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well it's that time again, baseball's back and the AL East is looking tough as usual. It looks like a 3 team race yet again with Boston, TB and the Yanks battling right through September I suspect. Baltimore looks to be much improved and might be flirting with 500 this yr, Toronto is going to struggle.
Lets see If Beckett can get the Sox off on the right foot.
I'd say we have the strongest 1-2-3 punch with the addition of Lackey, but the back of the rotation is always the X-factor. It's comforting having 3 bona fide guys for the back two spots, given the recent precarious health of Dice and Wake. Hopefully they can return to form and Buck keeps his head screwed on.
In the bullpen, it's going to be fun watching Bard develop; if he can control that 100+ fastball and keep his head, he's going to be devastating. Paps was shaky (for him) last year, and unfortunately our last memory of him was the Postseason meltdown against LA. If he can rebound, and Bard develops like he should, we'll be tough to beat.
Offensively, Bay leaves a big hole and I hate that he was let go, but if Beltre returns to form and Papi doesnt take another 2 month vacation, they should be able to hold there own.
Tampa appears to be much improved, and the billion dollar juggernaut will probably do it's thing again, so on paper it looks like an exciting season.
Barring any major injuries it should be the Yanks and Red Sox in the playoffs as a division winner and wild card team. I just don't see Tampa keeping up for the whole year. Baltimore is a decent young team and Toronto is usually competitive and i'm sure they'll get better but I just see the 2 teams rising to the top as usual. I don't think there is any way that the wild card does not come from the AL East.
interesting game tonight I wouldn't call it a great game, although I was pleased with the result.
Beckett wasn't locating, and early on CC was, so I thought the Sox were in trouble down 4 in the 5th inning, I think CC got tired, both middle relief corps looked shaky but more so the Yanks. all of the new comers from both teams made contributions.
It shows each teams probability of winning the game after each play. An interesting way to keep track of games if you're watching on TV, listening on the radio, watching MLB Gameday or just checking in on some random games.
Beckett seemed to have misplaced all of his offspeed stuff and the yankees arent accomodating enough to chase bad stuff, so that put us in a hole early. It was nice to see the bats finally wake up and see the new guys in the mix. For an offense considered questionable, they made quite a statement for themselves.
Overall not bad by the bullpen either. Ramirez had a tough night, Oki & Bard were a little shaky but got by, Schowenweis was great, which was encouraging. Pap was pap again. Being asked to begin the season by shutting down the heart of the yankees' lineup is a tall task and I was quite satisfied with the result.
interesting game tonight I wouldn't call it a great game, although I was pleased with the result.
Beckett wasn't locating, and early on CC was, so I thought the Sox were in trouble down 4 in the 5th inning, I think CC got tired, both middle relief corps looked shaky but more so the Yanks. all of the new comers from both teams made contributions.
Kind of what I expected. Last few years it seams that we start slow and the bullpen starts off weak. Last year you beat us the first 8 times and we won the last 9 out of 10. (I think that was the breakdown) We rarely come flying out of the gate.
it's funny how we all have our own slow and quick starters......Ellsbury and Papi have gotten off to a slow start the past couple years, while youks and pedrioa tend to come out of the gate on fire. Sunday night was definitely a good example.
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and the AL East is looking tough as usual. It looks like a 3 team race yet again with Boston, TB and the Yanks battling right through September I suspect. Baltimore looks to be much improved and might be flirting with 500 this yr, Toronto is going to struggle. 
