Thanks Joe Torre, Thanks A Lot

Here are a couple of thoughts on the Joe Torre book and a word on Andy Pettitte coming back:

*I can't, for the life of me, figure out why Torre decided to do this book at this point in time. The money? The guy must have a ton. He doesn't strike me as the type who MC Hammered his life savings away on herbal tea. To inform the world? Please. Most of the time, reflective books like this are written, what, 15 years after the fact. That's when people feel far enough away from a situation to where they are comfortable exposing the secret handshakes and towel whipping contests that no one would want to talk about in the moment. Torre just left the Yankees last year and some of his supposedly "favorite" players (Jeter, Posada, Mariano, Pettitte again) are still on the team.

That always seems to lead me back to bitterness. Torre never seemed like the type, by why else put this book out there unless you are still throwing a hissy fit over being asked to take a paycut and a one year deal.

Today on Mike Francesa's show, Bob Costas made what I consider to be the first good point he has offered since 8 tracks were a hot item. Bobby boy's point was that, no matter the TRUE tone of the book, Torre and Tom Verducci, the SI writer who worked on the book with Torre, had to know that the story was going to be the A-Rod/Cashman stuff. No matter what else was included, people outside AND inside the organization were going to clue in on those sections. Even the excerpts put out there by Verducci painted the Yankee brass in a bad enough light as to obviously annoy the wrong people. In one breath he essentially accuses Cashman of stabbing him in the back at his last meeting in Tampa and also asserts that Hal Steinbrenner offered him a job with the YES Network - a moment that made the younger Steinbrenner seem like a complete putz.

There are also rumors that the book paints George Steinbrenner in a less than flattering light. Now, that isn't shocking in any way. The Boss has done enough hooting and hollering in his time to piss off half the East Coast, and we all know how poorly the Boss could handle his employees. But George is obviously not in very good health right now and it seems to me to be in somewhat poor taste to put out a book that points out his less than desireable traits. Plus, think of the anger that is bound to elicite from Hal and Hank Steinbrenner. Ever have a family member who was sick? It is an emotional time, and you become pretty darn protective of that person, even if the accusations are ultimately the truth. Torre's revelations, no matter how scattered they are throughout a measured book, were destined to create a firestorm, and the former Yankee skipper had to know that and be okay with it.

*But, whether Torre did this for the money or the built up resentment, it really doesn't matter because, damn, I am definitely buying the book for two very good reasons. First, I have no doubt the book is true. Maybe Torre's take on a situation would differe from someone else, but the truth of the situation is, in my opinion, not in doubt. Second, this is going to be an inside look at not only the dynasty years but also a period in baseball history that is truly remarkable. Think about the 12 years Joe Torre was in the Bronx: you were only 2 years removed from the strike that nearly devastated the sport, Cal Ripken Jr. broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa went on the greatest home run race in history, culminating in McGwire breaking Maris' record, Bonds became an other worldly player, the 98 Yankees went down as one of the greatest teams in history, the steroids era exploded, revenue sharing and luxury tax monies created parity, the Red Sox broke their curse, etc......

That's a lot to have happen in a 12 years career with the most successful franchise in history, and I can't imagine that Torre's take on those dozen years are anything other than fascinating. Plus, during Torre's tenure, some of the best, and most controversial players in the history of the sport passed through NYC, from Jeter and A-Rod to Big Unit and Roger Clemens. I can't wait to hear his take on all of those guys.

*I kind of laugh when I hear people blow off the notion that A-Rod won't be affected at all by the comments made. Sure.

Let's look at this for a second, shall we? First, A-Rod's entire demeanor changes when he is put in a clutch situation. You can actually see the wheels in his head grinding. He wants no part of the pressure. Even during his amazing 2007 season, when he seemed to shed his choker ways, A-Rod went into hibernation when the world was watching him try to hit his 500th homer. So now, here is a book that reveals all of A-Rod's vanity, his obessession with Jeter (which earned him the nickname "single white female"), his inability to come through in the clutch, and his teammates reluctance to accept him, and we are suppose to assume that will not affect a man who is know to be emotionally fragile? PLEASE!!!!!

The best thing for A-Rod is the fact that he will be playing in the baseball classic and, thus, won't be put in the spring training meat grinder every single day. But I just have a feeling that, by the middle of the year, we're all going to be talking abaout how the controversy over the book may have effected the Rodster more than people were imagining when it first came out.

