AL East Preview

03/23/2010 6:12 PM - 

Time to look at perhaps the toughest division in the majors – the AL East.

NEW YORK YANKEES

• Well the burning question seems to be Joba Chamberlain or Phillip Hughes for the fifth spot in the Yankees rotation? The answer could easily be neither too.
• Will Curtis Granderson settle right in and take to the bright lights and constant demands of life in NYC?
• Can Nick Johnson stay healthy and hit enough so fans don’t miss Hideki Matsui as the DH?
• How many games can Joe Girardi get from aging but still productive catcher Jorge Posada?
• Will LF remain a platoon of Randy Winn and Brett Gardner or will one play so well/poorly that one is benched?
• Will Javier Vazquez fare better in his second tour of duty with the Yankees? I think that answer is yes but the numbers won’t be anywhere near as good as last year in the NL East.

 

 BOSTON RED SOX

• Will the Red Sox get enough production from DH David Ortiz? The second half of 2009 was encouraging but they need his bat
• Does 2008 MVP Dustin Pedroia give fantasy players enough production this season?
• Will Josh Beckett be the Ace of the Bosox staff? Lester and Lackey will be pushing him
• Does Tim Wakefield play super utility pitcher or will assorted injuries keep DiceK out of the rotation and let Wakefield start?

 

 BALTIMORE ORIOLES

• With a pretty good everyday lineup the question for Orioles fans will be can they get enough pitching?
• Fantasy players just want to know which pitchers to invest in? Matusz is the only certainty although Tillman looks good long term
• Will Matt Wieters take the next step up to stardom this year?
• Can new first baseman Garrett Atkins forget about last year and supply the power he has shown in the past?
• Will Miguel Tejada be successful in switching from SS to 3B?
• How hurt is Brian Roberts? Will he be able to lead off the season?

 

 TAMPA BAY RAYS

• Does Matt Joyce win the RF job outright? Or does 2B Sean Rodriguez force his way into the lineup? (likely platoon of Joyce//Rodriguez would have Zobrist alternate positions and places in the batting order)
• Will newly signed CI/DH Hank Blalock hit well enough to be fantasy relevant? And will he cost Willy Aybar AB and perhaps a job?
• Can B.J. Upton finally put together the season Rays fans and fantasy owners thought he would have?
• Will new closer Rafael Soriano be able to stay healthy all year?
• If David Price pitches well enough to be in the rotation what do the Rays do with Andy Sonnanstine?

 

 TORONTO BLUE JAYS

• Which three young Blue Jay pitchers will join Shawn Marcum and Ricky Romero in the rotation?
• When will SP Dustin McGowan be able to return to the team? (his rehab continues to be way ahead of schedule)
• Does outfielder Travis Snider find his stroke this year?
• Can veteran CF Vernon Wells find his game and be the cleanup hitter Toronto needs?
• Will RP Jason Frasor find a new home before the season starts or work with Kevin Gregg and Scott Downs in the Blue Jays pen?