Sports Lynx Blog

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Ok, it’s that time of the year again. Time to bask in the glow of spring time because baseball is right around the corner. For the sports fan, I view the big three sports like this, Football is the hot Victoria Secret model. It’s beautiful but it comes with its down sides. The season is too short, just when you’re getting into it, it seems as though it’s over. If you live in the North, it signals the end of summer. Much like the model, who is beautiful but so beautiful that as she ages it becomes depressing. Basketball is the girl next door, you don’t pay much attention to her but then one day she come outside in a bikini and you say, “holy cow she lived next door to me all these years”. That time would be right now, the NCAA tournament time. Ah but baseball, baseball is the old steady. The girl you can call up after being out drinking all night with the boys and you can go over and get some lovin. Baseball is always there for us, it’s reliable. With that, let’s begin our baseball preview with the AL East.

The AL East is an interesting division because for the first time in a long time the Ny Yankees are not the favorites heading into the season, this will benefit the Yankees. The Red Sox have become the Yankees of the new millennium and for Boston fans, I do not think they will like this role. This division is brutal this season as Toronto and Tampa are much improved.

1. Ny Yankees- predicted record - 95-67

The Yankees are being vastly underrated this year. The line-up is really good, maybe not as good as year’s past with Posada aging and coming off a career year but how can you not like a line-up with A-Rod and Jeter in it? I do see more holes this year because of age and attrition, however, the one thing that has me thinking the Yankees will win this division in a dog-fight in the pitching. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are future aces, Mussina looks to be a bit revived after last year. Wang is a great regular season pitcher. Most importantly, the bullpen is lights out with Chamberlain going to Rivera. I know I will catch some heat for this one but I see the Yanks winning this division.

2. Boston Red Sox- predicted record  93-69

Another team whose line-up is hard not to like with Ortiz, Ramirez and Lowell among others. However, chinks are appearing already in the armor. Schilling is hurt and who knows when he’ll be back and at age 39, how effective he’ll be? Curt has lost a few feet on that fastball and his split isn’t what it once was. Beckett is hurting and while we know he’ll be back the question becomes is this an injury that lingers? Papplebon is a stud closing games and the kids like Lester and Buckholz are potentially great but I just see Boston taking a step back this year and going into the playoffs as the AL Wildcard.

3. Toronto Blue Jays- predicted record 89-73

The Blue Jays pitching is young, it was great last year. This team’s fate will be determined by the development of this staff. If this staff were to take it to another level this year, the Jays could win this division. Yes, you read that correctly. The line-up is very good with Alex Rios and Vernon Wells, even though he comes off a sub-par year by his standards. The bullpen, while not as strong as NY’s or Boston’s, is good. The key for Toronto is Halladay. If Doc is right, this guy can win 20 games and throw 250 innings for a team. If the preceding happens, then NY and Boston better keep an eye in their rear view mirrors because objects can appear closer.

4. Tampa Bay Rays- predicted record- 80-82

 In any other AL Division this team might be an 85 win team. Tampa is young and finally has some pitching. The trade that sent Delvin Young to Minnesota for Matt Garza was a classic, old-school baseball trade in which Tampa traded from strength (their surplus of talented young OF) and Minnesota did the same. Tampa won’t even notice that Young is gone as this team has Carl Crawford (I love his game) and BJ Upton along with a reborn Carlos Pena at 1B. The one-two punch of Scott Kazmir (Mets fans still remember that they traded a lefty with 95MPH gas for Carlos Zambrano??) and Matt Garza could be formidable. The downfall for Tampa will be it’s poor bullpen and lack of depth in the rotation and on the bench. However, keep an eye on this franchise as they appear headed in the right direction….FINALLY!

5. Baltimore Orioles- predicted record- 63-99

I have nothing to write about this team or franchise. Owner Peter Anglos is a joke, he has ruined a once proud franchise. They still sell a lot of tickets because their stadium is awesome and the inner harbor is a beautiful place to visit. The pitching is awful, the best thing about Baltimore this season will be Boog Powell’s barbecue in the outfield.

 Next up I will preview the AL Central on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.