Post by Rockies GM (Alex) on Dec 7, 2012 23:21:15 GMT -5
2013 American League East Division Preview
1. New York Yankees
2012 Record: 14-5
The Yankees fell a game short of the World Series last season in a heartbreaking finish. This season, under new management, the team will look to take it one step further and accomplish the ultimate goal. The Yankees have, almost without question, the best offense in the league. The team led the American League in Runs, Home Runs, RBI's, and BB's during the 2012 season. Robinson Cano is the game's best second baseman (573 PTS), and Edwin Encarnacion was one of the league leaders in home runs with 42 (611 PTS). Unfortunately for the rest of the division, it doesn't stop there. Outfielders Austin Jackson (454 PTS) and newly acquired Corey Hart (460 PTS) are also big bats in the lineup. So we're done, right? Try the fifth best OF in the game (541 PTS) in Curtis Granderson. The pitching is the suspect element that held this team back last year. The team relied heavily on C.C. Sabathia last season, and he came through. However, no pitcher can do it alone over the course of the season, and the rest of the rotation (Hughes, Harang, Tomlin, and Chatwood) don't inspire any confidence. Early in the off-season, the Yanks swapped aces with Texas and acquired the younger Zack Greinke (538 PTS) in place of C.C.. Even with the rotational problems, the bullpen isn't an issue. The team counts on the league's top closer, Fernando Rodney (469 PTS), and Chris Perez. In the end, the Yankees immense talent makes them an easy pick to win this division. Can they overtake the Angels this year?
Grade: A
2. Baltimore Orioles
2012 Record: 12-7
Don't get me wrong, the Orioles are good, but this isn't a race for the division. However, thanks for the three wild card rule, the Orioles have a great chance for a return post-season trip after falling last year. The Orioles GM, known for signing large amounts of players in free agency, should have no problem with depth going into this next season. To lead the offense, the team relies on catcher Matt Wieters (398 PTS) and Jason Kipnis (480 PTS) along with a strong outfield. Dee Gordan was a speed demon in the minors, and that speed should translate into a lot of steals at the major league level at shortstop this season. In the rotation, the Orioles have a solid squad. Led by ace and Base Knock Dynasty Baseball 2012 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander (625 PTS), the Orioles will get large totals for their pitching. Along with Verlander, the team also will use newly acquired Jordan Zimmermann (464 PTS) and the up-and-coming Wei-Yin Chen (425 PTS). Closing out the game, the O's obtained a lot of depth in free agency, but they still lack a true closer, something they'll need to increase their position in the AL. The Orioles should get a wild card again and make a third straight appearance in the post-season.
Grade: B+
3. Tampa Bay Rays
2012 Record: 9-10
What a roller-coaster ride it was last season for the Rays. At times they looked like a top seed in the AL, but there were other instances where they played like the bottom of the totem pole. Regardless of last season, the young Rays should improve with their potential packed roster. Leading the offense, the team looks to first baseman Freddie Freeman (450 PTS) and oufielders Jay Bruce (511 PTS) and speedster B.J. Upton (474 PTS). However, after those three there isn't much to be cheerful of in Tampa. The team is looking forward to the fact that prospects Nolan Arenado and Keeynan Walker could both make appearances during the 2013 season. If you thought the offense was solid, check out the staff. The Rays pitching dominated last season by leading the AL in strikeouts and should only take a slight drop after the dealing of James Shields. Ace Cole Hamels (574 PTS) was the fifth best pitcher in baseball last season. After him, Matt Moore (408 PTS), Edwin Jackson (411 PTS), and Ivan Nova (383 PTS - who missed time with injury) all contribute. Adding to the depth, the team will also start Jeff Niemann, Drew Pomeranz, and prospects Julio Teheran and Chris Archer. If only the bullpen could match the firepower of the rotation, the team lacks a true closer, and failed to address the issue during Free Agency. All in all, the Rays will be a fun team to follow next season with the youth's improvement. Catching the Orioles will be hard, but it's a possibility.
