MLB Preview 2007: CY Young Favorites

American League:

1. Johan Santana (Twins): How can Santana not be the preseason favorite to take the Cy Young award for the third time in four years? This guy could change his name to Pedro MarSouthpaw and nobody would bat an eye. He took the triple crown last season, and still has the most devastating changeup in the league.
2006: 19-6, 2.77 ERA, 245 K

2. Jeremy Bonderman (Tigers): He put up some career numbers last season and is still just 24 years old. This guy has gobs of talent and is still working on improving his repertoire. Watch for him to break out in a big way in 2007.
2006: 14-8, 4.08 ERA, 202 K

3. Daisuke Matsuzaka (Red Sox): Dice-K is ready to make a huge impact in the MLB. He has an arsenal of pitches that he can command and get guys out with. Whether he’s a power-pitcher with finesse, or a finesse-pitcher with power remains to be seen, but this guy is looking a whole lot like Pedro Martinez in his prime.
2006 (Japan): 17-5, 2.13 ERA, 200 K


4. Scott Kazmir (Devil Rays): His chances are hurt by the team he plays for, but Kazmir is one of the best young lefties in the game. If the offense can help him out in the wins column, Kazmir looks to move up in the voting.
2006: 10-8, 3.24 ERA, 163 K

5. John Lackey (Angels): Put up some nice numbers last season, but stumbled a bit down the stretch. He has the stuff to take the prize, but he’s going to have to remain consistent throughout the year to prove to the voters that he’s worth it.
2006: 13-11, 3.56 ERA, 190 K

Dark Horse Candidates: Chien-Ming Wang (Yankees), Justin Verlander (Tigers), Roy Halladay (Blue Jays), Dan Haren (Athletics), C.C. Sabathia (Indians), Erik Bedard (Orioles)

National League:

1. Carlos Zambrano (Cubs): In his contract year with Chicago, Zambrano is sure to put up some big numbers in the coming season. The offense is improved around him, which should help the Cubs in the division and put Zambrano on more of the voters’ radars.
2006: 16-7, 3.41 ERA, 210 K

2. Chris Carpenter (Cardinals): This guy doesn’t need to be put on anyone’s radar. Always a threat to take the Cy Young, Carpenter should make some fantasy owners happy once again in 2007.
2006: 15-8, 3.09 ERA, 184 K

3. Jake Peavy (Padres): He’s still riddled with talent, even if his numbers were down a bit last year. I’m expecting a big bounce back from Peavy in 2007, and considering he plays in the most pitcher-friendly ballpark and division in baseball, he should post some big numbers once again.
2006: 11-14, 4.09 ERA, 215 K

4. Roy Oswalt (Astros): He posted his second straight sub-3.00 ERA last season and has collected 55 wins in the last three years. With the absence of Andy Pettitte and the unknown that is Roger Clemens, Oswalt has proven that he is the ace of the Houston rotation.
2006: 15-8, 2.98 ERA, 166 K



5. Barry Zito (Giants): The move to the National League looks to be favorable for Zito. He isn’t the dominating pitcher he once was, but he can still do a lot for a team to win games. His numbers in the NL West are sure to improve over those in the AL West.
2006 (Oakland): 16-10, 3.83 ERA, 151 K

Dark Horse Candidates: Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks), Jason Schmidt (Dodgers), Aaron Harang (Reds), John Smoltz (Braves), Ben Sheets (Brewers), Derek Lowe (Dodgers), Dontrelle Willis (Marlins)

MLB Preview 2007: Preseason Playoff Picks

Click for a larger image. And yes, I did make this myself so don't go stealing it and calling it yours. I'm the only one crazy enough to take the Reds in the NL Central and to put the Phillies in the World Series, anyway.

MLB Preview 2007: NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: Losing J.D. Drew hurts, but the starting rotation more than makes up for it. By adding Jason Schmidt, the Dodgers now boast of three starters in Schmidt, Derek Lowe, and Brad Penny who have Cy Young stuff and ace potential. Juan Pierre is overrated on offense, and Luis Gonzalez is just over-the-hill, but other than that the lineup is actually looking pretty strong, though it lacks a middle-of-the-order thumper. Keep an eye on Nomar Garciaparra; I have a feeling he’s poised to have an even bigger year than he had in ‘06.

