Fansided

MLB: Predicting who will win each division

By Ryan Ferguson

August 5, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
August 5, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) pitches the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
Aug 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) celebrates with Adam Jones (10) after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Yankees 11-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) celebrates with Adam Jones (10) after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Yankees 11-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports /

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

In days of yore, the AL East was little other than a battlefield staging titanic duels between the powerful Red Sox and juggernaut Yankees. The last two decades yielded only three season in which a team other than those two bitter rivals claimed the division flag, with Tampa Bay Rays daring to challenge the duopoly most recently.

However, in 2014, this division, traditionally prized as the most competitive in baseball, has virtually been flipped on its head. Boston struggled for traction then sold the starting rotation in search of a brighter tomorrow; Tampa Bay lacked the sharpness so descriptive of its ascension; and New York continues to cling on for dear life. This all makes for a rather refreshing race in the season’s final weeks.

The Orioles, holders of a six-game lead, are in the driver’s seat. The explosive power of Nelson Cruz has been a constant theme, with consistent contributions from a bunch of unheralded guys driving the club forward.

Buck Showalter, a past master of managing people and keeping his team on an even keel, presides over the Majors’ third-best defense (measured by errors), a very strong bullpen, and a bench seemingly befitted with all the parts of a typical championship-winning ballclub.

However, Toronto, a team with great chemistry and solid veteran leadership, hopes to hunt Baltimore down and reach the postseason for the first time in twenty-one years. The Blue Jays, inspired by a meaty lineup featuring the magnificent Melky Cabrera and Dominican counterparts Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, get on base at a .329 clip and rank 4th in the Majors in runs scored.

Ultimately, though, one would worry whether Toronto has enough pitching to win the division. Collectively, the Blue Jays staff has a 4.08 ERA and 1.35 WHIP, marks which rank 11th in the American League. In R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle, they have two soft-tossing starters likely to work with runners on base, providing the opposition with regular opportunities to succeed.

Admittedly, in this age of offensive suppression, teams don’t always capitalise on such opportunities. The Yankees, traditionally backed by a mighty lineup, are hitting just .251 with runners in scoring position, and have thus far seemed reticent to explode into life.

These offensive woes, precipitated by an ageing roster and lack of consistent production from Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira, have been compounded by an injury epidemic within the starting rotation. The Bombers lost Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda, CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka for vast swathes of the season and, consequently, have sent twelve different starters to the mound this year, hoping to simply stitch together a few innings and limit the damage.

Brian Cashman worked wonders at the trade deadline, acquiring a collection of very useful pieces (Chase Headley, Brandon McCarthy, Martin Prado, Stephen Drew, Chris Capuano) without relinquishing a great deal in return. This overhaul gave the Yanks a boost and, cajoled by a slew of experienced veterans, New York will continue to fight.

Derek Jeter, a veteran of exactly 2,706 games over twenty years, has only once suited up with the Yankees out of playoff contention. In the dying embers of his glittering career, the organisation will do everything within its power to provide The Captain with one last tilt at October.

PREDICTED DIVISION WINNER: Baltimore Orioles

At 29-19 within the division, and 24-17 in one-run games, the Orioles have proved capable in high-pressure situations, a trait which will be fully tested down the stretch.

Baltimore would like a legitimate ace stopper to emerge from the cast of inning-eating workhorses presently harnessing the rotation, and a little more consistency from slugger Chris Davis would be great, but, on the whole, the city is ready to celebrate its first division crown in seventeen years.

Dan Duquette has built a finely-balanced, multi-talented team which has transformed the once-depressing fortunes of baseball in Baltimore, and Buck Showalter looks set to lead it home.

Home/MLB