2010 FINAL STANDINGS
W L Pct. GB
Tampa Bay 96 66 .593 –
New York 95 67 .586 1
Boston 89 73 .549 7
Toronto 85 77 .525 11
Baltimore 66 96 .407 30
MANAGER:
Joe Maddon, sixth year.
UPS: Much has been made of the Rays signing two veterans, DH Manny Ramirez and LF Johnny Damon. But keep an eye on 3B Evan Longoria and P David Price, the two young stars. Ramirez hit .311 at camp, and Longoria had 10 RBIs. Price went 2-0 with 20 strikeouts this spring.
DOWNS: The Rays reworked their roster so much that it may take time for Ramirez and Damon to get adjusted. And even when they do, some are asking if they are too old to help anyway. The bullpen also has a lot of new faces.
EXPECTATION: Even with a new team, the Rays could make it back to the playoffs.
MANAGER: Joe Girardi, fourth year.
UPS: 3B Alex Rodriguez, SS Derek Jeter, C Jorge Posada, 1B Mark Teixeira, and closer Mariano Rivera remain capable of carrying the team for long stretches. Teixeira had nine doubles and hit .294 at camp, and Rodriguez hit six homers and .388.
DOWNS: P Andy Pettitte retired, and the rest of the rotation has problems behind ace CC Sabathia. Rivera and newcomer Rafael Soriano anchor the bullpen. EXPECTATION: The Yanks will be in the race down to the wire.
MANAGER: Terry Francona, eighth year.
UPS: The addition of LF Carl Crawford, 1B Adrian Gonzalez, P Dan Wheeler, and P Bobby Jenks made this good team even better. Gonzalez hit .308 with two homers in limited action at camp. 2B Dustin Pedroia had six doubles and hit .321, and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit .364.
DOWNS: There are questions as to whether Jonathan Papelbon can remain a top closer. He blew nine saves last year and had a 10.50 ERA in six innings at camp. Crawford hit just .208 at spring training.
EXPECTATION: It's a three-way race again, and the Red Sox will be one of the three.
MANAGER: John Farrell, first year.
UPS: RF Jose Bautista, who played 45 games at 3B last year, will seek to come close to the 54 homers he slammed last year. He hit .379 with three homers this spring. Edwin Encarnacion will start at 3B. SS Yunel Escobar led the team with 25 hits and hit .391 at camp, and LF Travis Snider hit .346.
