With just days until pitchers and catchers report, it is time to check out the 2010 Major League Baseball landscape for this upcoming season, starting with the American League East.
New York Yankees:
Everything went right for the Yankees last season as they went on to win their 27th World Championship. This was all thanks to spending a couple of truckloads of dollars on free agents Mark Teixiera, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. With these additions and a roster that managed to stay relatively healthy, they were able to take the crown. This off-season, the Yankees were a bit quieter but still managed to improve their team.
The Yankees traded Austin Jackson and other prospects in a three team deal to Detroit in exchange for center fielder Curtis Granderson. The 28-year-old outfielder can provide the team with some power from the left side of the plate and some solid speed. The downside to Granderson is that he has not hit well for average and his strike out totals are astronomical. The Yankees lost Hideki Matsui, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels. Left fielder Johnny Damon appears to be finished with the team, although he has yet to sign with anyone. The Yankees traded Melky Cabrera to Atlanta for starter Javier Vazquez who, in his return to the Bronx, should be a strong number three starter. Despite the team’s losses, this is still an incredibly strong ball club with tons of power and strong pitching. As of now the New York Yankees are the team to beat.
Boston Red Sox:
Despite the Yankees’ success, the Red Sox will be right in the mix in the upcoming season. Last season the Sox suffered due to David Ortiz’s decline at the plate. This season the team looks less focused on the big swinging Big Papi and more on the small ball and good defense. The two skills are embodied by infielders Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia. Boston’s offseason acquisitions were reflective of this approach.
Focusing on pitching, the Red Sox made a big splash signing former Angels ace, John Lackey. The big right-hander has struggled at times recently, but the talent is definitely there. With this acquisition, the top of their rotation has Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey. That top three would make just about anyone shake in their cleats. Along with the improvements in the starting rotation, the Sox signed journeyman center fielder Mike Cameron who is known for his defensive prowess and his ability to swing and miss more than just about anyone. Adrian Beltre also latched onto the team and should provide an excellent glove at third. No longer living and dieing by the mighty swings of Ortiz, the new look Red Sox should give the Yankees a run for their money.
Tampa Bay Rays:
After making a surprising run in the 2008 season, the Rays suffered from raised expectations in their ’09 run. With a number of injuries, the Rays were not able to return to the World Series. In spite of last year, the Rays are still a very talented young team. Regardless of where this team finishes, they will be a lot of fun to watch.
Third baseman Evan Longoria has established himself already as a superstar. He has incredible power and is an excellent defensive player. Second baseman Ben Zobrist was probably the biggest breakout player Tampa had last year, as he put up fantastic power numbers. He belted 27 home runs and drove in 91 RBIs last season. The Rays will also depend on the power of first baseman Carlos Pena, who is a major part of the team’s success.
The Rays also have a good stockpile of young starters returning to the mound next season. Matt Garza has become one of the most intimidating forces on the mound and the young lefty David Price will only get better after a strong showing in his first full season. In all likelihood, the Rays will not finish atop the division this season simply because the Sox and Yankees are too strong. But if the 2008 squad showed anything, it’s that these young guns should not be overlooked.
Baltimore Orioles:
No, the Baltimore Orioles do not have any shot at taking the East this season. But O’s fans should take solace in the fact that they have a core of young players who will make this team a contender in the near future. In fact, the main thing keeping the Orioles from being a carbon copy of the 2008 Rays is pitching.
The Orioles have done an excellent job developing their young players for the majors. Outfielders Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and catcher Matt Wieters are close to becoming household names. It is true that Jones and Markakis had much better years than Wieters, but the young catcher comes with such hype that it would be a shock to many around baseball if he were not to become one of the league’s elite catchers. The Orioles will also have a strong veteran presence on the club, with the always-consistent Brian Roberts and the returning Miguel Tejada.
While the offense is heading in the right direction, the pitching on Baltimore looks bleak. Kevin Milwood has joined the starting rotation and his experience should rub off on some of the younger players. Along with Milwood, the rotation will have Jeremy Guthrie who managed to lose 17 games last season. Youngster David Hernandez did not set the world aflame with his rookie season, as he went just 4-10 with an ERA over five. O’s fans should sit tight, for when they get some real starting pitching they will have a shot at the playoffs.
Toronto Blue Jays:
The Toronto Blue Jays have fallen on some hard luck lately. They have a center fielder in Vernon Wells who has not lived up to his monstrous contract, they traded powerful Alex Rios to the White Sox and most recently they traded pitching ace Roy Halladay. To be fair to the Jays, the trade was inevitable — it made no sense to keep a player on a losing team. Why not get some value for him while he’s still around? The Jays got a nice batch of prospects, but fans never like hearing about how the team will be good in five years. Jays fans better get set for the wait.
The big offensive weapons the Jays have at their disposal are minimal. Outfielder Adam Lind and second baseman Aaron Hill established themselves as the offensive leaders of the ball club last season. Vernon Wells is still patrolling the outfield, but is no longer the threat he once was. Last season he hit just 15 home runs and drove in just 66 RBIs.
The Jays will have to depend on a very young group of starters next season, including Ricky Romero who won an impressive 13 games in is rookie campaign. Coming over from Seattle in the Halladay trade is Brandon Marrow who is a prospect held in fairly high regard and is someone the Jays will look to for an effective season. It may be a while though until the Jays have a team that can compete in the strong AL East.
Predictions
AL East Winner: New York Yankees — Have to go with the defending World Champs to take the division again.
Wild Card Winner: Boston Red Sox — Red Sox will be one of the better teams in the American League, it’s just unfortunate that the best team is in their own division.
You can reach this writer at slindauer@theeagleonline.com
