As things stand now, who do you think will win the AL East?

[Ripken]

Boston.

I don't love our lineup. We'll miss Cruz a lot. I'd like another power arm in the pen, too.

[tntoriole]

I think Sandoval and Ramirez are going to struggle with the transition and I think Boston's pitching is held together with a tenuous thread. Yankees do not have enough. Rays are last place team in the East. Jays are the Jays, they will find ways to not play well.

[scOtt]

Baltimore. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[El Gordo]

I like our guys. And we have the best manager. If Davis bounces back and Manny and Matt are healthy, we could run away with it. However if BOS trades for Hamel and/or the NFY sign Shields, things could be tight.

[weams]

Jays are the Jays, they will find ways to not play well.

They always do, no matter what the season starts out like. Besides, they have taken a 30% hit on currency exchange which has all ready added 25 million to their payroll cost. They are now up against it again. Plus, Rogers Communication wants nothing to with this staff. They will set out new next year.

[justD]

I loved it when Christopher Russo's sidekick (Bruce Schein, his producer) talked about the Yankees today on High Heat: "It's like they've been putting band-aids on broken legs."

[ChuckS]

I'd actually like to see the Yankees sign James Shields to another bloated seven year contract. However, I don't expect it. I think they are starting to learn their lesson. BOS trading for Hamels or signing Shields is much more likely.

Boston has some high upside rookies (Ofers Mookie Betts and Rusney Castilo) that the projection systems seem to like. Xander Boegarts could also break out. Their offense could be lethal if things break right, although on the flip side Pedroia is coming off a so-so year and Ortiz has to slow down at some point.

[MurphDogg]

I see it as a three tiered race with Baltimore and Boston in the top tier, New York and Toronto in the middle tier, and Tampa Bay in the third tier.

[25 Nuggets]

Boston is supposed to improve like 25 games this year according to the metrics... I don't understand why. They're better but not that much better, even on paper. I guess Wade Miley is going to win 15 games then.

I'm still saying Baltimore, with both my head and heart. It should be closer than last year but the division is still mediocre.

[weams]

Boston is supposed to improve like 25 games this year according to the metrics... I don't understand why. They're better but not that much better, even on paper. I guess Wade Miley is going to win 15 games then.

I'm still saying Baltimore, with both my head and heart. It should be closer than last year but the division is still mediocre.

They don't have three starters who will win 15. Combined.

[Going Underground]

Toronto with Dan Duquette making a brilliant mid season pickup. j/k. Three team race depending on what happens with injuries and what players bounce back. I think it will be a much tighter race then last year. Boston.Baltimore and the Danjays.

[fearthenoodle]

think it will be a much tighter race then last year.

I would definitely agree with this, though you never know how things will shake out with injuries. Nobody expected 2014 to be a runaway, either.

[Frobby]

I think it will be a much tighter race then last year.

I would definitely agree with this, though you never know how things will shake out with injuries. Nobody expected 2014 to be a runaway, either.

It would be a huge shock if anyone won the AL East by 12 games this year. That kind of margin is pretty unusual. AL East margin in recent years:

2014: Orioles, 12 games

2013: Red Sox, 5 games

2012: Yankees, 2 games

2011: Yankees, 6 games

2010: Rays, 1 game

2009: Yankees, 8 games

2008: Rays, 2 games

2007: Red Sox, 2 games

2006: Yankees, 10 games

2005: Yankees and Red Sox tied

2004: Yankees, 3 games

2003: Yankees, 6 games

2002: Yankees, 10 games

2001: Yankees, 13 games

[weams]

It would be a huge shock if anyone won the AL East by 12 games this year. That kind of margin is pretty unusual. AL East margin in recent years:

2014: Orioles, 12 games

2013: Red Sox, 5 games

2012: Yankees, 2 games

2011: Yankees, 6 games

2010: Rays, 1 game

2009: Yankees, 8 games

2008: Rays, 2 games

2007: Red Sox, 2 games

2006: Yankees, 10 games

2005: Yankees and Red Sox tied

2004: Yankees, 3 games

2003: Yankees, 6 games

2002: Yankees, 10 games

2001: Yankees, 13 games

And that said, the AL East was the best division in baseball once again. Even with all the teams beating up on each other. Of course, Baltimore raised that percentage up greatly with their big season. Winning 96 is better than sneaking in with 89.

[Groundhog]

I do think it'll be a battle between the O's, Blue Jays, and Sox, with the O's in the top two, but I'm unsure of whether they'll be battling it out for the Wild Card.