*To me, the only emotion I have regarding this book is sadness. I'm not pissed at Torre for writing the book, even though, as I said, I am very confused by his decision making. I am not ready to suddenly discount his entire time with the Yankees as being a lesson in hypocrisy. I don't view Torre as this unbelievable backstabber who should be shunned for all existence. I am simply sad.

Who knows how long it will take for the Yankee organization to get over this book. All I know is, anyone who was planning on buying a ticket for Joe Torre day better hope they live a long and healthy life. Those 1998 reunions at the new Stadium for Old Timer's Day? Don't look for Joe. Those Yankeeography tributes? Something tells me Torre will be left out of the mix. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised to hear the following from Bob Shepard at some point this year: "Now hitting, number 6, Angel Berroa, number 6."

This has done irrepairable damage to Torre's legacy, and that, to me is very sad.

I felt, like a lot of people, that a change was needed after the 07 season. Joe had been around for a long, long time, and asking someone to move on after 12 years coaching the same team isn't a slap in the face. But there was no question in my mind that the way in which it was done was in poor taste. If the Yanks wanted to get rid of Torre, have the guts to simply fire the man, right?

I can understand Joe being upset by the whole process, but burning bridges in this way is just sad to me.

*As far as Andy coming back, it is a great move for everyone involved. For those Yankee fans who are harboring some sort of ill will against Pettitte because of his decision to try and wait out the Yankees for a better deal, grow up. This is a business and Andy didn't OWE the Yankees to take a contract he felt was beneath his own value. Now, in the end, Andy might have screwed himself as he only has $5.5 million guaranteed coming to him rather than the $10 million he would have had if he signed earlier, but so be it. Pettitte played and lost (unless he meets all his incentives), but that isn't any concern to me as a Yankee fan.

With Pettitte, the Yankee rotation is suddenly deeper and more reliable. Plus, with everything going on now with Torre, it is good to see that a Yankee icon like Pettitte won't be staying away from Yankee Stadium for good as well. Old Timer's Day would have been real lonely in the next 5 years.

A quick look at the other contenders in the AL

This is kinda hard considering how many players are still out there to be had both on the free agent market. For instance, someone in the AL is probably gonna sign Jason Giambi or Ken Griffey Jr., who are both past the point of being able to play the field but could fill out a mid-market contender's lineup very, very nicely. Also, it appears the Yankees are looking to unload one of their excess outfielders, meaning someone could come away with Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady, or Nick Swisher before all is said and done.
However, it seems like there are a few interesting teams out there to keep an eye on, so let's look at a few of the contenders in the Central and the West.
AL Central
Detroit Tigers - This, to me, might be the most fascinating team in the league. Last year, at this time, the world was picking the Tigers to go to the World Series and win. They had just added one of the best young hitters in the game, Miguel Cabrera, and a risky yet worthy reclamation project in Dontrelle Willis. Added to a team that already had stars, it seemed a logical conclusion that Detroit was poised for a big year.

What happened?

Things went wrong, very, very wrong.

So, a year after being a favorite, few people are talking about the Tiggers right now. They didn't make any splashes in the off season and some of their veterans look to be at the end of their rope.

However, a quick look at their team suggest the rhetoric about the Tigers might have been a year premature.

The Tigers should put out a lineup that looks something like this: Curtis Granderson (CF), Adam Everett (SS), Magglio Ordonez (RF), Miguel Cabrera (1B), Carlos Guillen (LF), Gary Sheffield (DH), Brandon Inge (3B), Placido Polanco (2B). That is a pretty impressive lineup, if I do say so myself. Now, I know that group didn't produce a lot last year, but two years in a row? I just have to believe they will click all together.

The real question is gonna be the teams pitching. I loved the acquisition of Edwin Jackson, a talented righty who showed skills with the Rays during a pennant race last year. Justin Verlander is too talented not to bounce back from his horrid 08 season and still has the stuff to be an electric pitcher in this league. But, after that, there are some real problems, the biggest being Jeremy Bonderman. The hard throwing right hander was one of the most important players to the Tigers in their run to the series in 06. He seemed to have turned a corner, throwing over 200 innings for the first time and harnessing his fastball and hard slider. Then, in 07, he went south again, pitching only 174 innings and posting a 5+ ERA. Last season was a wash as he spent most of the time out of the rotation with injuries.

Bonderman is only 26, even though it seems like he has been around forever, and he is still as talented as ever. If he is right, and Verlander rebounds, the rotation should be good enough to make the Tigers a real threat. If, however, Bonderman just continues to regress, then all bets are off.