2. San Diego Padres: The division leaders of a year ago made some nice offensive moves (watch for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff to have a big year), but got a bit older in the rotation by adding Greg Maddux and David Wells. Still, Jake Peavy is a perennial Cy Young threat and the bullpen is as strong as ever. The reunion of the Giles brothers makes for a nice story, but not nice enough to help the team take the division.

3. San Francisco Giants: I’m nowhere near convinced Barry Zito is worth $126 million, but he should put up some decent numbers this year. Think about it - he plays in the same area as his old team, and the National League is much easier to pitch in than the American League. Bonds seems healthy, so there’s 30 homers right there, and the rest of the roster is easily solid enough to lock up third place. I like the addition of Bengie Molina behind the plate.

4. Colorado Rockies: If the Todd Helton trade rumors are anything to go by, it seems as if the Rockies are trying to shed the extra weight of some of the huge contracts they’ve signed in the past, which is a good thing. This team had some surprisingly good pitching last season, and while I don’t expect them to be quite as impressive on the mound this year, I do expect the team to be more cohesive in all aspects of the game. It probably won’t be enough to power them very far in the division, however.

5. Arizona Diamondbacks: Honestly, I was tempted to put the Giants in this position, but I just couldn’t bring myself to doubt Big Z that much. True, the D-Backs have the reigning CY Young in Brandon Webb at the top of a rotation that also features Randy Johnson and Livan Hernandez, but I just know that Arizona is going to have serious problems when it comes to offense this year. When Eric Byrnes was your leading homerun hitter at 26, and no team member surpassed 80 RBI last season, you know you’re in trouble scoring runs. Some good pitchers are going to have some low win totals in the desert this year.

MLB Preview 2007: NL Central

1. Cincinnati Reds: I might be the only writer outside of Ohio to pick the lowly Reds to beat out the World Series Champion Cardinals, the Astros (who appeared in the World Series in 2005), and the Cubs (who have done a lot to improve their staff this winter), right? Well, hear me out. The Reds only finished 3.5 games out from the Cardinals last season, and the Cardinals did little to improve their roster this winter. With Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo the two pillars of a very solid rotation, and some punch in the lineup with Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., and Jeff Conine, the Reds appear ready to make a run at the playoffs. Watch for former number one draft pick, recovering drug addict, Rule-5 pickup Josh Hamilton to make a big impact in his rookie year.

2. Chicago Cubs: The single most improved team of any this season, the Cubs are coming into the season with big expectations after landing players like Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, and Ted Lilly. True, after Carlos Zambrano the rotation lacks a heavy hitter, but guys like Lilly, Jason Marquis, and Mark Prior (if he can stay healthy) should be solid enough to let the offense win plenty of games. And trust me, this Chicago offense is easily the best in the division. Guys like Ramirez, Soriano, and newly healthy Derrek Lee should make quite an impact on the leader boards this season.

3. St. Louis Cardinals: I know they’re the World Champions and everything, but the Cardinals simply depend too much on the strength of a few players to carry the team. After Chris Carpenter, the starting rotation is a pieced together mess. After Albert Pujols and Scott Rolen, the offense is mediocre at best. After Jason Isringhausen, no player makes a huge impact in the bullpen. Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver, and Jason Marquis certainly weren’t the best pitchers on the market this winter, but losing them to free agency didn’t help St. Louis’ pitching problems any. A repeat for the Cardinals in ‘07 is going to be a tall task in this division.

4. Milwaukee Brewers: This team is itching to make an impact in their division. Every starter in the rotation logged at least 11 wins with his respective team last season (except Ben Sheets, who won six games in 17 injurious starts, but who we all know has enough talent to win 15 or more games if healthy). The bullpen looks strong with Francisco Cordero set to close games out, and the lineup is deadly enough with Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, and Geoff Jenkins. What fascinates me most about this team, though, is the strength of the bench. Guys like Craig Counsell, Tony Graffanino, Kevin Mench, and Laynce Nix are going to do their part to help this club win games.

