Goodbye AL East

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

I know it's still May but I think the AL East came to a close this past weekend. The Yankees got swept at home by their hated rivals out west, the LA Angels, while the Red Sox swept through that disaster of a team, the Texas Rangers.

The Yanks now find themselves 12 1/2 games back. 12 1/2 games! That's a huge fucking lead for a team in Boston who doesn't appear to be letting up anytime soon. If anything, they'll be getting better. Beckett should be ready to come back soon, who was tearing it up in the 1st month and a half and John Lester who was so good for the Sox a year ago is also slated for a comeback.

The Yanks have Clemens coming, but that's not nearly enough for the way they've been playing. I'm not going to completely bury the Yankees though. They still have the most potent offense in the game and when they do get Clemens they'll have a decent starting 5 of Clemens, Pettitte, Wang, Mussina, and maybe Hughes. They should definitely be able to get themselves into the wild card race, but they have to start winning now!

Necro

VIP Room Moderator

It's still real early in the season. Anything can happen.

I'm a Sox fan, but I'm not ready to put any team out of it at this point...

Killswitch

The division is horrible excluding the Red Sox.

In my eyes the division race is nearly over because the Yankees just don't seem to be playing good and since that has been the case sense the start of the season, I don't see much changing. Plus, it's a team full of over-paid losers that play for themselves not for the team hence why the team isn't doing well.

It's over and no they're not the best division in baseball anymore that many decided way to early in the season and it'll stay like that for a while.

And I don't even need to mention the other teams in the division as they've been in the dumpster for too long to even remember.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Yeah, I could see the Jays going over .500 at some point but the Orioles and D-Rays still suck... hard. Look, I actually think the Yanks will end up winning around 95 games, but I don't see how the Sox don't win at least in the 98-102 range..

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

you mean the same overpaid losers that won the division last year? And the year before that? and the year before that? etc...

Jayman

Super Moderator

There's no way in hell that you can write the winners off as the Sox on June 1! There's plenty of ball left to be played. I know other than the Sox and Yanks, the division is basically garbage...but I'm sure the Yankees will make it a closer race before playoffs.


(By the way..I am FAR from a Yankees fan..here's hoping the Sox take the division.)

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Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

Actually, the division is not really as bad as it seems, based on their records.

The Yankees are obviously better than they've played so far. The Yankees Pythagorean W-L is 28-23, which suggests that they've ben a little unlucky, and their performance will even out over time.

The Blue Jays, when healthy, are a very good team. BJ Ryan is out for the year. Troy Glaus has missed about one-third of the team's games this year. Roy Halladay (arguably the second-best pitcher in the AL) just came off the DL, Reed Johnson (.390 OBP last season) has only played 7 games, starting catcher Gregg Zaun has missed half the season, and they've had a bunch of other unspectacular (but serviceable) players go down with injuries. Injuries have definitely taken their toll.

The Orioles are at .500 right now. They have some talent, but they need a few more pieces to really compete.

The Devil Rays have a fantastic offense, awful pitching. It's been that way for a few years.

So, the divison isnt as strong as the AL Central, but it's definitely better than you would guess just by looking at the standings

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Ok, we know injuries can always play a huge factor in all of this, but say the Sox stay relatively healthy.. How in the world does that team not win at least 98 games? I need someone to explain this to me. They have a great offense, a great starting 5, and a great bullpen. Add that to probably the best homefield advantage in the game in Fenway Park.

I wouldn't be so quick to believe that they're going to choke. Based on what exactly? because they did in '78? Who cares.. This team is LOADED.

Killswitch

Hell, if I was new to baseball I would not never knew that with the way they have played this season and all the dollars behind them. Pathetic either way.

Dr. Giganto

Sports Moderator

The Yankees will win at least 90 games this season. If I knew you in person, I would bet a substantial amount of money on this