2010 MLB Predictions: American League East Preview—Who Will Win?

By Luke Anthony.

Well, what better way to start to the MLB season than on Easter Sunday, with Red Sox vs. Yankees at 8 p.m. on ESPN?

Personally, I couldn't think of a better way, and that is what really got me to breaking down the AL East this year.

1. Red Sox (98-64)

It would not surprise me if the Sox made a push to win 100 games this year based on what they did in the offseason. 

They have the best pitching staff in baseball with Beckett, Lester, and Lackey as the ultimate one-two-three punch. At the bottom of their staff is youngster Clay Buchholz and either Dice-K or Tim Wakefield. 

This will allow to save some innings for the big three at the top and allow an injury here and there without missing a stride. The other huge steps the Sox made this winter were getting defensive specialists in a couple of major positions. 

Mike Cameron is the new center fielder, which pushes Jacoby to left and makes this outfield the best in baseball. Cameron can cover just as much ground as Jacoby in center but has a much better arm and will be able to throw people out at the plate. 

Moving Jacoby to left will also allow him to take away some of those bloop singles and make the throw to home plate a lot shorter, which will allow him to throw out more runners as well.

The serious question about this team, however, is the offense. 

The Sox got rid of their leading home run hitter when they let Jason Bay and his 36 home runs sign with the New York Mets. This leaves the Red Sox with nobody on their roster with over 30 home runs, which raises some major problems. 

David Ortiz finished with 29 home runs last year and cannot get off to the same horrific start he did in '09 or the Sox are doomed. The Sox replace Bay with outfielder Mike Cameron, who had 24 home runs in 2009, and hope that newly-acquired Adrian Beltre can get back to his 2004 form, when he hit 48 home runs, instead of last year, when he had just eight. 

I think that two players are the most important for the Red Sox to be able to win the AL East this year: right fielder J.D. Drew and second baseman Dustin Pedoria.

First of all, Drew must stay healthy and off the DL. Then, he must have 20-plus home runs this year and try to have as close to 100 RBI as possible to help this ball club score some runs. 

Pedroia also must stay healthy. Red Sox Nation got the scare of a lifetime last week when Pedroia went down and looked like might have broken his wrist. I think the Sox need this guy, and need him to get on base to be able to have Martinez, Ortiz, and Youkilis drive him in. 

In the end, I think that these guys score enough runs to win baseball games and with Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Dice-K, Buchholz, and Wakefield, this pitching staff will put the team on their back and have a great team ERA. 

I think that the Sox make a push for 100 wins and that they will represent the AL East in the postseason.

2. Yankees (94-68)

Do not get me wrong, I could be very wrong here, and the Yankees might win over 100 games. 

They certainly have the tools and pitching staff and coaching to do so, I just do not think they are capable of being as successful as they were last year. It is nearly impossible to win the Series two years in a row, simply because teams have that "World Series hangover" and they don't seem as hungry.

That being said, this roster is too good to not have a great record and make the playoffs, either by winning the AL East or making the Wild Card.

First off, this pitching staff is pretty good at the top but I feel is not as deep all the way through as the Red Sox. CC, Burnett, and Vasquez are a good one-two-three, but I'm not sold on the rest. 

Andy Pettitte is a very solid fourth starter but he is also getting old and very injury-prone, and at times he gets a little questionable out there. Phil Hughes is a good young prospect but I do not compare him with Buchholz and I do not think he is ready to be a fifth starter in the majors quite yet. 

I think that the Yankees will have a hard time putting a lot of wins together in bunches and I think that they are expecting too much from CC, and his arm will get some fatigue throughout the season.

That being said, their offense will win them a bunch of games, too.

Curtis Granderson is a major upgrade from Johnny Damon and Granderson will probably hit about 100 home runs over that short right field porch for the Yankees.

A-Rod will always hit home runs, Jeter will always be in the running for the batting title, and they will just always have offense.

I think that it will be interesting which will be more successful in the AL East: good pitching for the Sox, or good offense for the Yanks. 

3. Orioles (81-81)

This O's team is full of potential and one of the youngest ball clubs in baseball. 

Second baseman Brian Roberts and outfielder Nick Markakis are two proven MLB players that can lead this team to a successful season, in my opinion. 

Outfielder Adam Jones and catcher Matt Wieters are two great young stars who have A-plus potential in the big leagues and can really contribute to the team. This pitching rotation is questionable, but also has some potential and has improved since last year. 

Kevin Millwood will bring some veteran leadership to this young O's staff ,and teamed up with all the young pitchers that they have will make things interesting in the AL East.

I think if this core stays together for a couple more years they will be serious contenders to win the AL East. 

4. Rays (77-85)

I am just not sold on this Rays team and do not think that they can compete in the AL East with the powerhouses. 

I think the World Series run of a couple years ago was a fluke, and although they still have the same great pitching staff, I just do not think they can hold it together.

They already started to get rid of some key pieces when they traded Scott Kazmir to the Angels.

I think that the Rays just do not have the bankroll to compete with the Yanks and Sox so they will struggle to win games day in and day out.

5. Blue Jays (72-90)

This team totally unloaded their roster and will struggle to win any games this year.

They got rid of a starting outfielder in Alex Rios, their starting shortstop in Marco Scutaro, and their pitching ace in Roy Halladay, whom they traded to the Phillies. 

I don't think that a baseball team can survive all those moves, and I think that they will just be awful this year, maybe even the worst team in the baseball.

I also think that playing in the AL East does not help moves such as these and the Jays will get dominated by the Sox and Yanks every time they play.