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MLB: AL East Season Preview Mar 3rd, 2008
By: Sportsbook.com MLB Handicapping
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MLB: AL East Preview
The AL East has been dominated by the Red Sox and Yankees in recent years, but other teams could be ready to make their mark. Find out all the latest future odds at the baseball leader, Sportsbook.com.
Boston Red Sox
Boston is 10:11 to win the AL East, 9:4 to win the American League, and 4:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under win total is 94 games.
The defending World Champions won’t be satisfied with anything but another title, and they have the horses to get it done. Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka head the rotation and Matsuzaka should be improved after a year of acclimation to American baseball.
The rest of the rotation does have some question marks with Curt Schilling injured, but there are a number of young and veteran players ready to fill the void.
The batting lineup does not inspire as much fear as the Yankees, but they were 4th in MLB in runs scored last year and should be close to that again.
New York Yankees
New York is 11:10 to win the AL East, 3:1 to win the American League, and 5:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under win total is 93.5 games.
The Yankees are in a World Series drought by their standards, having not won the whole thing since 2000. Manager Joe Torre is gone to Los Angeles, but New York thinks they have an upgrade with the fiery Joe Girardi.
The pitching is relying on a number of young starters and the hope that Andy Pettitte is not going to be distracted by his HGH saga. Joba Chamberlain will start in the bullpen but could move into the rotation if needed. Offensively, the Yankees scored more runs than any team in baseball the last two seasons and they will be very formidable again.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto is 6:1 to win the AL East, 15:1 to win the American League, and 30:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under win total is 85.5 games.
Toronto is a perennial sleeper team that is hurt more than any squad in baseball by the division they play in. The Blue Jays are still waiting for starter A.J Burnett to stay healthy for a whole season and become a dominant number two behind Roy Halladay. The bullpen also needs a healthy closer in B.J. Ryan.
The lineup looks to get a jumpstart with sparkplug David Eckstein at the top. More importantly, Vernon Wells needs to have a bounce back year. He struggled in 2007 after signing his new contract. A full season from newly acquired third baseman, Scott Rolen, would also help matters.
Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay is 25:1 to win the AL East, 50:1 to win the American League, and 100:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under win total is 72.5 games.
Tampa Bay has the feel of a team that could shock some people, but the common opinion is that they are at least a year away. The reason for optimism for this young franchise is that they’re finally putting together the makings of a pitching staff.
Scott Kazmir, James Shields and Matt Garza are a pretty good front of the rotation, although Kazmir did just have an injury scare. The bullpen, on the other hand, is still questionable with Troy Percival as the closer. Outfielder Delmon Young was a heavy price to pay for Garza but this team has enough left to keep scaring the opposition.
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore is 25:1 to win the AL East, 50:1 to win the American League, and 100:1 to win the World Series. Their Over/Under win total is 64.5 games.
Baltimore made two significant trades in the off-season, a rarity in the era of finicky owner Peter Angelos. The O’s sent starter Erik Bedard to Seattle and shortstop Miguel Tejada to Houston for a collection of young talent including outfielders Adam Jones and Luke Scott.
Those trades bode well for the future of the club but their outlook for this year is bleak. Baltimore’s Over/Under win total (64.5) is the lowest in the majors and deservedly so. The big reason is that the starting pitching is a mess and the bullpen is also a question mark due to injuries. Looks like it could be time to look forward to 2009.
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