AL East Preview

This is one of those divisions that as you look at the teams, it is really easy to see multiple teams making the playoffs from this division. The hard part for the top of this division is that there is a chance to beat the heck out of each other. Right now though as the season is about to start, here is where I see the division shaking out.

Toronto Blue Jays (2015 Record 93-69)

Talk about a matchup nightmare. Most times you would pick Troy Tulowitski to hit further down in the order to help score runs. The problem they now face, which is hard to call a problem, is that the Blue Jays have better options and Tulo may be best suited for the leadoff spot. Just picture looking at a lineup card and reading Tulowitski, American League MVP Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, and Edwin Encarnacion. That is a top of the order that will score a ton of runs. Russel Martin is no slouch either at catcher. He finished 4th on the team with 23 HRs and added another 77 RBI.

The Blue Jays look to have a slight edge over the division early on this season, but they will need Marcus Stroman to continue his rise to being a great ace to make up for the void left by David Price. The Blue Jays have a drop off of reliable starting pitching but they look to be going for the out hit approach that has worked for them in the past. They added Drew Storen in a trade with the Nationals to add some more arms to the bullpen which could be needed if you dont have a ton of depth at starter. This will be the team to beat until someone can come out and take them down a notch.

Boston Red Sox (2015 Record 78-84)

Do not expect this years team to finish last in the American League East.  This young team is going to give everyone a hard time. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts are young and play phenomanl defense. They also can create some havoc on the base path. Dustin Pedrioa has lost a step but is still the on field leader of this team. This team could also get the Big Papi bump, playing out of their mind to give David Ortiz one last ride into October. The Red Sox are looking for Hanley Rameriez to rebound offensively but his move to first base will hopefully tighten up his defense after what can only be described as awful in right. Rameriez suprised most in the organization by showing up for camp trimmed up and leaner then he was last year.

Pitching will have to be better then it was last year, but with David Price added to the rotation and Craig Kimbrel brought in to close games. They also added Carson Smith from the Mariners who last season struck out 92 in 70 innings of work. With Price in the rotation, everyone else take their spot in order, which is far better last year when they went through starters at an alarming rate. Clay Bucholtz now doesnt have to be the main man and slides nicely in at number two. Sprinkle in whom ever you like afterwards and this staff should get you to that strengthened bullpen for some more wins.

New York Yankees ( 2015 Record 87-75)

The New York Yankees are tired of watching the Kansas City Royals get to their bullpen and throw rockets past everyone. So to jump on the high heat bandwagon, they traded for Aroldis Chapman to give them three of the fastest throwers in the majors, but now they have to wait for his services following the 30 game ban for domestic violence issues. They will need a strong healthy year from Jacoby Ellsbury. With Starlin Castro they have made an upgrade with his glove and if he can find it, his bat. If Castro returns to his rookie form where he hit  .307 and had 91 runs in his 2011 sophmore season, then he adds a much needed punch to the middle infield offense. Last year Castro Mark Texiera looks to recreate what he had at the beginning of last season before a season ending injury kept him out of the playoff push.

The big question mark for this Yankees team is their depth of starting pitchers. Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda are there but even they have their own question marks. Can CC Sabathia regain his former ways after he exits rehab or will he remain the 4th best pitcher on this staff. They are banking on Champan, Dellin Betances, and Andrew Miller to shut other teams down and their starters only having to make it into the 6th inning once May rolls around. Until then, Miller will close and Betances will be the teams setup man. There are pieces on this team and the Stienbrener’s have shown in the past that they are not afraid to make a move in the middle of the year to help push this team forward.

Baltimore Orioles (2015 Record 81-81)

This offseason has not been kind to the Orioles. Chris Davis looked for someone to bite on a bigger deal and came home, but that is probably the best thing you can say about what they have done. The O’s still have plenty of offense to go around though. They added Mark Trumbo who when he was with the Angels, was a HR hitter that has just bounced around looking for the right place to call home. Adam Jones still can go the other way and looks to keep everything that is hit to centerfield in the park with his amazing range. This team is just gonna have a hard time pitching late into the season.

Just as spring training was getting rolling, the O’s decided to add Pedro Alverez. Alverez will rake here with the same corner that Davis hits into, but by no means will this offense be able to keep pace with the teams ahead of it and it could all come down to pitching, and thats not really pretty right now.

Chris Tillman looks to lead this roation but after that, there are a bunch of questions from guys who need to rebound from down years. Ubaldo Jimenez will still strike people out like he did last year (168 Ks), but with a 4.11 ERA in 2015, he is gonna give up his share of runs. Zach Britton and Darren O’Day are gonna get a lot of work this year and they need to be rock solid if this team will stop its slide back into the AL East basement.

Tampa Bay Rays (2015 Record 80-82) 

When is Tampa Bay gonna move? That seems to be a better question to ask versus how many wins will they have this season. They have a lot to do this season to not get steam rolled by the big guns at the top. Chris Archer is going to do his best and try to do the same things he did well last season. Archer struck out an outrageous 252 batters in 212 innings pitched. He will lead a new crop of hard throwers from the Tampa Bay farm system.

As for the offense, its not pretty. Evan Longoria is not the same player he was when the Rays went deep into October, Joe Maddon was still in charge, and David Price didnt play for the rival Red Sox. This year could be more of a rebuilding year for the Rays. They added Corey Dickerson from Colorado and he brings with him a .304 batting avg. last season. Steven Souza Jr. looks build off of 2015 where he hit 16 HRs, and could grow into his role in right field. Brad Miller is a huge improvement at shortstop on defense and in the order with his bat. With Seattle last year he was the only other American League shortstop to hit 11 HRs, 13 stolen bases, and a .402 slugging percentage.

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