Who Will Win The AL East In 2004?

[Crash Course]

Who is your winner, and why?

[nyy26wc]

My system says the Yankees. It also says that a huge shock will be how easy it will be for them to win the worst division in baseball.

Please not that it is the system that says the Yankees will win by a huge margin, and the division will stink, and not me.

[Rajah]

I figure that the AL East will finish in the same order that it always does.

[Craig S.]

I chose the Yankees because I still think they're the strongest team. I know they lost Clemens and Pettitte, but they've filled those holes quite nicely. And Gary Sheffield won't hurt, either.

The Sox could knock them off, with the Jays being a longshot.

[satchel]

I figure that the AL East will finish in the same order that it always does.
Yes, I think so too. And as I've said in this same spot for the last several years, it will be a dogfight to the end between the Yankees and the Sox.

[KCBOOMER]

Little early for this, but I'll go with the Yanks.

[Crash Course]

I picked NY - as I am required to do.
But, to be honest, I think the Yankee season can go either way - - they might win 100, or they could lose 78 ball games. It will be one or the other, nothing in between.

Boston will win 90 something games. Toronto is much improved. O's too. Shoot, the D-Rays will be much better this year too. What used to be a two team race will still be a two team race - - but, because the DIV is stronger, instead of one-two having close to 100 wins, they could be closer to just touching 90.

[Fatwater Fewl]

Red Sox, but it'll be close. (If the Yankees actually find some infield defense, I'll change my mind.)

[TimmyB]

Boston wins!!!

(Yeah, like you expected me to say any different...)

Dog fight here and maybe some surprises. TB is the only really bad team here, and if they were in the AL Central they could probably finish 3rd or 4th. Unfortunately, they don't and they have to play NY, Boston, Toronto and Baltimore (could this be how they finish?).

Toronto and Baltimore are reasonably improved over last season (and Baltimore had a pretty decent second half in '03).

Still looks like it's going to come down to the usual suspects. Can Schilling stay strong and be healthy? Can Pedro's arm hold up? Is Derek Lowe able to be a solid #2 starter (even though he doesn't have to be)? Can Tim Wakefield replicate his post-season performance?

If the answers are mostly "yes", expect good things in Boston.

Can Brown stay healthy? Can Vasquez handle to NY spotlight? Can the Yankees field a ball up the middle? Will Jason benefit from backing off on the Vitamin S and will he have have knees by season end? How will they do with two guys who should be DH's and only one spot for that in the order? Have the offseason moves replaced Clemens'/Pettite's/Wells' (IIRC) 57 wins (or was it 54?)?

If things work out, the Yankees roll again. I think the Yankees are a little better on paper, but on shakier ground. (Of course, I thought this at the beginning of last season, too...) :rolleyes:

Someone has to win it, because I can see the WC coming out of the west.

[rc3000]

Although the Red Sox are improved I still think until they actually beat the Yankees it will be the Yankees.

Earlier in the winter I would have thought the sox but when I sit back and look at all the deals made I think the Yankees dramatically improved their weakest position (RF) and the pitching may actually be better then last year. The Red Sox pitching should be better but I can't see how all the regulars who had career years, can reproduce them.

As a Sox fan I hope I am wrong, and can dream that Vasquez can't handle the pressure, Brown becomes a pain in the butt and Sheffield has a flash back to Milwaukee !!! But I don't think I would bet money on it.

[sweaver]

Like last year, I will pick the Bosox. I think the Yankees dynasty (1990s-2000s version) is on borrowed time, like the 1963-65 version.

[manny tortolero]

I think this year the Sox pitching staff will be the difference.

[jvonbokel]

I think the Yankees dynasty (1990s-2000s version) is on borrowed time, like the 1963-65 version.
I couldn't agree more. The more Steinbrenner interferes, the worse off they are. He should concentrate on signing checks, not players.

The Sawks are so powerful it's scary. Didn't they set a record for team runs scored last season? I know they led the league, and who did they lose in the offseason?

Being an NL guy, I can really only think of one addition they made, but Schilling is a hell of an addition (even if he is in decline, which I'd probably argue with if I cared enough).

[ackleyb]

If all the teams have healthy players throghout the season I pick the Yankees to win the division. They have more depth across the board than the other teams in the division. The pitching staff top to bottom (again assuming all are healthy) is even better than the Sox. The Yankee outfield produced little (in terms of Win Shares) last year and adding Sheffield will improve on that. Also, Sheffield (being a disciplined, low strikeout, hitter) will introduce patience back into the lineup and provide protection for Giambi. Does that mean they win a short series? Well, that is another question, I'm not sure. Short series' can be won by 2 hot pitchers.

