1988 Standings:
1. Detroit Tigers (106-56)
2. New York Yankees (93-69)
3. Baltimore Orioles (83-79)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (65-97)
5. Boston Red Sox (63-99)
The AL East as a whole is not a division that should be taken lightly. It is home to many superstar players, including the best player in the game, Billy Brett. It is also home to three top 10 farm systems, and overall is a talent-heavy division.
The battle for the top spot should be a lot more competitive this year, with Detroit taking a small step back while New York bolstered their lineup. The battle for the bottom should be equally entertaining, with Toronto and Boston each still a couple of years from contention. The only boring team is Baltimore, who seem destined for third in the AL East, as is tradition.
Politan’s AL East Predicted 1989 Standings:
1. Detroit Tigers (97-65)
2. New York Yankees (94-68)
3. Baltimore Orioles (81-81)
4. Boston Red Sox (71-91)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (63-99)
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Detroit Tigers
Politan’s Prediction: (97-65) First Place AL East
Top Players:
· RF Billy Brett
· RHP Kazuto Abe
· RHP Jim Ramsey
Preseason Farm Ranking: N/A
Top Prospects:
· OSA 114 SS Matt Grant
· OSA 119 LHP Michael Tumolo
· OSA 149 C Jon Gonzalez
Key Offseason Changes:
+ RHP Jason Helvey (From COL)
- CF Eddie Salazar (Elected free agency)
- 2B Brandon Perko (dead)
- 2B LHP Jeff Dunn (To CWS)
As his 24th birthday approaches, Billy Brett is looking to build off of one of the best offensive seasons in RLB history, rabbit ball excluded. His triple crown in 1988 will be a tough season to top, but expect him in all of MVP discussions for the next decade. Rookie Mike Pearson seems poised to be Brett’s bash brother, despite his defensive inefficiencies. A strong supporting cast of position players help make Detroit’s lineup quite formidable, despite losing Eddie Salazar and Brandon Perko.
What truly makes the Tigers the AL frontrunners is their pitching staff. Dueling aces Jim Ramsey and Kazuto Abe front the best rotation in baseball, as they both seek out the Pitcher of the Year Award. Jason Orlando and Jason Helvey – Jason Squared, if you will – are a fearsome follow-up that quash any concern that trading Jeff Dunn may have brought. Detroit’s bullpen is among the strongest in the league, and they are ready to show it. In an interview with RLB Network’s Bit Mojiman, Detroit closer Billy Cook meant business. “Everybody knows that our rotation is insane, but me and the boys are gonna show the world that we are right there with ‘em.”
While nothing is certain, you should expect Detroit to take the AL East this year. On both sides of the baseball, the Tigers boast many stars. Besides, no team could ever miss the playoffs with the best player in baseball.
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New York Yankees
Politan’s Prediction: (94-68) Second Place AL East
Top Players:
· 1B Mike Belkin
· LHP Aiden Brown
· SS Pete Riley
Preseason Farm Ranking: 22
Top Prospects:
· OSA 58 RHP Robbie Haywood
· OSA 128 RHP Cortez Salas
· OSA 156 RHP Eric Bourgeois
Key Offseason Changes:
+ 3B Robbie Ekdar (Free agency)
+ DH Antonio Morales (Free agency)
+ LHP Eric Craig (Free agency)
- RHP Alex Gonzalez (Elected free agency)
The New York Yankees have spent the last decade as perennial playoff contenders. While the last few years have seen the Tigers storm atop the AL East, you should never count the Yankees out. Excellent both offensively and defensively, the Yankees look to team leaders Mike Belkin and Pete Riley to shake up the top of the standings. RLB Network’s Boob Nightengale caught up with Belkin, who boasted proudly about his major league success. “Do I think I can make it ten straight years of 5+ WAR? Does a bear shit in the woods?” Fair enough. They will be joined by stud center fielder Doug DeSautel and recently signed Robbie Ekdar in New York’s lineup.
Aiden Brown looks poised to contend for a Pitcher of the Year award as he leads a relatively strong Yankee rotation. Closer Sam York will follow up an excellent rookie campaign with what he hopes to be an all star sophomore season. The Yankees have a little more of a farm to speak of than the Tigers, with some excellent young pitching inbound. Don’t be surprised when New York takes the division title from Detroit come September.
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Baltimore Orioles
Politan’s Prediction: (81-81) Third Place AL East
Top Players:
· RF Jeremy Banks
· CF Bob Rice
· RHP Danny Paul
Preseason Farm Ranking: 9
Top Prospects:
· OSA 21 LHP Manuel Bernier
· OSA 23 CF Bastyão Jdice
· OSA 37 2B Chris Johnson
Key Offseason Changes:
+ SS Brad Shaw (Free agency)
+ 2B Chris Johnson (From SD)
- RHP Wayne Jacobs (To SD)
- 3B Richard Avey (To SD)
- RHP Justin Beyer (To CLE)
- LHP Pedro Cabrera (To CHC)
The Orioles are pretty middling in both their farm as well as their major league roster, with limited success since Mr. Kenny took over the team. Baltimore seems to be stuck in a purgatory of mediocrity, with New York and Detroit both fielding much more complete rosters. The ninth best farm in baseball is certainly not shabby, but the Oriole system is significantly worse than the likes of Boston and Toronto. RLB Network’s Mike Blowers spoke with young phenom Bastyão Jdice, who was #24 on RLB Network’s prospect ranking about the future of the club, to which Jdice simply said “don’t worry.”
