MLB Preview: AL East

Can The Red Sox Fountain Of Youth help them make another AL East Run?

The American League east is the best and most competetive division in Baseball. The AL East is also home to, by far, the best rivalry in Baseball,-Red Sox-Yankees. The rich history, starting back to when Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1919, has had many grat players for both teams. On The Yankee side: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Bucky Dent, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and in the future, Phillip Hughes, Jose Tabata and Joba Chamberlain.


The Red Sox have also had some great players on their side: Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Wade Boggs, Bill Buckner, Johnny Damon, David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Curt Schilling, and in the future, Clay Buchholz and Jacoby Ellsbury.


In This MLB Preview, we will preview the AL East and see if Tampa Bay, Baltimore, or Toronto have a shot to leapfrog Boston or New York for first or second in the division?


BOSTON RED SOX
Boston won the division away from New York for the first time in Fourteen seasons. The Red Sox rolled through the postseason. They swept the Angels in the ALDS, went through turbulence but survived in Cleveland in the ALCS, and swept away the hottest team in Baseball, the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.

Pithing Wise, Boston is set for 2008, even without Curt Schilling. Schilling will be replaced by Clay Buchholz.Buchholz, in his second Major League Start, threw a no hitter against their division rival Baltimore Orioles. One Season has passed, and we now know that Daisuke Mastuzaka is not lights out. But we know that Hideki Okajima is. Okajima should be in the running for the 2008 Relief Man Award. Josh Beckett was lights out in the 2007 Postseason and should have won the 2007 American League Cy Young Award. Expect him to be back with a vengenance in 2008.

Offensively, Thunder & Lightning will return to the Red Sox in 2008. David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez will hit a lot of homeruns at Fenway Park.

Boston also has a "Fountain Of Youth" on offense as well. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedoria helped propel the veterans to the World Series Pennant. Ellsbury will take over in Center Field, forcing the Red Sox to trade Coco Crisp.

NEW YORK YANKEES
2008 is the Final Season Baseball will be played at "The House That Ruth Built." The Yankees will be moving into New Yankee Stadium, "The House That Jeter Bulit" Next Season.

Joe Girardi goes from Broadcasting the Yankees to Managing The Yankees. Girardi replaces four time World Series Winning Manager Joe Torre, who is now managing down in Chavez Ravine. Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera are back with the team, and both will be wearing Pinstripes in the New Yankee Stadium. This past season was the first time in twelve seasons New York did not win the division.

The Yankees have their own Fountain Of Youth. Joba Chamberlain and Phillip Hughes will both be Starters for the Yankees this season. Expect to see Jose Tabata, The Yankees Future Great Outfielder, get his Golden Ticket to The Show This Season. Melky Cabrera will play Center Field, moving Johnny Damon to Designated Hitter.

The Yankees were in the running for Johan Santana. They didn't get him. Their Crosstown Rivals, The Mets, did get Santana, and as a Result, The Mets are getting picked to the World Series, and not The Yankees.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Many People Are Picking Toronto To Be A Sleeper Team this season. They signed 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein and traded Third Baseman Troy Glaus to the St Louis Cardinals for Scott Rolen. Frank Thomas, if he has a big season, can Pass Harmon Killebrew on the all time Homerun list this season. Pitching wise, A.J. Burnett will have to stay healthy.

Toronto could be a sleeper, but I don't think they have enough to overtake New York or Boston.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The Orioles are getting ready to get competitive in the future. Adam Jones will join Nick Markakis in the outfield. The Trade for Eric Bedard was a trade that had to be made, as Bedard was going to become a Free Agent Anyway. The Orioles will bring back their version of "Old faithful" Steve Trachsel.

TAMPA BAY RAYS
Tampa Took The Devil Out Of Their Name. Literally. This team made more news for the change of their name and the trading away of players than who they signed. Tampa Bay Traded Away Outfielder Delmon Young, but got Shortshop Brendan Harris and Pitcher Matt Garza.

Tampa signed Cliff Floyd and Pitcher Troy Percival, but they key to the Devil Rays will be how fast will Evan Longoria (no relation to Eva Longoria) and David Price (First Pick in the 2007 MLB Draft) come up and play well.

Tampa Bay will build a winning team around their new Stadium, Evan Longoria and David Price.

MY PROJECTED ORDER:
BOSTON
NEW YORK
TORONTO
BALTIMORE
TAMPA BAY


In Our Next MLB Preview, we will look at the American League West. Can Seattle Win The Division? Will Torri Hunter help the Angels? Is There a Catcher Controversy In Texas? Can Oakland compete after the dumping of their high priced talent? Find Out In The Next MLB Preview.