Predictions Part I

Today marks the start of the first annual There’s Always Next Year Humble Opinions MLB Predictions. I’m going to try to cover a division every day, ending with the NL Central and my beloved Cubbies. I’ll start the predictions with the hardest division in both leagues, the AL East.

Here’s my humble opinion:

1. Boston Red Sox
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. New York Yankees
5. Baltimore Orioles

Yes, I’ve made some pretty bold statements. That section right up there is enough to get beat up at Yankee Stadium. So before all you live-and-breath NY fans come after me with bats, let me explain myself. Firstly, the Yankees winter much consisted of Jeter talks, Cliff chasing, and the Andy Petitte situation. The only significant change to their team has come from signing Rafael Soriano to a monster contract. They’ve also gotten a year older, and the Core Four are not exactly spring chickens anymore. One retired, one kicked to DH, one hesitantly signed, and one just staying put. Lastly, just how the Cubs season end shows good things to come, the Yankees season end is alarming. Anybody who watched the ALCS knows the Bombers played completely un-Yankee like.

Meanwhile, the Red Sox‘s winter was insanely busy. Adding Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez, and undergoing a bullpen facelift made the Red Sox the immediate favorites to win it all. So it’s not at all surprising that I’m jumping on the Fenway bandwagon and predicting the Sox to win the division. 

The Rays winter was also busy, just in a different way than the Red Sox. The Rays were mostly sellers this offseason. They lost by trade or free agency: their first baseman, starting pitcher, relievers, and left fielder. But they got great prospects in return -cough cough Chris Archer- and overall their team is still surprisingly strong. I think they’re Wild Card caliber. For the Rays, it all goes back to their pitching, which is rock-solid. In any other division, the Rays would be favorites, but this season, they’re just victims of the Beast of the East.

The Blue Jays main move was trading Vernon Wells, but other than that their team has remained relatively the same. With not a ton of offseason moves, the Blue Jays will be in the same position as they were last year, good but not great.

The Orioles have had some activity. They signed one of my all-time favorite players, Derrek Lee, and now are talking about a contract with Vladimir Guerrero. They also totally revamped their infield, but their effort will turn out to be just that.

In conclusion, the AL East will be a very competitive division as always.   
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