A.L. East at a Glance

[rsox]

With the near-Arod to Yankees trade almost completed, we have heard questions all day about "how does this effect the Red Sox"?, "can the Blue Jays Devil Rays and Orioles possibley contend"?, "how does the A.L. East shape up now"?, lets take a look at the 5 teams in the division and see how things stack up,

probable lineups
Baltimore
2B Jerry Hairston
3B Melvin Mora
SS Miguel Tejada
1B Rafael Palmeiro
RF Jay Gibbons
C Javy Lopez
DH David Segui
LF Marty Cordova
CF Luis Matos

Boston
CF Johnny Damon
3B Bill Mueller
SS Nomar Garciaparra
DH Manny Ramirez
LF Kevin Millar
1B David Ortiz
RF Trot Nixon
C Jason Varitek
2B Pokey Reese

New York
CF Kenny Lofton
SS Derek Jeter
3B Alex Rodriguez
RF Gary Sheffield
1B Jason Giambi
DH Bernie Williams
LF Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
2B Miguel Cairo/Enrique Wilson

Tampa Bay
LF Carl Crawford
2B Julio Lugo
CF Rocco Baldelli
DH Aubrey Huff
1B Tino Martinez
RF Jose Cruz Jr.
3B Geoff Blum
C Toby Hall
SS Rey Sanchez

Toronto
LF Reed Johnson
RF Frank Catalanotto
CF Vernon Wells
1B Carlos Delgado
DH Josh Phelps
3B Eric Hinske
SS Chris Woodward
C Kevin Cash
2B Orlando Hudson

probable starting rotations
Baltimore
RHP Rodrigo Lopez
RHP Sidney Ponson
RHP Kurt Ainsworth
RHP Erik Bedard
RHP Brian DuBose

Boston
RHP Pedro Martinez
RHP Curt Shilling
RHP Derek Lowe
RHP Tim Wakefield
RHP Byung Hyun Kim

New York
RHP Mike Mussina
RHP Javier Vazquez
RHP Kevin Brown
RHP Jose Contreras
RHP Jon Lieber

Tampa Bay
RHP Victor Zambrano
LHP Damion Moss
RHP Dewon Brazleton
RHP Jorge Sosa
LHP Mark Hendrickson

Toronto
RHP Roy Halladay
RHP Miguel Batista
LHP Ted Lilly
RHP Pat Hentgen
RHP Josh Towers

probable bullpens
Baltimore
LHP Omar Daal
RHP Mike DeJean
LHP Buddy Groom
RHP Jorge Julio
RHP Willis Roberts
LHP B.J. Ryan

Boston
RHP Bronson Arroyo
LHP Alan Embree
RHP Keith Foulke
LHP Mark Malaska
RHP Ramiro Mendoza
RHP Mike Timlin
RHP Scott Williamson

New York
RHP Tom Gordon
LHP Felix Heredia
RHP Steve Karsay
RHP Paul Quantrill
RHP Mariano Rivera
LHP Gabe White

Tampa Bay
RHP Paul Abbott
RHP Danys Baez
RHP Lance Carter
RHP Jesus Colome
LHP John Halama
RHP Travis Harper
LHP Trever Miller

Toronto
RHP Terry Adams
LHP Valerio De Los Santos
LHP Jason Kershner
RHP Kerry Ligtenberg
RHP Aqulino Lopez
RHP Justin Speier

The Yankees will have a strong offense, but actually all 5 teams will have pretty good offenses, the Red Sox and Blue Jays may have better starting pitching, the Red Sox Blue Jays and Devil Rays look like they will have good bullpens, the Yankees may be considered favorites by a lot of people, but names don't win championships, ask the Marlins, pitching and defense win championships and the Yankees are short on both right now.

[SPTO]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

Rsox a correction for the Jays and a question bout the Yanks.

BLUE JAYS: It's still Greg Myers job as Starting Catcher however he'll probably play less games then he did last year so it'll be a platoon situation with him and Cash. De Los Santos might not make the club or they might put in another guy from the minors in the Bullpen.

YANKEES: wouldn't you rather put A-Rod at cleanup rather than Sheffield?

[SPTO]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

Rsox a correction for the Jays and a question bout the Yanks.

BLUE JAYS: It's still Greg Myers job as Starting Catcher however he'll probably play less games then he did last year so it'll be a platoon situation with him and Cash. De Los Santos might not make the club or they might put in another guy from the minors in the Bullpen.

YANKEES: wouldn't you rather put A-Rod at cleanup rather than Sheffield?

[SPTO]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

Rsox a correction for the Jays and a question bout the Yanks.

BLUE JAYS: It's still Greg Myers job as Starting Catcher however he'll probably play less games then he did last year so it'll be a platoon situation with him and Cash. De Los Santos might not make the club or they might put in another guy from the minors in the Bullpen.

YANKEES: wouldn't you rather put A-Rod at cleanup rather than Sheffield?

[bkrich83]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Rsox a correction for the Jays and a question bout the Yanks.

