As things stand, who wins the AL East?

[NZSox]

Hi everyone.

 

Topic's pretty simple, title says it all. As things stand on the 16th of December 2012, who's in the best shape to win the AL East?

 

This may be a little premature, the off-season has a long way to go yet, but people can continue to post their thoughts on who's the favorite as things develop throughout the winter.

 

I've attached a poll, but you can choose to hold off on voting until things develop a little more if you'd like. Just figured this thread could be a good place to direct AL East specific chat in the meantime.

[Divinity]

The same team that won the AL East the past two years, Yankees.

[NZSox]

The same team that won the AL East the past two years, Yankees.

 

I'm less convinced. But that might change if Cash gets some decent business done for you guys.

[rjortiz]

Blue Jays, Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles.

[BSN07]

Out of all the teams I'd pick TB. They have deep pitching and a good BP. They have some nice offensive pieces, still a work in progress.

 

Yankees are old, O's are coming back to earth whether O's fans want to admit it and they still lack any proven top end SP, Red Sox have wholes and I don't care for Toronto's mix of talent all that much.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Yankees, but the Rays will push them.

[NZSox]

Depressing, yet understandably, the Sox have 0% of the vote on their own forum.

 

Sigh.

 

Bridging year anyone?!!!!!

[TutGadol]

With the Yanks and Jays aging and stuck with contracts I would've thought it's a good time to rebuild, hold for a year or two and then go back strong to the market. But oh well, another mediocre at best team should be alright too.

[iortiz]

Depressing, yet understandably, the Sox have 0% of the vote on their own forum.

 

Sigh.

 

Bridging year anyone?!!!!!

 

Do not look at us, look at our great FO.

 

 

Toronto ALE Champ

NY WC

TB

O's

BOS.

 

As stands. Could change though.

[Palodios]

As it stands right now, the Toronto Blue Jays are the best team in the division. But, I would bet that the Jays have used up all their bullets this offseason. Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, and Baltimore will follow.

 

However, I don't believe that Ben is done. If the Red Sox add a very good pitcher, and sign Stephen Drew, they could put themselves in the position to win this wide-open division.

[Palodios]

As it stands right now, the Toronto Blue Jays are the best team in the division. But, I would bet that the Jays have used up all their bullets this offseason. Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, and Baltimore will follow.

 

However, I don't believe that Ben is done. If the Red Sox add a very good pitcher, and sign Stephen Drew, they could put themselves in the position to win this wide-open division.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Yankees are still gonna win the division and the last week of September will be without drama

[DocHolliday]

Still early, but I really don't see a clear favorite in the division right now.

 

Baltimore's rotation lacks the clear number one and their bullpen severely overachieved last season, particularly in close games. It wouldn't surprise me to see them drop back 8 wins just from their bullpen regressing to its average output.

 

Toronto added a lot of pieces, but I'm skeptical of their collective ability to stay healthy over a full season. Reyes, Johnson, and Morrow have all missed significant time to injuries in recent years. They need all of their acquisitions AND core pieces like Bautista and Encarnacion to stay healthy and produce over the better part of a full season. For me, they don't have the necessary depth options to fill in if someone goes down (lots of prospects traded away).

 

Tampa Bay will miss Shields innings and production this season, and will have to get more from Price, Hellickson, and Moore to help make up for the void. Not sure how much more they can get from Price after the season he had, so the rest of the rotation will have to step up. I think they'll be improved offensively, particularly if Myers is called up mid season, but they will still rely heavily on their pitching.

 

The Yankees certainly aren't done shaping their team for next year, but their roster has question marks in every aspect of the game. They'll be counting on Kuroda and Pettite to give them significant production despite their age. Sabathia has logged a ton of innings over the last few seasons and has health questions going forward. Lots of questions on the left side of the IF and in the OF. Questions with the back end of the bullpen as well assuming Soriano leaves.

