I think the BoSox will make the postseason: They overcame a poor start (with lots of road games) and should get back Dice-K soon (hopefully recovered and in better shape than at the seasons beginning after the WBC) and also Smoltz might add some more depth for the 2nd half.
Their offense is great, at least as long as guys like Pedroia, Bay and Youkilis remain healthy and with Big Papi being far from the player he once was.
The Yanks will imo miss postseason, I'm just not sure if they will miss because of TOR or TAM or even finish behind both
hno:
Tampa should become better once they call up Price and replace Sonnanstine/Niemann and BJ gets out of his slump.
I just don't like the Yankee-team: CC has come down to earth in the AL East instead of the weaker NL and Burnetts ERA never was anything special to begin with (I'm also not sold yet, that he will make it through 2009 without another DL-stint). Joba doesn't go deep into games regularly and even added 1st inning troubles to his repertoire (also one should keep in mind his injury history) and with Wang imploding, their options are pretty thin since Hughes already has to fill in.
Hughes is inconsistent and Pettitte has also passed his best times.
The offense is good with A-Rod back in the #4 slot and Damon playing great, but Posadas injury was a serious blow and overall their offense isn't that much better than their division-rivals BOS,TAM or BAL imho.
If you add in their shaky bullpen, which also has to throw lots of innings regularly, I just don't see NYY finishing better than 3rd in the AL East.
Their offense is great, at least as long as guys like Pedroia, Bay and Youkilis remain healthy and with Big Papi being far from the player he once was.
The Yanks will imo miss postseason, I'm just not sure if they will miss because of TOR or TAM or even finish behind both
hno: Tampa should become better once they call up Price and replace Sonnanstine/Niemann and BJ gets out of his slump.
I just don't like the Yankee-team: CC has come down to earth in the AL East instead of the weaker NL and Burnetts ERA never was anything special to begin with (I'm also not sold yet, that he will make it through 2009 without another DL-stint). Joba doesn't go deep into games regularly and even added 1st inning troubles to his repertoire (also one should keep in mind his injury history) and with Wang imploding, their options are pretty thin since Hughes already has to fill in.
Hughes is inconsistent and Pettitte has also passed his best times.
The offense is good with A-Rod back in the #4 slot and Damon playing great, but Posadas injury was a serious blow and overall their offense isn't that much better than their division-rivals BOS,TAM or BAL imho.
If you add in their shaky bullpen, which also has to throw lots of innings regularly, I just don't see NYY finishing better than 3rd in the AL East.
RAYS 2009 season, after the past five days
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