BLUE JAYS: It's still Greg Myers job as Starting Catcher however he'll probably play less games then he did last year so it'll be a platoon situation with him and Cash. De Los Santos might not make the club or they might put in another guy from the minors in the Bullpen.

YANKEES: wouldn't you rather put A-Rod at cleanup rather than Sheffield?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I think they are interchable there. Both have great OBP. and both hit for power. I am interested to see if AROD starts stealing bases again. Arod struggled against Lefty pitching 2 years ago but seems to have righted the ship this last year. Sheffield absolutely murdered left handed pitching last year. I am interested to see how Sheff adjusts to AL pitching. He's such a great hitter, I don't think it will be a problem.

I think this division will be very competetive. The Yanks only have 2 pitchers who have proven that they are good for 200+ innings and 33-35 starts over the last few years. Sheffield has a history of being injury prone and moody. Interested to see how he does in NY. I think the Yanks are the favorites, but they are not a lock by any stretch of the imagination, and do have some legit question marks.

[bkrich83]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Rsox a correction for the Jays and a question bout the Yanks.

BLUE JAYS: It's still Greg Myers job as Starting Catcher however he'll probably play less games then he did last year so it'll be a platoon situation with him and Cash. De Los Santos might not make the club or they might put in another guy from the minors in the Bullpen.

YANKEES: wouldn't you rather put A-Rod at cleanup rather than Sheffield?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I think they are interchable there. Both have great OBP. and both hit for power. I am interested to see if AROD starts stealing bases again. Arod struggled against Lefty pitching 2 years ago but seems to have righted the ship this last year. Sheffield absolutely murdered left handed pitching last year. I am interested to see how Sheff adjusts to AL pitching. He's such a great hitter, I don't think it will be a problem.

I think this division will be very competetive. The Yanks only have 2 pitchers who have proven that they are good for 200+ innings and 33-35 starts over the last few years. Sheffield has a history of being injury prone and moody. Interested to see how he does in NY. I think the Yanks are the favorites, but they are not a lock by any stretch of the imagination, and do have some legit question marks.

[bkrich83]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Rsox a correction for the Jays and a question bout the Yanks.

BLUE JAYS: It's still Greg Myers job as Starting Catcher however he'll probably play less games then he did last year so it'll be a platoon situation with him and Cash. De Los Santos might not make the club or they might put in another guy from the minors in the Bullpen.

YANKEES: wouldn't you rather put A-Rod at cleanup rather than Sheffield?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I think they are interchable there. Both have great OBP. and both hit for power. I am interested to see if AROD starts stealing bases again. Arod struggled against Lefty pitching 2 years ago but seems to have righted the ship this last year. Sheffield absolutely murdered left handed pitching last year. I am interested to see how Sheff adjusts to AL pitching. He's such a great hitter, I don't think it will be a problem.

I think this division will be very competetive. The Yanks only have 2 pitchers who have proven that they are good for 200+ innings and 33-35 starts over the last few years. Sheffield has a history of being injury prone and moody. Interested to see how he does in NY. I think the Yanks are the favorites, but they are not a lock by any stretch of the imagination, and do have some legit question marks.

[nkhera1]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

yeah they need another insurance pitcher, maybe a lefty or two wouldn't hurt

[nkhera1]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

yeah they need another insurance pitcher, maybe a lefty or two wouldn't hurt

[nkhera1]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

yeah they need another insurance pitcher, maybe a lefty or two wouldn't hurt

[Misfit]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

So long as the Yankees don't make a rediculous trade for one of Oakland's big three I still like the Sox because of their pitching staff. Williams and Giambi are both on the decline and ARod doesn't hit well against Boston. And if someone gets hurt in New York they have no depth, unless you count infinitly deep pockets as depth.

[Misfit]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

So long as the Yankees don't make a rediculous trade for one of Oakland's big three I still like the Sox because of their pitching staff. Williams and Giambi are both on the decline and ARod doesn't hit well against Boston. And if someone gets hurt in New York they have no depth, unless you count infinitly deep pockets as depth.

[Misfit]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

So long as the Yankees don't make a rediculous trade for one of Oakland's big three I still like the Sox because of their pitching staff. Williams and Giambi are both on the decline and ARod doesn't hit well against Boston. And if someone gets hurt in New York they have no depth, unless you count infinitly deep pockets as depth.

[bkrich83]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
So long as the Yankees don't make a rediculous trade for one of Oakland's big three I still like the Sox because of their pitching staff. Williams and Giambi are both on the decline and ARod doesn't hit well against Boston. And if someone gets hurt in New York they have no depth, unless you count infinitly deep pockets as depth.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

How is Giambi on the decline. His avg. was down but he still hit 41 bombs and had 100+ RBI.

[bkrich83]

Re: A.L. East at a Glance

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
So long as the Yankees don't make a rediculous trade for one of Oakland's big three I still like the Sox because of their pitching staff. Williams and Giambi are both on the decline and ARod doesn't hit well against Boston. And if someone gets hurt in New York they have no depth, unless you count infinitly deep pockets as depth.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

How is Giambi on the decline. His avg. was down but he still hit 41 bombs and had 100+ RBI.