Grade: B
4. Toronto Blue Jays
2012 Record: 9-10
Did anyone expect the Jays to nearly finish at .500 last year? I sure didn't. They are under new management headed into 2013, and the GM has looked determined to make the team successful from the get go. On the offense, the team made big improvements during Free Agency. Already having Jose Bautista (359 PTS - INJ), the team signed Torii Hunter (412 PTS), Erick Aybar (368 PTS), and Michael Young (354 PTS). With the greatly improved offense, the team should be more competitive this year. And then there was the Blue Jays rotation, the former laughing stock of the league, the new GM made moves to improve the staff from last year. The rotation will be led by Matt Harrison (509 PTS), Ross Detwiler (369 PTS), and Bartolo Colon (333 PTS). Harrison emerged last year as a viable ace in the league, and it was something that the Jays desperately needed. In the bullpen, the team has Shawn Camp and Koji Uehara. Period. Although they finished third in the AL in holds, the management will need to make moves to even have five guys to put out there every day. The Jays are still a work in progress, but there's no denying the improvement.
Grade: B-
5. Boston Red Sox
2012 Record: 8-11
It's very hard to look at this team on paper, and then look at the record and see any similarity. The "star studded" Sox look like they can take down any team in the league, but they finished with another losing record last year. Was it because of poor management? Let's hope so, because the last of three new GM's in the AL East is in Boston to change things. The focal points of the offense are first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (457 PTS), shortstop Starlin Castro (468 PTS), and second baseman Ben Zobrist (503 PTS). Along with the big three for Boston (sound familiar?), the team also has young outfielder J.D. Martinez and not to be left out Josh Reddick (481 PTS). The offense isn't that much of a problem for Boston. It's the pitching. Cliff Lee (459 PTS), Felix Doubront (363 PTS - in limited time), Jon Lester (396 PTS). If there's one place that you need depth in this league, it's pitching. You can't win in this league with three starting pitchers, and this is a problem that has to be addressed via trade for the Red Sox. In the bullpen, Papelbon is a great closer shutting down games for this team, but what good is a great reliever without the pitching to set him up? The Red Sox will need to improve the rotation to have a shot in this division. The offense will hum along as usual, but the pitching needs a shot in the arm.
Grade: B-
Final 2013 Season AL East Projections:
1. Yankees
2. Orioles
3. Rays
4. Jays
5. Red Sox
1. New York Yankees
2012 Record: 14-5
The Yankees fell a game short of the World Series last season in a heartbreaking finish. This season, under new management, the team will look to take it one step further and accomplish the ultimate goal. The Yankees have, almost without question, the best offense in the league. The team led the American League in Runs, Home Runs, RBI's, and BB's during the 2012 season. Robinson Cano is the game's best second baseman (573 PTS), and Edwin Encarnacion was one of the league leaders in home runs with 42 (611 PTS). Unfortunately for the rest of the division, it doesn't stop there. Outfielders Austin Jackson (454 PTS) and newly acquired Corey Hart (460 PTS) are also big bats in the lineup. So we're done, right? Try the fifth best OF in the game (541 PTS) in Curtis Granderson. The pitching is the suspect element that held this team back last year. The team relied heavily on C.C. Sabathia last season, and he came through. However, no pitcher can do it alone over the course of the season, and the rest of the rotation (Hughes, Harang, Tomlin, and Chatwood) don't inspire any confidence. Early in the off-season, the Yanks swapped aces with Texas and acquired the younger Zack Greinke (538 PTS) in place of C.C.. Even with the rotational problems, the bullpen isn't an issue. The team counts on the league's top closer, Fernando Rodney (469 PTS), and Chris Perez. In the end, the Yankees immense talent makes them an easy pick to win this division. Can they overtake the Angels this year?
Grade: A
2. Baltimore Orioles
2012 Record: 12-7
Don't get me wrong, the Orioles are good, but this isn't a race for the division. However, thanks for the three wild card rule, the Orioles have a great chance for a return post-season trip after falling last year. The Orioles GM, known for signing large amounts of players in free agency, should have no problem with depth going into this next season. To lead the offense, the team relies on catcher Matt Wieters (398 PTS) and Jason Kipnis (480 PTS) along with a strong outfield. Dee Gordan was a speed demon in the minors, and that speed should translate into a lot of steals at the major league level at shortstop this season. In the rotation, the Orioles have a solid squad. Led by ace and Base Knock Dynasty Baseball 2012 Cy Young winner Justin Verlander (625 PTS), the Orioles will get large totals for their pitching. Along with Verlander, the team also will use newly acquired Jordan Zimmermann (464 PTS) and the up-and-coming Wei-Yin Chen (425 PTS). Closing out the game, the O's obtained a lot of depth in free agency, but they still lack a true closer, something they'll need to increase their position in the AL. The Orioles should get a wild card again and make a third straight appearance in the post-season.
