Casey Greer's 2008 MLB Season Preview
AL East
All baseball season previews have been compiled by Casey Greer.
Send Casey an e-mail here: caseymgreer@gmail.com
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Baltimore Orioles (69-93)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 71-91
Key Additions:
Adam Jones, OF
George Sherrill, LHP
Troy Patton, LHP
Greg Aquino, RHP
Luke Scott, OF
Key Losses:
Erik Bedard, LHP
Miguel Tejada, SS
Corey Patterson, OF
Summary: Baltimore's offseason has been defined with the words "for prospects." The Orioles got a moderate deal for Miguel Tejada, but considering his monstrous contract and the fact that his name was mentioned in the Mitchell Report, they did well. The Orioles also traded Erik Bedard for Seattle, a deal which netted them a package of prospects as impressive as the one the Twins got in the Johan Santana trade, and George Sherrill, a decent lefty reliever as the cherry on top. The O's are officially rebuilding, and going about it the right way. In 2012, Baltimore could be the class of the AL East, but in 2008 they will be the laughingstock.
2008 Projection: 55-107
Boston Red Sox (96-66)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 101-61
Key Additions:
David Aardsma, RHP
Sean Casey, 1b
Bartolo Colon, RHP
Key Losses:
Matt Clement, RHP
Eric Gagne, RHP
Summary: The 2008 World Series Champs enter 2008 with nearly the same roster that they left 2007 with. An ineffective Eric Gagne departed for Milwaukee, and the oft-injured Matt Clement signed with St. Louis. While Boston hasn't replaced them with equals in terms of talent, it shouldn't be hard to match their effectiveness in a Red Sox uniform. The biggest difference in 2008, and also the greatest opportunity for gain, sits in the hands of Clay Buchholz, John Lester, and Jacoby Ellsbury, who will spend their first full season with the big club, and a healthier David Ortiz. Boston can overcome the injury to Curt Schilling, but they'll need some young players to step up.
2008 Projection: 96-66
New York Yankees (94-68)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 97-65
Key Additions:
LaTroy Hawkins, RHP
Key Losses:
Luis Vizcaino, RHP
*Roger Clemens, RHP
Summary: There's a new Steinbrenner at the reigns of Yankee Country. The Yanks had a quiet offseason in terms of player movement, but made a lot of noise off the field. Between Roger Clemens' hearing, the Alex Rodriguez re-signing, the team's interest in Johan Santana, and Hank Steinbrenner's feud with Red Sox Nation, the Bronx Bombers commanded a lot of headlines this offseason. The Yankees are aging, but have begun to build their farm system, which has been stripped in the past two decades. Between Philip Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, and Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees have done a very good job of re-tooling their roster.
2008 Projection: 91-71
Tampa Bay Rays (66-96)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 67-95
Key Additions:
Jason Bartlett, SS
Cliff Floyd, OF
Matt Garza, RHP
Trever Miller, LHP
Troy Percival, RHP
Key Losses:
Elijah Dukes, OF
Chris Snelling, OF
Delmon Young, OF
Josh Wilson, OF
Summary: The Tampa Bay Rays did a lot to trim the fat this offseason. Gone are misbehaving outfielders Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes. In are a handful of grizzled veterans, and a very good pitching prospect in Matt Garza. Also gone, is the word Devil in the team's name. Though the boss of the underworld is no longer represented, the AL East still represents hell for a small market franchise. The Rays have tried a lot of different things to draw fan support, even laying out plans for a new stadium; that could all be as effective as putting perfume on a pig. The state of Florida has seen two World Series champion Marlins teams, and has yet to support them consistently. Obviously the Rays are at a disadvantage, stuck in the same division as two baseball powerhouses, and the Toronto Blue Jays nipping at their heels.
2008 Projection: 75-87
Toronto Blue Jays (83-79)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 87-75
Key Additions:
Scott Rolen, 3b
David Eckstein, SS
Marco Scutaro, 2b
Rod Barajas, C
Shannon Stewart, OF
Key Losses:
Troy Glaus, 3b
Josh Towers, RHP
Summary: The Blue Jays are the third-best team in a deep division. Their biggest move this offseason was to swap third basemen with St. Louis. The Blue Jays acquired the disgruntled Scott Rolen. Rolen is significantly better defensively than Troy Glaus, but it remains to be seen how he will adjust offensively to the American League. The Jays have a very deep rotation. If the Yankees collapse, which has been predicted for the past half decade, the Jays will be waiting to take their place near the top of the AL East, and considering their relatively young talent. If given the opportunity, they should stay there for a while.