[deadguy]

The Sox appear to be trending up, the Yankees down. I have to go with Boston.

And the sweetest words in the English language are, "Past a diving Jeter..."

[clemente21]

I'm going to be contrarian, and pick the Oreos.

I think the Yankees are going to fall off of a small cliff this year, sort of like the drop from the 1976-78 to the 1979 team. Kenny Lofton vs. Oscar Gamble, Kevin Brown vs. Luis Tiant. They're still going to win 86 games, but that'll get them third.

As much as the Red Sox improved, I think the Orioles have the ability to trade for some studs like Magglio Ordonez by the All Star Break. If they do, I think they'll hold on tight and ride the "nobody expects nothing from us" bandwagon into September.

Plus, I think Pedro spends a signficant time on the DL this year. Just a hunch.

[Sugbear72]

Boston prove me right. I think they have made the necessary moves to pass the Yankees, but it's hard for me to pick against NY regardless of personal dislike for them.

Jim

[Cris E]

Sorry, you caught me off guard...

Barring a terrible bus accident or an All Star Game food poisoning epidemic (which simultaneously floors NYY and BOS while leaving BAL all but unaffected) I don't see anyone but the Top Two cresting the heap.

But I like the comments on the 79 Yankees. And your baseless questioning of the great Pedro sounds near the mark. Even so, there's so much depth on the mound in Boston and so much offense in New York that they'll still end up ahead of the Orioles this year. And unfortunately for BAL, this is the one division in baseball where unlimited cash isn't that big an advantage.

So I pick Boston, since they have great depth, have more roster flexibility to handle setbacks than New York, and many of the players are still looking for that first ring. Plus I hate the Yankees.

[JamesI]

I'm going to be contrarian, and pick the Oreos.

I think the Yankees are going to fall off of a small cliff this year, sort of like the drop from the 1976-78 to the 1979 team. Kenny Lofton vs. Oscar Gamble, Kevin Brown vs. Luis Tiant. They're still going to win 86 games, but that'll get them third.

As much as the Red Sox improved, I think the Orioles have the ability to trade for some studs like Magglio Ordonez by the All Star Break. If they do, I think they'll hold on tight and ride the "nobody expects nothing from us" bandwagon into September.

Plus, I think Pedro spends a signficant time on the DL this year. Just a hunch.


Wow, even I'm not willing to make this prediction....

I voted Sox...

[TGwynn19]

Well crap...now that the Yanks have A-Rod I may need to change my vote from the Sox......

[lonelybrewerfan]

I am going to stick with the Sox. The yankees still have a lot of questions, a-rod aside.

[SmedIndy]

I'm sticking with my vote.

[Oxonian95]

Pitching wins, A-Rod or no A-Rod. I've got more confidence in the Sox staff than in the Yankees staff. Sox win.

[LisaG]

because george will spend every last penny of his own fortune to win and none of the other, richer owners will.

[KCBOOMER]

You non-Yankee voters should reconsider your vote. MLB is just like no-limit Texas Hold'em. The big stack doesn't always win but that's the way to bet.

[hmrsf]

Well crap...now that the Yanks have A-Rod I may need to change my vote from the Sox......


Got milk? Hope so. Anyone who jumps off the bandwagon that fast should have some. :)

[SmedIndy]

You non-Yankee voters should reconsider your vote. MLB is just like no-limit Texas Hold'em. The big stack doesn't always win but that's the way to bet.


NOPE! NOPE!

[JamesI]

I still believe the Sox can win. And I could never vote the Yanks. Its unethical.

[manny tortolero]

ARod would be the best signing in the mid term but IMHO for this season Schilling is still the best signing made in the AL West, and that was done by the Sox. I keep my Sox vote but will be a tight run.

[Skip]

I could never vote the Yanks. Its unethical.:loud: And unseemly.

[Craig S.]

Is ARod really going to be the difference-maker in the Sox-Yanks race? Unless he can guarantee the health of Kevin Brown, or take a spot in the rotation himself, I don't think he's the reason the Yanks will win or lose the division. He's obviously an incredible addition, but I still the Sox are a viable choice.

[gyb13]

Didn't they set a record for team runs scored last season? nope. they didn't even break 1000. but i do think they set the record for SLG.

i vote Yankees, and i would've even before the ARod trade

[RichG]

I selected the Red Sox because of what I feel is an edge in pitching. Of course, that's based on what the rosters are now.

[rcartman28]

I went with the Yankees because George will spend for a second baseman and another pitcher when he needs to.