MLB Previews: American League East

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

BOSTON RED SOX

LINEUP

1.  Jacoby Ellsbury | CF | .280 | 9 HR | 47 RBI

2. Dustin Pedroia | 2B | .326 | 17 HR | 83 RBI

3. David Ortiz | DH | .264 | 23 HR | 89 RBI

4. Kevin Youkilis | 1B | .312 | 29 HR | 115 RBI

5. Jason Bay | LF | .286 | 31 HR | 101 RBI

6. J.D. Drew | RF | .280 | 19 HR | 64 RBI

7. Mike Lowell | 3B | .274 | 17 HR | 73 RBI

8. Jason Varitek | C | .220 | 13 HR | 43 RBI

9. Jed Lowrie | SS | .258 | 2 HR | 46 RBI

PITCHING STAFF

1. Josh Beckett | 12-10 | 4.03 ERA | 172 K | 1.19 WHIP

2. Daisuke Matsuzaka | 18-3 | 2.90 ERA | 154 K | 1.32 WHIP

3. Jon Lester | 16-6 | 3.21 ERA | 152 K | 1.27 WHIP

4. Tim Wakefield | 10-11 | 4.13 ERA | 117 K | 1.18 WHIP

5. Brad Penny | 6-9 | 6.27 ERA | 51 K | 1.63 WHIP

CL Jonathan Papelbon | 41 SV | 2.34 ERA | 77 K | 0.95 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Rocco Baldelli | .263 | 4 HR | 13 RBI

Brad Wilkerson | .220 | 4 HR | 28 RBI

The Boston Red Sox of 2009 look top-to-bottom like the best team in the majors to me. Their lineup has great balance and depth, their starting rotation is very good (with Clay Buchholz waiting in the wings in case Wakefield or Penny get injured), and their bullpen is one of the best in the league. It is scary to imagine Beckett back to his 2007 form because no one has a chance to beat this team if that is the case, at least not until the playoffs.

OVERALL GRADE: A-

NEW YORK YANKEES

LINEUP

1. Derek Jeter | SS | .300 | 11 HR | 69 RBI

2. Johnny Damon | LF | .303 | 17 HR | 71 RBI

3. Alex Rodriguez | 3B | .302 | 35 HR | 103 RBI

4. Mark Teixeira | 1B | .308 | 33 HR | 121 RBI

5. Xavier Nady | RF | .305 | 25 HR | 97 RBI

6. Hideki Matsui | DH | .294 | 9 HR | 45 RBI

7. Robinson Cano | 2B | .271 | 14 HR | 72 RBI

8. Jorge Posada | C | .268 | 3 HR | 22 RBI

9. Brett Gardner | CF | .228 | 0 HR | 16 RBI

PITCHING STAFF

1. CC Sabathia | 17-10 | 2.70 ERA | 251 K | 1.11 WHIP

2. A.J. Burnett | 18-10 | 4.07 ERA | 231 K | 1.34 WHIP

3. Chien-Ming Wang | 8-2 | 4.07 ERA | 54 K | 1.32 WHIP

4. Andy Pettitte | 14-14 | 4.54 ERA | 158 K | 1.41 WHIP

5. Joba Chamberlain | 4-3 | 2.60 ERA | 118 K | 1.26 WHIP

CL Mariano Rivera | 39 SV | 1.40 ERA | 77 K | .67 WHIP

KEY BENCH PLAYERS

Cody Ransom | .302 | 4 HR | 8 RBI

Nick Swisher | .219 | 24 HR | 69 RBI

Melky Cabrera | .249 | 8 HR | 37 RBI

The 2008 New York Yankees failed to make the playoffs. I guess that was what it took for Steinbrenner to go out and get some pitchers. With addition of Sabathia and Burnett, this Yankees squad is looking pretty good. It was a lock for the Yankees to make the playoffs after those acquisitions; however, Alex Rodriguez (the most LOVED Yankee) had some offseason troubles.

First, it was the steroids dilemma and then his injury that will most likely keep him out until June. Whether Yankee fans want to admit it or not, that really hurts the New York Yankees of ’09. If the Yanks struggle out the gate and get behind, it might be tough to climb their way back in the tough AL East.

OVERALL GRADE: B

This is by far the best division in the American League and it will prove it throughout the season. I think the BoSox are the best team in this division, and with the injury of A-Rod, they might have a comfortable lead that no one will be able to come back from. Either way, I think it will be an interesting year in the East and it should be quite a battle for the American League crown, which I think it will come down to two AL East opponents once again.

1. Boston Red Sox (98-64)

2. New York Yankees (90-72)

3. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72)

4. Toronto Blue Jays (83-79)

5. Baltimore Orioles (74-88)

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