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April Battle for the AL East
By Jessica | April 29, 2008
The first month of the season is almost complete, so let’s take a look at the always competitive AL East.
We’ll start with the division leading Tampa Bay Rays! So cool.
Strengths - So many great athletes in the line-up. A much improved defense. A bullpen that is kickin ass and takin names. Their ace is on his way back.
Weaknesses - Three of their starting pitchers are inconsistent. The bottom of their batting order gives opposing pitchers a mid game siesta.
Baltimore Orioles
Strengths - Shutting up their critics, some of who thought they would be San Fransisco Giants bad. The whole line-up is hitting. Aubrey Huff is an RBI machine.
Weaknesses - Questionable starting pitching.
Boston Red Sox
Strengths - One of the best hitting line-ups in baseball. No lead is too big against them. A nice youth infusion adding speed to their game. A lights-out closer.
Weaknesses - Their middle relievers give their fans palpitations. Only one ace in the starting rotation.
New York Yankees
Strengths - One of the best hitting line-ups in baseball. Excellent back-end combination of Joba and Rivera.
Weaknesses - Starting pitching, defense, and injuries to two major players. (Posada and Rodriguez)
Toronto Blue Jays
Strengths - All around pitching, and players coming out of slumps. (Hill and Rios)
Weaknesses - Defense and not the best hitting line-up ever.
Verdict - They’re all contenders, it’s only April!
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May 1st, 2008 at 11:36 am
I haven’t looked at their numbers, but the Blue Jays are supposed to have the best defense in the division. Do you have some information to counter that evaluation?
I also think you undervalue Matsuzaka. He had a terrific year in 2007 even if it was superficially less than expected, and he is pitching even better this year. Teams do not need two aces, but the Beckett/Matsuzaka one-two punch is among the best in the majors.
As for the rest of the Boston rotation, it is probably as good or better than any other in the division save Toronto. It is certainly superior to NY and Baltimore, and I think that Wakefield, Buchholz & Lester are comparable to or better than Garza, Sonnanstine and Jackson (or Hammel).
Like the Rays’ pitchers, the Red Sox trio has weaknesses and inconsistency but also promise and probably a bit more history of success.
I say that as a rabid Rays’ fan, by the way.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Well the Blue Jays fielding percentage is on par with the Rays and Orioles, but they have the most errors in the AL East and their defensive efficiency is just a shade higher than the Yankees. I mostly got that from grumbling Blue Jay bloggers though!
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_2008.shtml
As for Matsuzaka you’re right I did undervalue him. He is pitching much better than last year. Last year he seemed to vulnerable come the fifth or sixth inning, not the case anymore.
As another rabid Rays fan I hate to admit it but I think Boston is one of the most well rounded teams in baseball, and that blows.