Are the Red Sox the favorite to win the AL East? The World Series? I think the Red Sox are a better team than the Yankees. Call me a homer, but I like them to win the East. Both teams are obviously strong, but the Red Sox have something to prove this year after how last season ended. However, I am very fearful of the Phillies. Fortunately for the Sox the most they will have to win is a best of seven series against them if someone can’t knock them out beforehand. What scares me is the possibility of having to face Halladay, Lee and Hamels six out of the seven times at best. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are both injured making their lineup much less potent than past years. However, they also added our former closer, Jonathan Papelbon, rounding out their incredible pitching staff. If the Sox and Phillies face-off in the Series it has potential to have the fewest runs scored in a long time.
The San Francisco Giants also scare me a little. They are another team with three very solid pitchers; Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner. Fortunately for the rest of the league they will have a hard time producing run support for their strong pitching staff. The AL West is growing stronger everyday as well. After losing their ace to the Sox, the Angels have built up a very solid pitching staff that could pose a big problem in the American League. Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and newly acquired CJ Wilson is yet another scary front three in their rotation. The Tampa Bay Rays have a decent lineup and a young pitching staff that has great potential. All eyes seem to be on Matt Moore who could be the difference maker for the Rays this season. The Rays are one of those teams that just find a way to win.
The Yankees attempted to strengthen their rotation during the offseason. Huroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda pitched very well last season, but they are coming over from the National League. Pitchers coming to the American League for the first time always scare me. They will be thrown into the greatest rivalry in sports and placed in the biggest market in all of sports. I don’t know how well these guys will be able to live up to the pressure. Of course the Yankees have arguably the best lineup in baseball to back these guys up, but they are aging. Let’s face it Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez are fading fast. Robinson Cano, Mark Texiera, and Curtis Granderson now provide the power in this lineup. Don’t get me wrong this lineup is still strong, but it isn’t as strong as it has been in past years. Jeter and A-fraud aren’t the only two guys wearing down, Rivera and Pettite can’t have many years left. I think all Red Sox fans can agree that we are just waiting for the day when Rivera’s 89mph cutter just isn’t enough to get the job done at the end of games. Will this finally be the year?
The top teams in the league are growing and the championship is really up for grabs. The Red Sox have a good shot, but they are going to need everyones best if they plan on winning.
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