My thoughts? I see a rebound year for the Tigers. Jim Leyland is a good enough coach to get more out of these players than he did last year.

Cleveland Indians - Another hot pick from last year, the Indians were miserable almost right from the start. First, CC Sabathia (yes, he was an Indian at the beginning of the year) started off very slow, as did Fausto Carmona, and the vaunted Cleveland offense was no where to be found. By the time the Indians started to feel a little better about themselves it was far too late. They were so far back they had a better chance of winning the Stanley Cup than a division ring.

But, just like the Tigers, the Indians return a team that, based on talent, has a chance to do real damage and, like the Tigers, they made some moves that were overshadowed by the big name moves in December but are, none the less, imperative to helping them win.

First, the lineup has the potential to be explosive, and the recent trade for Mark DeRosa from the Cubs was masterful. He will give that team some much needed leadership and a great bat at the top of the lineup. Grady Sizemore had a terrific year last season and looks to be a perennial star and Shin-Soo Choo was a revelation in the outfield.

This offense, however, will thrive based on two players; Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez.

Both of those players have the talent, and the track records, to believe they can put up HUGE numbers, but both were busts last year. Martinez was a victim of injuries, whereas Hafner was a mixed bag. He started off slow, got injured, came back, got injured again, and never seemed to be able to establish his season. Is Hafner washed up before the age of 30? Hard to imagine.

My guess would be both will have bounce back years.

As with all teams, the pitching is the big question mark, but I actually believe the Indians might be in a better situation than the Tigers in this department. Yes, CC Sabathia left, but Cliff Lee showed himself to be a top-flight pitcher. Can he duplicate that again? I don't know if he could be THAT good again, but he certainly showed an understanding of how to pitch that would indicate that he can stay at the top of the league for a long time. Fausto Carmona was a microcosim of the entire team: lofty expectations that fell flat on its face. Carmona had injuries and performance problems all year, making only 22 starts, 120 innings, and posting a 5.44 ERA. That is a far cry from the previous year when Carmona looked poised to establish himself as an elite pitcher. So, which year was the true indicator?

I am gonna bet on 2007 rather than 2008. Carmona is still only 25 and very talented. Last year went up in smoke, but his stuff is too good to be kept down for long.

The third part of the equation is Jeremy Sowers. Sowers, like Carmona, had high hopes for 08 and those were dashed fairly quickly. Yet the 25-year-old lefty remains someone people expect big things from and, like Carmona, his stuff indicates he should be much better this year than last.

In the bullpen, the Indians revealed their belief that they are going to be challengers this year by signing Kerry Woods to be the team's closer. When the Indians made their run to the ALCS in 07, their achilles heal was the pen. Woods promises to give Cleveland their first real closer since perhaps Lee Smith.

If I were making my picks today, I would take the Indians to win the central, with the Tigers battling them right up until the end of the season. That's what I saw for the division last year and I think I was a year too early.

AL West

Texas Rangers - I am not going to spend any time on the Angels because we all know they are the class of this division. In fact, I had a really hard time finding a team I felt would have a chance in heck of actually keeping them in site for more than two months. My first thought focused on the A's. With the acquisition of Matt Holliday, I thought they would make the most sense. However, a quick look at their roster indicates how strange that move really was. There just isn't any talent there. Maybe moneyball guru Billy Beane knows something I don't, but I just don't see a challenger hiding in that lineup.

The Mariners? Please, I went down that road last year when they had more talent and more options and look where that got everyone. They lost Raul Ibanez and Erik Bedard looks like his injuries have gotten the best of him (not to mention his sour disposition). They have no chance.

That leaves me to make the case for the Rangers.

(Deep breath) Here it goes.

First, I love their lineup. Besides the Angels, this is the best offense in the division by far. Ian Kinsler, Micheal Young, and Josh Hamilton are bonafide stars and big time offensive players. Hank Blalock appears ready to enter the season healthy, meaning a big addition to the offense, and first baseman Chris Davis and catcher Taylor Teagarden (who appears to be the best of the three catchers the Rangers have) are rising stars. It should be an offense that can generate a bunch of runs, especially down in the hot weather in Texas.