5. Houston Astros: Just like the Cardinals, this is a recent playoff team that has high expectations but depends too much on the strength of a few guys like Roy Oswalt, Carlos Lee, and Lance Berkman. Their acquisition of Mark Loretta to be used as a utility man makes me a little sad after his nice performance (every day) for the Sox last year, and Jason Jennings is not going to replace Andy Pettitte’s impact in the rotation. That said, the Astros’ playoff hopes do indeed loom on the back of one man, but he’s not even on their roster: Roger Clemens. A gut feeling (wishful thinking?) tells me the Rocket is not going to join his hometown team mid-summer, especially if they’re not doing well in the standings.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates: This is just the little club that couldn’t, isn’t it? They did manage a fifth place coup over the league-worst Chicago Cubs last season, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot for 2007 (or ever). Adam LaRoche is nice addition, but he came at a price (closer Mike Gonzalez). Still, there is some young talent on this team (Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez), and though I’m not expecting it, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see them take fifth or even fourth in the division.

MLB Preview 2007: NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies: Jimmy Rollins said a couple weeks ago that the Phillies are the team to beat in the NL East, and I may be one of the few people who believes him. The Phillies have a better starting rotation than the Mets (led by off-season pickup Freddy Garcia) and a better offense than the Braves featuring names like Chase Utley, Rollins, and the inimitable incumbent MVP Ryan Howard. I’m expecting big things from this team that hasn’t done many big things in a long time.

2. New York Mets: They still have the strongest offense in the National League, and probably improved it with the addition of Moises Alou. This team returns a remarkable three players who finished in the top ten in MVP voting (Carlos Beltran #4, Jose Reyes #7, David Wright #9). The pitching staff isn’t where it could be with all that payroll money as New York missed out on some big names like Barry Zito and Jason Schmidt. On the strength of the position players alone, I’ll put this team in the Wild Card.

3. Atlanta Braves: I like the rotation packed with names like John Smoltz and Tim Hudson (and a Mike Hampton that may be returning from his elbow injury sooner than originally thought), but this team seems to have lost the winning spirit that it possessed (at least during the regular season) for a decade and a half before last season. The problem is, the division has improved by leaps and bounds around Atlanta, and the Braves have mingled right around the status quo. Watch for Andruw Jones (in his contract year) to be traded mid-season - and remember that Boston has shown interest in the center fielder in the past.

4. Florida Marlins: This is still a young and talented team for sure, but somehow they don’t excite me as much as they did last year (maybe it has something to do with the departure of 2006 manager Joe Girardi). The team was made up of mostly rookies last season, so how many of those players are going to go through sophomore slumps in 2007? They do still have perennial MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera manning third base, and Dontrelle Willis leading a very talented young rotation, but this team is looking up at a very tough division. Getting Jorge Julio to close out games will help, but not enough.

5. Washington Nationals: I view the Nationals in the same light as I do the Royals in the American League Central; basically, an afterthought in a division that is sure to pummel them into the ground. Like the Royals, the Nats have one young player who is sure to bring a lot of smiles to people’s faces in Ryan Zimmerman, but not much else going for them. The entire roster seems like a work-in-progress (especially the rotation), and that’s just not going to cut it in this division.

*Update* Bullpen: Snyder to fill #7 slot, Lopez to fill in for Timlin

As I expected because of his lack of options and his performance during spring training, the Sox have opted to keep Kyle Snyder in the bullpen to begin the season. What surprises me a little (after comments made last year by Francona that carrying a lefty specialist can be wasteful and taxing on the manager in late innings) is the decision to allow Javier Lopez to fill in for Mike Timlin while the veteran setup man is on the shelf with on oblique strain. Of course, the team projects Timlin to be back on the roster by the April 10th home opener, so Lopez won't be with the team for long, but I still would have expected them to carry Bryan Corey or Manny Delcarmen before Lopez. Is this Francona's way of saying that he doesn't have as much confidence in newly acquired lefty J.C. Romero as needed?

MLB Preview 2007: AL West

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Hopefully for LA, ace Bartolo Colon will be healthy this year. He is just a season removed from his Cy Young campaign in 2005, and he has enough talent to top a very strong rotation. Add that to one of the best bullpens in baseball, and the Angels are looking every bit the division leader they are meant to be. The addition of Gary Matthews Jr. was probably over-hyped after his career 2006, but this team relies much more on pitching than on offense.

