I'm gonna write this blog so that we're ending with my first place prediction. Here are the 2015 AL East standings for your comparison to my predictions for 2016:
East Division
| Tm | W | L | GB | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Blue Jays | TOR | 93 | 69 | .574 | -- |
| New York Yankees | NYY | 87 | 75 | .537 | 6.0 |
| Baltimore Orioles | BAL | 81 | 81 | .500 | 12.0 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | TBR | 80 | 82 | .494 | 13.0 |
| Boston Red Sox | BOS | 78 | 84 | .481 | 15.0 |
Obviously coming off of a 93 win season in 2015, the Blue Jays are clearly the team to beat in the American League East, but that doesn't mean I think they're going to be the ones to take home the division title. They were really quite quiet this off season, and other teams who were active with signings like the Yankees and Red Sox could make that jump over the Jays and steal this thing away from them.
Tampa Bay Rays
I don't think Tampa is a bad team by any means, they practice a really good culture of baseball over there and have cemented their status as a respectable franchise within Major League Baseball. That being said, the AL East quickly became one of if not the toughest division to play in this off season, and to me, the Rays just did not do enough to their roster for me to see them competing all that much in this division.
Projected Lineup
| Player | POS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corey Dickerson | OF | ||||
| 2 | Steven Souza | OF | ||||
| 3 | Evan Longoria | 3B | ||||
| 4 | Logan Morrison | DH | ||||
| 5 | Logan Forsythe | 2B | ||||
| 6 | James Loney | 1B | ||||
| 7 | Kevin Kiermaier | OF | ||||
| 8 | Tim Beckham | SS | ||||
| 9 | Hank Conger | C |
No Major League Baseball Team should have Logan Morrison hitting in the four spot. The guy shouldn't be hitting any higher than the 8-spot and the Rays are relying on him to knock in a solid chunk of their runs presumably.
Projected Rotation
Player
1 Chris Archer
2 Jake Odorizzi
3 Drew Smyly
4 Erasmo Ramirez
5 Matt Moore
6 Blake Snell
Probably the highlight of this roster, the Rays' pitching rotation is a pretty strong one in my opinion. Most of the guys they'll be throwing out there have a lot of years left in them, and a lot of juice left in their arms, calling for what could be an entertaining season on the bump for the Rays. Also, adding a power arm like Drew Storen to the back end of any bullpen is always a bright spot.
Baltimore Orioles
This is where the AL East gets tricky. There are four teams in this division that I could all see at the top of the standings come September. The Orioles' lineup is really scary on paper, with familiar names like Jones, Machado, and Davis creating Baltimore's own murderer's row scenario. The addition of even more power to this lineup in Pedro Alvarez and Mark Trumbo could make the Orioles a really fun team to watch, but unfortunately I think that will only be as good as fourth place in the American League East this summer.
| Player | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Archer | ||||
| 2 | Jake Odorizzi | ||||
| 3 | Drew Smyly | ||||
| 4 | Erasmo Ramirez | ||||
| 5 | Matt Moore | ||||
| 6 | Blake Snell |
Probably the highlight of this roster, the Rays' pitching rotation is a pretty strong one in my opinion. Most of the guys they'll be throwing out there have a lot of years left in them, and a lot of juice left in their arms, calling for what could be an entertaining season on the bump for the Rays. Also, adding a power arm like Drew Storen to the back end of any bullpen is always a bright spot.
Baltimore Orioles
This is where the AL East gets tricky. There are four teams in this division that I could all see at the top of the standings come September. The Orioles' lineup is really scary on paper, with familiar names like Jones, Machado, and Davis creating Baltimore's own murderer's row scenario. The addition of even more power to this lineup in Pedro Alvarez and Mark Trumbo could make the Orioles a really fun team to watch, but unfortunately I think that will only be as good as fourth place in the American League East this summer.
