2008 A.L. East

[Big Shooter]

I say...

1. Red Sox
2. Jays
3. Yankees
4. Rays
5. Orioles

[davepratt]

Even after the Jays swept the Sox? I'm incredibly impressed with the Jays starting pitching. My brother grabbed a batch of tickets under the flex pack program. All tickets are from row 1 to row 7 above 3rd or 1st and are 1/2 price. He's got 20 games some with 4 tickets and some 2, so I'm grabbing a bunch of these. Looks like a fun season.

[swaaain]

I think the Yanks will take the East, with TO taking the wild Card.

JMHO

[SoNgMaN]

should be a good year this year. hopefull the starters will keep the pace they are on...lol.

i should be down for a few this year as well

[Bellyhungry]

Those Jays are certainly doing fine...Good pitching to start the season.

With all the sports broadcast (NBA, LPGA Major, PGA) on TV yesterday, I was glued to the Jays-Red Sox game instead.

With other Toronto teams sucking their brains out, Jays is the only hope for some excitement.

[Golden Bear]

I still think the Jays will finish third this year, but I'm encouraged by the early showings of Thomas and Wells. In order to contend, we need the heart of the order slugging, and each has two home runs now. Plus, my concerns about Thomas have been lightened a good deal -- he looked sick for the first two or three games.

I'm still saying 89 wins. But if the offence can keep up the 850-run pace (big "if" -- the sample size is miniscule, of course), then a division crown is a possibility.

The Jays now need to show that they can be "up" for games that aren't against the Red Sox and Yankees. They've fared well against both over the past couple of years so it's not too shocking that they're 4-2.

[cldale]

I still think the Jays will finish third this year, but I'm encouraged by the early showings of Thomas and Wells. In order to contend, we need the heart of the order slugging, and each has two home runs now. Plus, my concerns about Thomas have been lightened a good deal -- he looked sick for the first two or three games.

I'm still saying 89 wins. But if the offence can keep up the 850-run pace (big "if" -- the sample size is miniscule, of course), then a division crown is a possibility.

The Jays now need to show that they can be "up" for games that aren't against the Red Sox and Yankees. They've fared well against both over the past couple of years so it's not too shocking that they're 4-2.

The early returns are definately promising, but you're bang on, miniscule sample size. Its worth mentioning that with a bit of luck the Jays could be undefeated right now. They've not been blown out.

I am less optimistic about the hitting, namely because they've been getting an inordinant number of seeing eye singles, and their hitting with RISP is through the roof right now. Thats not going to last all season.

But I am encouraged by what I see of Thomas. Yesterday he hit a Beckett fastball about 2 feet short of a home run, and he hit Delcarmen's fastball into next week. Worth noting that Beckett's FB was an inside 96mph heater that Thomas was able to turn on. I thought that was very encouraging.

I'm also encouraged by the production across the entire lineup. Everyone is hitting a little.

The pitching is simply out of sight. Clearly the redsox are allergic to Litsch or something.

[cdnputter]

I say...

1. Red Sox
2. Jays
3. Yankees
4. Rays
5. Orioles

I like your picks, Sox need Beckett and Dice-K to bring on 20 wins to get first. Jays need pitching and run support, hopefully Wells recovers from last season and Rios shows a season that brings value to his 64 million contract. Not a fan of the Yankees but that payroll will bring at least 3rd. Rays and O's both bring up the bottom, not much there for either team.

Gotta love the fact that Hinkse ended up in Tampa, what with his fav fan being there and all. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[cldale]

I like your picks, Sox need Beckett and Dice-K to bring on 20 wins to get first. Jays need pitching and run support, hopefully Wells recovers from last season and Rios shows a season that brings value to his 64 million contract. Not a fan of the Yankees but that payroll will bring at least 3rd. Rays and O's both bring up the bottom, not much there for either team.

Gotta love the fact that Hinkse ended up in Tampa, what with his fav fan being there and all. :rofl::rofl::rofl:

I disagree with regards to Tampa. They are easily the most talented club in the AL East, and with so many young players still on the advancing side of their careers, that club is goign to breakthrough, sooner rather than later.

[Golden Bear]

I still think you're at least a year early with the Rays, though, cldale. Next year could be a huge breakthrough, but this year I'd put them down for 81 wins. That in itself would be something of a breakthrough, of course -- a huge 15-game improvement over last year.

[cdnputter]

I disagree with regards to Tampa. They are easily the most talented club in the AL East, and with so many young players still on the advancing side of their careers, that club is goign to breakthrough, sooner rather than later.

I may have sent the wrong message that Tampa has a poor team, I agree that they have so many talented players, like Crawford and Upton for example. I don't think they'll be able to do much this year, but would love to see them challenge for 3rd which might be the best finish for them. Their roster in 2-3 seasons could be unstoppable, if they can keep it together with salary cap limits.

[Big Shooter]

They'll need the talents of Eva Longoria more than Evan Longoria if they want to be the Breakthrough Stars this season!!! ;)
...I don't think they're 'Desperate' enough!!! :Dhttp://www.minorleaguenews.com/graphics/baseball/Graphics/2006/10/LongoriaMightyOak_sm.jpg