2. Texas Rangers: I gotta be crazy to take Texas over Oakland, right? Well, I don’t know. There are a lot of question marks on this squad, but if some of them pan out (namely returns to dominance from Eric Gagne and Sammy Sosa) then this is a team that may surprise a lot of people in 2007. They still have one of the best young infields in the game, led by first baseman Mark Teixeira, and their rotation is decent, if not spectacular.

3. Oakland Athletics: Rarely do I pick offense over pitching, but I’m putting the Rangers above the Athletics because of the massive difference in offense. Sure, the A’s have a pitching staff as good as any in the major leagues, but they’re going to have a fun time scoring runs to back it up. The off-season acquisition of Mike Piazza (who will spend his first season in the American League and as a DH) might work out well, but he’s not going to provide nearly the offensive punch of Frank Thomas, whom Oakland lost to the Blue Jays.

4. Seattle Mariners: Say goodbye to Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle fans. The man wants to win ballgames, and with all his talent who can blame him? He’ll be gone after the season if the Mariners don’t prove themselves playoff-worthy, which is going to be a tough task after trading Jamie Moyer to the Phillies and losing “ace” Gil Meche to free agency. Young Felix Hernandez (12-14, 4.52 ERA) heads a makeshift starting staff with names like Jarrod Washburn, Jeff Weaver, and Miguel Batista. You’d have to see some huge years from some mediocre players in order for Seattle to do much damage in the AL West.

MLB Preview 2007: AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers: They stunned the entire baseball world last season by leading the Central for most of the year and finishing up with a Wild Card berth and a World Series appearance. The addition of Gary Sheffield should boost an offense that stumbled at the end of the year (though I’m not entirely sure that he was worth all the young pitching they gave up for him), and the starting rotation and bullpen is still as strong as it was last year, led by Rookie-of-the-Year starter Justin Verlander and flame-throwing setup man Joel Zumaya.

2. Minnesota Twins: Even though young phenom Francisco Liriano is on the shelf for the year, the Twins still boast of the reining AL Cy Young and MVP in Johan Santana and Justin Morneau. Santana may in fact be the best pitcher in the game today, having won the Cy Young in two of the last three seasons and taken the pitcher’s triple crown in 2006. The bullpen is strong, the offense is there, and this talented team has the makings of a playoff contender if they can take the Wild Card.

3. Cleveland Indians: This team has a very strong offense led by monster slugger Travis Hafner and rounded out with the likes of Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez. The rotation is nothing to laugh at either with names like C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee. The central division may be a bit tough for the Indians to overcome in 2007, but that’s what everyone said about the Tigers a year ago (myself included).

4. Chicago White Sox: Since their monster 2005 season, the Sox have done little to improve upon what made them so successful that year - the starting rotation. In fact, Chicago parted ways with two very talented starters in Freddy Garcia and Brandon McCarthy this off-season. The Red Sox learned last year that you can never have enough starters, and it looks like the White Sox may learn the same lesson in 2007.

5. Kansas City Royals: In years past they’ve been referred to as a triple-A team that plays against major leaguers. That may not be the case in 2007, as the Royals have done a bit to improve their roster. Still, Gil Meche is not exactly the ace Kansas City needs him to be, and Octavio Dotel is coming off Tommy John surgery and put up a 10.80 ERA in 14 appearances for the Yankees last year. The emergence of Mark Teahen will be about the only thing Royals fans have to cheer for in the coming season.

MLB Preview 2007: AL East

1. Boston Red Sox: Call me biased, but remember that last year I picked New York as number one in the East. I look at the Sox and I see the best starting rotation in the division (maybe the league) and now, finally, a stopper at the back-end of the bullpen in Jonathan Papelbon. Manny’s going to produce even more than normal with J.D. Drew protecting him in the lineup, and of course David Ortiz is going to make yet another run at the league MVP. Unless the Sox see a catastrophic rash of injuries like they did in ‘06, things are looking good in Beantown.

2. New York Yankees: Still the most potent offense in the league, the Yankees have proven the last two post-seasons what a team really needs to make it far into October - namely, pitching. They’ll still beat up on a lot of teams in the American League, and they’ve got a shot at the Wild Card (though the AL Central is looking really strong, too), but I expect to see a mid-season move for a starter if the Yankees hope to make an impact in the playoffs.

