The Tampa Bay Rays have gone from laughing stock to one of the most consistent teams in the AL the last half-dozen years – they haven’t had a losing record over that span and they have made the playoffs four of the last six years.
What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we were talking about the Blue Jays as a legitimate World Series contender – this year we are talking about the team just being competitive and with an outside shot at a Wild Card spot.
Whew – things have certainly changed in the Bronx ahead of the 2014 season! Gone are Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano from what was a typically potent lineup and in are some new pieces including Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran.
The Boston Red Sox will attempt to build on a worst-to-first 2013 campaign while trying to repeat as improbable World Series Champions. The Sox had a relatively quiet offseason – there were more departures on this team than there were acquisitions.
The Baltimore Orioles will be looking to get back to their 2012 form in which they won an astounding 93 games with what was, on paper, an average team.
