A.L. East 2011

Here is what you can expect to read. I will tell you some key off season moves made by each team, projected starting lineup, starting rotation, and projected wins/losses. Also, I am stealing my boy Collin's format of predicting a divisional MVP and CY Young. (That guy, Collin, is a genius.) With that laid out, let us get to the preview.

Boston Red Sox (2010 89-73):

Seriously?

Key Additions: Carl Crawford (OF), Adrian Gonzalez (1B), Dan Wheeler (RP), Bobby Jenks (RP).
Key Losses: Adrian Beltre (3B), Victor Martinez (C/1B), Mike Lowell (3B)

Projected Lineup:

1. Dustin Pedroia - 2nd Base

2. Carl Crawford - Left Field

3. Adrian Gonzalez - 1st Base

4. Kevin Youkilis - 3rd Base

5. David Ortiz - DH

6. J.D. Drew - Right Field

7. Jason Varitek - Catcher

8. Marco Scutaro - Shortstop

9. Jacoby Ellsbury - Center Field

Projected Rotation:

1. Jon Lester

2. Josh Beckett

3. John Lackey

4. Clay Buchholz

5. Daisuke Matsuzaka

Analysis:

Did you read that lineup correctly? Jacoby Ellsbury will be hitting 9th with a career .344 OBP. Not too bad from the 9th spot in the order. Welcome, Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. (As a Rays fan I try to act as though Crawford signing with a division rival doesn't bother me but there is a solid chance that I change the channel every time he steps up to the plate.) A. Gone is going to wreak havoc on the American League. Quick, tell me who he was protected by in the Padres lineup? Exactly.

The "achilles heel" for the Sox will be their starting pitching. Sure, the names appease the eye. My God, it's Josh freaking Beckett. Remember that game he had against the Yanks..... when he was a Marlin! Check this out, Beckett's VORP last season was -9.7. His injuries are well documented. The Sox will go as Becket goes.

Projected Record: 90-72

Toronto Blue Jays (2010 85-77):

Key Additions: Rajai Davis (OF), Juan Rivera (OF), Jon Rauch (RP), Frank Francisco (RP)

Key Losses: Vernon Wells (OF), Scott Downs (RP), Shawn Marcum (SP)

Projected Lineup:

1. Rajai Davis - Center Field

2. Yunel Escobar - Shortstop

3. Jose Bautista - 3rd Base

4. Adam Lind - 1st Base

5. Aaron Hill - 2nd Base

6. Travis Snider - Left Field

7. Edwin Encarnacion - DH

8. Juan Rivera - Right Field

9. J.P. Arencibia - Catcher

Projected Rotation:

1. Ricky Romero

2. Brandon Morrow

3. Brett Cecil

4. Kyle Drabek

5. Jesse Litsch

Analysis:

If the AL East was the Jersey Shore cast, the Blue Jays would be Snooki. They seem to trick just enough people into thinking they are worth the ride but when you wake up beside them you realize you were either drunk or desperate for a change. No? Anyways, you probably had a hard time finding a reason to believe in the Blue Jays for 2011. Same here. Two potential bright-spots ; Ricky Romero is a dominant starting pitcher with one of the best change-ups in the game and Jose Bautista has discovered a way to trick the MLB drug tests and hits 70 HRs.

Projected Record: 76-86

Baltimore Orioles (2010 66-96)

Key Additions: Vladimir Guerrero (OF/DH), Derrick Lee (1B), Mark Reynolds (3B)

Key Losses: Ty Wiggington (3B/1B), Kevin Millwood (SP)

Projected Lineup:

1. Brian Roberts- 2nd Base

2. Nick Markakis- Right Field

3. Derrick Lee- 1st Base

4. Vladimir Guerrero- DH

5. Mark Reynolds- 3rd Base

6. Luke Scott- Left Field

7. Adam Jones- Center Field

8. Matt Weiters- Catcher

9. J.J. Hardy- Shortstop

Projected Rotation:

1. Jeremy Guthrie

2. Brian Matusz

3. Justin Duchscherer

4. Brad Bergesen

5. Jake Arrieta

Analysis:

Showalter, Showalter, and Showalter. I am referring to Buck Showalter, manager of the Orioles. When he was hired at the end of the 2010 season, the Orioles culture instantly began to change. They finished 20-13 under Showalter. Add that manager to the key free agent acquisitions and the Orioles are on their way up the ladder. Two players that will determine if the Orioles can be playoff contenders or bust; Matt Weiters and Justin Duchscherer. Remember that guy Collin I referenced earlier? He loves prospects. Weiters was no exception. Ask Collin if he feels the same way entering 2011. I guess no. The other player, Justin Duchjhgggfherer, has the "stuff" to be a top pitcher but has the "injuries" to prevent him from making any meaningful contributions. He is like Bob Sanders but hasn't seen Manning naked (We at Salute Your Sports can not confirm this to be true or not. Purely speculative. But still...)

