Rays, Jays Pose Problems for Yankees, Red Sox

[BronxBomberz]

It hasn't always been this way; it only seems like it: the Yankees and the Red Sox finishing one-two in the American League East, in whichever order, and each reaching the playoffs, one as the division champion, the other as the wild card. The Yankees have finished first or second for 14 successive seasons. The Red Sox had eight successive second-place finishes, then tumbled to third in 2006. They rebounded into first last season, finishing two games ahead of the Yankees. So what will happen this season? Will the AL East produce the wild card? Or will it come from the Central, the Tigers or the Indians; or maybe the West, the Angels or the Mariners? But is it possible that neither the Yankees nor the Red Sox will finish second? That neither will finish first? Can the Blue Jays keep one or both teams from the playoffs? And is it remotely possible, as unlikely as it seems, that the Rays can challenge for the division's runner-up spot? "If anyone takes the Blue Jays and the Rays lightly, they're out of their mind," Bill Bavasi, the Mariners' general manager, said. "You have to understand these are teams that are going to win. You have to watch out for Toronto, watch out for Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is really loaded with talent. Toronto could win outright." The Blue Jays have threatened to be a contender the last few seasons and supplanted Boston in second place in 2006. Injuries undermined them last season. J.P. Ricciardi, the Blue Jays' general manager, is well aware of the role good health will play in his team's chances. "We've been decimated with injuries," he said. "If we stay healthy, we feel we can hang with those guys," referring to the Yankees and the Red Sox. In the Blue Jays' case, "if" should be in capital letters. A scout who has watched them throughout spring training said they had a list of positives, but also a list of potential negatives. "I saw Roy Halladay throw 92, 93, harder than I've seen him throw," the scout said of the team's No. 1 pitcher, who has spent time on the disabled list in three of the last four seasons. "Scott Rolen is coming off injuries," he said of the new third baseman, "and he seems to be moving faster and swinging the bat better." Of center fielder Vernon Wells, who had career lows in home runs (16) and batting average (.245) last season, he said: "Wells had a down year last year. You don't figure Wells will have two down years in a row." He added, "I think their offense can score runs with anybody and will be in the top two or three in the league behind Detroit and the Yankees."

Rays, Jays Pose Problems for Yankees, Red Sox | TheLedger.com

Thoughts? Mine is the Rays are going to be 4th, but will get annihlated by the Yankees in the regular season. Same for the Jays, except they are gonna finish 3rd again, and they will get annihlated by the Yankees.

[BronxBomberz]

And so far this baseball season, the writer of this article is looking like ****ing Albert Einstein! Boston is on the verge of getting swept by the Jays, while the Rays fans are about to bring their brooms in to The House That Ruth Built.