Nick Brunner
Staff Reporter
New York Yankees finished 89-72 and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade
After a relatively quiet off season last year, the Evil Empire held nothing back this year. After reeling in Mark Teixeira, the most prized free agent fish in the sea, the Yankees starting infield is scheduled to make more money than some entire teams. Big Tex joins Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Robinson Canoe on the infield that will anchor the Yankee offense all year long. The spending, however, did not stop there. Problem: the Yanks were plagued all year by injury and inconsistency on the mound. Solution: they go out and sign the two best pitchers on the market in CC Sabathia and A.J Burnett.
They also convinced veteran Andy Pettite to return for another season and will get last years ace Chen Ming Wang back healthy and ready to go. Flame throwing youngster Joba Chamberland will round out a starting five that may be the best in baseball. Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera will be waiting in the bullpen to close out games like he has been doing for years in the Bronx.
There are some major questions left to be answered before the Yankees can stake claim to their 27th World Series Championship. One question will be the health and productivity of catcher Jorge Posada who missed significant time do to injury in 2008.
Also, it will be interesting to how the outfield takes shape as the season progresses. The Bronx Bombers have a lot of talent in veterans Xavier Nady, Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher, and Hideki Matsui. They also have youngsters Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera. The six will likely battle for four spots all season long and how this situation plays out could ultimately decide the fate of the Yanks in ’09.
The bullpen leading up to The Sandman (Rivera) is rather shaky and unproven and if something were to happen to one of their starting pitchers, it could be another disappointing season in the Bronx. However, with all the money that has already been invested by the club into this season, if an issue arises throughout the course of the season you can bet that The Boss and company will be waiting with open arms to spend whatever it takes to put a highly competitive team out on the field. With the billion dollar new Yankee Stadium set to open, Yankee fans expect to see a show every time this team steps on the field.
Toronto Blue Jays came on strong at the end of 2008 and finished 86-76
The Blue Jays are the team that no one talks about but somehow always finishes above five hundred. They are led by their stud ace Roy Halladay who has been as good as any pitcher, anywhere throughout his career. He has the unique ability of going out every fifth day and giving his team a chance to win, often going the entire nine innings on his own without relief. Halladay sets the tone for the Jays, a team of individuals who go out and leave everything they have on the fiel night in and night out. All-Stars Alex Rios and Vernon Wells bowie their outfield as well as provide firepower to ignite the Jays offense.
B.J Ryan, who missed some significant time last year is back and ready to turn the lights out on opponents in the ninth inning. Ryan is a dominant closer at the back of a very strong Blue Jay bullpen. They Jays signed also signed Kevin Millar. The professional hitter and clubhouse and fan favorite will bring with him a new zaz to Toronto. If he and former elite third baseman Scott Rolen can produce at the plate, the Jays could surprise a lot of people this season. They have enough young talent following Halladay in the rotation and play good defense behind their pitchers. While they might not have made a big splash in the off season, the Blue Jays could surely turn some heads in 2009.
Baltimore Orioles finished in the cellar of the AL East with a record of 68-93
While many fans were to busy complaining about the O’s inability to land Maryland native Mark Teixeira or slugger Adam Dunn, the Birds quietly put together a pretty successful off season campaign. The club took significant strides in its effort to stockpile young talent and build for the future. One such example was trading with the Cubs for youngster Felix Pie, a freakishly raw talented player who possesses all the skills of a five tool star. If he is able to harness this talent and display it on the major league level, the sky is the limit for this young Orioles outfield. Pie will join Adam Jones and Nick Markakis two youngsters with no ceiling and potential that is about to take off.
The O’s are excited to watch how this young outfield as well as top catching prospect Matt Wieters develop at the major league level throughout the season. The club also signed Cesar Izturis a sure fielding shortstop who will bring stability to a position that plagued the club all last year. Baltimore also imported Koji Uehara a Japanese pitcher who has impressed in spring training. Veterans Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Luke Scott, and Aubrey Huff bring balance to the young squad. After a surprisingly successful season last year George Sherrill leads a strong O’s pen that will also get fireballer Chris Ray back from injury. The thing that will probably hold the birds back this year will be its starting rotation. Ace Jeremy Guthrie is a fine pitcher, but would have to fight to be the number three starter on any other team in the division. The young talent that the O’s have is clearly evident and it is not a matter of if but when it fully develops and translates into victories.
fifteen Guys That May Surprise
Luke Scott, Jorge Posada, Robinson Canoe, Rich Hill, Jed Lowrie, Vernon Wells, Chen Ming Wang, Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, Nick Swisher, Hideki Matsui, Mike Lowell, Carlos Pena, Scott Rolen, and Brad Penny
Prediction
It is a highly contested division all year but A-Rod gets back in May and explodes. He leads the Yankees to the playoffs with a bounce back year for their veterans and a strong season by their pitchers. The Red Sox Battle all year and top the Rays with their steady pitching and win the AL Wild Card. The Orioles surprise and finish above the Blue Jays who finish right around five hundred once again.