3. Toronto Blue Jays: The strong offense was improved with the addition of Frank Thomas, but they lost some big names on both sides this offseason (Ted Lilly, Bengie Molina, Frank Catalanotto). Still, Roy Halladay is a perennial Cy Young contender and A.J. Burnett has a ton of talent, while B.J. Ryan was almost as good a closer as Papelbon last year. They don’t have the winning mind-set the Sox and Yankees do, but if either team stumbles, the Jays are ready to jump ahead in the division (as they did in ‘06 by overcoming the ailing Sox to take second-place).

4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: I gotta tell you, I love the D-Rays. I’m a Sox fan through-and-through, but Tampa Bay is an extremely talented young team with one of the best young starters in the league (Scott Kazmir) and some of the most exciting offensive players around (Carl Crawford, Delmon Young, Akinori Iwamura). Whenever they’re not playing the Sox, I’m always rooting for the Rays to do well, and that’s not going to change this year as I’m taking them over the Orioles in the AL East.

5. Baltimore Orioles: Baltimore looks like a team that could take the division… in the 2005 NL West, perhaps. The Orioles certainly have some talent in Miguel Tejada, Nick Markakis, and new acquisition Aubrey Huff, but it’s just not going to be enough to succeed in this the toughest division in baseball. Tradition says they will take fourth in the East once again, but I really think Tampa Bay has the advantage in 2007.

Wang to hit DL, Pavano to hit rubber

In anticipation of ace Chien-Ming Wang beginning the season on the disabled list, the Yankees have named a new opening day starter. Mussina? No. Pettite? No. Uhhh...Igawa? No.

Yup, Joe Torre has announced that because of scheduling issues, neither Mussina not Pettite will be able to open the season. That leaves an unproven rookie or a somewhat proven veteran who hasn't pitched in almost two years. So I guess Pavano was the lesser of two evils in this situation. What a farce. The loss of Wang will prove to be a huge blow to the rotation in New York for the first part of the season, and Pavano's opening day start will prove to be representative of the entire season - roughly patching up a dismal rotation and praying the offense and bullpen can win enough games to get the Yankees into the post-season. It's worked in the past, and in all likelihood will work again --- but one has to wonder how long their division-winning streak will last.

Duhhhh....

Hey I finally figured out how to correct the timestamp on my blog so it doesn't post Pacific time! Now my posts aren't three hours off. hurray!

This and that...

So I finally finished all those Red Sox v. Yankees pieces, and it only took two months! What a difference a vacation from work makes.

-This Manny Ramirez grill business is ridiculous. The grill didn't even belong to him (it was his neighbor's), and the fact that bids for it on eBay reached the website's highest possible sum of $99,999,999.99 makes me think I just puked a little bit in my mouth. Luckily eBay pulled the grill from the site, as Ramirez's ownership of it could not, indeed, be verified. Gee, if I'd known that any item that a superstar gets his picture taken next to is immediately worth $100 million I'd have started my collection long ago...

-David Wright an MVP favorite? On Cold Pizza this morning, Jay Crawford referred to talking head (and Met's third baseman) David Wright as a favorite for the MVP vote. Now I'm as big a fan of Wright's as anyone this side of the Connecticut border, but I find it hard to believe in him as the favorite for MVP over Ryan Howard and Albert Pujols. Top ten in voting? Absolutely. Number one? Not likely.

-La Russa the sleep-driver. You idiot! You may or may not be one of the best managers in baseball, but for God's sake, man! If you've had to much to drink (or anything to drink, or even if you're sober) get a damn limo. Even if you're too cheap for a limo, get a damn cab! Way to go ruining your name and reputation for all the fans in St. Louis, smart-guy.

-Top cops bully Biggio into removing pin. C'mon Commissioner's Office! You're telling me that with all the negatives going on in baseball today, this is what you're actually going to show some real action on? If he was wearing the pin during the regular season, that would be a different store. But it's the gosh-flashugnah Grapefruit League! He wasn't hurting ANYONE, he wasn't improving his play AT ALL, and he was in fact representing a good cause! Score one for the tough guys.