Projected Lineup
| Player | POS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hyun Soo Kim | OF | ||||
| 2 | Manny Machado | 3B | ||||
| 3 | Chris Davis | OF | ||||
| 4 | Adam Jones | OF | ||||
| 5 | Mark Trumbo | 1B | ||||
| 6 | Matt Wieters | C | ||||
| 7 | Pedro Alvarez | DH | ||||
| 8 | J.J. Hardy | SS | ||||
| 9 | Jonathan Schoop | 2B |
Projected Rotation
Their rotation to me is a big reason for this prediction in my opinion. They added Gallardo, but at what cost? The guy is clearly past his prime, and the five guys coming in after him all had rather bulky ERAs last season.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays look like they'll be a good team yet again in 2016. Obviously looking up and down their lineup, a lot of powerful bats stand out in Bautista, Donaldson, and Encarnacion. The downside to that is I'm not sure the Jays possess many other attributes throughout their lineup other than power. For instance they lack speed. Other than Pillar they really don't have any guys that could swipe bags on a consistent basis. If the bats go dead, which they will more than a few times throughout the season, I think Toronto Might have some trouble finding alternate ways to win.
Projected Lineup
Their rotation to me is a big reason for this prediction in my opinion. They added Gallardo, but at what cost? The guy is clearly past his prime, and the five guys coming in after him all had rather bulky ERAs last season.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays look like they'll be a good team yet again in 2016. Obviously looking up and down their lineup, a lot of powerful bats stand out in Bautista, Donaldson, and Encarnacion. The downside to that is I'm not sure the Jays possess many other attributes throughout their lineup other than power. For instance they lack speed. Other than Pillar they really don't have any guys that could swipe bags on a consistent basis. If the bats go dead, which they will more than a few times throughout the season, I think Toronto Might have some trouble finding alternate ways to win.
Projected Lineup
Player POS
1 Kevin Pillar OF
2 Josh Donaldson 3B
3 Jose Bautista OF
4 Edwin Encarnacion DH
5 Troy Tulowitzki SS
6 Chris Colabello 1B
7 Russell Martin C
8 Michael Saunders OF
9 Ryan Goins 2B
| Player | POS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Pillar | OF | |||||||||||
| 2 | Josh Donaldson | 3B | |||||||||||
| 3 | Jose Bautista | OF | |||||||||||
| 4 | Edwin Encarnacion | DH | |||||||||||
| 5 | Troy Tulowitzki | SS | |||||||||||
| 6 | Chris Colabello | 1B | |||||||||||
| 7 | Russell Martin | C | |||||||||||
| 8 | Michael Saunders | OF | |||||||||||
| 9 | Ryan Goins | 2B |
Projected Rotation
Player
1 Marcus Stroman
2 R.A. Dickey
3 Marco Estrada
4 J.A. Happ
5 Aaron Sanchez
I also think that their rotation could potentially act as a weakness as well. After Stroman, this Toronto rotation really seems to fall off, with an aging knuckleballer following Marcus and a combined 23 wins last year between your back three guys. What will act as a small aid to the rotation is the addition of Drew Storen to the bullpen. Whenever a team can add a power arm like Storen to the back of their bullpen, it's never a bad thing. A team needs more than a setup man and one power ace to carry a staff, and I think the Blue Jays could struggle mightily because of that, landing them in third place in my predictions.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox look familiar in the sense that I have no idea how they will do this season. As unpredictable as they've been over the past five or so years, I think this lineup could look completely different come the All-Star break than it does on Opening Day.
Projected Lineup
| Player | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Stroman | ||||||||||
| 2 | R.A. Dickey | ||||||||||
| 3 | Marco Estrada | ||||||||||
| 4 | J.A. Happ | ||||||||||
| 5 | Aaron Sanchez |
I also think that their rotation could potentially act as a weakness as well. After Stroman, this Toronto rotation really seems to fall off, with an aging knuckleballer following Marcus and a combined 23 wins last year between your back three guys. What will act as a small aid to the rotation is the addition of Drew Storen to the bullpen. Whenever a team can add a power arm like Storen to the back of their bullpen, it's never a bad thing. A team needs more than a setup man and one power ace to carry a staff, and I think the Blue Jays could struggle mightily because of that, landing them in third place in my predictions.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox look familiar in the sense that I have no idea how they will do this season. As unpredictable as they've been over the past five or so years, I think this lineup could look completely different come the All-Star break than it does on Opening Day.