Of course, the problem with the Rangers is pitching. Right now, the starting five are Kevin Millwood, Matt Harrison, Vincent Padilla, Dustin Nippert, and Scott Feldman. The pen includes closer CJ Wilson, who proved to have talent last year, and good arms in Frank Francisco and Joaquin Benoit. But, let's face it, that staff isn't exactly keeping hitting coaches up all night.

So, how to overcome that? First, they'll have to get some good starts out of Matt Harrison, the 22 year old who has good stuff and needs to harness that talent. They also need to get serviceable years out of Millwood and Pedilla, neither one of whom are difference makers but perhaps could offer up seasons that could be considered decent overall.

The only reason I have optimism?

Like I said, the Rangers have three very good, young catching prospect (Tegarden, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Max Ramirez) and I have a feeling that they could trade, before or during the season, of the three in a small package for a good young arm. Now, the arm might not be ready to break out this season, but you would assume there would be real talent there. If Harrison pitched well and the Rangers secured another nice young arm from a trade, their offense and decent bullpen should be enough to keep them competitive.

Again, I don't expect much from them, but looking at that division, I don't think it takes a lot to be the second best team behind the Angels.

Other interesting clubs:

Minnesota Twins - Look, they are gonna be competitive. They always are. And, if they got some breaks, could they be in the playoff hunt yet again? Sure. They have two great players in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, and despite his attitude problems, Delmon Young has the talent to be special as well. Carlos Gomez, Michael Cuddyer, Nick Punto, and the rest of the roster are all solid major leaguers who play terrific defense and seem to just know how to get things done.

The X factor for the Twins will be Francisco Liriano, who is one of the most talented pitchers in the game. If Liriano can become that Johan Santana-esque pitcher, he could anchor a solid, if not spectacular rotation, with Joe Nathan and a good pen backing them up.

I just believe the Indians and Tigers are gonna be too much for teams this year.

Oakland Athletics - I just don't seem them having the chops to stay in there with the good teams without really good starting pitching, which has always been their bread and butter. Yes, Matt Holliday helps, as does Jason Giambi (signed 1/7/09), but they don't have the pieces to be a significant team, even if Billy Beane has convinced himself otherwise.

Contenders in AL East part 2.............Tampa Bay Rays

It is astounding to think that we are a few days into January, 2009 right now and the rosters of so many teams are not even close to being set, isn't it? I mean, as of right now Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez are still without a home? And I am sure I am forgetting a few guys on that list of free agents, not to mention the remaining possibility that a significant trade or two could be pulled off before spring training arrives (in a little more than a month, if you want to gauge how quickly time is flying right now). Tampa, like the Yankees and the Sox, also have some potential moves to make before the beginning of the season, obviously bouyed by their amazing run in 2008 and the plethora of young talent they have under control for the next several years.

There is a very good chance, in fact, that one of those hitters mentioned above will find a home in Tampa before the season starts. Would it be shocking to see Ken Griffey Jr., batting in the DH spot for the Rays next year on a one-year contract? Even though the kid is long since past being an elite player, he still has pow2er, can still hit, and is a better every-day option than Johnny Gomes.

But, for now, like my two previous preview posts, we'll take what they currently have and go from there.

Lineup - Akinori Iwamura (2B), Carl Crawford (LF), BJ Upton (CF), Carlos Pena (1B), Evan Longoria (3B), Matt Joyce (RF), Dioner Navarro (C), Johnny Gomes (DH), Jason Bartlett (SS).

The top five of this lineup have the potential to be lethal. Iwamura, Crawford, and Upton all have plus speed and Crawford and Upton can both hit 20+ homers. Pena has proven himself to a powerful bat and a perfect four-place hitter, and Longoria's upside is spectacular (there are many who believe he will be the best offensive player in the game before long). Navarro had a breakout season last year, batting over .300 and giving consistent offense from the catcher position all season long.

However, there are some obvious question marks: can Iwamura, Upton, and Longoria repeat their performance from last year? Remember, they were all essentially rookies (even though Iwamura is a Japan league veteran) andsecond-year players are prone to regression rather than big years. Longoria, especially, seemed to cool off a bit in the World Series.

Another question is how good Matt Joyce can be for this team? The Rays, who have terrific pitching talent, traded Edwin Jackson for Joyce on the belief that the lefty corner outfielder - another young guy - has the chance to be a power bat in their lineup. Joyce, last year for the Tigers, only played in 92 games and had 12 homers and 33 RBI. His SLG wasn't what you would like either (.450) from a guy you are tapping as a run-producer. But, he is only 24, already showed 20+ power, and is a great defender. Tampa has had a wonderful success rate in reading and then grooming talent. Only time will tell if they are right on Joyce as well.

