MLB preview: AL East looks tough, but will the NL come out on top again?
Chuck Platt '10
Issue date: 4/8/09 Section: Sports
It's not too often that a baseball team spends over $400 million in offseason acquisitions and enters the season as not even a clear-cut favorite in their own division. But that is exactly the position the New York Yankees find themselves in right now, as they try to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox in the highly competitive AL East. Neither the Rays nor the Red Sox were big spenders this winter, unlike the Yankees, whose notable acquisitions were free agents pitchera C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and first baseman Mark Texiera. They'll also move into New Yankee Stadium, which is just like their old digs but with fewer cheap seats and more luxury boxes. Gotta love the Steinbrenners.
Just like last year, when New York missed the playoffs and finished third with 89 wins, the AL East will be a fiercely fought division. The difference between 2008 and 2009, however, will be that the Rays, last year's Cinderella story, aren't catching anyone by surprise this year - they are the real deal, and everyone knows it.
The AL East isn't the only competitive division, however, with worthy division races likely in the AL Central and the NL East. While the remaining divisions may figure in wild card races, there is general consensus that the Chicago Cubs will defend their NL Central crown, ditto for the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West, as well as for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
It appears the AL Central will, once again, be a closely-contested joust for mediocrity. With the exception of the ever-lowly Kansas City Royals, any of the remaining four teams in the division could conceivably win it. The Minnesota Twins have strong starting pitching, but are hurting for offensive beyond first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer. The Detroit Tigers, who were a trendy World Series pick at this time last year, feature a ferocious line-up, but leave much to be desired in their starting rotation. The Chicago White Sox, who won the division last year, and the Cleveland Indians, who significantly retooled over the winter, are perhaps the most balanced teams among the group. Nothing really stands out for either team, but neither team is really weak in any facet of the game. This division came down to a playoff game last year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see things wind up that way again. If pitcher Fausto Carmona, who's coming off a disastrous 2008, can regain something close to his 2007 form, I see the Indians coming out on top.
Just like last year, when New York missed the playoffs and finished third with 89 wins, the AL East will be a fiercely fought division. The difference between 2008 and 2009, however, will be that the Rays, last year's Cinderella story, aren't catching anyone by surprise this year - they are the real deal, and everyone knows it.
The AL East isn't the only competitive division, however, with worthy division races likely in the AL Central and the NL East. While the remaining divisions may figure in wild card races, there is general consensus that the Chicago Cubs will defend their NL Central crown, ditto for the Los Angeles Angels in the AL West, as well as for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
It appears the AL Central will, once again, be a closely-contested joust for mediocrity. With the exception of the ever-lowly Kansas City Royals, any of the remaining four teams in the division could conceivably win it. The Minnesota Twins have strong starting pitching, but are hurting for offensive beyond first baseman Justin Morneau and catcher Joe Mauer. The Detroit Tigers, who were a trendy World Series pick at this time last year, feature a ferocious line-up, but leave much to be desired in their starting rotation. The Chicago White Sox, who won the division last year, and the Cleveland Indians, who significantly retooled over the winter, are perhaps the most balanced teams among the group. Nothing really stands out for either team, but neither team is really weak in any facet of the game. This division came down to a playoff game last year, and it wouldn't be surprising to see things wind up that way again. If pitcher Fausto Carmona, who's coming off a disastrous 2008, can regain something close to his 2007 form, I see the Indians coming out on top.
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