No TV post tonight, because there's no new Grey's Anatomy and I don't think I have anything to say about an Idol results show that isn't self-evident. So instead, I'll wrap up the division predictions today with The Only Division That Matters If You Work In Sports Media, aka the AL East.
FIFTH PLACE: Baltimore Orioles. Absolutely not.
FOURTH PLACE: Boston Red Sox. I don't care how many runs they score-- and it won't be as many as you think, because last year looked like a career year from Ellsbury-- It was the disintegration of the pitching staff last September that knocked them out of the playoffs. Their top three always look great this time of year, but Josh Beckett's not a sure thing anymore, and there's always health questions around Clay Buchholz. All the opinions I've read suggest that Daniel Bard is bound for disaster as a starter- you know, 'cause of the fact that he was a disaster starting in the minors. Maybe I'm wrong and they'll win 400 games this year, but I'm not seeing it.
THIRD PLACE: Toronto Blue Jays. Speaking of sick lineups, if they keep this group together they could be good for a loooong time. They got Colby Rasmus, Brett Lawrie, and Jose Bautista for the combined cost of Shawn Marcum and, like, three relief pitchers. That's absurd. And it's just a guess as far as pitching goes, but I can't say they're any worse than Boston's staff. Since the teams ahead of them have something like 50 starting pitchers between them, the Jays aren't on that level yet, but they're getting there fast.
SECOND PLACE: New York Yankees. They called in the cavalry for the pitching staff this winter, and Kuroda and Pineda should both be fine. The ghost of Andy Pettitte, not so much, but it's not like they need him. It's a lot to ask for the bullpen to replicate its 2011, so there's that. And I'm not the first or the last to say this, but Derek Jeter just isn't that good anymore. Neither is A-Rod, although granted he had further to fall. Sure, a lot of teams would kill to have Cano and Granderson, but there used to be a lot more than two guys in the Yankees' lineup you could say that about.
FIRST PLACE: Tampa Bay Rays. I think this might be the best team in baseball, although that'll have to wait till the finale of this series. They've got an amazing three aces, and the dropoff to their #4 and 5 is not that big. You can nitpick the lineup, but they've made the playoffs getting nothing from catcher and shortstop before. Evan Longoria is the MVP candidate nobody talks about. And Kyle dogdamn Farnsworth is their closer, just like he was last year. KYLE FARNSWORTH.
Part VII will be awards and playoff picks.
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