Finally, unlike the Yankees or Red Sox, who are pretty set at the moment and simply looking to tweek their roster, the Rays, if they want to continue to repeat at a high level, must find a DH bat. Will they? As I said before, there are plenty of names out there that seem to be on the market for a small price tag. While Johnny Gomes had a nice season a few years ago, he is not the answer at that position. They need a Giambi or a Griffey-esque player - a veteran presence to help their team - before the season starts. If they get that, this lineup becomes an AL East monster on par (or potentially better) than the Sox or Yanks. Without that added bat, their bottom of the lineup could prove a real liability.

Defense - Dioner Navarro (C), Evan Longoria (3B), Jason Bartlett (SS), Akinori Iwamura (2B), Carlos Pena (1B), Matt Joyce (RF), BJ Upton (CF), Carl Crawford (LF).

This is by far the best defensive team in the East and could be the best in the entire league. It really doesn't serve any purpose to go down the list and extoll the virtues of each individual player. They are all excellent. The only question would be Joyce, given an entire season as a starter. Can Joyce join the ranks in the outfield? His skills would suggest he can, however, even if he can't, Upton has such range and ability it shouldn't really matter all that much. This team catches EVERYTHING.

Rotation - James Sheilds, Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnestine, David Price.

Again, this is as talented a starting five as their is in the league. In fact, the only reason I would put the Yankee rotation ahead of the Rays is because Tampa starters have one HUGE, looming question to answer; can they repeat what they did last year? That is a tall order. Yes, they are talented, but they are all young and none of them, save Kazmir, has a track record that would indicate you can just write them down for repeat big years. Can Garza take his terrific postseason and parlay that into a great regular season? Can Sonnestine remain a stable, #3 type pitcher for this ball club? Can Kazmir stay healthy? Can Shields remain an ace-caliber pitcher? How will Price adjust to his first full season in the majors, especially given how high his own talent and postseason performance has set the bar?

Those are a lot of questions to answer, but there is no denying the pitching talent. If they all perform up to their standards, there isn't a soft spot in the rotation.

Bullpen - Troy Percival, Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, Chad Bradford, JP Howell, Jason Hammel.

This is the weak spot on the team, and what a weak spot. Percival has one more year left on his two-year contract, but it is anyone's guess as to whether he will actually be healthy enough to contribute. If Percival can't go, Wheeler would be the defacto closer, but as we saw last year when Joe Madden promoted David Price to that role for the playoffs, there isn't a lot of confidence that Wheeler is made for that kind of role.

Bradfor, Balfour, and Howell are all good arms, but with this pen, no lead is completely safe. My guess is the closer for this club is not currently listed on the roster right now and it will be interesting to see how they address that issue, no doubt turning to in house candidates since free agent options seem limited and risky.

The end result is that the Rays have a tremendous amount of talent and I fully expect them to be in the hunt for a playoff spot for the entire year. However, I just think there are some things going against Tampa that can't be ignored. First, they need another bat to solidify their lineup. Second, their bullpen looks like it could be a liability and there is no legit closer on the roster right now, unless you believe in the health of Percival (how could you?). Third, last year was a perfect year for this team in terms of health and performance. Can you honestly expect everyone to stay off the DL and performing at a high level AGAIN?

Great teams are able to keep their level of play up each year. Tampa could be that type of team, but even though the Rays answered all their questions last year, they still have to answer the knawing question of whether or not they were a fluke.

Early look at AL East contenders part 2..............Boston Red Sox

The rumor is that the Sox, having lost out on the Teixeira sweepstakes, are looking for a young, prime-of-his-career position player to bolster what they feel is a wanting lineup. They made a play for Hanley Ramirez. No dice. Where they go from there is anyone's guess. Honestly, off the top of my head, I can't really think of anyone that would fit the bill. Are the Reds going to hand them Joey Votto? Not likely. Are the Rangers looking to dump Josh Hamilton? No way. Perhaps the Sox could work a blockbuster deal with the Padres to get both Jake Peavy and Alex Gonzalez, but it seems unlikely, even with the Padres trying to save their owner's yacht and summer house as he gets divorce-raped by his soon-to-be ex. For now, the Sox don't seem to have any real irons in the fire, so we will go on the assumption that Hanley is not returning to Fenway and we'll look at what they will probably have come spring training.