 

At this point, I'd have to give the edge to Tampa Bay since they seem to have the fewest question marks. I can see the Yankees and Jays doing well if their question marks stay healthy.

 

Still a little early to start assessing the potential for each team though. I still feel a major move is coming for the Red Sox and the Yankees certainly aren't finished.

[BSN07]

Depressing, yet understandably, the Sox have 0% of the vote on their own forum.

 

Sigh.

 

Bridging year anyone?!!!!!

We would have to be wearing our rose color glasses to believe they are the favorite right now

The Yankees are still gonna win the division and the last week of September will be without drama

example^

 

I would rather have TB or Toronto's roster over the Yankees right now. And this isn't Yankee hate. I've grown to respect the organization while disliking them as my teams rival. But I feel if I were a Yankee fan I would be scared by the age and amount of ? on the roster. Arod, Jeter, Youk, Gardner, Mo, and even Pettitte are all to some extent health risks and the Yanks will need almost all of those to work out for them to have a successful season.

[jacksonianmarch]

It's Yankees hate. Stop dressing it up as anything else. They have a full yr of CC, Pettitte, Kuroda and Hughes in the rotation. This will carry us to the division title again

[jacksonianmarch]

And unless they make a drastic change to their plan, there is no way I will put them first in 2014

[BSN07]

It's Yankees hate. Stop dressing it up as anything else. They have a full yr of CC, Pettitte, Kuroda and Hughes in the rotation. This will carry us to the division title again

 

You think you can count on Pettitte for a full season?

 

I see you left out all the other big ?. It's not Yankees hate man. Their roster is old. Looking at the division both TB and Toronto have more attractive rosters.

 

The Yankees and Red Sox are very similar in if they catch a few breaks and bounce backs they are right there contending, but just a few flops from from a busted season.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Right now it's gotta be the Jays.

 

But there is really no clear disparity between any of the teams.

 

Jackso, that's a ridiculous comment.

 

Pettite, Mo, Jeter, ARod, Tex, all coming off injury riddled seasons. CC had elbow surgery. No Swisher this year, you're counting on a 39 year old RF. No Soriano to back up if Mo goes down again. You're putting a band aid on a band aid with an injury ridden Youkilis to take over for ARod.

 

The Yankees are a 3rd place team right now.

[cbbosox]

Remember 2 years ago and the best team ever?

I think that Sox team had more potential/hype than this years Jays.

 

I say Tampa Bay but who knows?

[cbbosox]

It's Yankees hate. Stop dressing it up as anything else. They have a full yr of CC, Pettitte, Kuroda and Hughes in the rotation. This will carry us to the division title again

 

Maybe so but when you have an older team there seems to be a higher risk of injuries

[jacksonianmarch]

Yanks got 12 starts out of Pettitte last yr. 12. That's 1/3 of a season. I am sure we'll get more from him. The guy who started in his spot (Garcia) was the second level of hell bad. Yes, we are losing Soriano, but you're leaving out the return of the best closer in the history of baseball. CC will be healthy in his return. Jeter has already said he won't miss time. We have Youk who should replace the production from Arod in 2012 while getting ARod back at the ASB. We also get Gardner back for the whole yr and have Ichiro for the entire season. The only real argument most have us if Swisher's loss will be tremendously impactful. The Yankees won the division with an injured ARod, CC, Pettitte, Rivera, Gardner, and Joba.

 

And to say a team like TB will upend them even though they just dealt arguably their best pitcher over the last 4 yrs without any known big leaguer returning is hilarious. You have an argument with the Jays and maybe the O's, but it will be another banner yr in the Bronx. After 2013, all bets are off

[rjortiz]

If the Red Sox add Marcum, I'm comfortable putting them second. Lester, Buchholz, Dempster, and Marcum are a good front four.

[jacksonianmarch]

Marcum is the kind of guy the sox need provided he can stay healthy. He's proven in the ALE and if the elbow is right, he'll go 200IP for you. He shouldn't come at a huge price, so a 2 yr deal might get it done

[Divinity]

Right now it's gotta be the Jays.

