Who Will Win The AL East In 2004?

Crash Course · 02-11-2004, 07:32 PM

Who is your winner, and why?

nyy26wc · 02-11-2004, 08:10 PM

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 · 02-11-2004, 08:53 PM

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

Craig S. · 02-11-2004, 08:55 PM

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 · 02-11-2004, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajah

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 · 02-11-2004, 10:47 PM

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

Crash Course · 02-11-2004, 11:26 PM

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 · 02-12-2004, 02:00 AM

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

TimmyB · 02-12-2004, 09:22 AM

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...)

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

rc3000 · 02-12-2004, 09:43 AM

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 · 02-12-2004, 12:33 PM

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 · 02-12-2004, 12:47 PM

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

jvonbokel · 02-12-2004, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweaver

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 · 02-12-2004, 02:32 PM

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 · 02-12-2004, 04:12 PM

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..."

View Poll Results: Who Will Win The AL East In 2004?
Yankees	20	36.36%
Red Sox	34	61.82%
Blue Jays	0	0%
Orioles	1	1.82%
Devil Rays	0	0%
Voters: 55. You may not vote on this poll

02-11-2004, 07:32 PM	#1
Crash Course NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 10,070	Who Will Win The AL East In 2004? Who is your winner, and why? __________________ Steve, Forum Admin Hit Grass, Win Salad Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun. - Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, in The Sandlot I've been going to games since August 8, 1973....and on August 22, 2004, finally, a foul ball came my way. I had to reach for it, and it deflected off the tip of my right index finger. Shoot, if I was only 4 inches taller! Have you read The Baseball Same Game?

02-11-2004, 08:53 PM	#3
Rajah NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,177	I figure that the AL East will finish in the same order that it always does. __________________ Why does Aubrey Huff looked so mad in his picture? Oh wait...

02-11-2004, 10:47 PM	#6
KCBOOMER NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Home of the T-Bones Posts: 11,116	Little early for this, but I'll go with the Yanks. __________________ KCBOOMER *Buck O'Neil: The Monarch of Baseball*

02-11-2004, 11:26 PM	#7
Crash Course NetShrine Creator & Curator Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NetShrine WHQ Posts: 10,070	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. __________________ Steve, Forum Admin Hit Grass, Win Salad Man, this is baseball. You gotta stop thinking. Just have fun. - Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, in The Sandlot I've been going to games since August 8, 1973....and on August 22, 2004, finally, a foul ball came my way. I had to reach for it, and it deflected off the tip of my right index finger. Shoot, if I was only 4 inches taller! Have you read The Baseball Same Game?

02-11-2004, 08:10 PM	#2
nyy26wc NetShrine All-Century Team Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: NJ Posts: 14,584	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. __________________ Lee Creator, Complete Baseball Encyclopedia. It's powerful, yet extremely easy to use. Features extensive sorting and stat display options. The CBE has many features that are not available in online and printed sources. Has 2006 stats and daily update service for 2007.

02-11-2004, 08:55 PM	#4
Craig S. Guest Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,330	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.

02-12-2004, 02:00 AM	#8
Fatwater Fewl NetShrine MVP Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Charlottetown, PEI Posts: 261	Red Sox, but it'll be close. (If the Yankees actually find some infield defense, I'll change my mind.)

02-12-2004, 09:22 AM	#9
TimmyB NetShrine's Magic 8-Ball Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Where the cops speak slow and the air is nice Posts: 2,591	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...) Someone has to win it, because I can see the WC coming out of the west.

02-12-2004, 09:43 AM	#10
rc3000 Inducted Into The NetShrine Assembly of Fame Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 543	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. __________________ Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, then you are wasting your time on this Earth - Roberto Clemente

02-12-2004, 12:33 PM	#11
sweaver Netshrine Cleanup Hitter Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Mountain State Posts: 8,883	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.

02-12-2004, 12:47 PM	#12
manny tortolero NetShrine MVP Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 298	I think this year the Sox pitching staff will be the difference. __________________ I am writing from Caracas, Venezuela and not perfect english speaker, then please consider my grammar error with that perspective.

02-12-2004, 02:32 PM	#14
ackleyb Having A NetShrine Cup Of Coffee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: upstate NY Posts: 2	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.

02-12-2004, 04:12 PM	#15
deadguy NetShrine All-Star Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 107	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..." __________________ "...it could safely be alleged that pennant contenders in a close race might as well gargle with Drano as drop three straight to a recovery-room outfit like the Rangers" -Mike Shropshire, _Seasons in Hell_

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