Personally Ranking AL EAST Positions

[osforlife]

I decided not to rank each team's bullpen, considering how often relief pitchers' results fluctuate.
Catcher: Matt Wieters > Josh Thole/JP Arrencibia > Jarrod Saltalamaccia/David Ross > Jose Molina-Chris Gimenez-Jose Lobaton > Chris Stewart-Francisco Cervelli-Austin Romine

First Base: Mark Teixeira > Mike Napoli > Chris Davis > Adam Lind > James Loney

Second Base: Robinson Cano > Dustin Pedroia > Emilio Bonafacio > Kelly Johnson/Ryan Roberts > Brian Roberts

Third Base: Evan Longoria > Brett Lawrie > Will Middlebrooks > Manny Machado > Kevin Youkilis

Shortstop: Jose Reyes > Derek Jeter > JJ Hardy > Yunel Escobar > Stephen Drew

Left Field: Melky Cabrera > Brett Gardner > Nate McLouth/Nolan Reimold > Matt Joyce/Shelley Duncan > Ryan Kalish/Jonny Gomes

Center Field: Adam Jones > Jacoby Ellsbury > Curtis Granderson > Colby Rasmus > Sam Fuld/Jason Bourgeois

Right Field: Jose Bautista > Ben Zobrist > Nick Markakis > Shane Victorino > Ichiro Suzuki

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz > Edwin Encarnacion > Wilson Betemit/Danny Valencia > Travis Hafner/Juan Rivera > Luke Scott/Brandon Guyer

Starting Rotation: Rays > Bluejays > Orioles > Yankees > Redsox

[Old Sneakers]

Good post!

Catcher: Matt Wieters > Josh Thole/JP Arrencibia > Jarrod Saltalamaccia/David Ross > Jose Molina-Chris Gimenez-Jose Lobaton > Chris Stewart-Francisco Cervelli-Austin Romine

Agreed here

First Base: Mark Teixeira > Mike Napoli > Chris Davis > Adam Lind > James Loney

Might put Lind in front of Davis as so many questions.

Second Base: Robinson Cano > Dustin Pedroia > Emilio Bonafacio > Kelly Johnson/Ryan Roberts > Brian Roberts

Sadly I agree here as well. If Roberts is healthy (I can dream) and his old self (I can fantasize too) then this is completely wrong. Sure hope we are both wrong.

Third Base: Evan Longoria > Brett Lawrie > Will Middlebrooks > Manny Machado > Kevin Youkilis

I think Manny Mashado will be just fine defensively and while a mild disappointment drawing walks early. He has a far better second half. I'd have rated him third.

Shortstop: Jose Reyes > Derek Jeter > JJ Hardy > Yunel Escobar > Stephen Drew

I would bump JJ Hardy up a spot here and drop Jeter down one. The guy is soon to be on the AARP's ten most wanted list. He's getting old.

Left Field: Melky Cabrera > Brett Gardner > Nate McLouth/Nolan Reimold > Matt Joyce/Shelley Duncan > Ryan Kalish/Jonny Gomes

Personally, I would have dropped McLouth and Reimold down a spot. Also I suspect at season's end it's McLouth and LJ Hoes and a good argument could be made to move them up. If LJ Hoes becomes a doubles machine capable of leading off like I am sorta hoping for...

Center Field: Adam Jones > Jacoby Ellsbury > Curtis Granderson > Colby Rasmus > Sam Fuld/Jason Bourgeois

This is how I see it. Agreed.

Right Field: Jose Bautista > Ben Zobrist > Nick Markakis > Shane Victorino > Ichiro Suzuki

My brain tells me to agree. My gut tells me Nick Markakis has a career year. He's no longer the most talented member of the team and the supporting cast is much improved.

Designated Hitter: David Ortiz > Edwin Encarnacion > Wilson Betemit/Danny Valencia > Travis Hafner/Juan Rivera > Luke Scott/Brandon Guyer

I think your being too giving here. I would bump Betemit/Valencia down to last place. Also I think if he's healthy all year (yeah I know, don't say it) Nolan Reimold is our principle DH.

Starting Rotation: Rays > Bluejays > Orioles > Yankees > Redsox

Strongly agree here. I am actually curious about Toronto and NYY Depth here. Toronto made a ton of choices this off season. If it works out they look like geniuses. If not... As for NY and Boston, well I think they've been foolish.

[birdwatcher55]

Personally I think you need to re-evaluate some of your picks. Specificially, Manny Machado is on the verge of being the 2nd best 3B in the AL East. I also think Chris Davis is way ahead of Napoli at 1B. Ditto for Nick in RF and JJ at SS. They are both a notch higher

[A_K]

C: Wieters > Arrencibia > Saltalamaccia > Jose Molina > Stewart-Cervelli-Romine

First Base: Teixeira > Napoli > Lind > Davis > Loney

Second Base: Cano > Pedroia > Bonafacio > Johnson > Castilla

Third Base: Longoria > Lawrie > Machado> Youkilis > Middlebrooks

Shortstop: Reyes > Jeter > Hardy > Escobar > Drew

Left Field: Cabrera > Gardner > McLouth/Reimold >Joyce/Duncan > Gomes

Center Field: Jones > Ellsbury > Granderson > Rasmus > Fuld/Bourgeois

Right Field: Bautista > Zobrist > Markakis > Ichiro> Victorino

DH: Encarnacion > Ortiz > Hafner/Rivera > Luke Scott/Guyer > Betemit/Valencia

Starting Rotation: Rays > Bluejays > Yankees > Orioles > Redsox

[osforlife]

My Response to the Comments I've Seen...

