American League East Preview
By Steve Merril
Covers.com
The AL East is always a deep and talented division.
The defending World Series champions are Boston, the free agency champions are New York, and a potential sleeper team is Tampa Bay. The Orioles have recently become a playoff threat and the Blue Jays were actually the favorite to win this division just one year ago.
Baltimore Orioles (2013: 85-77, +37 units, 75-78-9 over/under)
Division odds: 15/1
Season win total: 81.5
Why bet the Orioles: This is a deep lineup if Nick Markakis can stay healthy. Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Adam Jones form a nice 2-3-4 order in the lineup. Defensively they can rely on JJ Hardy and his gold glove and Matt Wieters is the best defensive catcher in baseball. The rotation got a boost when they signed Ubaldo Jimenez. They also have their usual arms in the bullpen which provide for good mix and match situations late in games.
Why not bet the Orioles: Their starting pitching rotation is full of question marks. Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris both posted ERAs over 4.00 in the second half of the season, while the fifth starter spot is undecided. While the bullpen has good arms, it doesn't have Jim Johnson - who was traded to Oakland -, so Tommy Hunter may need to step up. The bench is lacking as well with Jemile Weeks and Henry Urrutia the only options to be counted on.
Season win total pick: Under 81.5
Boston Red Sox (2013: 97-65, +1,864 units, 74-84-1 over/under)
Division odds: 7/4
Season win total: 88
Why bet the Red Sox: Last year's defending World Series champions, returns their offensive lineup almost completely intact, with a slight upgrade at catcher with AJ Pierzynski. Jackie Bradley Jr. will be an improvement from last year although he won't be Jacoby Ellsbury. The rotation is good with Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz leading the way. Koji Uehera was a god-send out of the bullpen last season, posting incredible numbers.
Why not bet the Red Sox: A lot broke right for Boston last year. They will miss Ellsbury at the top of the lineup as well and Xander Bogaerts will try to hold down the shortstop position. The back end of the rotation is questionable as Ryan Dempster's departure raises issues. The team caught some breaks last year with their longest losing streak being just three games. A lot of older players on this team might now feel fat and happy after winning a title last season.
Season win total pick: Under 88
New York Yankees (2013: 85-77, +454 units, 67-85-10 over/under)
Division odds: 12/5
Season win total: 87
Why bet the Yankees: As usual, they had a strong off-season with the additions of Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann. They also had addition by subtraction with the suspension of A-Rod. Derek Jeter's pending retirement could be a motivating factor for the Yanks. Kelly Johnson was also a nice addition as he can play several positions. CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Masahiro Tanaka will provide a nice 1-2-3 order in the rotation. If Michael Pineda can get healthy, he'll be a productive piece for them as well. David Robertson isn't Mariano Rivera, but he is a solid closer.
Why not bet the Yankees: The rest of the bullpen is suspect outside of Robertson. Ass for the starting rotation, Kuroda slowed down during the end of the season and Sabathia is also coming off a rough season in which he allowed the most earned runs in the league last year. This is an aging team, so injuries and extended stays on the disabled list is always a concern.
Season win total pick: Over 87
Tampa Bay Rays (2013: 92-71, +71 units, 76-78-9 over/under)
Division odds: 7/4
Season win total: 88
Why bet the Rays: The Rays have won 90 or more games in each of the past four seasons and could do so again with magnificent starting pitching. David Price, Alex Cobb, Matt Moore, Chris Archer and Jeremy Hellickson all back for the the deepest rotation in baseball. Evan Longoria is back as well to hold down the hot corner and stabilize the lineup. Wil Myers was the first player to lead AL rookies in RBI with less than 90 games played since the late 1940's.
Why not bet the Rays: The back end of the bullpen is a problem again. They signed Heath Bell and Juan Carlos Oviedo who have closing experience, but aren't the answer at that position. Certain parts of the offensive lineup - which struggled to score at times last season - is weak and so is the bench. This lineup does not steal bases and often has a hard time manufacturing runs.
Season win total pick: Over 88
Toronto Blue Jays (2013: 74-88, -1,080 units, 79-80-3 over/under)
Division odds: 15/1
Season win total: 79.5
Why bet the Jays: Toronto was the favorite to win the East last year and although they underachieved, they still have a solid nucleus of Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista. If Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie and Adam Lind can live up to their potential, then this offensive lineup will be fierce. Mark Buehrle is the picture of consistency with at least 10 wins and 200 innings for 13 straight seasons. Casey Janssen is an underrated closer and recorded a solid 2.56 ERA and 0.99 WHIP last year.
Why not bet the Jays: Last year did happen and the best team money could buy did not win ballgames. Encarnacion, Lawrie, Lind and Colby Rasmus are all inconsistent. The back-end of the rotation is up in the air with Esmil Rogers and J.A. Happ, the front-runners to nap the last two starting spots. Brandon Morrow has injury issues and he will need to stay healthy in order to solidify the third spot in the pitching rotation.
