Onto the final third of the league—the most potent division and the one in which I will probably receive the greatest amount of disdain for my predictions. In fact, I may lose my badge as baseball writer/blogger altogether.
This is a division that, in my opinion, is in a state of drastic change. With the Orioles all but written off for the year, this is still a deep and strong division with four teams that could win any of baseball's other five divisions.
AL East
I hope I haven’t already lost my readers, but hear me out. There is not another team in the division, let alone the league that has as much potential as the Rays. Top to bottom, the team has breakout candidates and can match up player for player with any team in the league.
With a little bit of luck, this team should be the best team in baseball. Furthermore, consider that the Rays used BJ Upton at second base for 48 games in 2007, which essentially single handedly led to the Devil Rays having the worst defensive efficiency in the majors.
Also, consider the depth of the Rays farm system. With youngsters at essentially every spot in the lineup, the club can afford to make a major trade this season to fill a team need.
In fact, if a CC Sabathia becomes available on the open market, is there another team with more trading chips than the Rays?
The pitching rotation is young, but extraordinarily talented. Kazmir, Shields, and Garza make up as good a trio as any in the majors. If a club has to run into these three for a series, watch out!
The bottom of the rotation is more uncertain due to the rawness of pitchers. As is, I am uncertain how things will shake out, but either way, the pitchers taking up the last two spots in the rotation should be at least league average when compared to other pitchers at their places in the rotation. Sonnanstine and Howell would be my picks, although both would be on a short leash.
The bullpen should be much stronger in 2007 with the addition of Percival. I also think Edwin Jackson
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