2008 Projection: 88-74
*Note (per BaseballReference.com) - The Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball is a creation of Bill James which relates the number of runs a team has scored and surrendered to its actual winning percentage, based on the idea that runs scored/runs allowed is a better indicator of a team's (future) performance than a team's actual winning percentage.
Back to the 2008 MLB Season Preview Home Page.
Send Casey an e-mail here: caseymgreer@gmail.com
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Baltimore Orioles (69-93)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 71-91
Key Additions:
Key Losses:
Summary: Baltimore's offseason has been defined with the words "for prospects." The Orioles got a moderate deal for Miguel Tejada, but considering his monstrous contract and the fact that his name was mentioned in the Mitchell Report, they did well. The Orioles also traded Erik Bedard for Seattle, a deal which netted them a package of prospects as impressive as the one the Twins got in the Johan Santana trade, and George Sherrill, a decent lefty reliever as the cherry on top. The O's are officially rebuilding, and going about it the right way. In 2012, Baltimore could be the class of the AL East, but in 2008 they will be the laughingstock.
2008 Projection: 55-107
Boston Red Sox (96-66)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 101-61
Key Additions:
Key Losses:
Summary: The 2008 World Series Champs enter 2008 with nearly the same roster that they left 2007 with. An ineffective Eric Gagne departed for Milwaukee, and the oft-injured Matt Clement signed with St. Louis. While Boston hasn't replaced them with equals in terms of talent, it shouldn't be hard to match their effectiveness in a Red Sox uniform. The biggest difference in 2008, and also the greatest opportunity for gain, sits in the hands of Clay Buchholz, John Lester, and Jacoby Ellsbury, who will spend their first full season with the big club, and a healthier David Ortiz. Boston can overcome the injury to Curt Schilling, but they'll need some young players to step up.
2008 Projection: 96-66
New York Yankees (94-68)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 97-65
Key Additions:
Key Losses:
Summary: There's a new Steinbrenner at the reigns of Yankee Country. The Yanks had a quiet offseason in terms of player movement, but made a lot of noise off the field. Between Roger Clemens' hearing, the Alex Rodriguez re-signing, the team's interest in Johan Santana, and Hank Steinbrenner's feud with Red Sox Nation, the Bronx Bombers commanded a lot of headlines this offseason. The Yankees are aging, but have begun to build their farm system, which has been stripped in the past two decades. Between Philip Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Robinson Cano, and Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees have done a very good job of re-tooling their roster.
2008 Projection: 91-71
Tampa Bay Rays (66-96)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 67-95
Key Additions:
Key Losses:
Summary: The Tampa Bay Rays did a lot to trim the fat this offseason. Gone are misbehaving outfielders Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes. In are a handful of grizzled veterans, and a very good pitching prospect in Matt Garza. Also gone, is the word Devil in the team's name. Though the boss of the underworld is no longer represented, the AL East still represents hell for a small market franchise. The Rays have tried a lot of different things to draw fan support, even laying out plans for a new stadium; that could all be as effective as putting perfume on a pig. The state of Florida has seen two World Series champion Marlins teams, and has yet to support them consistently. Obviously the Rays are at a disadvantage, stuck in the same division as two baseball powerhouses, and the Toronto Blue Jays nipping at their heels.
2008 Projection: 75-87
Toronto Blue Jays (83-79)
2007 Pythagorean* Record: 87-75
Key Additions:
Key Losses:
Summary: The Blue Jays are the third-best team in a deep division. Their biggest move this offseason was to swap third basemen with St. Louis. The Blue Jays acquired the disgruntled Scott Rolen. Rolen is significantly better defensively than Troy Glaus, but it remains to be seen how he will adjust offensively to the American League. The Jays have a very deep rotation. If the Yankees collapse, which has been predicted for the past half decade, the Jays will be waiting to take their place near the top of the AL East, and considering their relatively young talent. If given the opportunity, they should stay there for a while.
2008 Projection: 88-74
*Note (per BaseballReference.com) - The Pythagorean Theorem of Baseball is a creation of Bill James which relates the number of runs a team has scored and surrendered to its actual winning percentage, based on the idea that runs scored/runs allowed is a better indicator of a team's (future) performance than a team's actual winning percentage.
Back to the 2008 MLB Season Preview Home Page.
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