AL EAST REPEAT MEANS FENDING OFF YANKEES
The AL East will once again be competitive, with only the Rays seemingly building for the future. There is a chance that four teams could finish at .500 or above, but there would not seem to be any potential 100-win teams in the mix.
The Blue Jays are a better team with fewer question marks than the one that broke camp in April a year ago, but the Red Sox have added, the Orioles have a dangerous lineup that rivals the power of the Jays and the Yankees are the Yankees.
A preview of the AL East, based on last year’s order of finish, with strengths, weaknesses and predictions.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Home: Rogers Centre 2015 record: 93-69 GM: Ross Atkins Manager: John Gibbons
Last playoff appearance: 2015 ALCS Strengths: The offence continues to be the most dangerous in the division from 2-5, despite being all righthanded hitters. In order it will be 3B Josh Donaldson, RF Jose Bautista, DH Edwin Encarnacion and SS Troy Tulowitzki. The team defence will save the starters pitches and outs, allowing them to pitch to contact. The closer’s role now has depth with RH Drew Storen joining 21-year-old RH Roberto Osuna. The rotation has depth in case of injury.
Weaknesses: The bench does not offer much offensive help with C Josh Thole and INF Darwin Barney. If LF Michael Saunders is not fully recovered from his knee issues, there is little in terms of ready outfield replacements. Will need more lefty specialists with reliever Aaron Loup injured to start the season. The manager, John Gibbons, among AL East skippers, ranks third.
Prediction: The Jays will battle it out with the Yankees for first place. Asking so many hitters to duplicate career years is a lot, but with free agency looming, Bautista and Encarnacion will excel.
NEW YORK YANKEES
Home: Yankee Stadium 2015 record: 87-75 GM: Brian Cashman Manager: Joe Girardi Last playoff appearance: 2015 Wild Card
Strengths: The Yanks’ bullpen closing role is the deepest in the division with LH Andrew Miller, RH Dellin Betances and LH Aroldis Chapman — with the former Reds’ ace suspended by MLB for the first 30 games. However, does it need to be that deep? The Yanks lost just three games last season that they led after six innings. The up-the-middle defence with SS Didi Gregorius, 2B Starlin Castro, C Brian McCann and CF Jacoby Ellsbury is as good as it’s been since the heyday of Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Jorge Posada. The manager, Joe Girardi, among AL East skippers, ranks second.
Weaknesses: The Yankees rotation seems brittle with RH Masahiro Tanaka, LH CC Sabathia, RH Michael Pineda and RH Nate Eovaldi all out for significant periods the past few years. The run producers are getting old, with DH Alex Rodriguez, 1B Mark Teixeira and RF Carlos Beltran.
Prediction: The Yankees always find a way to hang around the race and have solidified the infield defence. They need good health among the starting pitchers to reach 90 wins.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Home: Camden Yards 2015 record: 81-81 GM: Dan Duquette Manager: Buck Showalter
Last playoff appearance: 2014 ALCS Strengths: In their bandbox home ballpark, the grip-and-rip lineup will rival the Jays for the AL home run crown. Adding DH Pedro Alvarez and re-signing Chris Davis add balance to the order. 3B Manny Machado rivals Donaldson for AL MVP and Gold Glove honours. The manager, Buck Showalter, among AL East skippers, ranks as the best, but beware his “best before” date with franchises.
Weaknesses: The fading production and skills of SS J.J. Hardy and the youthful inconsistency of 2B Jonathan Schoop won’t help a rotation that is already the shallowest in the division, with not even a bona-fide No. 2 starter in the lot. With a Top 3 of RH Chris Tillman, RH Ubaldo Jimenez and RH Yovani Gallardo, the O’s will keep the front end of the bullpen busy.
Prediction: The O’s will be difficult anytime you face them in a 3-4 game series, but over the course of 162, their flaws will show up. They will end up promoting young pitching and battling for third place.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
Home: Tropicana Field 2015 record: 80-82 GM: Matt Silverman Manager: Kevin Cash Last playoff appearance: 2013 ALDS Strengths: The two biggest strengths are starting ace RH Chris Archer and Gold Glove CF Kevin Kiermaier, but beyond that the Rays are begging for compliments. They acquired LH Drew Smyly who has a tremendous upside in the rotation, but has yet to do anything good for close to a full season. The Rays are forever entering seasons with a stockpile of almost-ready-for-primetime players following trades that send away expensive veterans, but not many kids are available to help right away.
Weaknesses: The Rays always seem to have veteran catchers to guide their young pitchers, but Curt Casali and Hank Conger don’t exactly fit that mould. The bullpen has always found a way to contribute with new/ old parts, but with RH Brad Boxberger on the shelf, closing comes down to RH Alex Colome and RH Danny Farquhar.
Prediction: The Rays are looking to open another window in which to contend, but the latch will be stuck this year. They will battle to win 70-75 games.
BOSTON RED SOX
Home: Fenway Park 2015 record: 78-84 GM: Mike Hazen Manager: John Farrell Last playoff appearance: Won 2013 World Series
Strengths: The closing role is in good hands with the dynamic RH Craig Kimbrel joining RH Koji Uehara. It speaks volumes for their chances that the three best positions are DH David Ortiz, SS Xander Bogaerts and RF Mookie Betts yet all three rank second in the division to the Blue Jays. The rotation has been upgraded with LH David Price now at the top. It has potential to be among the strongest if LH Eduardo Rodriguez can stay healthy and develop.
Weaknesses: There are question marks at the corners of the infield with first time 1B Hanley Ramirez and disappointing 3B Pablo Sandoval. The Sox have been plagued by injuries seemingly more than most in the past several years. 2B Dustin Pedroia missed a total of 96 games in 2014-15.
Prediction: The Sox will likely fight the O’s for third place in the division, between 78-85 wins.