2009 AL East Predictions
1st Place - Boston Red Sox +200 to Win AL East
The 2007 World Series champs finished just two games out of first place last season and I have them climbing back to the top in 2009. The Devil Rays took the league by storm a season ago, but it will be a different story now that they are wearing the target. Without Manny Ramirez hanging around to disrupt team chemistry, Boston’s one and only focus can be winning baseball games and that is something they will do a lot of this season. The thing that separates the Sox from the rest of the pack is its starting rotation. Josh Beckett should be completely healthy this season which means he should look a lot more like the 20-game winner we saw in 2007. Jon Lester finished last season 15-4 with a 2.82 ERA in his finals 27 starts and Daisuke Matsuzaka is now 33-15 in two seasons with the Sox. In comes Brad Penny and John Smoltz to provide Boston with two more solid options. Offensively, I can’t wait to see what Jason Bay can do in an entire season in a lineup where he is protected and Dustin Pedroia is unreal. What’s next for the 2007 ROY and 2008 MVP?
2nd Place - New York Yankees -130 to Win AL East
New York cleaned up in the offseason, landing C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira. In terms of talent the Yankees are unmatched, but chemistry has been a major issue this team the past couple seasons and that figures to continue to be a problem with more new guys stepping in. Still, missing the playoffs for the first time in 15 years gives the Yanks plenty of incentive heading in to the 2009 season. The Yanks, I’m sure, are sick of hearing about Alex Rodriguez for all the wrong reasons, but it is nothing knew and I don’t expect it to be a major distraction.
3rd Place – Tampa Bay Rays +350 to Win AL East
What a ride it was for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, going from 66 wins and a last place finish in 2007 to 97 wins, an AL East title and an AL Pennant. I’m still not ready to jump on this bandwagon as life is going to be much tougher for the Rays now that they are wearing a target. The Rays lack the experience of the Red Sox, and you can expect the revenge factor to play a major role this season as Tampa Bay beat the Sox in seven games in the ALCS. The Rays also lack the budget of the Yankees which has the best players money can buy. You also have to worry about a little complacency after such a run from a young team. Tampa Bay will be back, but likely not this season.
4th Place – Toronto Blue Jays +1500 to Win AL East
The Jays finished one win shy of their 2006 total when they finished 2nd in the AL East, but it was only good for 4th last season. With the emergence of the Rays, the Jays are the odd man out. Losing A.J. Burnett to rival New York and with Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum going under the knife, the Jays’ strength has been crushed. My boy Roy Halladay still remains and gives us a reason to watch.
5th Place - Baltimore Orioles +5000 to Win AL East
Life as an Oriole fan has been awful. A perennial 4th place finish slipped to dead last in 2008 and that’s where I have the O’s winding up again. Baltimore is committed to its rebuilding project and is hoping to eventually accomplish what the Rays did a season ago. It’s been 11 straight losing seasons now for the Orange Birds and that will give way to 12 in 2009. Baltimore’s rotation is paper thin and it’s too soon to bring up its prospects. Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, and Adam Jones will still give the Baltimore faithful something to cheer about on occasion. Beat the baseball lines in 2009 with World Champion Handicapper Jimmy Boyd’s MLB picks. Jimmy finished as the best MLB handicapper in the world in 2007, profiting dime bettors over $50,000 and he’s ready to help you profit with your MLB betting this year.
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