EAST DIVISION
1| TAMPA BAY 2011 | 91-71, 2nd in East
Last year in playoffs | 2011
The Rays are unsure who will start behind the plate and when, or if, B.J. Upton will mature into the player they believe he can be. But their rotation can erase a lot of question marks. If Kyle Farnsworth, who will be 36, comes close to replicating his career-best 2011season (25 saves, 2.18 ERA), the Rays should make the playoffs.
2| NEW YORK 2011 | 97-65, 1st in East
Last year in playoffs | 2011
The Yankees led the AL in homers and walks and were second in runs and onbase percentage last season, but pitching was a problem. The additions of Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda may help, but the decision to re-sign Andy Pettitte a year after he retired raises questions about the team’s confidence in its staff.
3| TORONTO 2011 | 81-81, 4th in East
Last year in playoffs | 1993
The Blue Jays, who converted only 57% of their save chances last year, addressed that by trading for Sergio Santos and signing aging free agent Francisco Cordero, who combined for 67 saves in 2011. Still, the rotation will have to get more than the 17 outs a game it averaged in 2011.
4| BOSTON 2011 | 90-72, 3rd in East
Last year in playoffs | 2009
Adding new Manager Bobby Valentine to what’s become a fractured clubhouse could have disastrous results for the Red Sox. Of more concern, however, is a shallow rotation and a bullpen with lots of question marks. Offensively, Boston is largely unchanged from the team that led the majors in eight categories last season.
5| BALTIMORE 2011 | 69-93, 5th in East
Last year in playoffs | 1997
The Orioles gave up an Mlb-high 5.31runs a game and had an Mlb-low 60 quality starts. So what did they do? They traded away their most effective starter, Jeremy Guthrie, and use two pitchers who were in Japan last year, plus Jake Arrieta, who is coming off elbow surgery, and Brian Matusz, who was 1-9 with a10.69 ERA.