A.L. East spring training capsules - 美國職棒

A.L. East spring training capsules




Tampa Bay Rays

Manager: Joe Maddon (fourth season)

2008: 97-65, first place, A.L. champions

He's here: OF/DH Pat Burrell, OF Matt Joyce, RP Joe Nelson, RP Brian Shouse,

OF Gabe Kapler, RP Lance Cormier, 3B Morgan Ensberg.

He's outta here: DH/OF Cliff Floyd, SP Edwin Jackson, OF Rocco Baldelli,

IF/OF Eric Hinske, RP Trever Miller, OF Jonny Gomes.

Outlook: In 2008, the Rays became the second team in major league history to
make the postseason after finishing with the worst record in baseball the year
before. By winning the A.L. pennant, the thrifty Rays not only proved they
could compete with big spenders like the Red Sox and Yankees, they raised
expectations for 2009 and beyond. The challenge now is for a young pitching
rotation and youthful everyday lineup featuring OF B.J. Upton, 3B Evan
Longoria, OF Carl Crawford and 1B Carlos Pena to continue to grow. The Yankees
and Red Sox made several moves to improve this offseason, but the Rays didn't
stand pat. Burrell adds another big bat to the middle of the lineup, Nelson
bolsters the bullpen, and Kapler and Joyce add depth in the outfield. The
rotation figures to get a boost from young, hard-throwing lefty David Price.



Boston Red Sox

Manager: Terry Francona (sixth season)

2008: 95-67, second place, wild card

He's here: SP Brad Penny, SP John Smoltz, OF Rocco Baldelli, RP Takashi Saito,

RP Ramon Ramirez, IF/OF Brad Wilkerson, C Josh Bard,

SP Junichi Tazawa, RP Wes Littleton, OF Paul McAnulty, IF Nick Green.

He's outta here: OF Coco Crisp, SP Paul Byrd*, SP Curt Schilling*, IF Alex Cora,

RP David Aardsma, 1B Sean Casey, RP Mike Timlin*, C Kevin Cash,

C David Ross.

Outlook: After failing to repeat as World Series champions, the Red Sox made
low-cost, potentially high-reward moves. Penny joins the rotation after an
injury-plagued season with the Dodgers, and Smoltz could join him there in May
after he recovers from shoulder surgery. Starter Josh Beckett was sidelined by
a strained side muscle late last season, and DH David Ortiz is coming off a
subpar year. Ortiz hit .264 with 23 homers and was on the disabled list for
almost two months with a left wrist injury. Third baseman Mike Lowell appears
to be making a good recovery from hip surgery. Comeback years from Ortiz and
Lowell could provide power to a team that traded slugger OF Manny Ramirez last
July. The bullpen seems stronger with Saito and Ramirez. Baldelli brings power
and an ability to play all three outfield positions, but his health is a
question.



New York Yankees

Manager: Joe Girardi (second season)

2008: 89-73, third place

He's here: 1B Mark Teixeira, SP CC Sabathia, SP A.J. Burnett,

1B/OF Nick Swisher, IF Angel Berroa, SP Jason Johnson,

C Kevin Cash, SP/RP Sergio Mitre.

He's outta here: OF Bobby Abreu, 1B/DH Jason Giambi, SP Mike Mussina,

C Ivan Rodriguez*, IF Wilson Betemit, SP Sidney Ponson*,

SP Carl Pavano, C Chad Moeller, SP Darrell Rasner,

RP Chris Britton, OF Justin Christian, SP Chase Wright.

Outlook: After missing the postseason for the first time since 1993, the
Yankees spent $423.5 million on Teixeira, Sabathia and Burnett. With the club
seeking its first World Series championship since 2000, there is immense
pressure to deliver in the team's first season in the new Yankee Stadium. Age
and injuries are the most pressing matters. All-Star closer Mariano Rivera, 39,
and catcher Jorge Posada, 37, are coming off shoulder surgery. Starter
Chien-Ming Wang is expected back from a foot injury that cost him the final 3
1/2 months of last season. Designated hitter Hideki Matsui is recovering from
right knee surgery. Light-hitting speedster Brett Gardner will compete for the
center field job with Melky Cabrera, who lost his starting role last season and
was demoted to Class AAA. With Chamberlain in a potentially dominant rotation
that includes Sabathia, Burnett, Wang and 36-year-old Andy Pettitte, the setup
situation in the bullpen could become a question mark.



Toronto Blue Jays

Manager: Cito Gaston (first full season of current tenure,
11th with Blue Jays overall)

2008: 86-76, fourth place

He's here: C Michael Barrett, SP Matt Clement, C Raul Chavez, OF Jason Lane,

DH Randy Ruiz, IF Brandon Fahey, SP Mike Maroth, SP Brian Burres.

He's outta here: SP A.J. Burnett, C Gregg Zaun, IF/OF Brad Wilkerson,

OF Kevin Mench, RP John Parrish.

Outlook: Toronto led the majors with a 3.49 ERA in 2008. Closer B.J. Ryan and
the bullpen remain intact, but the rotation is in tatters. Burnett is gone,
righthander Shaun Marcum will miss the season after elbow surgery and
righthander Dustin McGowan (shoulder surgery) isn't expected back until May or
June. The poor economy prevented GM J.P. Ricciardi from signing big-money free
agents, so Toronto will field basically the same lineup that hit just 126 home
runs last year. Outfielder Vernon Wells was the only player to reach the
20-homer plateau, despite missing more than 50 games because of injuries.
Second baseman Aaron Hill, limited to 55 games because of a concussion, is
ready to return. Along with OF Alex Rios and emerging young sluggers Travis
Snider and Adam Lind, they'll try to keep Toronto afloat. The Blue Jays went
51-37 under Gaston last season after John Gibbons was fired.



Baltimore Orioles

Manager: Dave Trembley (third season)

2008: 68-93, fifth place

He's here: IF/OF Ty Wigginton, SP Koji Uehara, SS Cesar Izturis, C Gregg Zaun,

OF Ryan Freel, SP/RP Mark Hendrickson, OF Felix Pie, SP Rich Hill,

IF Chris Gomez, 3B Donnie Murphy, SP Brad Hennessey, SP David Pauley,

IF Jolbert Cabrera, RP John Parrish, IF Brandon Fahey.

He's outta here: 1B Kevin Millar*, SP Daniel Cabrera, C Ramon Hernandez,

OF Jay Payton*, IF Juan Castro, IF Alex Cintron,

SP Garrett Olson, RP Lance Cormier.

Outlook: The Orioles appear destined to endure a franchise-record 12th
consecutive losing season. The starting pitching is thin, the team has little
speed or power and has the misfortune of competing in the A.L. East. Perhaps
the most interesting aspect of the club is Uehara, Baltimore's first
Japanese-born import. But the second year of Andy MacPhail's rebuilding program
probably will be similar to the first one, which means the Orioles will be
lucky to escape the cellar.



* Unsigned free agent



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