Baltimore’s strength over the last several seasons has been the dinger. 1989 will prove to be no exception, despite the loss of Richard Avey in the offseason mega deal with San Diego. Acquired in that same trade, Chris Johnson seeks to recover some of that missing power. Superstar Jeremy Banks fills in the middle of the order, ready to prove he deserved his recent extension. Shortstop Brad Shaw, acquired recently in free agency, could prove crucial if Baltimore has any shot of making the playoffs.
On the other side of the ball is where Baltimore will struggle. This offseason saw the departures of staff ace Wayne Jacobs, #2 starter Pedro Cabrera, and closer Justin Beyer. Danny Paul put up 5.3 WAR last year, and is going to need to repeat that performance if the Orioles want to be competitive. Adam Lifson and Paul Davila look to prove themselves as major league starters for years to come. Supplementing an average rotation is a bullpen that can only be described as disappointing. Veteran captain Marcus Rizzo leads four rule 5 picks and a few journeymen in their quest to secure victory for the Orioles. A stellar defense led by center fielder Bob Rice helps Baltimore overcome their pedestrian pitching.
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Boston Red Sox
Politan’s Prediction: (71-91) Fourth Place AL East
Top Players:
· CF Jay Register
· LHP Jake Meier
· LHP Terry Burton
Preseason Farm Ranking: 4
Top Prospects:
· OSA 5 LHP Steven Brooks
· OSA 13 RHP Bobby Crippen
· OSA 47 Andy Dwyer
Key Offseason Changes:
+ SS Ji-hu Jung (Free Agency)
+ 1B Mark Winchell (R5 from STL)
- SS Brad Stewart (To SF)
The Boston Red Sox are a very interesting team. Jake Meier heads a trio of southpaws that will reign terror on the league for years to come, and Bobby Pitts is a legitimate back-end reliever. Offensively, Jay Register and Julio Vasquez lead a better-than-you-think lineup that can pack quite a punch. The Red Sox are young, but as they mature, you can expect them to put up a real fight. Boston is a year or two away from competing, but they are still going to be a thorn in the side to anybody they face.
The best part of the Red Sox, as well as the next team down from them, is their stellar minor league system. Rookie Steven Brooks, RLB’s #5 prospect, is looking to make an immediate impact in the majors. Bobby Crippen, RLB’s #13 prospect, looks ready to do the same. RLB Network’s Buster Only asked Crippen, who was selected by the Red Sox in the twenty second round of the 1983 draft, if he felt ready to make the jump to the majors; “I mean, yeah. It has been a long journey for me in the minors, but the real journey is coming soon, and you all need to be ready!” Boston boasts seven top 100 prospects, all of them pitchers.
They may be a bat or two away from contention, but with an excellent pitching staff and even more on the way, watch out for Boston.
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Toronto Blue Jays
Politan’s Prediction: (71-91) Fifth Place AL East
Top Players:
· LF Dan Graham
· RHP Josh Warner
· 1B/2B Larry Reece
Preseason Farm Ranking: 3
Top Prospects:
· OSA 2 RHP Jon Duca
· OSA 15 CF Sean Hamm
· OSA 26 Pat Goosby
Key Offseason Changes:
+ RHP Derrick Holt (From SF)
+ RHP Melvin Tejeda (R5 from STL)
You can quote me on this now: The Blue Jays will be the division losers of the 1989 AL East. You can quote me on this one, too: The Blue Jays will top the AL East in five years. Toronto laid low this offseason, completing only a handful of small trades and salary dumps.
There is no illusion of competing this year in Toronto, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t talent in the majors. Left fielder Dan Graham is looking to build off of his 3.1 WAR rookie campaign, as he and infielder Larry Reece look to keep the team afloat offensively. In an interview with Toronto’s catcher, Gabe *****, RLB Network’s Aaron Goldsmith asked what everybody has been thinking. “Leave me alone, I thought this interview was going to be about baseball. Grow up.” Similar to their offensive lineup, the Blue Jay pitching staff has a handful of standouts. Starter Josh Warner is ready to show that he has what it takes to stick in the majors like his veteran teammate Dustin Williams. Adam Bryant and Chris Hammer may be young, but watch for them to develop into back-end threats.
While Toronto may not be making any waves this year, their minor league system is one of the most complete in baseball. They boast eight top 100 prospects, including the #2 in all of baseball, Jon Duca. Duca is a fascinating player, recently adding a face-melting changeup to his repertoire that will leave many looking silly. He is joined by fellow top prospects Nate Bierman and Josh Harris, who all seek to anchor Toronto’s future. 1988 third overall selection Sean Hamm turned heads last year in JRR at age 17. Already a fan favorite, he looks to match that same success again this year. 1987 third overall selection Pat Goosby is another name to watch, as his bat is serious business. The final name that needs to be mentioned when talking about star prospects is Francisco Santibanes. Santibanes is young, and his talent is raw, but remember the name.
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