Projected Lineup
Player POS
1 Mookie Betts OF
2 Dustin Pedroia 2B
3 David Ortiz DH
4 Xander Bogaerts SS
5 Hanley Ramirez 1B
6 Pablo Sandoval 3B
7 Rusney Castillo OF
8 Blake Swihart C
9 Jackie Bradley OF
| Player | POS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mookie Betts | OF | |||||||||||
| 2 | Dustin Pedroia | 2B | |||||||||||
| 3 | David Ortiz | DH | |||||||||||
| 4 | Xander Bogaerts | SS | |||||||||||
| 5 | Hanley Ramirez | 1B | |||||||||||
| 6 | Pablo Sandoval | 3B | |||||||||||
| 7 | Rusney Castillo | OF | |||||||||||
| 8 | Blake Swihart | C | |||||||||||
| 9 | Jackie Bradley | OF |
Projected Rotation
I really think guys like Travis Shaw and Brock Holt are going to end up seeing some somewhat regular time in this lineup, given the fact that the Sox are currently planning on throwing Hanley Ramirez at first base, while Shaw is a perfectly acceptable first baseman with a surprising amount of pop in his bat. I'm not saying Hanley is going to be losing any at-bats, but I do think Shaw will be seeing some time come late August. Like their friends up North though, the Red Sox lack depth in their rotation. After the formidable ace in Price, Boston really doesn't have much to compliment the five time all-star. Again, like the Jays, they signed on a big arm to the back end of their bullpen in Craig Kimbrel. Craig is definitely a step above Storen when it comes to getting the job done late in games, and he might prove more valuable to Boston than Storen will be for Toronto. Also, I think the Red Sox have a stronger and more well-rounded lineup that could do more things and win in various ways. You see speed all throughout the outfield and in the middle-infield, giving the Sox a lot of versatile options when both offensively and defensively. Both of these reasons are key in my evaluation of the Red Sox as a second place AL East squad.
New York Yankees
Every year it seems to be the same deal with the Yanks. If they can stay healthy, they can be successful. Things are no different in 2016, as the Yankees have a really attractive lineup on paper, but as a Yankees fan you just know how transparent that lineup could get if guys start to fall to injury. That being said, I think a lot has changed in the clubhouse from last season and guys are really ready to get after it this year. They don't have all the drama of the A-Rod return looming or wondering what life is going to be like after Jeter. I think last year one of the reasons the Yankees had trouble stringing together wins was because they spent a majority of the season searching for an identity, and I think with the guys they added in the off season and the change of pace and mood within the clubhouse this club finally found what they were looking for.
Projected Lineup
I really think guys like Travis Shaw and Brock Holt are going to end up seeing some somewhat regular time in this lineup, given the fact that the Sox are currently planning on throwing Hanley Ramirez at first base, while Shaw is a perfectly acceptable first baseman with a surprising amount of pop in his bat. I'm not saying Hanley is going to be losing any at-bats, but I do think Shaw will be seeing some time come late August. Like their friends up North though, the Red Sox lack depth in their rotation. After the formidable ace in Price, Boston really doesn't have much to compliment the five time all-star. Again, like the Jays, they signed on a big arm to the back end of their bullpen in Craig Kimbrel. Craig is definitely a step above Storen when it comes to getting the job done late in games, and he might prove more valuable to Boston than Storen will be for Toronto. Also, I think the Red Sox have a stronger and more well-rounded lineup that could do more things and win in various ways. You see speed all throughout the outfield and in the middle-infield, giving the Sox a lot of versatile options when both offensively and defensively. Both of these reasons are key in my evaluation of the Red Sox as a second place AL East squad.
