divisiOn preview - AL East
Today's die roll came up a 1, which means ... AL East preview. Wayward O knows more about AL East than other divisions but he nevertheless dreads this one. It is not easy for fan of team to place rebuilding team last in division for Lost Season. Perhaps he will not have to.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Entire organization seems different this year. What have they really given up in exchange for young kids? A short stop on the way down and career 40-34 lefty with weird attitude and long injury rap sheet. Adam Jones alone could make up for Tejada's
departure. The guy who is REALLY VALUABLE -- Brian Roberts -- is still on team. Most important, manager and general manager seem to finally be in control instead of weird lawyer guy with huge jowls. Jowls and championships don't mix.
BOSTON RED SOX: The Champs stood pat. They were a better team in Octbober than they were in April. In fact, as of last October, Red Sox were one of the finest teams assembled in steroid/post-steroid era. Is the injured Curt Schilling relevant? No. See you, again, in October.
NEW YORK YANKEES: So, let Wayward O see if Wayward O has this straight: Johnny Damon is taking Hideki Matsui's job in right field. And Melky Cabrera is taking Damon's job in center field. That plus two young phenoms is the sum total of New York's "youth movement." Oh and LaTroy Hawkins is the set-up guy. Heh heh, surrre he is. Are Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes going to pan out? That, my friend, is the question. Of course they still have Alex Rodriguez, whose crazy talent will mitigate any down year. This team, nevertheless, will likely be on outside looking in during Wild Card crunch.
TAMPA BAY RAYS: Was Saturday's collision at home plate during spring tilt with Yankees a signal to AL East that Rays will be better this year? That's what Rays would like it to be. They got some talent in return for Delmon Young and upgraded at closer. Pencil them in for "out of cellar" -- per the pre-season conventional wisdom. HOWEVER, they have a lot of April games versus Baltimore and the CW will be tested.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Addition of utility-man Marco Scutaro is a plus. Addition of Scott Rolen is a ... meh ... probably a plus. Is closer B.J. Ryan healthy? So far, so good. Here's what Wayward O is gonna say: If Ryan gets 38 saves, matching career high, Blue Jays finish in second.
Predicted Order of Finish:
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Yankees
Rays
Team
BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Entire organization seems different this year. What have they really given up in exchange for young kids? A short stop on the way down and career 40-34 lefty with weird attitude and long injury rap sheet. Adam Jones alone could make up for Tejada's
departure. The guy who is REALLY VALUABLE -- Brian Roberts -- is still on team. Most important, manager and general manager seem to finally be in control instead of weird lawyer guy with huge jowls. Jowls and championships don't mix.
BOSTON RED SOX: The Champs stood pat. They were a better team in Octbober than they were in April. In fact, as of last October, Red Sox were one of the finest teams assembled in steroid/post-steroid era. Is the injured Curt Schilling relevant? No. See you, again, in October.
NEW YORK YANKEES: So, let Wayward O see if Wayward O has this straight: Johnny Damon is taking Hideki Matsui's job in right field. And Melky Cabrera is taking Damon's job in center field. That plus two young phenoms is the sum total of New York's "youth movement." Oh and LaTroy Hawkins is the set-up guy. Heh heh, surrre he is. Are Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes going to pan out? That, my friend, is the question. Of course they still have Alex Rodriguez, whose crazy talent will mitigate any down year. This team, nevertheless, will likely be on outside looking in during Wild Card crunch.
TAMPA BAY RAYS: Was Saturday's collision at home plate during spring tilt with Yankees a signal to AL East that Rays will be better this year? That's what Rays would like it to be. They got some talent in return for Delmon Young and upgraded at closer. Pencil them in for "out of cellar" -- per the pre-season conventional wisdom. HOWEVER, they have a lot of April games versus Baltimore and the CW will be tested.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS: Addition of utility-man Marco Scutaro is a plus. Addition of Scott Rolen is a ... meh ... probably a plus. Is closer B.J. Ryan healthy? So far, so good. Here's what Wayward O is gonna say: If Ryan gets 38 saves, matching career high, Blue Jays finish in second.
Red Sox
Blue Jays
Yankees
Rays
Team
Labels: 2008 predictiOns
posted by the wayward o at
8:59 AM
3 Comments:
I'm glad to see you didn't take the pipe for the home team. And I like Roberts too. But if the trade with chicago doesn't go through we will all be watching Felix Pie, Murton and Marxhall and wondering "what if."
My hopes remain high for Joba and Hughes. I want to believe.
-cW
casey janssen out for year.
so much for jays finishing 2nd.
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