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Is it just me, or does this Boston team look a little weak?
Shortstop - Either Aviles (mostly an empty .290 batting average with sub-par defense) or Iglesias (world class glove with a sub .600 OPS?)
Outfield - Ellsbury should be a lock to play elite level CF, but the corners have major question marks. Crawford is coming off a brutal season at the plate AND a wrist injury. The latter is a concern. Ryan Sweeney seems like a proven mediocrity as a starter in RF, while Cody Ross will be exposed facing too much RHP. They have depth, but it's all sub replacement level, barring a step forward from Kalish.
Rotation - Lester, Beckett, and Buccholtz should be a great 1-3 if they can stay healthy. But 4 and 5 could be rough. Feelings are mixed on whether Bard will transition successfully to starting. Aceves could be an innings eater, but he's been mediocre when he's started in the past. There's a lineup of sub-par depth beyond (Padilla, Cook, Miller, Silva) that will likely get torched pitching in the AL east.
I love seeing the CBA finally put a hard cap on spending. It'll probably take a decade for the Yanks and Sox to adapt, given that both have some potential albatross contracts to eat in the near future. I guess it makes up for taking away the Jays/Rays ability to hoard draft picks.
I think the AL east is headlined by an incredible Yankees team, then the Rays, then a dogfight for 3rd place between the Jays and Red Sox. Probably some Jays homerism in there, but I think people underestimate the pitching that's bred from a dozen high level prospects fighting to land that rotation spot in the bigs. How do you think Wade Davis feels in Tampa being leapfrogged by younger higher ceiling guys (Hellickson, Moore)? Probably a big motivator to work to keep his job. Healthy competition is what pushed the Rays into contention, and the Jays are certainly at a similar point to where the Rays were in 2008 given their wealth of starting pitching prospects.
Yanks - 106 wins
Rays - 95 wins
Jays - 85 wins
Red Sox - 84 wins
Orioles - 65 wins
Shortstop - Either Aviles (mostly an empty .290 batting average with sub-par defense) or Iglesias (world class glove with a sub .600 OPS?)
Outfield - Ellsbury should be a lock to play elite level CF, but the corners have major question marks. Crawford is coming off a brutal season at the plate AND a wrist injury. The latter is a concern. Ryan Sweeney seems like a proven mediocrity as a starter in RF, while Cody Ross will be exposed facing too much RHP. They have depth, but it's all sub replacement level, barring a step forward from Kalish.
Rotation - Lester, Beckett, and Buccholtz should be a great 1-3 if they can stay healthy. But 4 and 5 could be rough. Feelings are mixed on whether Bard will transition successfully to starting. Aceves could be an innings eater, but he's been mediocre when he's started in the past. There's a lineup of sub-par depth beyond (Padilla, Cook, Miller, Silva) that will likely get torched pitching in the AL east.
I love seeing the CBA finally put a hard cap on spending. It'll probably take a decade for the Yanks and Sox to adapt, given that both have some potential albatross contracts to eat in the near future. I guess it makes up for taking away the Jays/Rays ability to hoard draft picks.
I think the AL east is headlined by an incredible Yankees team, then the Rays, then a dogfight for 3rd place between the Jays and Red Sox. Probably some Jays homerism in there, but I think people underestimate the pitching that's bred from a dozen high level prospects fighting to land that rotation spot in the bigs. How do you think Wade Davis feels in Tampa being leapfrogged by younger higher ceiling guys (Hellickson, Moore)? Probably a big motivator to work to keep his job. Healthy competition is what pushed the Rays into contention, and the Jays are certainly at a similar point to where the Rays were in 2008 given their wealth of starting pitching prospects.
Yanks - 106 wins
Rays - 95 wins
Jays - 85 wins
Red Sox - 84 wins
Orioles - 65 wins
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