The Boston Red Sox are the only team with a prayer of challenging the New York Yankees, and their strength is still in doubt. The other three teams in the AL East have some potentially threatening lineups - that is, if they were playing in triple-A. The Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays did little in the offseason to bolster their mediocre teams and will all participate in an exciting competition for the AL East cellar this season.
Contenders:
New York Yankees. This one is a no-brainer. The Yankees have the best pitching in baseball with Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, and Andy Pettitte, and the offseason addition of David Wells gives New York a rotation that will be more feared than owner George Steinbrenner. Though Clemens, who turns 40 in August, may seem a little over the hill, he was more than on top of his game last year for the Yankees, when he went 20-3, and he will make a bid for his record seventh Cy Young award this season. With premiere closer Mariano River (50 saves last season) around to back up the rotation, New York's pitching is a steel wall.
Steinbrenner, meanwhile, overhauled the Yankees' offense in response to last year's World Series loss, and the new lineup looks even more potent than the old one. Giambi (.342 average and 38 homers with Oakland last year) replaces Tino Martinez at first base, and batting behind Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams will give him plenty of opportunities for RBIs. Alfonso Soriano proved to be a good hitter and even better base runner in his rookie season last year, and catcher Jorge Posada has hit over .280 in his last two seasons combined. Former Chicago Cubs outfielder Rondell White is also a helpful addition to this lineup, though he has been plagued by injuries in recent years.
Team on the bubble:
Boston Red Sox. There are more if-then statements being made in Red Sox nation this spring than there are on a logic exam. If Pedro is healthy, if Nomar is healthy, if Jason Varitek is healthy, if Grady Little can manage well, then this team has the potential to compete with the Yankees. But that's a very big if.The Sox' team and management have been completely turned over. For the offense, these changes look promising. Rey Sanchez is an upgrade over Jose Offerman at second base, and outfielder Johnny Damon will provide some speed to a team that steals bases about as often as Haley's Comet is visible from the Earth. If Nomar Garciaparra returns to the form of two summers ago when he led the AL in hitting, the Sox will have a strong middle of the lineup featuring Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, and Tony Clark. Outfielder Trot Nixon continues to improve each year. But none of these players are as talented as the Yanksee' Giambi, Jeter, and Williams, and Little has a big task ahead of him in uniting a divided clubhouse.
Though the offense has been strengthened, Boston's pitching rotation is questionable at best. The Red Sox lost Hideo Nomo - the team's best starter last year - and David Cone, and for the team to rely so heavily on Pedro Martinez could be a mistake if he has trouble coming back from his shoulder injury. Former closer Derek Lowe has made a case in spring training to be the number two starter, though it would be ludicrous to expect him to be anything but mediocre. John Burkett is a fine addition to the rotation, but nothing spectacular. And beyond closer Ugueth Urbina, the Sox bullpen could be problematic.
Players to watch:
Pedro Martinez. The three-time Cy Young winner is coming back from an injury and had a rocky Spring Training. Little announced Saturday that Martinez's pitch count will be limited in his next start on Wednesday and hinted that the ace might still be experiencing shoulder discomfort. If Martinez makes a strong comeback, it may provide the momentum to ignite the Red Sox. But if he falters, Boston's rotation will combust.
Grady Little. The Red Sox manager may not compete on the field, but his performance will be a key determinant in whether the Sox can stop the Yankees - or, realistically, win the wild card. Dan Duquette and Joe Kerrigan left a lot of wounds that Little must now repair, and he will need to deal with many uncertainties on the Sox team this year.
Young gun:
Nick Johnson. The Yankees' rookie will bat in the designated hitter's position since Giambi has the spot at first, and he put up promising numbers in the minor leagues. New York expects him to be its next Alfonso Soriano, and if that prediction comes true, Johnson will add force to an already potent Yankees lineup.
Last word:
There is little to focus on in the AL East beyond the Red Sox and the Yankees. Cal Ripken was the one highlight in Baltimore, and now that he has retired, the most popular Orioles will likely be the hot dog vendors. Tampa Bay has finished in the cellar in each of its four years of existence and did nothing in the offseason to rectify this situation.
Toronto, however, does show some potential for improvement. The Blue Jays have some quality hitters in Carlos Delgado, Shannon Stewart, and Raul Mondesi, but the rest of the lineup is comprised on young players who will need to step up. Pitching is really what is holding Toronto back. The Jays lost closer Billy Koch, and Chris Carpenter is a good pitcher but not an ace.
Prediction: Yankees, Red Sox, who really cares beyond that.
