02-17-2009, 01:23 AM
The AL looks pretty wide open. I'd say there's a pretty decent chance that the Yanks don't even <i>make</i> the playoffs...I could easily see the Red Sox winning that division, and the Rays copping the Wild Card.
However, the Red Sox seem to be depending a lot on guys returning from serious injuries. And the Rays were such a Cinderella team last season, that it wouldn't shock me one iota to see them regress a bit this year. That leaves an opening for NY.
And since I don't see the other AL contenders (Twins, Indians, White sox, Angels, A's) as being deep enough to overpower <i>both</i> AL East teams they'd face in the playoffs, I think "Yanks as pennant winners" is a reasonable enough prediction.
However, the Red Sox seem to be depending a lot on guys returning from serious injuries. And the Rays were such a Cinderella team last season, that it wouldn't shock me one iota to see them regress a bit this year. That leaves an opening for NY.
And since I don't see the other AL contenders (Twins, Indians, White sox, Angels, A's) as being deep enough to overpower <i>both</i> AL East teams they'd face in the playoffs, I think "Yanks as pennant winners" is a reasonable enough prediction.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance