MLB 2008 Season Preview: American Leauge East

Here is part six of my preview of the 2008 season for Major League Baseball. This time I’ll look at the key questions for each team in the American League East.

The only difference the answer to this questions might make is whether the rebuilding Orioles lose 100 games or only 95. The 22 year old Jones, who was the centerpiece for the Erik Bedard trade, is still not quite ready for primetime. He is however, immensely talented and has shown flashes of brilliance so far in spring training. This is the same player, though, who struck out 21 times in only 65 at bats in his brief appearance with the Mariners last season and Baltimore should expects similar periods this summer where he struggles as he makes the adjustment to playing in the big leagues. Jones should succeed in teaming up with fellow outfielders Nick Markakis and Luke Scott to provide some punch to what will otherwise be a listless Orioles offense and give the fans some hope that this rebuilding project has a bright future ahead.

Lester has two partial Major League seasons under his belt in which he has had some bright moments as well as his share of struggles. Now that he more than a year removed from his cancer diagnosis, it is time for him to realize his potential. He is slated into the rotation as the number 3 started so unlike the past two seasons, he is expected to be a vital cog in the rotation.

While Boston views Clay Buchholz as having great upside, they are still not counting on him to be more than a fifth starter during the course of the season and will most likely be sharing starts with Curt Schilling and Bartolo Colon if and when either of them make it back to the Big League rotation. Lester, on the other hand, is going to be counted to provide them with quality innings when he is on the mound, especially after Boston’s reluctance to include him in any significant package for Johan Santana. If Lester falters and fails to develop into the Andy Petitte-type the Boston views him as, they will be sorry they didn’t do more to acquire Santana.

The Yankees were also reluctant to include their young pitching prospects in any trade package for Santana and will instead rely heavily upon rookies Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy this season. While all seem very promising prospects, the Yankees will still have to endure that rough patches that young pitchers are prone to, as well as carefully monitoring the innings each will be allowed to work this season. Chamberlain, who is on the most limited number of innings, will actually start the season in the bullpen, and could possibly join the rotation after the All-Star break. Though Hughes and Kennedy will be in the starting rotation, their innings are also limited and cannot be expected to work too deep into games, even when they are pitching well, just so that they can be stretched over the course of the season.

If Mike Mussina cannot return to some semblance of his former self, the Yankees will be desperately in need of other pitchers who can provide quality innings. Kei Igawa, who notoriously bombed last season, could be counted on for multiple inning appearances out of the bullpen, as well as frequent spot starts. While Chamberlain is a force at the back end of the bullpen, they will still need other late inning relievers, especially if the starters aren’t making it through seven innings. At least for this season, the Yankees will be sorry they didn’t get Santana and expect them to be major players for pitching at the trade deadline this season.

For now nothing as Longoria is starting the season at Triple A. That won’t last long however, as Longoria had an excellent spring and the only reason he was sent to the minors seems to be to push back his free agent clock another year. The extra time in the minors certainly can’t hurt him and will at least keep him from scuffling through some likely cold weather early April games.

Once he’s called up, should the Rays expect a performance more like Alex Gordon or Ryan Braun of last season. Braun’s superlative season may be a reach, but I expect him to come closer to that than Gordon who suffered by jumping directly from Double A to the Majors. Longoria has already excelled at Triple A and proved he could handle Major League pitching in Spring Training. By the end of the season, he could team up with Carlos Pena and BJ Upton to create a very formidable middle of the Tampa Bay lineup and help make the Rays into a team that others can no longer overlook.