2008 MLB Preview

AMERICAN LEAGUE EASTERN DIVISION:

1. Boston Red Sox: How calming it would have been to report to spring training with Johan Santana in the wake of Curt Schilling's bum shoulder. The Santana ship having sailed (to Queens), the Red Sox still are loaded enough -- without Santana and with or without Schilling -- to win. It just won't be a breeze. I like that GM Theo Epstein held onto young pitchers Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. Even filthy rich teams must maintain a pipeline to the farm system, and the Sox remain ahead of the Yankees in that department. Jacoby Ellsbury came on strong last fall and will make Coco Crisp expendable this spring. Last year's Sox got more than they could have expected from second baseman Dustin Pedroia and first baseman Kevin Youklis, but less than they wanted from outfielder J.D. Drew and pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. Figure the fortunes of a couple of these guys decline and a couple of others improve and the Sox enter spring camp as the team to beat in the East -- again.

2. New York Yankees: Quick, somebody check the Steinbrenners' pulse. The Yankees list of major additions over the winter includes set-up man LaTroy Hawkins and ... that's it? It's true. Still, it remains an exciting time to be a Yankee. They scored a gazillion runs last year (968, technically -- first in the AL) and have everybody back, including a bruised and battered (in the reputation department) Alex Rodriguez. The feeling here going into camp remains that any lineup in which Robinson Cano is projected to hit eighth is a lineup that will destroy most pitching staffs. It will be interesting to see how the feel in Tampa is different under new manager Joe Girardi with Joe Torre having moved on. It will be more interesting to see whether Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Phil Hughes all pitch themselves into the opening day rotation.

3. Toronto: The Jays will report to camp with an infield that should be more spry and a rotation that still doesn't match that of the Red Sox or Yankees. The left side of the infield now has a distinct St. Louis flavor (that's infield, not barbecue) in shortstop David Eckstein and third baseman Scott Rolen. The addition of utility man Marco Scutaro has gone largely unnoticed but, at some point this season, will benefit the Jays. Manager John Gibbons needs a bounce-back year from Vernon Wells (.245, 16 homers) and a full season from Alex Rios (only seven homers, 32 RBI post-All-Star break). As usual, the onus will be on A.J. Burnett to stay healthy this spring, and he's gotta produce more than 10 wins. After Roy Halladay and Burnett, the rotation drops off dramatically. When Gustavo Chacin produces more cologne sales than victories, you're in trouble.

4. Tampa Bay: Giddyup, this finally could be -- should be -- the year the Rays escape last place. GM Andrew Friedman attempted to add pitching by acquiring Matt Garza from Minnesota and signing a legitimate closer in Troy Percival. The club also emphasized manager Joe Maddon's authority by extending his contract and trading away problem child Delmon Young. With one year of experience, B.J. Upton should be even more exciting, and Carl Crawford is said to be in terrific shape. Most interesting thing about the Rays this spring will be in the infield, where phenom Evan Longoria will be given the chance to win the third base job, Akinori Iwamura will move from third to second and Jason Bartlett, acquired in the Young deal, will play short. Is it enough to overtake the Red Sox and Yankees? Please. But the Rays will be more competitive.

5. Baltimore: The Orioles finished just three games ahead of Tampa Bay last summer and should be passed by the Rays in '08. Still, best sign of the times for the Birds: The Erik Bedard trade with Seattle went through. Look, losing one of the most little-known best pitchers in the game won't be easy. But, and a big but here: That the rumors that owner Peter Angelos was going to quash the trade turned out to be false is the best news O's fans could hope for. This is a train wreck of an organization. We know the Angelos way won't work. We think the way of president Andy MacPhail can work -- but only if Angelos backs off. There isn't enough pitching to compete in the division -- even God and Leo Mazzone couldn't fix that. The O's need to build from the ground up, hoarding as much young talent as possible. Adam Jones, the young center fielder acquired from Seattle, is a start.