This past weekend, The News-Letter had the opportunity to discuss baseball with a professional scout. We talked about college baseball, performance enhancing drugs and of course the upcoming season. With the baseball season just a week away, here is a preview of the 2013 MLB season.
With various off-season acquisitions, major injuries and top level prospects, several teams have both significantly improved and declined. Here is an in depth look at four teams, some on the rise and some on the decline.
On The Rise
Los Angeles Angels —Already a well rounded team, the Angels added All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton to add to what is now one of the most potent lineups in baseball. Surrounded by Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo, the Angels will mash. Assuming Pujols can avoid another slow April, the Angels could be hot from the start. But the success of their season will revolve around their starting pitching. The front office added right handed arm Tommy Hanson to the rotation. The 26-year-old ex-Brave is unproven in the American League but could provide a big boost to the staff. Perhaps the most unheralded acquisition is new closer Ryan Madson. He missed the whole 2012 season with Tommy John surgery but could solidify a pen that has 47 blown saves in the past two seasons. With the depleted Texas Rangers, look for the Angels to run the AL West.
Toronto Blue Jays — The Blue Jays made some of the more impressive free agent signings and trades to finally field a team ready to compete in the brutal AL East. Newcomers Emilio Bonifacio and Jose Reyes will give the Jays a speedy dynamic middle infield. Melky Cabrera also heads up north after his shortened 2012 season. It will be interesting to see if the presumably steroid free Cabrera can maintain his play from last year. Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion will provide the pop in one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. Assuming the staff can stay healthy, the three aces of R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle should be able to throw into the late innings of games. With a revamped roster, 2013 may finally be the year for the Blue Jays to claim the AL East crown.
On The Decline
New York Yankees- If one team rises, the other must fall. It pains me to say, but my beloved Yankees will crumble in 2013. For the past four seasons analysts have criticized the Yankees aging roster. For four consecutive seasons the Bronx Bombers have silenced the critics, claiming the top spot in the AL East. It appears that the creaky joints may have finally caught up to the Yankees. Perennial All-Stars Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson will all start the season on the disabled list. Teixeira looks to manage a potentially season ending wrist injury while Granderson heals a broken forearm. Jeter and Rodriguez join staff ace CC Sabathia and first ballot Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera as four major contributors entering the spring after off-season surgeries. GM Brian Cashman has made a living piecing together playoff worthy clubs but this daunting task may prove to be too much. All Star second basemen Robinson Cano will look to carry an impressive World Baseball Classic performance into the regular season. The Yankees only shot at the playoffs may rest in Cano’s smooth swing and his ability to carry an aging lineup.
Philadelphia Phillies- Sorry to upset the Philly faithful but I don’t see this team winning any pennants. The Washington Nationals are simply too good, and the Phillies are without a roster capable of making an impressive run. Once arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Roy Halladay has fallen off. He has struggled to hit 90 mph this spring and is searching for his old recipe to get hitters out. Both Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels should be dominant from the left side, but the staff really takes a deep fall after those two arms. Jonathan Papelbon will once again be dominant, but if Mike Adams fails, the team has no other reliable options in the pen. The added presence of Michael Young will lend a boost to the lineup, but an unproven starting outfield will hurt the Phillies in the long run. With a thin staff and declining sticks it will be impossible for the Phillies to compete with the surging Nationals.
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