria and the Grandy Man have made their impressions on you. Gardener, Swisher, and Cano are all established as major leaguers. Martin and Ibanez may be washed out, but are still quality players who always find a way to hurt your team. Other than that, that's the lineup. Once again the infield's payroll will be 3 times higher than the Houston Astros'. The outfield will once again be a Bronx hangout for good players. And yet again, the lineup will resemble a catalog of catalysts, where any GM would love to take a shopping spree. This team would be a great fantasy baseball team, and even better 4 years ago- not to mention that the lineup would look better because instead of all NYYs  under the team grid, they were tearing it up for their home organizations. Pitching isn't much better, although it won't meet the standards the offense will set. C.C Sabathia will probably lead the league in wins and calories burned while pitching. Hiroki Kuroda's career is long overdue, and he should retire before he brings more shame to his fun to say name. Nova, I respect. He can be a legit pitcher, and he is one of the few homegrown heroes in this organization. I liked Pineda last year, but now I denounce his name, as he joins the never ending list of stars who left their home team to wilt and put on the pinstripes. Hughes is a mess. I find Phil as a good pitcher but endless excuses counter his dominance when he fails. If Pettitte can make a comeback, that will be special. But he would be leaving his Monday night bowling team for the Yanks, another team that will miss their "ace." Mariano Rivera is a stellar closer, and a future Hall of Famer. Look for him to go out with a bang. The only thing that can stop the Bronx Bombers is themselves. The team is aging, no doubt about that one.

The Tampa Bay Rays are looking to return in October.  Last year, somehow the Rays made the playoffs in a situation where they were counted out, but plateaued in September as the Red Sox fell apart. The Rays have a load of talent that they deserve to put out on the field. The majority of these players have gone through the Rays system and not signed on after a few strong seasons. Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton are phenomenal players who have and will dominate as hometown heroes. Sean Rodriguez is a solid shortstop, and it is nice to see a draftee, regardless of his talent, start at any position, especially shortstop. Luke Scott is a veteran slugger, who is good for a 20 homerun, 90 RBI season. Matt Joyce can hit and produce similarly to Scott. Carlos Pena is declining and is turning into an overrated player of yesterday. Still, Pena can hit 30 homeruns, but he strikes out way too much. Unlike Pena, Ben Zobrist is underrated. Zobrist is a versatile player who can literally play anywhere. This experience as a utility man has humbled Zobrist, and may have kept him in the organization as he always finds a place to play. Complementing the offense greatly, is the pitching. James Shields resembles Juan Marichal to me. Shields will have great seasons, but there will always be an even better season, which prevented him from a Cy Young award- Justin Verlander is Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson. David Price will keep Shields on his toes on who is the the theoretical ace. This competition can make both better as there is an extra force keeping each of them going. Matt Moore can join this competition to be the ace, too. Moore is a great prospect looking to exceed expectations. Hellickson and Niemann are both sturdy pitchers in the back end of the rotation who can provide quality starts and innings. The scariest man in baseball- Kyle Farnsworth- will close for the Rays and half of his saves will be the result of his intimidating demeanor. The Rays are also in contention for the playoffs, if the playoffs took the top 6 records, 4 of the spots will be from the AL East. The Rays will stay in contention as they have a superb offense, and a strong pitching staff.

The only AL East team not in contention is the Orioles. The Baltimore Orioles will once again be a mediocre struggling through the season. There isn't a lot of hope for the O's in this division. The starting 9 looks better than years past, but the lineup won't hold up against the powerhouse offenses of the AL East. Nolan Reimold and Matt Wieters are two arising players who are on the verge of stardom. These two guys are good, but they can't carry the team by themselves. Adam Jones is a 5 tool player when he applies his talent and puts everything together. Look for a possible 20-20 season for Jones. Nick Markakis is aging, as fans can only watch the longtime Oriole's skills diminish. But Markakis is still good for what the team needs him to do, just not in the quantity of quality of his past. Robert Andino is an okay second baseman, but doesn't contain anything thing special like Cano or Pedroia. The biggest problem I have with the Orioles lineup, is shortstop and 3rd base. J.J. Hardy and Mark Reynolds may hit a lot of homeruns, but they both also strike out  way, way too much. The Baltimore lineup looks better than before, but the pitching still needs a lot of work. Is it bad, that when you look at a starting rotation, that you only recognize 2 of the names? This is the problem with the O's pitching. Lack of experience. This immaturity will hurt a team with a promising offense. Although I know more names in the bullpen, the case isn't much better. The Orioles are a team with potential, all they have to do is upgrade their pitching and apply for a division transfer.

2012 AL East Predictions
1st: Rays
2nd: Red Sox
3rd: Yankees
4th: Blue Jays (This is a 88-74 4th place finish)
5th: Orioles



Wow, it feels good to finish all of these previews before the start of the season this week.