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2181
JCacho
Reedster^1295
Re: Who Will Win The A.L. East? <FONT COLOR=BLACK><b>[</font>Reply to #<a href="read.pl?1-2182">2182</a>]</b>
2/21/06, 11:35am
>I fail to see how people are already handing the Blue Jays the
>Wild Card. They have yet to play one game. AJ Burnett is as
>much a risk as Josh Beckett, if not more. Glaus hits for
>power, something the Jays need, but his average is anything
>but good. They don't have a Shortstop. The only good
>[guaranteed] acquisition they made was BJ Ryan. 

You make some good points here.  The bottom line is that the Sox really do not have a SUPER pitcher on their squad.  Good, yes.  But Halladay would have likely been the best in the Majors if he did not get sidelined for half the season by a fluke Kevin Mench line drive.

Following this kind of stellar pitching, I think it will make A.J. Burnett and Gustavo Chacin better.  I expect a career year from Burnett this year.

>The Sox on the other hand, replaced surplus offense for some
>much needed defense and pitching. While it seems we created
>holes in the lineup with Lowell and Gonzalez, we just replaced
>the old holes, Millar and Bellhorn, while at the same time
>upgrading our defense immensely. We acquired Mark Loretta, a
>.300 hitter, in the cheapest deal of the offseason. Trying out
>Youk at first, same way Jays are trying out Hill and 2nd.
>Replaced Damon with Crisp, two players of similiar statistics,
>while saving a ton of cash.

Loretta was a great pickup. I am not convinced by Crisp.  I would also be concerned about Manny Ramirez.  I suspect that he will be unhappy and continue with his trade demands.  The Spring will be a good indicator of his attitude.

I am also hesitant to jump on a Bosox bandwagon when they will be relying on a pitcher who is making a league switch, and an old timer who was horrendously bad last year (Schilling).

Alex Gonzalez and Mike Lowell, offensively, were nothing to cheer about last year.

>Our pitching was so bad last year, it can only get better.
>Schilling is looking to come back from his injury [he had a
>couple of bright spots last year, 1Run games], we traded for
>Beckett [Yankee Killer], and brought up Jon Papelbon. As for
>relief corps, we traded for David Riske, signed Julian
>Tavarez, signed Rudy Seanez, re-signed Timlin, and Foulke
>appears to be in the best shape of his life. 

Tavarez was a good pickup.  Foulke should scare the hell out of you after last season.  Timlin faltered in the second half, and I think that will continue.

My picks (reiterating BaseballGeeks Podcast #5):

1) Yanks
2) BlueJays (wildcard)
3) Bosox
4) Tampa
5) Orioles

[Reedster from Sylmar/CA]
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