Baseball AL East Preview

Enough politicians, on to more amusing and entertaining things - like the national pasttime. Anyhow on to the most important division in the Major Leagues, starting again in the south, with..

The team named after the animal that killed Steve Irwin has once again gathered a bunch of kids to play a men's game - however, unlike past years, these kids have some talent. Led by LF Carl Crawford, RF Delmon Young, CF Elijah Dukes, DH Rocco Baldelli, and 2B BJ Upton and Japnese import 3B Akinori Iwamura, these guys can do some damage. Former Metropolitan Scott Kazmir leads the staff, along with Edwin Jackson and Casey Fossum. Jae Seo and James Shields round out the rotation, with Al Reyes closing. While they're still a ways away, I think they are likely to be a little better this year, but still around 90 losses.

Moving north to the Birds, this team has begun, finally, to learn its lesson and stop paying small fortunes to washup veterans and develop some internal talent. The pitching in particular is starting to round into form. The staff is led by promising Erik Bedard and Daniel Cabrerra, who both could be aces soon. Adam Loewen and veterans Jared Wright (reunited with former Brave pitching coach Leo Mazzone) and Steve Trachsel round out the rotation. Chris Ray continues to quietly yet brilliantly close. The Birds carry some heavy duty sticks as well, with SS Miguel Tejada, LF Jay Gibbons, 1B Aubrey Huff, and RF Nick Markakis all capable of putting up some good power numbers, and CF Corey Patterson and 2B Brian Roberts capable of running and hitting. These guys could make some noise this year, I juust wish they would get a better class of owner.

On to the most famous and successful team in the history of the game, the Bronx Bombers of New York City. The team is loaded with talent once again, aiming for another Eastern division title. RF is manned by former Phil All-Star and Home Run Derby winner Bobby Abreu, one of my favorite players, alongside former evil one Johnny Damon (glad he's come over to the side of light and goodness) and LF is ably handled by Japanese superstar Hideki (Godzilla) Matsui. Around the horn we have the game's highest paid player at 3B and 2005 AL MVP, Alex Rodriguez, along side team captain, All-Star SS Derek Jeter (should have been 2006 AL MVP). On the other half of the infield is another batting title contender, young 2B Robinson Cano, and at 1B we have slick fielding Doug Mientkiewicz with former AL MVP Jason Giambi at DH. All-Star Jorge Posada handles the catching. The team's staff is led by veteran All-Stars Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte, along with former Fish Carl Pavano, Japanese newcomer Kei Igawa. Darrell Rasner fills in temporarily until 19 game winner Chien-Ming Wang returns from a hammy pull. Future ace Phillip Hughes waits in the wings at AAA Columbus, and Mr. Dependable, Mariano Rivera continues to close with the nastiest cutter in the game after setup work from strong-armed Kyle Farnsworth and sidewinding southpaw Mike Myers. The crazy thing about this year is the payroll went down, at least to start the season. There is speculation that a certain Rocket from Texas may return to the Bronx sometime next month as well.

Moving up the coast to the Evil Ones, the Beantowners should be almost, but not quite, good enough. They also deal in rather weighty lumber as well, with DH David Ortiz and LF Manny Ramirez leading the charge, along with C and team captian Jason Varitek, newcomer JD Drew (if he can stay healthy), and 3B Mike Lowell. What I see as the tema strength this year is the starting pitching, which starts off with one of my favorite guys, outspoken Curt Schilling. Japanese ace Daisuke (Dice-K) Matsuzaka also has filthy stuff, along with former Fish Josh Beckett. Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield provides a nasty change of pace, and Julian Tavarez rounds out the rotation for closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was tough as nails in his first year in the role last year. These guys are good, maybe better than any team not in NY. It'll be another challenging year for the good guys.

Moving on, the lone Candian team remaining in the game would have a decent shot in any other division, but probably not in this one. They have former AL Cy winner Roy Halladay at the top of the staff, another former Fish and potential ace in AJ Burnett, along with Gustavo Chavin, Josh Towers and import Tomo Ohka in the rotation setting the stage for power-armed southpaw BJ Ryan. These guys can also rake it as well, with LF Vernon Wells, RF Alex Rios, DH Frank Thomas, and 3b Troy Glaus all capable of going yard often. LF Reed Johson and 1B Lyle Overbay supply more of a contact gap style hitting. I don't see a lot of base path burners on this team, so it'll be more of a Moneyball get on base and knock'em in approach, but they have a nice mix of talent, thye could be trouble.

Well, it's hard not to go with tradition and assume the Yanks take it all this year, but they've been disturbingly absent from Series victory for quite a while now. If Rocket returns, they definitely have enough of the other pieces, although without him it'll be damn tough. The Evil Ones and the rest of the division are pretty good and seem to be getting better, and the Central is loaded for bear and storied franchises as well. Anything can (and far too often does) happen in a short series. Fearless forcast is A's, Twinkies, Tiggers and Yanks in the playoffs, and the Yanks taking the Series, but it's likely wishful thinking. Hopefully I look like a genius in October.