Now that he's healthy, Big Papi's doubles will turn back into long balls. (doogin/flickr)
With the 2008 season opener upon us I figured it would be as good a time as ever to start giving my exciting 2008 division, playoff and award winner picks! We'll start off by covering each division (one division per day) with the order they will finish along with some brief statements about each team and the standout players from that division. Once all of the divisions are done we will talk playoffs and then finally the 2008 award winners. As always, let me know your opinion on each one!
1.) Boston Red Sox: They are simply too strong of a team to not win this division. Their lineup is too dominant and their rotation will be strong even without Schilling. Buchholz and Lester are ready to shine. With Ortiz 100% healthy, his large number of doubles (52) will now bounce back into homers which were low (35) last season. Manny will be Manny only he’ll do it healthy. Ellsbury will show himself as the best leadoff hitter in the game (.353/.394/.509 in 33 games last year).
2.) New York Yankees: Lineup is as strong as ever although Giambi is still worthless and will see less playing time as a result. As good as they could be, I just don’t know about their rotation. You pretty much know what you will get from Wang (19 wins last two years) but after that its old players (Pettitte and Mussina) and inexperienced players (Hughes and Kennedy) left to round out the rotation. Joba is the wild card here as even if he is moved to the rotation, now you have a huge hole in the bullpen. Catch 22.
3.) Tampa Bay Rays: I had to take some chances with my picks right? They have too much talent not to bust out eventually. Longoria will be the Ryan Braun of 2008 (can you say 30+ homers?). Their rotation will solidify with Garza taking the next step. Crawford and Pena will finally have protection in the lineup. And you will see an appearance before the season is out by the big man himself, the future ace, David Price.
4.) Toronto Blue Jays: Too many “what ifs” from this team for me to give them a notch above Tampa. If Burnett and Ryan can be healthy, if Wells can become the Wells we have been waiting for the past couple of seasons (pitiful .245/.304/.402 in 2007) and if Rolen’s leg doesn’t fall off they could be a good team. Although we will watch Rios take that next step to becoming a superstar (prediction: 31 HR, 102 RBI).
5.) Baltimore Orioles: The O’s are starting to build up a good base of youngsters (Jones, Wieters and Rowell are the future) after hitting the “reset” button again this winter. Better get more promising youngsters from the upcoming trade of Roberts to the Cubs if they want any hope for the next 5-10 years. They will be the whooping toy of the Sox, Yanks and Rays.
2008 AL East Standout Predictions
Star Bat: David Ortiz
Star Arm: Phil Hughes
Biggest Flop: Scott Rolen
Starburst: Alex Rios
Best Rookie: Evan Longoria
Tomorrow we will visit the American League Central!
With the 2008 season opener upon us I figured it would be as good a time as ever to start giving my exciting 2008 division, playoff and award winner picks! We'll start off by covering each division (one division per day) with the order they will finish along with some brief statements about each team and the standout players from that division. Once all of the divisions are done we will talk playoffs and then finally the 2008 award winners. As always, let me know your opinion on each one!
1.) Boston Red Sox: They are simply too strong of a team to not win this division. Their lineup is too dominant and their rotation will be strong even without Schilling. Buchholz and Lester are ready to shine. With Ortiz 100% healthy, his large number of doubles (52) will now bounce back into homers which were low (35) last season. Manny will be Manny only he’ll do it healthy. Ellsbury will show himself as the best leadoff hitter in the game (.353/.394/.509 in 33 games last year).
2.) New York Yankees: Lineup is as strong as ever although Giambi is still worthless and will see less playing time as a result. As good as they could be, I just don’t know about their rotation. You pretty much know what you will get from Wang (19 wins last two years) but after that its old players (Pettitte and Mussina) and inexperienced players (Hughes and Kennedy) left to round out the rotation. Joba is the wild card here as even if he is moved to the rotation, now you have a huge hole in the bullpen. Catch 22.
3.) Tampa Bay Rays: I had to take some chances with my picks right? They have too much talent not to bust out eventually. Longoria will be the Ryan Braun of 2008 (can you say 30+ homers?). Their rotation will solidify with Garza taking the next step. Crawford and Pena will finally have protection in the lineup. And you will see an appearance before the season is out by the big man himself, the future ace, David Price.
