The Contenders excluding the Angels because they are gonna win the West. Tampa Bay 63-44- The Rays are struggling against left handed pitchers and the offense is in a semi slump. As you can see the SS position for the Rays is the worst for the Rays but Jason Bartlett's defense makes up for his lack of offense, when Bartlett went on the DL the Rays went on a 7 game losing streak after winning 8 straight the week before. Push: Rocco Baldelli could return to the Rays in the next few days, the max he can do is be a DH vs LHP and RF in the late innings, the situation has to handled delicatly because if we push him too hard he will be on the 60 Day DL with his mitocondrial disorder. Also 1st overall pick David Price will be up soon as a relief pitcher and possible starter and move andy sonnanstine to the bullpen. Boston 61-48-- With the trade of Manny, the weight of the offense is going to be on Ortiz and Drew. They are going to need Bay and their bullpen to be solid if they want to contend for the playoffs Chicago 60-47- The addition of Griffey will bring more fans but can it bring more offense. That offense is very dangerous and the starting pitching is good right now. They seem to overwhelm the Twins most of the time they play, so they will most likely look up the central. Twins 60-48- The are 0 for 10 in games where they can take over 1st place, but as long as they dont play the white soxs they may be able to sneak into the wild card. Push: Can Liriano be what he was a couple years ago when he seemed that he could not be beat. They have a very real shot at the wild card if they continue the pace they are on. Yankees 59-49- With the three acquisitions of Puge, Marte and Nady, they seem like they can overtake the red soxs. The #4 and #5 starters are going to be key and they have been losing a good amount lately, but Chamberlain, Pettitte and Mussina are having good years and can win every time out. Predictions: AL East: Rays AL Central: White Soxs AL West: Angels Wild Card: Twins- They have a much easier schedule then the Yankees (Seattle and Cleveland two series each), even though Yankees have more talent.
I'm still waiting for the Rays to come back to Earth. I still think it's going to happen sometime soon and I think it will be the Yanks and Sawx battling late in the season for the AL East.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thrilla @ Aug 1 2008, 04:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm still waiting for the Rays to come back to Earth. I still think it's going to happen sometime soon and I think it will be the Yanks and Sawx battling late in the season for the AL East.</div> Well the Soxs and Yankees better not hope David Price comes up because he is the next great young pitcher to come to the majors. He is 5-0 in 7 games with a 2.20 ERA in Double A. He struck out A-rod twice while he was rehabing and beat Pedro Martinez in a pitching duel. I expect him to go to triple A durham in the next couple of days and then at the end of July or early August reach the majors defintely for the playoffs because he is on the 40 man roster so they will want him to get some MLB experience before the playoffs. It seems like the AL east teams are gonna beat up each other in the next months. Toronto and the Orioles are still playing good despite not being in the playoff race, and could take some wins away from the potential al east wild card contender.
And Yankees continue to suck. And Rivera has given up runs we couldn't come back from in 2 games recently. The second game in Baltimore, we lost 7-6, and Rivera gave up the 7th in the 9th. Today he gives up a run, making it 1-0. David Price is the shit.
