Wednesday, August 28, 2013

2013 American League East

The American League East is always one of the most competitive divisions in baseball and this year is no exception.

The Boston Red Sox are getting back to their winning ways this season. They missed the playoffs the last three seasons. New manager John Farrell has helped turnaround the fortunes of Boston’s most beloved team. However, there is help from some faces that have been around a while. Mainstays David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia lead a balance Boston offence. The Red Sox can produce runs from the top to the bottom of their line-up. On the mound Clay Buchholz is having a season reminiscent of his 2010 breakthrough campaign. The Boston bullpen has had trouble closing out games, so that could be a concern down the road. The Red Sox have 16 games in the month of September with the Yankees, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

Speaking of Boston’s arch rivals, the New York Yankees are not ready to concede anything to the Red Sox let alone the division. Robinson Cano is comfortable with his role as New York’s marquee star. He continues to put up some of the best all-around numbers in baseball. The rest of the offence got off to a slow start, in part due to injury, but just might have enough gas to complement Cano. The Alex Rodriguez saga gets stranger by the day and New York sure could use anything he has left in the tank. The Yankees’ starting pitching has been inconsistent, but have the talent to turn their struggles into success. CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, and Phil Hughes know their way around the mound. One positive as far as the starting staff is concerned is that Hiroki Kuroda has been extremely dependable. There does not get any more dependable than Mariano Rivera in the bullpen. The ageless one is still feared.

The AL East is even deeper than those two, as Baltimore and Tampa Bay look to contend. Baltimore wants to make the playoffs for the second consecutive year after its surprise run a year ago. Chris Davis is turning into MLB’s premiere power hitter. He is backed in Baltimore’s line-up by Adam Jones and J.J. Hardy. Manny Machado is also a professional hitter at such a young age and Matt Wieters can get hot at any moment. On the mound, Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez are stepping up to lead the rotation. Closer Jim Johnson is having an up and down year, so that might be a concern come crunch time.

As far as Tampa Bay is concerned Evan Longoria and James Loney are spearheading the Rays’ offence. Plus Desmond Jennings is a terror on the base paths when he is on base. Tampa Bay seems to lose key pieces every year, but always put together a winning team. On the mound, Matt Moore has picked up the slack from the previously injured David Price nicely. Price still cannot be counted out from contributing down the stretch.

Toronto is the other team in AL East. The Blue Jays were a popular pick at the beginning of the season to make the playoffs. Yet, a slow start and injuries derailed their hopes. Looking to get back on track they hope to prove anything is possible in the MLB’s wackiest division.

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