Projected Record: 80-82

Tampa Bay Rays (2010 96-66):

Your 2011 Rays...?

Key Additions: Manny Ramirez (OF), Johnny Damon (OF), Kyle Farnsworth (RP)

Key Losses: Carl Crawford (OF), Carlos Pena (1B/DH), Matt Garza (SP), Jason Bartlett (SS), Rafael Soriano (RP), Grant Balfour (RP), Dan Wheeler (RP), Randy Choate (RP), Joaquin Benoit (RP)

Projected Lineup:

1. John Jaso- Catcher

2. Johnny Damon- Left Field

3. Ben Zobrist- 2nd Base

4. Evan Longoria- 3rd Base

5. Manny Ramirez- DH

6. Matt Joyce- Right Field

7. Dan Johnson- 1st Base

8. B.J. Upton- Center Field

9. Reid Brignac- Shortstop

Projected Rotation:

1. David Price

2. James Shields

3. Jeff Niemann

4. Wade Davis

5. Jeremy Hellickson

Analysis:

Please, tell me you laughed when you looked over their Key Losses. The Rays had more turnovers than a Favre led team. Heeyyyooo! Even after all the losses, inability to compete financially with the Sox and Yanks, and lack of fan support, the Rays have fielded a highly competitive team. Evan Longoria is the best 3rd baseman in the game. David Price is coming off a career season and has supposedly developed even more command of his off speed pitches. Here are two players to use as barometers for the Rays 2011 season; B.J.Upton is one of the most gifted athletes in the league. With the loss of Crawford, Upton will see his stolen base numbers increase IF he gets on base more often and strikes out less. Also, he signed a pair of cleats for me so you know he is legit. The other player is Jake McGee. He is a RP that is looking to fill in the closer role for the Rays left by Soriano. To McGee I say, "Good luck".

Projected Record: 89-73

New York Yankees (2010 95-67)

Key Additions: Russell Martin (C), Rafael Soriano (RP), Andruw Jones (OF), Freddy Garcia (SP), Bartolo Colon (SP), Mark Prior (SP)

Key Losses: Kerry Wood (RP), Javier Vazquez (SP), Lance Berkman (1B)

Projected Lineup:

1. Derek Jeter- Shortstop

2. Curtis Granderson- Center Field

3. Mark Teixeira- 1st Base

4. Alex Rodriguez- 3rd Base

5. Robinson Cano- 2nd Base

6. Nick Swisher- Right Field

7. Jorge Posada- DH

8. Russell Martin- Catcher

9. Brett Gardner- Left Fielder

Projected Rotation:

1. CC Sabathia

2. Phil Hughes

3. A.J. Burnett

4. Ivan Nova

5. Sergio Mitre

Analysis:

Question: Was Bartolo signed to be the clubhouse manager? There is no chance he plays right? Mark Prior is alive? The Yankees free agent signings look more like the MLB retiree list. Not to mention they botched the whole resigning of Jeter. I was secretly dreaming for Jeter to just leave and sign with the Rays but dreams are called dreams for a reason. Their lineup has the best hitter in the division. That guy is Robby Cano don't ya' know. His swing is the prettiest in the game. He plays a position that keeps his legs rested for offense. Look for his numbers to increase even more from last season. Here is my issue with the Yanks, they have horrible starting pitching. Horrendous. CC is going to be CC. It is the other four that I have issues with. It is why I find the Yankees unable to make the playoffs in 2011.

Projected Record: 85-77

AL East MVP:

1. Robinson Cano

2. Evan Longoria

3. Adrian Gonzalez

AL East Cy Young:

1. Jon Lester

2. David Price

3. Ricky Romero

AL East Standings:

1. Boston Red Sox

2. Tampa Bay Rays (WC)

3. New York Yankees

4. Baltimore Orioles

5. Toronto Blue Jays