Season win total pick: Over 79.5
By Steve Merril
Covers.com
The AL East is always a deep and talented division.
The defending World Series champions are Boston, the free agency champions are New York, and a potential sleeper team is Tampa Bay. The Orioles have recently become a playoff threat and the Blue Jays were actually the favorite to win this division just one year ago.
Baltimore Orioles (2013: 85-77, +37 units, 75-78-9 over/under)
Division odds: 15/1
Season win total: 81.5
Why bet the Orioles: This is a deep lineup if Nick Markakis can stay healthy. Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Adam Jones form a nice 2-3-4 order in the lineup. Defensively they can rely on JJ Hardy and his gold glove and Matt Wieters is the best defensive catcher in baseball. The rotation got a boost when they signed Ubaldo Jimenez. They also have their usual arms in the bullpen which provide for good mix and match situations late in games.
Why not bet the Orioles: Their starting pitching rotation is full of question marks. Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris both posted ERAs over 4.00 in the second half of the season, while the fifth starter spot is undecided. While the bullpen has good arms, it doesn't have Jim Johnson - who was traded to Oakland -, so Tommy Hunter may need to step up. The bench is lacking as well with Jemile Weeks and Henry Urrutia the only options to be counted on.
Season win total pick: Under 81.5
Boston Red Sox (2013: 97-65, +1,864 units, 74-84-1 over/under)
Division odds: 7/4
Season win total: 88
Why bet the Red Sox: Last year's defending World Series champions, returns their offensive lineup almost completely intact, with a slight upgrade at catcher with AJ Pierzynski. Jackie Bradley Jr. will be an improvement from last year although he won't be Jacoby Ellsbury. The rotation is good with Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz leading the way. Koji Uehera was a god-send out of the bullpen last season, posting incredible numbers.
Why not bet the Red Sox: A lot broke right for Boston last year. They will miss Ellsbury at the top of the lineup as well and Xander Bogaerts will try to hold down the shortstop position. The back end of the rotation is questionable as Ryan Dempster's departure raises issues. The team caught some breaks last year with their longest losing streak being just three games. A lot of older players on this team might now feel fat and happy after winning a title last season.
Season win total pick: Under 88
New York Yankees (2013: 85-77, +454 units, 67-85-10 over/under)
Division odds: 12/5
Season win total: 87
Why bet the Yankees: As usual, they had a strong off-season with the additions of Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann. They also had addition by subtraction with the suspension of A-Rod. Derek Jeter's pending retirement could be a motivating factor for the Yanks. Kelly Johnson was also a nice addition as he can play several positions. CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda and Masahiro Tanaka will provide a nice 1-2-3 order in the rotation. If Michael Pineda can get healthy, he'll be a productive piece for them as well. David Robertson isn't Mariano Rivera, but he is a solid closer.
Why not bet the Yankees: The rest of the bullpen is suspect outside of Robertson. Ass for the starting rotation, Kuroda slowed down during the end of the season and Sabathia is also coming off a rough season in which he allowed the most earned runs in the league last year. This is an aging team, so injuries and extended stays on the disabled list is always a concern.
Season win total pick: Over 87
Tampa Bay Rays (2013: 92-71, +71 units, 76-78-9 over/under)
Division odds: 7/4
Season win total: 88
Why bet the Rays: The Rays have won 90 or more games in each of the past four seasons and could do so again with magnificent starting pitching. David Price, Alex Cobb, Matt Moore, Chris Archer and Jeremy Hellickson all back for the the deepest rotation in baseball. Evan Longoria is back as well to hold down the hot corner and stabilize the lineup. Wil Myers was the first player to lead AL rookies in RBI with less than 90 games played since the late 1940's.
Why not bet the Rays: The back end of the bullpen is a problem again. They signed Heath Bell and Juan Carlos Oviedo who have closing experience, but aren't the answer at that position. Certain parts of the offensive lineup - which struggled to score at times last season - is weak and so is the bench. This lineup does not steal bases and often has a hard time manufacturing runs.
Season win total pick: Over 88
Toronto Blue Jays (2013: 74-88, -1,080 units, 79-80-3 over/under)
Division odds: 15/1
Season win total: 79.5
Why bet the Jays: Toronto was the favorite to win the East last year and although they underachieved, they still have a solid nucleus of Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista. If Edwin Encarnacion, Brett Lawrie and Adam Lind can live up to their potential, then this offensive lineup will be fierce. Mark Buehrle is the picture of consistency with at least 10 wins and 200 innings for 13 straight seasons. Casey Janssen is an underrated closer and recorded a solid 2.56 ERA and 0.99 WHIP last year.
Why not bet the Jays: Last year did happen and the best team money could buy did not win ballgames. Encarnacion, Lawrie, Lind and Colby Rasmus are all inconsistent. The back-end of the rotation is up in the air with Esmil Rogers and J.A. Happ, the front-runners to nap the last two starting spots. Brandon Morrow has injury issues and he will need to stay healthy in order to solidify the third spot in the pitching rotation.
Season win total pick: Over 79.5
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