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Rays/MLB
AL East outlook
By Times Staff Writer
Published April 2, 2006
NEW YORK YANKEES
2005: 95-67, 1st.
MANAGER: Joe Torre.
PAYROLL: $190-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: CF Johnny Damon, RHP Kyle Farnsworth.
KEY LOSSES: RHP Tom Gordon, C John Flaherty.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
CF Johnny Damon .316, 10 HR, 75 RBIs.
SS Derek Jeter .309, 19, 70.
RF Gary Sheffield .291, 34, 123.
3B Alex Rodriguez .328, 48, 130.
1B Jason Giambi .271, 32, 87.
LF Hideki Matsui .305, 23, 116.
C Jorge Posada .262, 19, 71.
DH Bernie Williams .249, 12, 64.
2B Robinson Cano .297, 14, 62.
ROTATION: LHP Randy Johnson, RHP Mike Mussina, RHP Chien-Ming Wang, RHP Shawn Chacon, RHP Jaret Wright.
CLOSER: RHP Mariano Rivera.
BOTTOM LINE: An All-Star lineup that should win its ninth straight division title if the pitching (especially the starters) stays healthy. Are you listening, Carl Pavano?
BOSTON RED SOX
2005: 95-67, 2nd.
MANAGER: Terry Francona.
PAYROLL: $135-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Josh Beckett, CF Coco Crisp, SS Alex Gonzalez.
KEY LOSSES: CF Johnny Damon, RHP Bronson Arroyo, SS Edgar Renteria.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
CF Coco Crisp .300, 16 HR, 69 RBIs.
2B Mark Loretta .280, 3, 38.
DH David Ortiz .300, 47, 148.
LF Manny Ramirez .292, 45, 144.
RF Trot Nixon .275, 13, 67.
3B Mike Lowell .236, 8, 58.
C Jason Varitek .281, 22, 70.
1B Kevin Youkilis .278, 1, 9.
SS Alex Gonzalez .264, 5, 45.
ROTATION: RHP Curt Schilling, RHP Tim Wakefield, RHP Josh Beckett, RHP Matt Clement, LHP David Wells.
CLOSER: RHP Keith Foulke.
BOTTOM LINE: Can Crisp replace Damon? Can Gonzalez add anything offensively? Can Lowell rebound? If it doesn't all happen, the Red Sox won't catch New York.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
2005: 80-82, 3rd.
MANAGER: John Gibbons.
PAYROLL: $75-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: 3B Troy Glaus, LHP B.J. Ryan, RHP A.J. Burnett, C Bengie Molina, 1B Lyle Overbay.
KEY LOSSES: 2B Orlando Hudson, 3B Corey Koskie.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
SS Russ Adams .256, 8 HR, 63 RBIs.
LF Frank Catalanotto .301, 8, 59.
CF Vernon Wells .269, 28, 97.
3B Troy Glaus .258, 37, 97.
1B Lyle Overbay .276, 19, 72.
DH Shea Hillenbrand .291, 18, 82.
C Bengie Molina .295, 15, 69.
RF Eric Hinske .262, 15, 68.
2B Aaron Hill .274, 3, 40.
ROTATION: RHP Roy Halladay, RHP A.J. Burnett (DL, will miss first two starts), LHP Ted Lilly, RHP Josh Towers, LHP Gustavo Chacin.
CLOSER: LHP B.J. Ryan.
BOTTOM LINE: The Jays, who added about $30-million to their payroll, need all their acquisitions to work just to contend for a wild-card spot.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
2005: 74-88, 4th.
MANAGER: Sam Perlozzo.
PAYROLL: $70-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Kris Benson, pitching coach Leo Mazzone.
KEY LOSSES: LHP B.J. Ryan.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
2B Brian Roberts .314, 18 HR, 73 RBIs.
3B Melvin Mora .283, 27, 88.
SS Miguel Tejada .304, 26, 98.
RF Jay Gibbons .277, 26, 79.
1B Javy Lopez .278, 15, 49.
LF Kevin Millar .272, 9, 50.
DH Jeff Conine .304, 3, 33.
C Ramon Hernandez .290, 12, 58.
CF Corey Patterson .215, 13, 34.
ROTATION: RHP Rodrigo Lopez, LHP Erik Bedard, RHP Kris Benson, RHP Daniel Cabrera, LHP Bruce Chen.
CLOSER: RHP Chris Ray.
BOTTOM LINE: The offense is average and the bullpen struggles. If the rotation falters, it could get ugly.
TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
2005: 67-95, 5th.
MANAGER: Joe Maddon.
PAYROL: $36-million.
KEY ADDITIONS: RHP Dan Miceli.
KEY LOSSES: RHP Danys Baez, RHP Shinji Mori (injured).
PROJECTED LINEUP:
SS Julio Lugo .295, 6 HR, 57 RBIs.
LF Carl Crawford .301, 15, 81.
2B Jorge Cantu .286, 28, 117.
3B Aubrey Huff .261, 22, 92.
DH Jonny Gomes .282, 21, 54.
RF Damon Hollins .249, 13, 46.
1B Travis Lee .272, 12, 49.
C Toby Hall .287, 5, 48.
CF Joey Gathright .276, 0, 13.
ROTATION: LHP Scott Kazmir, RHP Seth McClung, LHP Mark Hendrickson, LHP Casey Fossum, RHP Doug Waechter.
CLOSER: RHP Dan Miceli.
BOTTOM LINE: They will score runs and create problems for the opposition, even more so when Rocco Baldelli (hamstring) is healthy. But the rotation is still relatively inexperienced and the bullpen, without Mori, could be a problem.
[Last modified April 2, 2006, 01:24:20]
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