Article:Patrick's 2008 American League Preview.

A new season is upon us and we gotta start thinking about who will be playing come October and who will be getting the hardware at the end of the season.

First off the American League.

AL East: Boston Red Sox, Defending AL East champs and most importantly the World Series champs, the team stayed intact over the off season and it should still bring success to the sox. The downside to the Red Sox is there pitching don't get me wrong they have great pitchers but do they have the depth and will have to see if Josh Beckett can stay injury free and go for a Cy Young and maybe a 20 win season. Only time will tell but i see them winning the AL East again.  Predicted Record: 95-67

AL Central: Detroit Tigers, The Cats of the Central are back and wanting to make a run back into the World Series and I personally think they have it in them but... like most teams in the majors you need to stay healthy, With the additions of the D-Train and Miguel Cabrera from Florida the Tigers may have the line-up in the American League surpassing the Yankees. The Pitching in Detroit may be the best in the Majors with in my mind the best starting five Jeremy Bonderman, Justin Verlander, Kenny Rodgers, Nate Robertson and Dontrelle Willis but is the Relief there? Todd Jones was resigned in the off season and is the Closer but the setup is a question, anyways i still have them winning the Central by a good 10 maybe 15 games.

Predicted Record: 101-61

AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, In my mind this division may come down to the last week of the season but i think the Angels have the pitching and the batting to get it done, with the off season acquisitions of Jon Garland and Torii Hunter and also if they stay healthy for 162 games this team will be a threat to win it all. The weakness with the Angels is the Relief Pitching a similar situation to the Tigers strong Closer weak setup and relief, the biggest threat in the AL West is the Seattle Mariners but don't count out the Oakland Athletics.  Predicted Record: 92-70

AL Wild Card: Toronto Blue Jays, With 3 other teams that can easily win the AL Wild Card, the underdog in most experts minds i believe will win it the Yankees, Indians and Mariners all battling the Jays, the Blue Jays have great young talented pitching and a great Ace in Roy Halladay also an improved batting line up with the additions of David Eckstein and Scott Rolen have made them perennial contenders... it's no longer a 2 team race in the AL East. The downside to the Jays is there injury situation, the Jays have been one of the worst teams in the MLB when it comes to man games lost too injury if the injuries come no chance at a wild card but if they can stay healthy... look out.

Predicted Record: 93-69

Now the Awards.

AL MVP: Magglio Ordonez, Detroit - AL Cy Young: Eric Bedard, Seattle - AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay

That is my AL Preview my NL one will be released shortly and Thank You for reading

- Patrick

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