The MLB odds are once again stacked in favor of a Boston versus New York showdown in an American League East preview. The Yankees are the Vegas favorites to win the division in 2010.
The Yankees and Red Sox continue to show why the rich are allowed to get richer in baseball while everyone else has to try and live on table scraps. The Yankee reputation and bank account bagged Javier Vazquez to join C.C. Sabathia in the starting rotation. The Yankees have always been good at scouting hitting power and not so great at their pitching prospecting. Their bullpen still relies heavily on Mariano Rivera, who is entering his 15th season on the mound. The good thing about Rivera is that in 2009 he patched the holes in his armor that were showing in 2008.
The Red Sox added John Lackey to their starting rotation and now have probably the best set of starters in baseball provided Josh Beckett doesn’t have a bad season. Power hitter Jason Bay is gone and the Red Sox are now a question at the plate. David Ortiz is past his prime and unable to deliver in the clutch anymore. The Red Sox will have to figure out ways to generate runs, but luckily for them their pitching should make sure that it will not need to be a lot.
The Toronto Blue Jays lost Roy Halladay on the mound and effectively placed themselves in the basement of the division. The Tampa Bay Rays will put up a good fight but their starting rotation is depleted and they will lose ground quickly after the all-star break. The Baltimore Orioles will continue their pattern of a really strong April and May followed by a devastating rest of the season.
As usual, the AL East will come down to a duel between the Yankees and the Red Sox. The 2010 will mirror the 2009 season with the Red Sox starting strong only to have the Yankees take the division handily by the end of the season. Look for the Yankees to be the AL East winners and the Red Sox to take the AL wild card, again.
Pick: New York Yankees