4.) Toronto Blue Jays: Too many “what ifs” from this team for me to give them a notch above Tampa. If Burnett and Ryan can be healthy, if Wells can become the Wells we have been waiting for the past couple of seasons (pitiful .245/.304/.402 in 2007) and if Rolen’s leg doesn’t fall off they could be a good team. Although we will watch Rios take that next step to becoming a superstar (prediction: 31 HR, 102 RBI).
5.) Baltimore Orioles: The O’s are starting to build up a good base of youngsters (Jones, Wieters and Rowell are the future) after hitting the “reset” button again this winter. Better get more promising youngsters from the upcoming trade of Roberts to the Cubs if they want any hope for the next 5-10 years. They will be the whooping toy of the Sox, Yanks and Rays.
2008 AL East Standout Predictions
Star Bat: David Ortiz
Star Arm: Phil Hughes
Biggest Flop: Scott Rolen
Starburst: Alex Rios
Best Rookie: Evan Longoria
Tomorrow we will visit the American League Central!
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Comments
Re: 2008 Division Predictions: AL East
As a Blue Jays fan, I say to you: %!@&%$%&^!$
Seriously, I agree that the Tampa Bay Rays are just a monster waiting to explode, but I don't agree about all the 'what ifs' for the Blue Jays. Even without Ryan and Janssen, the bullpen depth for the Jays is just formidable.
When it comes to the offense, what's encouraging is that we can ONLY be better than last year. Yes there are 'ifs', but watch out for the blue birds...
Yankees: You are right about the rotation. As much as we'll see flashes of brilliance from the rookies, baseball has a way to take you back to earth when you are too high. Great rotation in waiting, but not this year. What should make the NY fans relax, however, is that the pitching failed them last season, but they found a way to make the playoffs. Good enough to overtake an AL Central team for the Wild Card? I'd be surprised.
Baltimore: they are doing what they should have done a few years back - build from within. Trading Tejada ONE day before the Mitchell Report was a stroke of genius, man.
Boston: Well, if they are affected by injuries, they have a farm system that could potentially sustain their winning ways. On top of that, Ortiz has a brand new knee and Ramirez seems to be in the best shape of his life. What does this all mean? A great team that will be tough to dislodge from its throne.
What do you think guys: will the Wild Card be in the Al East this year?
Seriously, I agree that the Tampa Bay Rays are just a monster waiting to explode, but I don't agree about all the 'what ifs' for the Blue Jays. Even without Ryan and Janssen, the bullpen depth for the Jays is just formidable.
When it comes to the offense, what's encouraging is that we can ONLY be better than last year. Yes there are 'ifs', but watch out for the blue birds...
Yankees: You are right about the rotation. As much as we'll see flashes of brilliance from the rookies, baseball has a way to take you back to earth when you are too high. Great rotation in waiting, but not this year. What should make the NY fans relax, however, is that the pitching failed them last season, but they found a way to make the playoffs. Good enough to overtake an AL Central team for the Wild Card? I'd be surprised.
Baltimore: they are doing what they should have done a few years back - build from within. Trading Tejada ONE day before the Mitchell Report was a stroke of genius, man.
Boston: Well, if they are affected by injuries, they have a farm system that could potentially sustain their winning ways. On top of that, Ortiz has a brand new knee and Ramirez seems to be in the best shape of his life. What does this all mean? A great team that will be tough to dislodge from its throne.
What do you think guys: will the Wild Card be in the Al East this year?
Re: Re: 2008 Division Predictions: AL East
I am confident the Wild Card will come for the East.
In the West, I would be surprised if any team broke 90 wins.
The Central is so deep top to bottom, that those teams will beat up on one another and the division winner will be around 91 wins with second landing a game or two behind.
The East has 4 teams who could, in my opinion, win any other division in baseball. Each team (of course, excluding the Os) has strengths all over the field, from hitting, to starting pitching, to their bullpens.
In the West, I would be surprised if any team broke 90 wins.
The Central is so deep top to bottom, that those teams will beat up on one another and the division winner will be around 91 wins with second landing a game or two behind.
The East has 4 teams who could, in my opinion, win any other division in baseball. Each team (of course, excluding the Os) has strengths all over the field, from hitting, to starting pitching, to their bullpens.