The Bluejays and Redsox, as well as the whole MLB, are also think highly of their young third basemen. For me, Machado vs. Middlebrooks is hard, but Brett Lawrie is superior than both of them. He will be a superstar this year.

Napoli is a very good hitter; I don't expect him to repeat his 2011 success, but I am predicting a slash line around .250/.350/.500. Considering both Napoli and Davis will put up below-average to average defense, I'd say Napoli is above Davis, even if Davis takes a step forward in both defense and plate discipline.

To say Adam Lind is greater than Chris Davis is a bit harsh. Outside of his fluke 2009 season, he has never posted a OBP above .316, and has never posted a SLUG% above .439. Over the last three years, he has put up a WAR of -1.5.

The Orioles, Yankees, and Rays DH situations are all a bit tricky and scrambled. It is a little hard to predict the outcome of those platoons.

I have a gut feeling Markakis is going to have a career year too. He looked great in the limited time he played. Jose Bautista and Ben Zobrist are just very, very, very good players.

Derek Jeter probably won't be a very good defensive shortstop next year, but his batting average will most likely be better than JJ Hardy's OBP. Hopefully, Buck will hits JJ down in the order and JJ spent a whole winter hitting to the opposite field. Drew and Escobar are big bounce back candidates next year for me.

[dan72]

Good post. I think Manny will surpass Middlebrooks at 3B, but I don't disagree with your order at this time. I still place the Yankees Pitching staff ahead of ours because of CC. Sabathia. The Orioles lack a real ace, which puts them at a disadvantage every 5 starts.

[ofahn]

I think Manny will surpass Middlebrooks at 3B, but I don't disagree with your order at this time.

I was thinking the same thing.

I still place the Yankees Pitching staff ahead of ours because of CC. Sabathia. The Orioles lack a real ace, which puts them at a disadvantage every 5 starts.

I see the over all quality of our staff, and the quality depth, as making it a better staff than NY's.

[ofahn]

Napoli is a very good hitter; I don't expect him to repeat his 2011 success, but I am predicting a slash line around .250/.350/.500.

You have more faith in him than I do.

[osforlife]

You have more faith in him than I do.

He was a very good hitter last year in what was considering an injury plagued, down year. If healthy, this guy could be a monster in Fenway Park.

[LA Detective]

C- #1. Matt by far
1b- #2. CDavis will out HR all of them. His Devopment on D and at the bat is one of the biggest keys this year for us.
2b- #5. Roberts and guests. I think we will make a trade here at the deadline and move to a solid #3
3b- #2 Manny edges out Lawrie and Middlebrooks. Middlebrooks could bat in the middle of his lineup and have better stats.
ss- #2-5 JJ. After the offensive leader Reyes, tight group due to a slip in Jeter. Drew could suprise. JJ brings so much unseen
LF #2 Mclouth and maybe a platoon.. just behind Gardner due to solid all around play. Gardner might lead off alot
CF #1 Jones. Wouldn't be suprised to see Ellsbury traded at the deadline. Hope there is no way Bourne can go to TB and be #3
RF #2 Nick. If Bautista slips at all Nick will be #1. I believe he makes his first AS game.
DH #2 Reimold and co. If Reimold doesnt make it, Betemit and guests will be middle of the pack and/or we upgrade via Trading Deadline. Ortiz due to recovery from injury and age slips.
SP #2 Hammel becomes a 210ip/low 3 ERA ,17 gm winner and depth and emergence from 3 of the Calvary. Just behind Rays.
RP #1 Big part of being a winner, Hunter a big factor for upgrade and/or depth. TB#2..then Boston, NY,Tor
Defense #1 Another big part. Boston a solid #2 and I dont think the other 3 will be overall good defensively. Yanks slow on the left side if Jeter loses a step. Rays could jump to #2 but alot of unknowns.

I think we have the type of team that is set up to give us a chance to win everyday. The personell and the fact Buck does a great job keeping them focused and demanding a great effort every night. If we stay away from Key injuries and a few players take that next step we have a great shot to win the division.

[birdwatcher55]

Middlebrooks is a mediorce fielder IMHO. That alone puts him behind Manny and Longoria

[OriolesRedskins28]

O's win the division. You heard it here first.

Solid lineup top to bottom, good defense, outstanding bullpen, and the wild card: the starting rotation.

The starting rotation last year out of ST (in no particular order): Hammel, Chen, Arrieta, Matusz, and Hunter with very little ML ready (and effective) depth in the minors. This year out of ST: Hammel, Chen, Gonzalez, Tillman, and numerous capable options for the #5 slot with plenty of depth in the minors that will allow the guys who need more AAA time to stay in the minors until they are ready to force their way into the ML rotation (like Tillman last year), which includes potential TOR talents Bundy and Gausman.

Britton is healthy and ready to roll unlike last year when he got a very late start due to a shoulder injury and apparently he looks good so far FWIW according to Roch Kubatko. Matusz and Hunter will bolster an already strong bullpen and can provide swing starts when needed.

All of that is not even taking into consideration that the defense is MUCH improved over last year's early season D and will make the pitching staff look even better.

I think it will be a fairly even fight for the top spot in the AL east between the O's, Rays, Yanks, and Blue Jays but unless the Jays' new look high risk/high reward roster clicks and performs to its potential (unlikely to happen IMO), than the O's have a good chance to come out on top. Injuries could push them back to fighting for the number 2 spot (knock on wood).

Standings:
1 O's
2 Rays
3 Jays
4 Yankees
5 Red Sox

[ofahn]

O's win the division. You heard it here first

I could honestly see that. I could see us finishing second or third.

This was a nice post and deserves a POINT!