Baseball Predictions: American League East

I still believe this is the best division in all of Major League Baseball. But I also do believe the dynamics of the division have changed.  Since I am able to watch the Rays on a almost every game basis I am sure this will be a very entertaining summer/fall.

1.)Toronto Blue Jays-- Honestly, I don't want to predict that the Jays will win the division but when I look at the depth chart and compare it to Tampa Bay; I have to give the edge to the Blue Jays.

   I watch Jose Reyes, SS, Ricky Bonifacio,2ND and P Mark Buehlre play for the Marlins last year and it was pathetic. I'm still not sure why the Blue Jays wanted to make the trade but we will see what happens. We will also see how good RF Melky Cabrera will be without steroids, hopefully, in his system. Any team with RF Jose Bautista is bound to be good offensively.

   For the record, I believe the Jays will be better than the Rays because Toronto has the better offense, at least to start the season.

2.) Tampa Bay Rays-- Even with the subtraction of James Shield and Wade Davis Tampa Bay may still have the best rotation in baseball. (It's either the Rays or Tigers) and I think the starters and bullpen is what will keep this team very competitive this season.  The offense will be good this year but 3rd Evan Longoria will need a little more help than he has at the moment.  I have heard a lot of good things about OF Will Myers who the Rays got in the trade for Shield and Davis in the Kansas City trade. Myers will start the season in AAA Durham but there is a lot of talk that he will be the first player called up when needed.

   By the way, I was happy when the Dodgers got rid of 1st James Loney I never thought he was that good at all and of course to my chagrin he signed with the Rays so I get the joy of watching him more often. Life is funny like that sometimes, isn't it?

3.)Baltimore Orioles--  If this team were in any other division they would probably run away with it.  They are a good all around team. I believe Buck Showalter has learned from his past overbearing managing ways and has this team in the right direction. I just don't think they are better than Toronto or Tampa Bay; plain and simple.

4.) Boston Red Sox-- They were a last place team last season and I don't see much improvement.  Manager John Farrell is a major upgrade from Bobby Valentine, who I think is one of the most over rated managers ever.  RF Jackie Bradley has impressed the Red Sox so much that he is starting the season in the major leagues rather than the minors where he was projected to start the season. But there in not much else to project that this team will be too much better.

5.) New York Yankees-- I would have thought that I would be happy to predict the Yankees to end up in last place but it is kind of sad to see the state that this franchise is in.  The Yanks start this season with too many injuries and they are a team that was already too old to begin with.  After C.C. Sabathia the pitching is not good at all. And from everything I have read and heard the Yankees minor league system is awful.

      Wherever our souls go after we pass from this earth, I hope that Mr Steinbrenner does not know what his sons have done to his franchise. Please continue to rest in peace sir.