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April 3, 2015

NY Post: 2015 AL East Predictions

Of the seven baseball writers at the New York Post, five are predicting the Red Sox to finish ahead of the Yankees in the AL East, by either winning the division or finishing in second place.

As you probably could have guessed, one of the other two is lying shitbag George King.
Ken Davidoff
AL EAST: Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays
ALCS: Tigers over Mariners
NLCS: Pirates over Dodgers
World Series champ: Pirates

Kevin Kernan
AL EAST: Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rays
ALCS: Mariners over White Sox
NLCS: Mets over Dodgers
World Series champ: Mariners

George A. King III
AL EAST: Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays
ALCS: Orioles over Royals
NLCS: Nationals over Giants
World Series: Orioles

Dan Martin
AL EAST: Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rays
ALCS: Mariners over White Sox
NLCS: Nationals over Dodgers
World Series champ: Mariners

Mike Puma
AL EAST: Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rays
ALCS: Orioles over White Sox
NLCS: Marlins over Nationals
World Series: Marlins

Joel Sherman
AL EAST: Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays
ALCS: Mariners over Orioles
NLCS: Dodgers over Pirates
World Series champ: Dodgers

Mike Vaccaro
AL EAST: Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, Rays
ALCS: Indians over Mariners
NLCS: Dodgers over Nationals
World Series champ: Dodgers
Sherman offers some comments on the Red Sox:
Key player: Clay Buchholz. Is he the guy who was 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA before a shoulder injury derailed him in 2013 or the guy who sank to 8-11 with a 5.34 ERA last year? A starter or two from among Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Justin Masterson, Joe Kelly and Wade Miley needs to emerge as anchors.

Player who'll need to step up: Hanley Ramirez. Boston gave him a four-year, $88 million pact and switched him from short to left, imagining his offense being helped by playing at Fenway. The lineup could be dynamic if the moody Ramirez is productive.

Name you'll get to know: Blake Swihart. The Red Sox have resisted including him as the key element in a trade for Cole Hamels. He might take over as the main catcher by midseason — especially now that fellow catcher prospect Christian Vazquez is headed for Tommy John surgery.

Biggest question mark: Can Xander Bogaerts handle shortstop? This groundball-heavy staff is going to need Bogaerts to field the position. There still is a star in there. Will it come out?

How it'll go down: There are enough questions up and down the pitching staff to undermine the season. But Mookie Betts is poised to be a star, the offense is strong and the farm system deep enough to help solve problems in season.

1 comment:

  1. The Globe's Cafardo picks the Red Sox to finish 3rd, behind the Orioles and Yankees. But he's always had an irrational hard-on for the MFY.

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