2015 MLB Predictions – Awards, Playoffs, World Series
Boston Red Sox designated hitter
David Ortiz(top right) is congratulated at home plate by
Blake Swihart(71) and
Shane Victorino(18) who scored when Ortiz hit a three run homer during second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
American League EAST
[table id=16/]
I really had a hard time with this. So many problems with each team… I could easily see any of the top 4 clubs finishing anywhere from first to fourth.
- Toronto – pitching is iffy. I expect they intend to out hit everybody, which could work.
- Yankees – pitching is iffy, offense looks… old.
- Boston – pitching is iffy (I sense a theme here), and many off-season moves seem a bit odd. If a couple of things go wrong for them, the Red Sox season could cascade downward quickly
- Baltimore – never truly addressed outfield needs; at least getting some offense back in the infield. Somehow, you always expect Buck Showalter to pull it all together, though.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has their rotation crumbling with various maladies. Never mind that they are breaking in a new General Manager, a new Manager, and lost a couple of key players.
Overall, this could end up being the worst AL East performance in a couple of decades. There’s certainly a lot more downside potential than otherwise.