 

 

That's what Red Sox fans said at the start of 2011. In the NL East, that's what Phillies fans said at the start of this past year. In the AL West, that's what Angel fans said at the start of this past year. In the NL West, that's what Dodger fans said this past August. What did all those teams have in common? High expectations & lots of big names, but no playoffs. Don't assume the Jays have won before the season has even started

[SoxFanForsyth]

That's what Red Sox fans said at the start of 2011. In the NL East, that's what Phillies fans said at the start of this past year. In the AL West, that's what Angel fans said at the start of this past year. In the NL West, that's what Dodger fans said this past August. What did all those teams have in common? High expectations & lots of big names, but no playoffs. Don't assume the Jays have won before the season has even started

 

I'm sorry, sir, but if you don't like picking favorites, you are in the completely wrong thread.

[SoxFanForsyth]

Yanks got 12 starts out of Pettitte last yr. 12. That's 1/3 of a season. I am sure we'll get more from him. The guy who started in his spot (Garcia) was the second level of hell bad. Yes, we are losing Soriano, but you're leaving out the return of the best closer in the history of baseball. CC will be healthy in his return. Jeter has already said he won't miss time. We have Youk who should replace the production from Arod in 2012 while getting ARod back at the ASB. We also get Gardner back for the whole yr and have Ichiro for the entire season. The only real argument most have us if Swisher's loss will be tremendously impactful. The Yankees won the division with an injured ARod, CC, Pettitte, Rivera, Gardner, and Joba.

 

And to say a team like TB will upend them even though they just dealt arguably their best pitcher over the last 4 yrs without any known big leaguer returning is hilarious. You have an argument with the Jays and maybe the O's, but it will be another banner yr in the Bronx. After 2013, all bets are off

 

Nicely done. Completely ignore any aging and injury related problems.

 

Everyone will bounce back.

 

Jeter's broken ankle won't be a problem (See: Stephen Drew).

Pettitte is going to be in his 40's. Counting on more than 20 starts from him is ignorant. He hasn't made 22 starts since 2009. It's going to be 2013.

Youkilis has been horrid since July, 2011. If the Sox had Youkilis, and we were counting on him, you'd shoot holes through the theory.

Gardner will be a nice addition, but Ichiro is not an everyday player anymore (.670 OPS over the past 2 seasons) I don't care if he's at YS or not, he's going to be average, at best. Counting on more is ridiculous.

Mo just completely blew out his knee. He's going to be 43 years old next year. He's a massive, massive question mark.

 

CC - Kuroda should be great, but you can't just ignore CC's surgery. Hughes is as volatile as they come. I have already addressed Pettitte. Phelps likely isn't going to strand 82.5% again and have a .258 BABIP. His 4.32 FIP is much more indicative of what you can expect from him than his 3.34 ERA.

 

The Yankees have as many or more question marks than anyone in the East.

 

Sorry to burst your bubble, but this is not the year for the Yanks. And I'll be willing to put a sig bet on the fact that the Sox end the year ahead of the Yanks.

[Divinity]

. And I'll be willing to put a sig bet on the fact that the Sox end the year ahead of the Yanks.

 

I'd gladly take you up on this bet, no way the Sox will finish better than the Yanks with their current rotation.

[SoxFanForsyth]

I'd gladly take you up on this bet, no way the Sox will finish better than the Yanks with their current rotation.

 

Done.

 

You're significantly underestimating Lester and Buchholz, and the impact that Farrell will have on them.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

I'd gladly take you up on this bet, no way the Sox will finish better than the Yanks with their current rotation.

 

We had a better team in 2011 and still didn't beat out the Yankees, we're not far from being a contender.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Done.

 

You're significantly underestimating Lester and Buchholz, and the impact that Farrell will have on them.

 

Please make an epic signature.