American League East
I saved my favorite division for last. The AL East has not only the fiercest rivalry in baseball, but some other interesting rivalries as well. Let's not forget that the Orioles were a great team for man, many years. Even the Blue Jays had their successes in the eighties and early nineties. Oh, and there is that team from the Bronx, too.
How is this for baseball domination? Since I graduated college in 1992, the AL East teams have been in nine of thirteen world series, winning seven of them. My gut tells me it will be the eighth time this year.
New York Yankees Yeah, I know they are my favorite team and I'm probably a little biased. But here are my three reasons they will win it all in 2006: 1) Jason Giambi is back in full force. New York fans have a love affair with guys who can come back (Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, etc..). He's going to have a monster year. 2) The pitching staff, though older, is better this year. Randy Johnson got his bad year under his belt and will be dominant. Although Mussina is on his way down, he is still a gutsy competitor and has enough left. And Rivera is amazing. 3) Johnny Damon. I know he can't throw all that well and he's not the best CF in baseball. I also know the same people who love to say that are the ones who consistently said Nomar and Tejada were better than Jeter. Damon, like Jeter, has that extra special winning thing. He will help get them over the top.
Boston Red Sox I'm only picking them second because I believe the Blue Jays are still one more season away from being a playoff contender. Boston has been one of the three best teams in the AL for the last three years. They will come down to size this year. They still have David Ortiz (God I wish he was on any other team -- I love him) and Manny, but the pitching is suspect. Schilling, as great as he can be for a single game, is too old and out of practice (very little playing time in '05) and Beckett is not a proven ace -- or even a number two. A lot has been made about Theo Epstein and his love of stats, but the reason they won was because they were the Idiots -- a team that was special, like the '34 Cardinals, '55 Dodgers and '69 Mets. Without Damon, Millar and Pedro, they just aren't the same.
Toronto Blue Jays You can almost see the Yankees and Red Sox looking over their shoulder. It started last year. The Blue Jays have begun tehir rebuilding process the right way -- with pitching. They have the best staff by far in the division and they're young enough to last several years. Like the Mets with the Braves in the NL East, the Blue Jays will be the team to end the Yankee and Red Sox stronghold in this division. But that will begin in '07. They will be right up with Boston until about the last week of the season before falling just short.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Yes, I am picking them to not finish last. The Rays are a team that have never been given the chance to get their feet on the ground. They have new ownership now, plus now management. They also have one of baseball's most exciting -- and definitely the least noticed -- young stars in Carl Crawford. Watch this guy. He's got all the tools, especially speed. If Rocco Baldelli makes a successful comeback (he's young enough that I don't see any reason why he won't), they aren't going to be all that bad.
Baltimore Orioles They are the Reds of the AL. They are a poorly run organization top to bottom. It's a damn shame too, because they are one of those classic franchises (even though they are young by baseball standards). They have a long history of success. Someday that success will return and Oriole teams will be compared with the teams of Palmer and Robinson, Murray and Ripken. Just not in this decade.
How is this for baseball domination? Since I graduated college in 1992, the AL East teams have been in nine of thirteen world series, winning seven of them. My gut tells me it will be the eighth time this year.
New York Yankees Yeah, I know they are my favorite team and I'm probably a little biased. But here are my three reasons they will win it all in 2006: 1) Jason Giambi is back in full force. New York fans have a love affair with guys who can come back (Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, etc..). He's going to have a monster year. 2) The pitching staff, though older, is better this year. Randy Johnson got his bad year under his belt and will be dominant. Although Mussina is on his way down, he is still a gutsy competitor and has enough left. And Rivera is amazing. 3) Johnny Damon. I know he can't throw all that well and he's not the best CF in baseball. I also know the same people who love to say that are the ones who consistently said Nomar and Tejada were better than Jeter. Damon, like Jeter, has that extra special winning thing. He will help get them over the top.
Boston Red Sox I'm only picking them second because I believe the Blue Jays are still one more season away from being a playoff contender. Boston has been one of the three best teams in the AL for the last three years. They will come down to size this year. They still have David Ortiz (God I wish he was on any other team -- I love him) and Manny, but the pitching is suspect. Schilling, as great as he can be for a single game, is too old and out of practice (very little playing time in '05) and Beckett is not a proven ace -- or even a number two. A lot has been made about Theo Epstein and his love of stats, but the reason they won was because they were the Idiots -- a team that was special, like the '34 Cardinals, '55 Dodgers and '69 Mets. Without Damon, Millar and Pedro, they just aren't the same.
Toronto Blue Jays You can almost see the Yankees and Red Sox looking over their shoulder. It started last year. The Blue Jays have begun tehir rebuilding process the right way -- with pitching. They have the best staff by far in the division and they're young enough to last several years. Like the Mets with the Braves in the NL East, the Blue Jays will be the team to end the Yankee and Red Sox stronghold in this division. But that will begin in '07. They will be right up with Boston until about the last week of the season before falling just short.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Yes, I am picking them to not finish last. The Rays are a team that have never been given the chance to get their feet on the ground. They have new ownership now, plus now management. They also have one of baseball's most exciting -- and definitely the least noticed -- young stars in Carl Crawford. Watch this guy. He's got all the tools, especially speed. If Rocco Baldelli makes a successful comeback (he's young enough that I don't see any reason why he won't), they aren't going to be all that bad.
Baltimore Orioles They are the Reds of the AL. They are a poorly run organization top to bottom. It's a damn shame too, because they are one of those classic franchises (even though they are young by baseball standards). They have a long history of success. Someday that success will return and Oriole teams will be compared with the teams of Palmer and Robinson, Murray and Ripken. Just not in this decade.
posted by E-Luv at 8:42 AM
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