Article:American League East Preview

Every year, at about the middle of March, I break down the divisions in baseball and pick how I think they will finish. As always, I will start in the AL East and finish in the NL West.

1st Place, Boston Red Sox Lineup: CF Jacob Elssbury 2B Dusting Peroia DH David Ortiz LF Manny Ramirez 3B Mike Lowell 1B Kevin Youkilis RF J.D. Drew C Jason Varitek SS Julio Lugo

Rotation: RHP Josh Beckett RHP Dasuke Matsuzaka RHP Tim Wakefield LHP Jon Lester RHP Bartolo Colon SU: Hideki Okajiema CL: Jonathan Papelbon

DL: RHP Curt Schilling

The Red Sox return practically the same exact team that cruised to an easy World Series tittle just five months ago. Their bullpen is second to none in all of baseball and their offense is always going to be among the leagues best. The lineup should be even better than last years' if they can get bounce back seasons from J.D. Drew and Manny Ramirez who both performed way below their career standards last season. Their starting pitching is very solid, but still has some question marks. They need their ace Josh Beckett healthy all season, and are counting on Curt Schilling coming back strong by June. I expect Matsuzaka to be even better his second time around this year with the Sox and possibly contend for the AL Cy Young award. Keep an eye out for top prospect Clay Buckholtz and young lefty Jon Lester as they should strengthen an already deep starting rotation.

2nd Place, Toranto Blue Jays Lineup: SS David Eckstein 1B Lyle Overbay RF Alex Rios DH Frank Thomas CF Vernon Wells 3B Scott Rolen 2B Aaron Hill LF Adam Lind C Greg Zaun

Rotation: RHP Roy Halliday RHP A.J. Burnett RHP Dustin McGowan RHP Shawn Marcum RHP Jesse Litcsh SU: Jeremy Accardo CL: B.J. Ryan

If the Blue Jays can stay healthy all year (Scott Rolen, Roy Halliday, B.J. Ryan and A.J. Burnett especially) they should be right there with the Red Sox and Yankees all year long. They have so much talent, but their talent is very fragile. I think the Blue Jays will actually take the next step this year and finish in front of New York for the first time in over a decade. Their lineup is nicely balanced. I'm expecting a nice rebound from Vernon Wells and watch for Alex Rios to continue to develop as he has over the past 2 seasons. I wouldn't be surprised if both of those names were mentioned at the end of the year regarding AL MVP honors. Also If Adam Lind comes on to be anything like he's touted to be, the Blue Jays will have their outfield set for years to come. A n overall healthy year in Toronto could easily put them into the postseason.

3rd Place, New York Yankees Lineup LF Jonny Damon SS Derek Jeter RF Bobby Abreu 3B Alex Rodriguez DH Hideki Matsui 2B Robinson Cano C Jorge Posada 1B Jason Giambi CF Melky Cabrera

Rotation: RHP Chin-Ming Wang LHP Andy Pettite RHP Phillip Hughes RHP Mike Mussina RHP Ian Kennedy SU: Joba Chamberlain CL: Mariano Rivera

The Yankees are getting older, and older each year. Outside of Chin-Ming Wang, I'd be surprised if the Yankees 30 starts out of any starter this season. Mussina and Pettite seem to be on their last legs and 2008 could easily be the final season for both. Pettite had a nice season in '07 but will need to stay extremely tough mentally to succeed with the spotlight on him this summer in New York. The Yankees are hoping Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain will breakout this year and provide the team with much needed pitching depth. Like in Boston, the offense will score a lot of runs. I really like Robinson Cano, and Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter still form the best left sided infield (offensively) the game has ever seen, but I don't think the teams pitching is strong enough allow them to win the division or even compete for a wild card birth.

4th Place, Tampa Bay Rays Lineup: 2B Akinori Iwamura LF Carl Crawford CF B.J. Upton 1B Carlos Pena 3B Evan Longoria RF Jonny Gomes DH Cliff Floyd C Dioner Navarro SS Jason Bartlett

DL: CF Rocco Baldelli

Rotation LHP Scott Kazmir LHP James Shields RHP Matt Garza RHP Andy Sonnenstine RHP Edwin Jackson SU: Al Reyes CL: Troy Percival

The Rays are always an intriguing team at the start of the season just because of all the potential they have. That lineup consists of 4 guys who could easily be all-stars and it seems like just about every year they pump out a new young star. B.J. Upton broke onto the scene last year and it looks like it will be Evan Longoria's turn this year. Their top player, Carl Crawford, is still looking to have that one breakout season that showcases him as one of the best all-around players in the game. He's realized his speed potential and is one of the better contact hitters in the game, but he has the power to hit 30 home runs a year and hasn't hit more than 18 yet. I like the top of the Rays' rotation a lot with Kazmir, Shields and Garza, but the bottom half needs to contribute something or else it will be another long year in Tampa. Their bullpen is their weak spot this year. It's tough to build a successful bullpen around when you have 39-year old Troy Percival and 38-year old Al Reyes leading the way.

5th Place, Baltimore Orioles Lineup: 2B Brian Roberts 3B Melvin Mora RF Nick Markakis DH Kevin Millar 1B Aubrey Huff C Ramon Hernadez CF Adam Jones LF Luke Scott SS Luis Hernadez

Rotation: RHP Jeremy Guthrie RHP Daniel Cabrera LHP Adam Loewen RHP Steve Trachsel LHP Brian Burris SU: Jamie Walker CL: George Sherril

One again, the Orioles have very low expectations, but unlike the Rays, they don't have a lot of young talent that fans can look forward to watching. In all liklyhood, their best player, Brian Roberts, will be dealt by opening day, so their lineup should even be weaker by the time the season starts. Center fielder Adam Jones, obtained in the Erik Bedard trade, should be one guy to keep an eye on. Nick Markakis is also becoming a decent right fielder. The starting pitching is in shambles though after the Bedard trade. I like Guthrie is a very solid number 3, but in the weak Oriole rotatnion, he'll be asked to be a number 1. That alone tells you how thin they are in the rotation. The bullpen isn't much better. George Sherril should be a solid presence for the ninth inning and Jamie Walker isn't bad setting him up, but then things get very unstable.