Re: 2008 Division Predictions: AL East
I knew my comments on the Jays would strike a chord with you. I've been hoping for their rebirth for a while and they keep letting me down. Unfortunately once Wells lost his ability to hit they too seemed to really take a dive. Rios is your new star!
Re: 2008 Division Predictions: AL East
I'm thinking this is the year that age catches up to the Yankees and Red Sox. While both are starting to develop a solid core of high ceiling youngsters, none have what it takes to be superstars in 2008.
That said, take a look at the Yanks 25 man roster: Hughes, Chamberlain, Cano, Cabrera and Ramirez are the only regulars under 30.
Similarly, the Sox have a core of players past their prime that will again be required to defeat the odds of continued success.
I am probably going too far, but I believe the Rays can win this division with the Jays being right behind them and being in true contention for the wild card.
For the Rays, I think there are just TOO many breakout candidates. Additionally, their farm system is stacked and most of their prospects are blocked. I can see a quick start boosting attendance, giving the Rays reason to be aggressive in the trade market.
For the Jays, they simply cannot have the same amount of bad luck they had in 2008. Their fielding should be vastly improved and IF healthy, this is as deep of an offensive team as there is in the majors!
That said, take a look at the Yanks 25 man roster: Hughes, Chamberlain, Cano, Cabrera and Ramirez are the only regulars under 30.
Similarly, the Sox have a core of players past their prime that will again be required to defeat the odds of continued success.
I am probably going too far, but I believe the Rays can win this division with the Jays being right behind them and being in true contention for the wild card.
For the Rays, I think there are just TOO many breakout candidates. Additionally, their farm system is stacked and most of their prospects are blocked. I can see a quick start boosting attendance, giving the Rays reason to be aggressive in the trade market.
For the Jays, they simply cannot have the same amount of bad luck they had in 2008. Their fielding should be vastly improved and IF healthy, this is as deep of an offensive team as there is in the majors!
Re: Re: 2008 Division Predictions: AL East
The age and mounting injuries for both powerhouses is definitely adding up. However I unless both teams have MASSIVE injuries to their big players (Ortiz, Ramirez, Beckett and Jeter, Rodriguez, Wang) I don't see the Rays or Jays finishing higher than both teams (maybe one of them but not both). I do like where your head is at though!
As far as the Rays go, I see them making huge strides this season but I don't see them really exploding until next season into 2010. At that time they should have the rest of their big name prospects like David Price, Wade Davis, Jacob McGee, and Reid Brignac up and running to go along with a solid lineup with Crawford (if they can keep him), Pena, and Longoria. They will have one of the most dominant young rotations we've seen in a long, long time.
Despite being a big Sox fan, I for one am very excited for the future of the Rays!
As far as the Rays go, I see them making huge strides this season but I don't see them really exploding until next season into 2010. At that time they should have the rest of their big name prospects like David Price, Wade Davis, Jacob McGee, and Reid Brignac up and running to go along with a solid lineup with Crawford (if they can keep him), Pena, and Longoria. They will have one of the most dominant young rotations we've seen in a long, long time.
Despite being a big Sox fan, I for one am very excited for the future of the Rays!
Re: 2008 Division Predictions: AL East
by
Keith
on Wed 02 Apr 2008 11:45 PM EDT | Permanent Link
I really think the Jays are going to finish second. IMO they have the best top 4 rotation of any team in the AL (ok, perhaps other than the Tigers) and their lineup is good enough. I expect Thomas, Overbay, Wells, and Rolen all to have solid years.
However, just as big a factor in the Jays finishing second will be the Yankees young pitching. Even with the innings limits, you have to expect them to hit some kind of wall eventually. It's tough for a young pitcher in his first full season. They'll definitely hit, but will the pitching be enough? I don't think so... not this year at least.
The Rays I like as a sleeper team, but they're still a year away I think. I need to see Pena do it again and I need to see Longoria do it in the show. But they're going to be very good very soon.
However, just as big a factor in the Jays finishing second will be the Yankees young pitching. Even with the innings limits, you have to expect them to hit some kind of wall eventually. It's tough for a young pitcher in his first full season. They'll definitely hit, but will the pitching be enough? I don't think so... not this year at least.
The Rays I like as a sleeper team, but they're still a year away I think. I need to see Pena do it again and I need to see Longoria do it in the show. But they're going to be very good very soon.