The 2008 major league season is rapidly approaching its stateside debut next week and many are wondering what lies in store for the 162 game marathon. Using my fantastic crystal ball, I have been fortunate enough to look into the future and see what’s down the road. Curious? Let’s see what we got.
If one were to look at the teams on paper, The Boston Red Sox would have to be the odds on favorite to repeat as World Series champions. With a high percentage of their championship squad remaining intact, the boys from bean town look as good as ever. Keep in mind, both Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz were injured and under produced for a majority of last season. Having them healthy will only make their lineup stronger. However, their rotation is questionable. Schilling will miss a good part of the first half due to shoulder injury. Oh yea, Josh Beckett has got back spasms and will certainly have some blister on his finger. Granted they did add Bartolo Colon. But old Barty can’t compensate for both Curt and Josh Beckett being down at the same time. All of this aside, however, you have to respect the holders of the cup and for right now, pick the Sox to repeat as champions.
Putting up an interesting fight will be their sworn enemies, The New York Yankees. You can expect A-Rod to put up another year of out of this world numbers. Placing that on its own shelf,you have to look at everything else as well…there are essentially three designated hitters on that team in Jason Giambi, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon. The latter two named, can no longer efficiently play in the outfield. Second year phenom Joba Chamberlain will be setting up legendary Yankee closer Mariano River. If you want a chance to win against the Bronx bombers, you need to do so before either of them enters the game. While Rivera has lost a little of his touch, he is still one of the best if not the best in the business. Expect the Yankees to give the Red Sox a run for their money. This divisional race will go down to the wire.
Other American League notes… The Indians should have the AL Central in hand. They would do best not to rest on their laurels however. Right behind them are the re-booted Detroit Tigers. The addition of Miguel Cabrera to the lineup will provide more power to the home run happy crew. You add Dontrelle Willis as a solid three man behind starters Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander and you have solid one, two and three in your pitching rotation. One will win the division, while the other gets the wild card. Thus leaving the west to the Los-Angeles-
Angels-of-Anaheim-brought-to-you-by-Disney.
Lastly, milestones will be achieved this year in the American League. Boston slugger Manny Ramirez will enter the season on the cusp of membership into the 500 homerun club. He begins the season with 490 lifetime round trips around the diamond. All-star catcher Ivan Rodriguez only needs five more base hits to collect 2,500 in his career.
That’s a look into the future for the American League…a glimpse of the National League will soon follow.
-Matt Armstrong
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