As for next year, I think the division will be much easier to predict. Can the Rays hold onto Carl Crawford, or will he pack his bags and head north for New York or Boston? My money is on him leaving, in which case think whichever of those two sign him will easily take the AL East by much wider margin than past years.
(Is free agent outfielder Carl Crawford on the way out in Tampa Bay?)
If Toronto can keep up the offensive power that they displayed this year (first in home runs led by a breakout campaign from Jose Bautista), then expect them to improve as well, especially if they can sign a starting pitcher to match the surprisingly solid seasons of Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil. Only free agency will tell.
(In 377 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bautista had 43 homeruns. In 139 games this season, he has 44.)
As for the Orioles, I would be feeling fairly optimistic if I were a fan right now. Under new manager Buck Showalter, Baltimore has found the swagger it has desperately needed all year. Despite what the record may show, this is not the worst team in the American League. This is a competitive team that can now beat any team they face in a three game series, as evidenced earlier this week when they took two of three from the Major League leading Yankees. Nick Markakis has had a down year, but is still flirting with a .300 batting average and has over 40 doubles. Adams Jones and onetime catching phenom Matt Wieters should see improvement as well. A healthy Brian Roberts came back recently and has already stolen 20 bases. If Ty Wigginton and Luke Scott can maintain their current numbers, then there is no reason why this wouldn’t be looked at as one of the more formidable offenses in the game.
(The mid-season hiring of Buck Showalter may be the best managerial move in the ML since
the Florida Marlins hired Jack McKeon en route to their second WS title.)
So brace yourselves baseball fans. If it’s not looking like you’re going to reach the postseason, spring training is right around the corner.
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