Red Sox v. Yankees '07

Overview, 3/22/2007

Relief Pitching, 3/22/2007

Designated Hitter, 3/20/2007

Outfield, 2/13/2007

Backstop, 1/26/2007

Middle Infield, 1/23/2007

Corner Infield, 1/22/2007

Starting Rotation, 1/20/2007

Red Sox v. Yankees '07: Overview

Starting Rotation: Despite Papelbon’s move to the bullpen, the Red Sox still have the stronger rotation. Matsuzaka is having a fantastic spring and Tavarez proved himself a capable starter down the stretch in 2006. Schilling and Wakefield are good for a combined 26 wins (at least), and the biggest question mark - Beckett - didn’t lose his talent just because he had a “tough” 2006. The Yankees have to hope Pavano and Pettite are both healthy and committed and that Igawa is ready for the major leagues. Mussina and Wang should continue to shine but they can’t carry the team by themselves.
Winner: Boston Red Sox

Bullpen: The Sox are stronger with Papelbon closing out games, but the rest of the bullpen is still a work in progress. Brendan Donnelly will probably prove to be the go-to setup guy if Timlin can’t prove himself healthy and effective. The Yankees still have Rivera for ninth inning, and the trade for Vizcaino makes for a very talented setup corps with Farnsworth. The Yankees are in a better position to win more close games than the Red Sox in 2006.
Winner: New York Yankees

Lineup: Obviously no team’s offense compares to that of the Yankees. Power threats all down the line (excluding Mientkiewicz) and a few of the most productive hitters in baseball make the Yankees offense simply incomparable. That said, the Sox shouldn’t have as much trouble scoring runs this year with Lugo leading off and Drew offering more protection to Ramirez than anyone else in the lineup could. I’m also expecting offensive bounce-backs by both Coco Crisp and Jason Varitek, meaning the bottom of the order won’t be as impotent as it was in 2006.
Winner: New York Yankees


Defense: The Red Sox took a slight step in the wrong direction by signing shortstop Lugo over Alex Gonzalez, while the Yankees made a slight improvement by acquiring Mientkiewicz to play first. Still, the Sox led the league in fielding percentage last year and aren’t likely to see that performance decrease in the coming season.
Winner: Boston Red Sox

Bench: The three bench players Boston features - Wily Mo Pena, Alex Cora, and Eric Hinske - are some of Francona’s favorite players for their versatility and ability to win games. Melky Cabrera, Miguel Cairo, and Josh Phelps are all good, but don’t offer quite the same level of play as the Boston trio.
Winner: Boston Red Sox


Coaching: The Yankees have a squad made up of a few former managers (Tony Pena, Larry Bowa), and Joe Torre has been to six World Series, winning four of them. Terry Francona has a World Series win of his own, but some freshman on the staff (Luis Alicea, John Farrell, Dave Magadan) have a lot of proving to do before we start handing out accolades.
Winner: New York Yankees

Chemistry: Apparently not a priority for George Steinbrenner or Joe Torre (as they battle their own issues out), the Yankees have all kinds of trouble getting along. A-Rod and Jeter aren’t the friends they used to be, Mussina thinks Pavano is a baby, and Mariano Rivera wants an extension. Meanwhile in Sox camp, things seem to be more light-hearted than usual, as Manny is talking to the media (albeit briefly and never about baseball), players are laughing about their inability to speak Japanese, and the general buzz through the media about Dice-K seems to be energizing the team as a whole. Managing ability aside, Francona seems the more personable coach than Torre anyway. The whole business about Schilling wanting to be re-signed before the season started seems to have been put in the past, and chances are the Sox are going to sign him at some point during or after the season, anyway.
Winner: Boston Red Sox

Overall: Where the Yankees trump the Red Sox, they aren’t doing it by leaps and bounds (except perhaps when it comes to infield offense). Where the Sox trump the Yankees (particularly in the starting rotation), New York barely compares. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the Sox haven’t won the division since 1995, but if there were a year to do it, it’s 2007. The Yankees are weakest where the Sox are strongest and Francona and company are going to have to capitalize on that in order to make it to the playoffs after last season’s absence. Overall, I’ll take the Red Sox to win the American League East.