Lineup - Jacob Ellsbury (CF), Dustin Pedroia (2B), David Ortiz (DH), Kevin Youkillis (1B), JD Drew (RF), Jason Bay (LF), Mike Lowell (3B), Jeb Lowrie (SS), Jason Varitek.

Okay, I lied. I will assume that Tek is back because a.) I can't see anyone else wanting him and b.) his leadership skills are actually valuable for the Sox.

The first thought I have when looking at that lineup is that there are a lot of question marks but also a lot of positives. The good things? Pedroia, Youkillis, and Bay are bonafide big time players, and a full season of Bay in the outfield should provide plenty of offense. Drew proved that he could be a solid contributor to the offense last year, putting up respectable numbers, and there is some decent speed sprinkled here and there in the likes of Ellsbury, Pedroia, and Lowrie.

The question marks? Is Ellsbury the star-in-the-making player the Red Sox thought coming in to last year, or a mediocre player with a lower than expected OBP that makes him a less than ideal leadoff man, even with his speed (Ellsbury's OBP last year was around .340 for most of the season. That's not good enough). Is David Ortiz healthy? In all honesty, this is probably the biggest question mark for the entire club. If Ortiz is healthy, he can still be as potent a batter as there is in the game, but wrist injuries are tricky. Hideki Matsui has never looked the same after breaking his wrist in the 06 season and we all know how different Nomar Garciaparra was as a player after his wrist was broken. Ortiz's hand didn't need the type of major surgery those players required, but it was still obvious that he wasn't what he once had been. Was that because Manny wasn't there to protect him? We will see. Is Lowell healthy and happy? No one has seemed to want to mention the fact that the Red Sox were obviously ready to jettison Mike Lowell at the earliest convienience if they were able to sign Teixeira. Even with that possibility gone, the Sox still seem ready to bring another bat in to the fray, and would certainly be willing to deal the former WS MVP. That can't make him all that happy.

Overall, however, this lineup is still very potent. If Ortiz is healthy and Ellsbury takes a step forward rather than a step back, there is enough run producers to make like miserable for any pitcher, especially in the friendly confines of Fenway.

For everyone proclaiming that the Yankee lineup is far and away the best in baseball now because of Teixeira, I would argue that the Sox are still their equal, with both teams possessing as many question marks and big time players.

Defense - Jason Varitek (C), Mike Lowell (3B), Jeb Lowrie (SS), Dustin Pedroia (2B), Kevin Youkillis (1B), JD Drew (RF), Jacob Ellsbury (CF), Jason Bay (LF).

This is a very, very good defensive team. Varitek (if he is back) may be losing a little bit, but every other position on the field has either excellent or very good defense. Ellsbury has the chance to be special in center, Bay and Drew are solid at the corner positions, and the infield defense is terrific, especially if Lowell is healthy and Lowrie hits the way he did last year, solidifying himself at SS. This should really help the Sox pitching staff.

Rotation - Josh Beckett, John Lester, Dice-K, Tim Wakefield, Justin Masterson.

This isn't as deep or impressive as the Yankee rotation. Beckett, Lester and Dice-K have the ability to match up with anyone in the league, but one of the dirty little secrets of the Sox team is that Beckett has not been what you would call the most productive regular season pitcher out there. In his first year with the team he had an ERA over 5 with only 158 strike outs in 204 innings. Last year, he only had 174 innings and had an ERA of 4.07. He also had 10 losses. Look, we all know how dominant Beckett can be, but his regular seasons have been mediocre at best. Overall, he cannot be compared to the likes of Sabathia or even Wang in terms of consistency. Get him in the short series, he is better than almost anyone. Over the long haul, he just isn't an elite pitcher.

Lester, however, showed himself to be a terrific pitcher and is probably the team's number 1 now because of how consistent he is on a day in and day out basis. Dice-K is a human tight-rope act, but he seems to get the job done. But, after that, Wakefield and the youngster Masterson are HUGE question marks overall.

Clay Buchholtz may end up being the most important pitcher on the Sox staff as, if he were able to step up and perform at a high level, and Masterson were able to provide a spark, the rotation could be a plus, but right now I think the Sox rotation would probably rank third in the AL East.

Bullpen - Jonathan Paplebon, Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Ramon Ramirez.

