2015-16 MLB Predictions: AL East Picks, Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox
March 1st means it’s time for another round of preseason baseball predictions. I always like to start with my favorite division, the AL East, and my favorite team, the New York Yankees. Sure, maybe I’m something of a homer, but it has never really let me down in the past. I like the New York Yankees to survive the AL East and win the division, while the rest of the teams cannibalize themselves yet again.
So last year was something of a disaster for the Boston Red Sox and I enjoyed every minute of it. Eventually they finished just six games under .500, but for much of the season they just looked lost. Enter the Toronto Blue Jays, who smashed their way to the top of the standings and into the hearts of the casual fan. Despite Toronto’s dominance down the stretch, an old and broken New York Yankees team also found their way into the playoffs despite countless injuries. This year, the Blue Jays have lost their ace, the Red Sox have added that ace, and the New York Yankees picked up the best closer in baseball. So what really wins baseball games? Hitting, pitching, or bullpen?
1. New York Yankees (89-73): When the New York Yankees were winning World Series, they built a scrappy roster that clawed their way through games. They won late and they won often. The Yankees built their dynasty on the best closer to ever play, shortening games by an inning. They also happened to have one of the best shortstops of all time, but that’s not where we base this prediction. With a healthy rotation, three incredible relievers to close out a game, and enough offense to sustain wins, I like the New York Yankees to surprise people this year.
2. Toronto Blue Jays (88-74): What is an ace pitcher really worth? Well, if you look at the back end of the Toronto Blue Jays season, apparently it’s worth an incredible surge up the standings. Once David Price came on to anchor this rotation, the Blue Jays never looked back. With Price gone, the team still doesn’t have a true ace. They can hit, but they can always hit and they never seem to put it all together. I think a taste of winning is all this franchise got last year, and I don’t see them dominating again.
3. Boston Red Sox (87-75): One of the worst rotations in baseball added an ace to the top of their rotation, but there is still a lot missing here. A few young players have emerged, but I don’t like the rest of this rotation behind David Price and I don’t expect the Red Sox to suddenly become the sluggers we feared they might be when they first acquired Hanley Ramirez. I expect more relative mediocrity because of the rotation, but I don’t expect the Red Sox to be terrible again now that they have at least one legitimate pitcher.
4. Baltimore Orioles (81-81): I like Buck Schowalter, but this is sort of his MO. He gets people to be excited about playing for him, the team spikes, and then they slowly drift back into nothing and the team gets rid of him. The Orioles have a few really dynamic and exciting pieces, but last year proved they are not quite ready to compete in a talented division.
5. Tampa Bay Rays (76-86): To me, it is amazing that this small market team with one of the worst stadiums in baseball has been able to cling to mediocrity for this long. They rose quickly, they have fallen slowly, and the Rays are still hanging around. Will they bring up some young arms and surprise everyone again? Maybe. The problem is this division is loaded and the Rays have lost the depth that made them great. I think they will find themselves fighting at the bottom of the AL East this year.
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