New York Yankees
Every year it seems to be the same deal with the Yanks. If they can stay healthy, they can be successful. Things are no different in 2016, as the Yankees have a really attractive lineup on paper, but as a Yankees fan you just know how transparent that lineup could get if guys start to fall to injury. That being said, I think a lot has changed in the clubhouse from last season and guys are really ready to get after it this year. They don't have all the drama of the A-Rod return looming or wondering what life is going to be like after Jeter. I think last year one of the reasons the Yankees had trouble stringing together wins was because they spent a majority of the season searching for an identity, and I think with the guys they added in the off season and the change of pace and mood within the clubhouse this club finally found what they were looking for.
Projected Lineup
Player POS
1 Jacoby Ellsbury OF
2 Brett Gardner OF
3 Carlos Beltran OF
4 Mark Teixeira 1B
5 Alex Rodriguez DH
6 Brian McCann C
7 Chase Headley 3B
8 Starlin Castro 2B
9 Didi Gregorius SS
| Player | POS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacoby Ellsbury | OF | |||||||||||
| 2 | Brett Gardner | OF | |||||||||||
| 3 | Carlos Beltran | OF | |||||||||||
| 4 | Mark Teixeira | 1B | |||||||||||
| 5 | Alex Rodriguez | DH | |||||||||||
| 6 | Brian McCann | C | |||||||||||
| 7 | Chase Headley | 3B | |||||||||||
| 8 | Starlin Castro | 2B | |||||||||||
| 9 | Didi Gregorius | SS |
Projected Rotation
Like I said health is huge, and just looking at this lineup on paper you can see that it's filled with a lot of different guys with many different strengths. If guys like Ellsbury and Gardner stay on the field, those are two guys that can cover major ground in the outfield and steal bags when the Yankees need them to. If Teixera and A-Rod stay healthy, that's easily 60 home runs out of four and five guys and I think that number could be higher. Hopefully Castro keeps up the hot bat he's been displaying since donning the pinstripes and gives us a second baseman we can finally sink our teeth into. When you look at the rotation, you see a lot of power arms. I also think that the age gap between some of the guys within the rotation might serve as an advantage come playoff time. Obviously the bullpen is stacked. Even with Chapman being absent for the first thirty games, the Yanks still have more they can count on in Betances and Miller than most teams in the MLB. And, after that first thirty, well, you can just forget about it. really. Yanks take the AL East in a wild race that will most definitely take the full 162 game slate to decide.
P.S. Just realized half this blog came out in red. Don't know why that happened. Tried to edit it like a thousand times and I couldn't figure it out, but if you've made it this far down in the blog then it clearly didn't bother you so really we needn't waste our time.
Like I said health is huge, and just looking at this lineup on paper you can see that it's filled with a lot of different guys with many different strengths. If guys like Ellsbury and Gardner stay on the field, those are two guys that can cover major ground in the outfield and steal bags when the Yankees need them to. If Teixera and A-Rod stay healthy, that's easily 60 home runs out of four and five guys and I think that number could be higher. Hopefully Castro keeps up the hot bat he's been displaying since donning the pinstripes and gives us a second baseman we can finally sink our teeth into. When you look at the rotation, you see a lot of power arms. I also think that the age gap between some of the guys within the rotation might serve as an advantage come playoff time. Obviously the bullpen is stacked. Even with Chapman being absent for the first thirty games, the Yanks still have more they can count on in Betances and Miller than most teams in the MLB. And, after that first thirty, well, you can just forget about it. really. Yanks take the AL East in a wild race that will most definitely take the full 162 game slate to decide.
P.S. Just realized half this blog came out in red. Don't know why that happened. Tried to edit it like a thousand times and I couldn't figure it out, but if you've made it this far down in the blog then it clearly didn't bother you so really we needn't waste our time.
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