By: Stephen Patterson & Tyler Ward
SP: The AL East has been the hottest division in the Major Leagues for yet another season. Hot off of bringing home their 27th championship, the Yankees are off to the right start to repeating this season. With the rise of Phil Hughes, New York still has one of the strongest rotations in baseball. Despite struggling so far this season, A.J. Burnett should be able to pull things together in time for the postseason. The Rays started the season off hot, but since being on the wrong end of Dallas Braden's perfect game, they have taken a downward spiral, including being no-hit for the second time this season by Arizona's Edwin Jackson. The Red Sox, much to my own personal delight, are struggling with age and injury and will be a tight battle for second in the division and to win the Wild Card. The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles won't be much of a factor and would be content to finish above .500. Here is my breakdown of the division and predicted outcome:
New York Yankees: 97-65 (Division Winner)
Boston Red Sox: 90-72 (Wild Card Winner)
Tampa Bay Rays: 86-76
Toronto Blue Jays: 79-83
Baltimore Orioles: 65-97
TW: This is definitely the best division in all of baseball. An AL East team has represented the AL in the World Series the past 3 seasons (Red Sox, Rays, Yankees). Earlier in the season, the Rays were considered by many as the best team in the baseball. They started off the season 32-12, and have gone 12-19 since that fantastic beginning. The Red Sox are hobbled by injuries, but I think they overcome that and challenge for the AL East crown. New York is getting older and older, but with their payroll, they are always able to compete and not to mention, they have 27 World Series rings. The Blue Jays always seem to challenge before the All-Star break, but after it's done, they fall out of contention. I think they'll do that again this year. Baltimore has not been good for a while and they'll be lucky to win 70 games this year.
Here's my breakdown of the division:
New York Yankees: 93-69 (Division Winner)
Boston Red Sox: 91-71 (Wild Card Winner)
Tampa Bay Rays: 89-73
Toronto Blue Jays: 81-81
Baltimore Orioles: 60-102
