American League Preview: Two straight pennants and World Series losses, not this time. Foreshadow! More like a give away…
American League East
1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. New York Yankees WC
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles
GET THIS MAN A NEW STADIUM
Unorthodox start here, but I’ll go backwards with my AL East analysis. Chris Davis, Tommy Hunter, Pedro Stop, Darren O’Day, Travis Adair, Taylor Teagarden, Clay Rapada, Willie Eyre, Zach Phillips. The Baltimore Orioles are essentially the Rangers AAAA affiliate. But they are trying, and in the right direction, aided by talented players that did not make the Rangers squad for various reasons. They will likely look up at all four of their division counterparts,
starting with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays have many talented bats including Jose Bautista and rising star third baseman Brett Lawrie, not to be confused with Jed Lowrie, which no one has ever done anyway. The wings and alcohol and all the turmoil that ended the Red Sox 2011 collapse is hopefully in the rear view mirror, with new manager Bobby Valentine finally leaving ESPN. But the Yankees will be stronger than Boston but not as strong as the beautiful masterpiece that Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman and company have built in Tampa Bay. The Rays could win 100 games. And Matt Moore is owned in 100 percent of fantasy baseball leagues on ESPN. 100 games. (more…)
