MLB Preview-Part 1: AL East

Okay....So this is part of a 7 installment MLB preview....I'm not going to predict records b/c I think it's ridiculous over 162 games....but It's what I do....let me know what you think

1. Boston Red Sox- The Sox are once again loaded from top to bottom....there are still studs in the lineup...namely David Ortiz (now healthy and on a mission), Dustin Pedroia (the reigning AL MVP in case you forgot), Jason Bay (who crushed last year when he got to Boston), and the ever under-rated Kevin Youkilis....it shapes up as a potent lineup that isn't DOMINATING but very solid.....but in the end...the pitching depth is staggering......By the time June rolls around....this rotation could be 5 deep with top-flight starters, then throw in Tim Wakefield and Clay Bucholz? Jeez.....Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Smoltz, the forgotten Brad Penny....ridiculous....and that doesn't get to the best part of this squad on paper.....The Bullpen....Jonathan Papelbon returns as a dominant closer and the setup situation is flat-out awesome....They have 3 legit top-tier guys as setup men in Justin Masterson, Takashi Saito, and Hideki Okajima....and Manny Delcarmen has elite potential too.....So basically, Boston is #1 b/c the pitching staff is scary.....end of story.....X-Factors: Brad Penny/John Smoltz injury concerns, Mike Lowell's hip
   
2. Tampa Bay Rays- People seem to forget that this team lost nothing in the lineup.....and added a legit bat in the DH spot with Pat Burrell....oh yea, and they are all a year older....I expect a jump out of BJ Upton and Longoria, and a healthy, dominant Carl Crawford.....and this Starting staff is underrated....James Shields looked like a legitimate ace last year, we know about Scott Kazmir's talent....and if they can get 170-180 good innings from young stud David Price....wow....the question marks are in the bullpen....namely at closer as they have a plethora of quality arms...but no dominant arm....X-Factors: Longoria's maturation, The Closer Battle, David Price
3. New York Yankees- This was one of the huge debates of my preparation.....Who wins the Wild Card/#2 in the East battle between NYY and Tampa.....I chose the Rays, even before the A-Rod hip news....but on paper, this Yankees team may have the best infield in terms of hitting that I've ever seen....A-Rod (post-hip surgery), Jeter, Cano and Tex are enough to scare anybody....throw in Posada at least an average Catcher level, and the under-rated bats of Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher, and Johnny Damon (who can still hit, he just can't field) and this is a potential 1000 run squad....The Pitching lies the question marks for me....CC weighs about 350 pounds and was down pre-trade last year (before that whole "Oh I need to dominate now for my contract" thing), AJ Burnett is constantly hurt, Chien Meng Wang can't run the bases without shattering his leg.....See where I'm going with this? They have alot of arms...but alot of question marks.....and the Bullpen outside of Mariano Rivera? Shockingly bad.... X-Factor: Joba Chamberlain: Can he start effectively?, A-Rod's effectiveness post-surgery, healthy starting pitching
4. Baltimore Orioles- I had the Orioles penciled in the basement until I saw their depth chart....I was pleasantly surprised....and this team will fly under the radar...but they have some very good young bats....Nick Markakis, Adam Jones (a breakout player of mine), Brian Roberts, Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora....that sounds like a good lineup to me....throw in do-everything Catcher prospect Matt Wieters...could be special down the road....the problem is the pitching....outside of Jeremy Guthrie who has been wholly solid....there's...Rich Hill? Adam Eaton? Hmm....I knew there was a reason I didn't like them.... X-Factors: Pitching, Pitching, Pitching, Adam Jones' growth
5. Toronto Blue Jays- Quick fact: Did you know Toronto's 86 wins last year were more than the NL West champion Dodgers had? Oh yea...the Jays came in 4th in the division.....They will win well less than 86 this year...the starting staff has taken a significant step back (Roy Halladay excluded)...Other than Jesse Litsch who was solid last year...their best hope for an above-average starter? Matt Clement...yea the guy who hasn't pitched in around 2 years.....yikes.... The lineup is solid with Alex Rios, Vernon Wells, Lyle Overbay, and the under-rated Adam Lind....but unless they get stellar bullpen work and an emerging starter (or 2)...they'll stay in the cellar.....X-Factors: #3-5 starting pitching, production up the middle