AL EAST
Red Sox: Love Boston this years based on the additions in the offseason (Beltre, Cameron, Scutaro, & Lackey). Obviously their pitching staff is in the tops of the league along with that a very solid bullpen. Anchored by two solid veterns (Lackey and Beckett) and two young pitchers (Buckolz and Lester) on the rise. Also Wakefield who showed in the first half of last season that he can still pitch. Nothing needs to be said offensivly because we know they can hit, but Ortiz needs to prove early that he still has it otherwise players like Hall, Lowell and Lawrie will compete. Frequently Boston will be seen with huge ML's but money can be made on the RL's and when 3,4,5 starters are pitching.
Yanks: Defending World Champs will come into the season with much of last years team except the addition of Granderson but with the loss of Damon. Jeter, A-Rod, Teixeira, and Cano will put up consistant numbers but the other role players will have a huge factor on this teams success. Can Granderson, Garnder, Swisher and Posada be able to carry the rest of the load??? Yanks lack a lot of depth, one injury may effect them a lot. Pitching wise they added Vazquez which had a great 1st half but declined down the stretch. CC should dominate if he stayed in shape and A.J is suspect to control issues and long balls. Petite is aging and Hughes will have to prove he can be an everyday starter. The bullpen raises a lot of question except for Rivera who is as consistant as they come. Yanks will also draw huge ML's but value can be found when they are at home because potentially 7 out of 9 batters could be batting left handed and with the short porch in right could bring a lot of runs.
Rays: In my mind the rays had a dissapointing season last year and will want to prove it can play like it did two years ago. TB didn't have any major additions other than Soriano in the bullpen who will be the closer. Offensively this team can hit and have power at the corner spots with Pena and Longoria. BJ will have to have a much better season and I think he will because he is healthier. Guys like Zobrist and Bartlett will have to prove last year was not a fluke. Pitching 1,2,3 starters are all dominent at home but Price and Wade Davis may struggle early as they need to get more experience. Betting the Rays at home always have value, but also Wade Davis may draw attractive lines and he has potential to be good.
O's: I feel that this team will be better than last year but playing in the AL and in the East is difficult for any team. Offensively the O's are strong with hitters like Markakis, Tejada, Atkins, Roberts, and Jones. Their bench has no depth what so ever and pitching staff is weak. Guthrie and Milwood at the top but neither can be trusted day in and day out. Rest are filled with young guns that lack experience. Bullpen is also very weak. Look for the O's to have high scoring games because the lack of pitching. Betting on overs shows a lot value.
Jay: The Jays lose Holliday which will effect them a lot. The pitching staff is young but they have potential to be decent if healthy. Bullpen is also decent if Gregg can turn back into form. Offensively the Jays are aging , wells, overbay, and Molina. Other guys are inconsistent getting on base. Linds and Hill last year could have been a fluke , I don't see them having as good of years. I will not be betting on this team early as there is so much to learn about this team yet. Betting against the young pitchers like Romero and Pucey may not be a bad idea.
I'll continue on with the AL central and hopefully the rest before the season starts.
Red Sox: Love Boston this years based on the additions in the offseason (Beltre, Cameron, Scutaro, & Lackey). Obviously their pitching staff is in the tops of the league along with that a very solid bullpen. Anchored by two solid veterns (Lackey and Beckett) and two young pitchers (Buckolz and Lester) on the rise. Also Wakefield who showed in the first half of last season that he can still pitch. Nothing needs to be said offensivly because we know they can hit, but Ortiz needs to prove early that he still has it otherwise players like Hall, Lowell and Lawrie will compete. Frequently Boston will be seen with huge ML's but money can be made on the RL's and when 3,4,5 starters are pitching.
Yanks: Defending World Champs will come into the season with much of last years team except the addition of Granderson but with the loss of Damon. Jeter, A-Rod, Teixeira, and Cano will put up consistant numbers but the other role players will have a huge factor on this teams success. Can Granderson, Garnder, Swisher and Posada be able to carry the rest of the load??? Yanks lack a lot of depth, one injury may effect them a lot. Pitching wise they added Vazquez which had a great 1st half but declined down the stretch. CC should dominate if he stayed in shape and A.J is suspect to control issues and long balls. Petite is aging and Hughes will have to prove he can be an everyday starter. The bullpen raises a lot of question except for Rivera who is as consistant as they come. Yanks will also draw huge ML's but value can be found when they are at home because potentially 7 out of 9 batters could be batting left handed and with the short porch in right could bring a lot of runs.
Rays: In my mind the rays had a dissapointing season last year and will want to prove it can play like it did two years ago. TB didn't have any major additions other than Soriano in the bullpen who will be the closer. Offensively this team can hit and have power at the corner spots with Pena and Longoria. BJ will have to have a much better season and I think he will because he is healthier. Guys like Zobrist and Bartlett will have to prove last year was not a fluke. Pitching 1,2,3 starters are all dominent at home but Price and Wade Davis may struggle early as they need to get more experience. Betting the Rays at home always have value, but also Wade Davis may draw attractive lines and he has potential to be good.
O's: I feel that this team will be better than last year but playing in the AL and in the East is difficult for any team. Offensively the O's are strong with hitters like Markakis, Tejada, Atkins, Roberts, and Jones. Their bench has no depth what so ever and pitching staff is weak. Guthrie and Milwood at the top but neither can be trusted day in and day out. Rest are filled with young guns that lack experience. Bullpen is also very weak. Look for the O's to have high scoring games because the lack of pitching. Betting on overs shows a lot value.
Jay: The Jays lose Holliday which will effect them a lot. The pitching staff is young but they have potential to be decent if healthy. Bullpen is also decent if Gregg can turn back into form. Offensively the Jays are aging , wells, overbay, and Molina. Other guys are inconsistent getting on base. Linds and Hill last year could have been a fluke , I don't see them having as good of years. I will not be betting on this team early as there is so much to learn about this team yet. Betting against the young pitchers like Romero and Pucey may not be a bad idea.
I'll continue on with the AL central and hopefully the rest before the season starts.
