cc sabathia 2011

So much is made of the Mets & Yankees and their cross town rivalry. You look at the two teams and they are two totally different teams headed in totally different directions. The Yankees are a team dedicated to spending and winning, while the Mets are in the middle of a non official rebuilding process. The difference now is the Yankees have put themselves in a situation where they're older and have huge contracts weighing them down. They have also did nothing to solidify their starting rotation this season. They banked all their hopes on signing Cliff Lee and seemed to have no plan "B" when he was scooped up by the Phillies. They went on to resign Mitre, and by default looks like Nova will get a spot in the rotation. They lost Andy Pettitte to retirement and then they went on to sign over the hill & over weight free agents Freddy Garcia & Bartolo Colon. On paper the Yankees do not look good. In actuality the Yankees do not look good.

CC Sabathia

Behind CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes, the Yanks are weak with a capital W. With the Redsox holding the best rotation in the division, and the Rays only getting better with their starting 5, the Yanks will struggle to finish 3rd in their own division. There is only so much offense can do if your 3,4,5 starters give up 5 runs a game. Conviently CC has lost 25lbs on a season where he can opt out of his contract and demand more money than Cliff Lee. With the return of captain Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera the Yanks solidified their veteran leadership.

Rafael Soriano

But! The Yanks in my opinion made a huge mistake spending $35 million dollars on an 8th inning reliever. The money could of been spent to bring in 2 starting pitchers with a higher upside then Colon & Garcia. But once again ownership showed its ugly head interfering with Brian Cashman's job.
The infield will be solid as always with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter on the left side. The still improving Robinson Cano at second next to perenial gold glover Mark Texiera. Tex though has to show that 2010 was indeed a fluke on the offensive side and not that he has started a decline. In the catching ranks the Yanks brought in Russell Martin who was not needed but seems to be the #1 guy. Backing him up will be fan favorite Francisco Cervelli.

Russell Martin

Long time Yankee Jorge Posada looks like the odd man out of the catching crew. He will primarily serve as the Yanks designated hitter. The outfield will raise some more eye brows. Nick Swisher who was never a consistent hitter will take that back into rightfield. Brent Gardner & Curtis Granderson will fill out the rest of the outfield. Becoming the 4th outfielder in another confusing move is Andruw Jones. A player who hasn't had a solid year in about 5-years. They let Marcus Thames go to the Dodgers for less money. The bench is not deep but most American League team do not have one anyway. The Yankees bullpen is deep though, but they will be taxed with that lack of depth of the rotation. Joba Chamberlain also need to get not only his body in shape but his head.
So my final standings for the American League East in 2011:

1. Boston Redsox
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. New York Yankees
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays

The New York Mets now have their own issues. They have a major lawsuit looming over their heads and no free agent to be is going to sign here until that is resolved. With that said it's now time for the kids to play the game.

David Wright

David Wright & Jose Reyes will be surrounded by some familiar faces from their minor league days. Returning after a fine rookie campaign is first baseman Ike Davis. When Davis isn't flipping into the dug outs making ridiculous catches, he's launching mammoth shots towards the Shea Bridge. He's a solid defender and a power threat. My pick for second base is Daniel Murphy. Daniel showed in 2009 he has some pop and the knack for the clutch hit. He has been working hard during winter ball to perfect his new craft at second. Luis Castillo's days at second will come during garbage time. Murphy will not have a cake walk to the position as Rule 5 draft pick Brad Emaus has been said to have some solid defensive skills around second. Behind the plate Josh Thole has showed us he can play the game at the big league level. Mets fans will be patient and wait to see what Thole blossoms into. Ronnie Paulino was signed as the under study but will start the season finishing his suspension. Mike Nickeas will probably get the nod until Paulino is ready to return.

Jason Bay

The outfield looks to return healthy for 2011. Angel Pagan showed he was indeed the team's MVP and most consistent player in '11. Along with the return of Carlos Beltran & Jason Bay, the Mets could put up some big numbers with this trio, again if healthy. Bay returns from another Mets mishandling of a concussion. Determined Bay looks to right the ship and prove his contract wasn't another Omar Minaya blunder. Beltran will be wearing an erecta-set on his knee and will be limited side to side, which means his best fit will be in right. The Mets will of course let that drama unfold during spring training. Pagan will either play center or right. The #4 outfielder spot will be a dog fight with newly signed slugger Scott Hairston and returning prospect Lucas Duda. If Hairston returns to his healthy norm he could prove to be a steal. Duda in my opinion will start the season at AAA Buffalo with Fernando Martinez.

Chris Young

The Mets will start spring training again with Johan Santana recovering from surgery (shoulder). Picking up the slack will have to be Mike Pelfrey who set career highs in every category last season. R.A. Dickey who broke out finishing the season in the top 10 in ERA. Rounding out the rotation will be Jonathon Niese, newly signed Chris Young, and a cast of pitchers competing for the #5 spot. Dillon Gee & Pat Misch look like the front runners to win that spot.
The Mets bullpen took a little hit with the loss of Pedro Feliciano to the Yankees but they added some low risk pitchers Chris Capuano, Taylor Buchholtz, & DJ Carrasco. Bobby Parnell & Francisco Rodriguez return to the back end of the bullpen hoping returning players Manny Acosta and Jenrri Mejia round out into form. Another Rule 5 draftee Manuel Alvarez is said to have great control and a blazing fastball. Oliver Perez is still part of this team right now. I am thinking he will not be here when the team breaks for NY. Here are my predictions for the National League East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. New York Mets
3. Florida Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. Atlanta Braves

I have the Nationals with the largest improvement record wise. The Mets will finish above .500. The Marlins with their young guns will push the Mets but not over take them.
For all the crazed Yankee fans who will be pissed by this, don't worry the Yankees will win more games then the Mets but in the end it won't matter. I will say this: The Mets starting 5 will combine for more wins then the Yankees starting 5.


My Post Season picks:
American League:
Boston Redsox, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Anaheim Angels (WC)
AL Champs:
Boston Redsox


National League:
Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds (WC)
NL Champs:
Milwaukee Brewers

World Champions:

Boston Redsox