MLB Previews-AL East

Today we move to the American League and preview the American League East Division...

Steve the Hammer Predictions:

1. Red Sox- Let’s get real, Theo Epstein decided this winter that he wasn’t taking a third place finish again. He went out and signed Carl Crawford, added Adrian Gonzalez and sured up his bullpen with a guy like Bobby Jenks. Guess what? If Papelbon sucks again they can turn to guys like Jenks and Daniel Fucking Bard who throws like 105mph. This could potentially be the best team in baseball.


2. New York Yankees- While the Red Sox were out getting better this winter, I have no idea what the fuck the Yankees were doing. Their lineup will hit, A-Rod is still the best player in baseball not named Pujols, and guys like Tex, Granderson and Swisher will be more than fine. The problem is starting pitching. They signed guys like Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia who will do nothing for them this year, and after CC and Hughes just flip a coin for who’s pitching the next three days. Their lineup will keep them in it, but their starting pitching will keep them out of it. Write it down.


3. Tampa Bay Rays-They did lose a lot but their starting pitching is still very good. Price, Sonnanstine, Shields and Wade Davis aren’t a bad 4 starters by any means. Those are a better 4 starters than the Yankees have as a whole. Still have Longoria and Upton in that lineup and let’s not forget about Ben Zobrist. The problem with this team is who the fuck is in the bullpen? I couldn’t tell you. They’ll lose games because their bullpen will kill them, but by no means are they a bad team.


4. Baltimore Orioles- They’re not going to be a completely miserable team, but we need to look at the facts here. Vlad, Luke Scott, Brian Roberts and Derek Lee are all up there in age. Mark Reynolds will strikeout 400 times, hit .195 and hit like 38 home runs maybe 40 in Camden Yards. The pitching is decent but not good enough yet to make a big run. They also have a great manager in Buck Showalter. I think they’re a couple of years away, but they will be very competitive this year.


5. Toronto Blue Jays- Aside from Brandon Morrow and maybe Kyle Drabek this team has absolutely no pitching. They still have a lot of guys in their lineup who hit 20 or more home runs last year, but Bautista won’t be hitting 54 again I can tell you that right now. They’ll hit, but they can’t pitch. However, look out for catcher J.P Arencibia. He is the reason they let John Buck walk to the Marlins, kid is going to be good in the future. He is a reason to watch this team a little bit this year.

Johnny Baseball Predictions:

Back at it again after a short break..

The AL EAST

1. Boston Red Sox - The Bo-Sox are so stacked it isn't even funny. They add a top 3 first baseman and a top 5 left fielder. Put them along with Lackey, Lester, Beckett, Bucholz, Pedroia, Youk, and Papi and you basically have yourself an all-star team. Bullpen and health could be a question but seriously, if they stay healthy they could have the best record in the MLB.

2.New York Yankees - I think C.C is going to "put da team on his back do" this year. He needs to, or the Yankees will be looking at less than a second place finish. So much of me wants to put the Orioles in the 2nd slot but well get to them next. Yankee fans should be concerned. Jeter is washed up and they should have let him go this year. He's on the wrong side of 30 his batting average went down almost 40 points and his defense is slacking. Also, A-roid is on the wrong side of 30 as well, PLUS he's a bigger choke artist than David Wright. I think Cano is a tremendous player but is he going to hit almost .350 this year? Maybe, maybe not, I wouldn't wanna have to put my chips in that bowl. They do have a tremendous bullpen and hey they are the Yankees so they will have magic. Granderson, Swisher, and Martin have a lot riding on them. If they have good years so will the Yankees because you know A-Roid and Tex will put their usual numbers up. And Jorge Posada needs to have a decent year. Did I mention their starting pitching is a huge queston mark?

3. Baltimore Orioles - Love this team this year. Have such a solid lineup. No more easy wins for the Yanks and Sox. Roberts needs to stay healthy for them to even have a thought about the playoffs. But if they do stay healthy look out there could be some magic. Roberts, Jones, Vlad, Markakis, Scott, Mark Reynolds and Derrek Lee...this is a legit lineup people. My problem is the pitching. Yea Guthrie is okay and Bergesen and Duschere are decent but they are the main question. The pitching is the only thing keeping them out of second place. What can put them in 2nd is their manager. Buck Showalter is a genius..HEY METS where were you when this guy was sittin on the set of baseball tonight...having your press conferences with Jerry Manuel..."Uh....UH...what happened uh was...uh we lost the game" Jackasses. But seriously if you have a weekend get down to Camden Yards or Oriole Park or whatever they call it because it is a beautiful place to watch the great American sport.

4. Tampa Bay Rays - Team fell apart. They still have Longoria and Upton but their pitching is depleted. I think adding Damon and Manny will be very beneficial but I just see them somewhere in the cellar along with the Blue Jays fighting for last place. I mean they still have Price, Sonnastine, and Shields, but no one is behind them and Sonnastine and Shields aren't exactly aces. Rough year for them but regardless Manny is still my favorite baseball player ever so...

5. Toronto Blue Jays - Stick to your own sport you maple syrup, ice hockey skating lunatics. Juice Batista wont hit more than 25 homeruns this year and other than that nobody in the lineup scares me. And when you have Octavio Dotel on your roster we'll you deserve to be relegated to AAA. Hopefully they trade guys like Rickey Romero and get them outta that place.

Read up again tomorrow as we will dissect the AL Central Division.