This is a nice bullpen with exactly what you want: power arms. Don't be surprised to see Delcarmen move ahead of Okajima in this bullpen. He has electric stuff and showed a toughness down the end of the year. Of course, the change up of lefty, righty is as good as it gets. And, of course, you have the little creep Paplebon, the least-likeable guy in the world, anchoring the pen, and as little as we all like the guy, he's pretty damn good.

So, how good are the Sox?

I think this is a very interesting year for Boston. I still believe they are, overall, one of the top two teams in this league, but they could easily get picked off this year because of how thin their rotation may be this season. While Theo and the crew are looking at their lineup, it is their pitching that will ultimately tell the tale. Any major injury or underperforming season by one of the big three (Beckett, Dice-K, Lester) would mean disaster. But, unfortunately, this team has earned the right to be a favorite until the prove to be out of their element.

Rating the AL East big three and a few other American League contenders...........first up, New York Yankees

It is amazing to me how quickly people change their tune when it comes to sports. At the end of the baseball season, the popular song to sing in New York went something like this: "Boy, those Yankees, with their old players and their inept front office, are light years behind the Red Sox and Rays. It is gonna take them years to catch up, even if they flex their financial might this offseason." Everyone seemed to say that, not only were the Yankees likely to pursue both CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, but that they NEEDED to do it just to pull even with the two younger, better-run organizations they find themselves in competition with.

Now that they have done that, the Yankees have, in these same peoples' minds, "bought" a championship and pulled well ahead - with the help of their vast resources - of the poor, upstart Rays and those noble icons of baseball purity, the Boston Red Sox (whose own giant payroll doesn't seem to bother anyone).

So I thought, let's take a look at these teams as of now and see where they stack up. And, while we're at it, maybe a few other AL contenders deserve a once over as well.

The New York Yankees: Okay, like everyone else, I assume that the Yankees are going to make a few moves. One, I expect that they will find a partner for one of their outfielders. I don't expect the team to go in to next year with Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady all on the roster. Having said that, I have no idea which one they are going to be able to move or for what, so, for now, we are going to imagine that all of them will be there for opening day, just with a lot of moving around. Also, I still believe the Yanks are going to bring Andy Pettitte back eventually, so much so that, for the purpose of thise column, I am going to put Pettitte in as the fourth starter. If I am wrong? Well, it would make some difference but not enough to change the overall conclusions.

Lineup - Johnny Damon (CF), Derek Jeter (SS), Mark Teixeira (1B), A-Rod (3B), Jorge Posada (C), Robinson Cano (2B), Xavier Nady (RF), Hideki Matsui (DH), Nick Swisher (LF).

The major flaw in this defense would be speed. Damon, Jeter, and A-Rod all have pretty good speed, with Johnny still capable of stealing close to 30 bags a year, but besides those three there isn't much but station to station quickness. If the Yanks do trade a spare outfielder, it will more than likely open the door for Brett Gardner to enter the everyday lineup, which would provide that speed, but, for now, it is going to take some extra base hits to score most runs.

The obvious plus here is the top four. Damon, when healthy, has been very solid, and the rumors of Derek Jeter's demise as an offensive player have been greatly exaggerated (expect a very good year from the captain). Teixeira will, hopefully, put up his usual numbers and should see a rise in RBI commiserate with the increased talent around him. A lot of people have screamed about "protecting" A-Rod, but the fact is that Mr. Madonna's problems are almost all mental. Having a bat like Tex in there, no matter where, should provide that protection because it takes pressure off of his back.

If Posada is healthy, he slides nicely in to the five hole, and if Cano is truly back to his old ways, he needs to be put in a more run-producing slot. With Nady, Matsui, and Swisher, the Yanks would have three professional batters with pop and the ability to not only take a walk but also keep rallies going. The big innings started by the top of the lineup should be kept alive by the bottom.

Defense - Posada at catcher, A-Rod at third, Jeter at short, Cano at second, Tex at first, Nady in right, Damon in center, Swisher in left. This is an average defensive team with obvious question marks in center and at catcher. How Posada progresses will have a lot to say about the Yankee season, but mostly in regards to their defense. An average Posada, who can catch a good game and throw the occasional runner out at second would mean HUGE things for this team. But, if Posada is unable to recover from his season-ending labrum surgery and cannot provide adequate defense behind the plate, it is unclear exactly what the Yankees will do. Provided he can still hit, and considering that the only Yankee catching prospect, Jesus Montero, is at least a few years away from being MLB ready, the Yanks could decide to take their chance with a liability at that position. That could come back to haunt them.

