Idiot's Guide to the AL East

What's the fun of seeing spring training baseball without
looking ahead to the regular season. Makes it look like I
was doing something useful instead of just spacing out and
taking in the atmosphere.

Boston Red Sox- Hardly a sense of urgency as one would
expect from a team coming off a World Series sweep. Lots
of new guys getting a chance to show their stuff. Veterans
getting a chance to work their way into shape. Defensively
the team looked quite sharp. Pitching was solid if not spec-
tacular with Schilling and Becket both sitting out to get right
physically. Hitting was a mixed bag. Manny & Papi seemed
to be feeling their way back into things with their eyes on the
regular season far more than spring training. A little concern
but not panic. The Sox have given themselves a lot of different
ways to win games. Time will tell if they do

New York Yankees- New manager Joe Girardi wasted little
time making his presence felt, limiting fan access to the players
and putting himself front and center. While hearing a different
voice in the clubhouse will be a positive there may be a period
of adjustment for a veteran team used to Torre's style. For me
the question is the veterans. If Girardi lights a spark under them
this line-up could be quite fearsome. If age and injury catch up
to them before the younger players can fill the void it may be
another year of disappointment.

Toronto Blue Jays- This to me is the team to watch. The
addition of Frank Thomas, Scott Rolen and David Eckstein make
this team part of the discussion in the AL East. I don't think
they're better than either the Red Sox or the Yankees but should
either of those teams stumble the Blue Jays will be right there.
Greg Zaun and David Eckstein are gamers and should help light
a fire under the others.

Tampa Bay Rays- Apparently the Tampa area clergy succeeded
in removing the 'Devil' from the team name. Whether that's enough
to change the team's fortunes is unlikely. However they had far and
away the best record of any team in Florida spring training and they
were definitely showing signs of improvement toward the end of
last season. Where there is Carlos Pena, there is hope.

Baltimore Orioles- They weren't very good with Miguel Tejada
and should be downright bad without him. They stink.