Friday, March 11, 2011

Division Run Down: AL East

Inspired by my Oriole-themed tweet/note from yesterday, I'd like to try something a little different (different as in non-Reds related*).  I know there are millions of places to go to find preseason predictions, but since all those other places have little to do with me personally, I'd like to do my own division-by-division run down before the season starts, hopefully in a way that's at least little bit different and keeps things interesting.  Also note that I hope to do this mostly off-the-cuff, without a significant amount of in depth research (though I imagine I won't be able to help myself and will still look stuff up as I'm going along).

*This may become less of an exception for the time being for one main reason.  Last week I applied to MLB's Ultimate Dream Job (learn more here).  I honestly have no idea what to expect, but I figured hey, why not give it a shot.  Because really, I can't imagine a more aptly named job.  And since I included a link to this site on the application, I'm trying to include a few things from around the league.  You know... showcase my supposed versatility.

That said, let's dive right in with baseball toughest division, the AL East...

The Favorite: Boston Red Sox

No surprise here.  I don't think you could find another team listed atop any version of the 2011 projected standings.

The Neglected:  Toronto Blue Jays

This has been written about countless times, but the AL East is just brutal.  And now that you can no longer count on the Rays to annually occupy the cellar, it's even worse.  You're either going to see the Blue Jays or the Orioles here, and if you've been paying any attention at all you know my newly found bias isn't letting Baltimore in the basement.

It's almost as disheartening putting the Blue Jays there however as it seems, along with a handful of other teams, Toronto has a pretty stat-centric front office.  And of course Alex Anthopoulos is an intriguing figure and personally I'd like to see him do well.

Unfortunately for Major League Baseball's Canadian representative, it seems they will once again fall victim to the depth of the AL East.  The offense showed last year it can hit some homeruns, but was it a Rogers Center phenomenon?  Overall it still lacks some punch, and their young staff doesn't look quite as impressive to me as the O's.

One thing Jays fans should be celebrating all year long?  A Vernon Wells-less outfield (or more importantly, a Vernon Wells contract-less budget).

Most likable team: Baltimore Orioles

In this section I hope to add some personal flavor by choosing a team in each division I'm somewhat inclined to root for.  In this case, the Rays might be a favorite for some, but I'm all about new blood, and at this point the Rays have been at or near the top for three or so years and I'm ready for someone else to rise above the oppression.  I'm not saying the Orioles are going to the playoffs or anything, but let's preview that lineup...

Brian Roberts
Nick Markakis
Derrek Lee
Mark Reynolds
Vlad Guerrero
Luke Scott
Matt Wieters
J.J. Hardy
Adam Jones

That is solid top to bottom.  Yeah there are some veterans with question marks (Lee, Guerrero) and some younger guys with question marks (Wieters, Jones), but there's enough stability and enough upside that I think it could turn out well.  At least fun to watch.

Least likable team: New York Yankees

You were expecting somebody else?

Potential story line:

If either of the Red Sox' new toys struggles at all out of the gate, it'll be big news.  The Red Sox are coming off of what they would consider a down year.  They spent lots of money, traded for the biggest name out there, and now have all the pressure that comes with it.  I think Adrian Gonzalez could have a giant year, and I wouldn't be surprised if he wins the MVP.  But with great expectations comes the potential for a great letdown.

Overall Result:

Red Sox 95
Yankees 92
Rays 87
Orioles 80
Blue Jays 72

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