Grade: B+
3. Tampa Bay Rays
2012 Record: 9-10
What a roller-coaster ride it was last season for the Rays. At times they looked like a top seed in the AL, but there were other instances where they played like the bottom of the totem pole. Regardless of last season, the young Rays should improve with their potential packed roster. Leading the offense, the team looks to first baseman Freddie Freeman (450 PTS) and oufielders Jay Bruce (511 PTS) and speedster B.J. Upton (474 PTS). However, after those three there isn't much to be cheerful of in Tampa. The team is looking forward to the fact that prospects Nolan Arenado and Keeynan Walker could both make appearances during the 2013 season. If you thought the offense was solid, check out the staff. The Rays pitching dominated last season by leading the AL in strikeouts and should only take a slight drop after the dealing of James Shields. Ace Cole Hamels (574 PTS) was the fifth best pitcher in baseball last season. After him, Matt Moore (408 PTS), Edwin Jackson (411 PTS), and Ivan Nova (383 PTS - who missed time with injury) all contribute. Adding to the depth, the team will also start Jeff Niemann, Drew Pomeranz, and prospects Julio Teheran and Chris Archer. If only the bullpen could match the firepower of the rotation, the team lacks a true closer, and failed to address the issue during Free Agency. All in all, the Rays will be a fun team to follow next season with the youth's improvement. Catching the Orioles will be hard, but it's a possibility.
Grade: B
4. Toronto Blue Jays
2012 Record: 9-10
Did anyone expect the Jays to nearly finish at .500 last year? I sure didn't. They are under new management headed into 2013, and the GM has looked determined to make the team successful from the get go. On the offense, the team made big improvements during Free Agency. Already having Jose Bautista (359 PTS - INJ), the team signed Torii Hunter (412 PTS), Erick Aybar (368 PTS), and Michael Young (354 PTS). With the greatly improved offense, the team should be more competitive this year. And then there was the Blue Jays rotation, the former laughing stock of the league, the new GM made moves to improve the staff from last year. The rotation will be led by Matt Harrison (509 PTS), Ross Detwiler (369 PTS), and Bartolo Colon (333 PTS). Harrison emerged last year as a viable ace in the league, and it was something that the Jays desperately needed. In the bullpen, the team has Shawn Camp and Koji Uehara. Period. Although they finished third in the AL in holds, the management will need to make moves to even have five guys to put out there every day. The Jays are still a work in progress, but there's no denying the improvement.
Grade: B-
5. Boston Red Sox
2012 Record: 8-11
It's very hard to look at this team on paper, and then look at the record and see any similarity. The "star studded" Sox look like they can take down any team in the league, but they finished with another losing record last year. Was it because of poor management? Let's hope so, because the last of three new GM's in the AL East is in Boston to change things. The focal points of the offense are first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (457 PTS), shortstop Starlin Castro (468 PTS), and second baseman Ben Zobrist (503 PTS). Along with the big three for Boston (sound familiar?), the team also has young outfielder J.D. Martinez and not to be left out Josh Reddick (481 PTS). The offense isn't that much of a problem for Boston. It's the pitching. Cliff Lee (459 PTS), Felix Doubront (363 PTS - in limited time), Jon Lester (396 PTS). If there's one place that you need depth in this league, it's pitching. You can't win in this league with three starting pitchers, and this is a problem that has to be addressed via trade for the Red Sox. In the bullpen, Papelbon is a great closer shutting down games for this team, but what good is a great reliever without the pitching to set him up? The Red Sox will need to improve the rotation to have a shot in this division. The offense will hum along as usual, but the pitching needs a shot in the arm.
Grade: B-
Final 2013 Season AL East Projections:
1. Yankees
2. Orioles
3. Rays
4. Jays
5. Red Sox
