^I agree with just about everything up there. This will be one of those years that you can never tell which way we're going to go. And I agree with the defense being our strongpoint this year, because we are lacking power and, like you said, the ability to hit the late game home run that could potentially make or break a game, or even the whole season for us. However, I think our offense this year will be more of a team that consistently hits doubles and singles. And it was a true mistake dropping off Bay. He was an essential asset to our lineup AND our field. He protected Ortiz, who's getting older and older, and he was just a good player on both sides of the ball, and played an important role these past couple of years.
I have a huge amount of respect for teams in the AL East, especially the Yankees, although I don't really like them, I still show them respect, and just every other team in general. Baltimore or Toronto I think could MAYBE (emphasis on the maybe) be one of those teams that surges late season and somehow makes the playoffs if, and only if, the Rays don't do well this season. Other than that, the way I se it in reality, evben though it's a bit early to judge since the season hasn't started yet, I know the Yanks and the Sox and right now my personal opinion, I see the Yanks winning the division by 6 or less games, with the Red Sox narrowly taking the Wild Card from the Rangers.
