2012 AL EAST PREVIEW

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2012 AL East Power Rankings

American League 2012 Predictions	Place
Boston Red Sox	1st
Baltimore Orioles	2nd
Tampa Bay Rays	3rd
New York Yankees	4th
Toronto Blue Jays	5th

Team Name	Offensive Comments	Pitching Comments	Farm Comments
Baltimore Orioles	Offense is led by new acquisitions CF Carlos Gonzalez and SS Asdrubal Cabrera has the potential do be slightly above average with 1B Carlos Pena LF Logan Morrison and “Money Bags” Howie Kendrick supporting the big 2. Beyond that not much support and a few holes.

[/color]Mi Lost a key cog in Dan Haren (to ARZ) rotation is anchored by……well nobody the good news is 1-5 it’s a fairly good staff no one ace but CORRECTION 1-7 should all be solid contributors. Hiroki Kuroda was the big off-season catch not sure he will be able to fill Dan Haren’s shoes even though he will get paid like Dan Haren. Relief pitching- Carlos Marmol and Chris Perez lead a stellar bullpen that should net them the SV’s category most weeks.[/td][td][/color]Minors- Doesn’t look very promising for immediate help or long term help. Beyond a few arms not much there.[/td][/color][/tr]
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[td]Boston Red Sox[/td][td]Offense is led by stud 3B Evan Longoria and SS Elvis Andrus. I am sure Red Sox Nation is hoping for more progress from C Matt Wieters who finally broke through in 2011. With 2nd year 2B Dustin Ackley and former top prospect RF Jason Heyward this offense is certainly not short on potential. Veterans Carlos Beltran (still manages to get paid even when he’s old) and Carlos Quentin added to the potential of the youngsters could make for a potent offense.[/td][td]Staff is anchored by off-season acquisition Jon Lester and along with Max Scherzer should give the red sox a nice 1-2 punch for 2012 season. Relief Pitching- Closer Drew Storen and potential future closer Jonny Venters make the bullpen formidable.[/td][td]2 words BARE BONES! There is reason for hope here since they will have a chance to restock somewhat in the 2012 draft.[/td]
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[td]New York Yankees[/td][td]Offense…is offensive (Steinbrenner would be firing Billy Marin AGAIN). Delmon Young has a nice chance to rebound this season, Coco Crisp should provide speed for the Yanks in CF, David Freese should be a nice option at 3B as for the rest…..YUCK. Todd Helton is due up on shuffle board court![/td][td][/color]AStaff has a chance to be above average Adam Wainwright will need to show he is fully recovered in order for that to be realized. Ricky Nolasco will also have to decide if he just wants to pitch BP or be a actual major league SP this year. Former first rounder Chris Sale will also get a chance to start.
Relief Pitching- Closers Jon Papelbon and Jason Motte give the Yanks a nice bullpen.[/td][td][/color]A lot of bodies but not a lot of talent and certainly not impact talent.[/td][/color][/tr]
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[td]Tampa Bay Rays[/td][td]Offense has some nice pieces CF Micheal Bourn, 3B Ryan Zimmerman and Free Agent acquisition C Mike Napoli form a nice core. 2011 breakout player 2B Ryan Roberts, SS Stephen Drew and OF Brennan Boesch should provide some nice numbers as well making this a pretty formidable offense.[/td][td][/color]Jered Weaver and Stephen Strasburg form perhaps the best 1-2 in the league bad news is Oliver Perez is # 3 as of now….YIKES! Relief Pitching- Sergio Santos and perhaps Grant Balfour will get to close this year and K Rod could also. Overall a pretty good bullpen.[/td][td][/color]Not a lot of talent there former #1 overall pick SS Tim Beckham might get the call this year. There are a couple of other nice spects down on the farm but not a top or deep system for sure.[/td][/color][/tr]
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[td]Toronto Blue Jays[/td][td]EOffense Ryan Howard is hurt and is possibly out til the all-star break if not longer so…..it’s pretty ugly. Aaron Hill and Johnny Peralta are good not great so I see them struggling. OF is pretty weak Casper Wells could surprise though.[/td][td][/color]2Ervin Santana looks nice at the top of the rotation it’s what lies below him that’s the issue. Johan Santana and his $24 million salary. Is he healthy? Who knows. The bigger question might be what does he have left? Chris Narveson and Dillon Gee are nice bottom of the rotation SP nothing more. Relief Pitching- Jim Johnston Octavio Dotel and possibly Fautino De Los Santos could form the core of and ok bullpen.[/td][td][/color]2B Jose Altuve could help the big league club this year. As for the rest don’t really see any impact spects. OF Kyle Parker C Carlos Perez and SP Henderson Alvarez could help out in a few years.[/td][/color]
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American League East 2012 Summary

I think Boston has the inside track on the AL EAST in 2012 BUT I am not counting out a deep Bal team or a talented TB team. Baltimore’s depth made me put them at 2 and TB lack of depth 3rd. NYY has come a long way since last season in terms of shedding bad contracts but still lacks talent I feel to compete this season. Toronto will probably be in for a radical change sooner or later if I were to guess id guess sooner.

[californiabaseball]

someone should do an update right before the season starts because trades will be done in between when this was created and the end of spring training