The other major area of concern is center. If things remain as is, one would have to assume that Johnny Damon and/or Nick Swisher would be the Yankee's center fielder. I would guess that Damon would get first dibs on the position considering a.) he is quicker than Swisher and b.) much of Swisher's down year was blamed on the struggles he had in center. In fact, in a few interview after his trade to the Bronx, Swisher made it clear that his least desired position on the field was center.

Damon in center presents two problems. First, while he can still track balls down, his arm is a serious liability and teams will run on the Yankees whenever the hit sails in to center field. Second, Damon's health has, in many ways, been linked to center. The Yankees seem to believe that the position takes too much of a toll on his body. I would doubt they would want to play him at the position 140+ games.

On the corners, both Nady and Swisher are average defenders. Swisher is probably the more aggressive of the two, but Nady has the better arm, so he would be slotted to right.

The Yankees should get above average to great defense out of A-Rod, Cano, and Teixeira, all of whom have the ability to be gold-glove caliber defenders (yes, Cano has the athleticism to be that good, he just has to take pride in his defense and hustle on every play). Jeter's defense is always a hot topic for debate, but the fact is, last year he seemed to have one of his better defensive years and is still good enough to make short stop a non-issue in my opinion.

Rotation - CC Sabathia, Chien Mien Wang, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain.

Like I said, I am assuming that Pettitte is the fourth starter. If not, I would assume that Phil Hughes slides into that position. Yes, that could pose some problems, but overall the rotation is going to live and die on the arms of the big four regardless. So, what are the weaknesses in this rotation? Only one; durability.

No other rotation in baseball, in my opinion, can match the overall talent in this rotation. Sabathia is as skilled a lefty pitcher in the game, and, over the last two years, the only hurler who has been as impressive as he is Johan Santana. Burnett and Chamberlain have some of the most electric stuff in the game, with power arms that have the potential to dominate any lineup on any given day. And Wang, who seems to be the forgotten man right now, has been one of the better pitchers in the league, winning 19 games two straight years, and was on his way to a potential 20 wins in 2008 before injurin his foot. With his devastating sinker, he provides a terrific contrast and balance to the rotation.

Plus, with a rotation like this, one can imagine each one pushing the other, and a healthy rivalry existing that could allow each member to thrive.

But, how well will this rotation stand up to the rigors of the regular season?

Sabathia has pitched over 500 innings the last two years, and while the big lefty has shown little to no signs of being worn down, it has to be a concern. Burnett's injury problems are notorious and, despite his insistence that last year's 220 innings was no fluke but rather the result of a change in pitching philosophy, one will have to see him pitch back to back years like that to believe.

For Chamberlian, who will be on a strict inning's limit, two questions will be asked throughout the course of the season. First, can he gain better control over his stuff in order to limit the amount pitches he throws per inning? He can't continue to throw close to 100 pitches before the 7th inning and be successful on a consistent basis. Second, was the tendinitis in his shoulder last year a minor glitch in his career or a harbinger of health problems to come, ones that might force him back to the bullpen? Jorge Posada, in an interview with Michael Kay on his show Centerstage (do I owe community service to the state for having watched that show more than twice, by the way?) stated that he didn't believe Joba would last as a starter. Joba and the Yankees dismissed that notion. Who's right? We will see.

If Pettitte returns, he gives the Yanks a veteran presence in the rotation but, without him, the Yanks depth, a plus right now, would be challenged. However, if everyone stays healthy, it should be the best rotation in the league and perhaps baseball.

Bullpen - Mariano Rivera, Damaso Marte, Jose Veras, Brian Bruney, Phil Coke, Edwar Ramirez.

One of the real positives last year was the emergence of the bullpen as a real plus. Towards the end of the season some of the younger guys seemed to start to peeter out, however, Veras, Coke and Ramirez proved themselves to be extremely talented presences from both sides of the plate. Coke and Veras, especially, were dominating at times last year and could prove to be valuable long-term additions to the pen.

Bruney came back from injury and seemed to regain some of his early footing and Marte promises to show more, if used correctly, than he did in his short stint with the team last year. And then you have Mariano Rivera, the greatest reliever the game has ever seen (somewhere Goose Gossage threw up a little bit in his mouth, but the only one who thinks Goose was as good as Mo is, well, Goose). One day, Mariano Rivera is going to NOT be able to close games out, but it doesn't appear that moment is in site just yet. Having Mo in that anchor position gives the Yanks a HUGE advantage over almost every team in baseball.