I'd take gonzo over teixiera Cano over pedroia i would honestly rather have a young scutaro over an aging injury-prone jeter. Arod over Youk Crawford over gardener. yeah i know. but crawford is still better no matter how bad he did last year. Ells over Grand. Barely Swisher over question mark Ortiz over montero Martin and Salty are a close tie Buccholz, Beckett, and Lester over Cc aND CREW. The bjullpen is about even 8-5 Red Sox. There's a title in our future
Posted by kangaroo56

FWIW..WS odds for the ALE-Yanks 5-1 Sox 7-1 Rays 17-1 Jays 75-1 O's 300-1... here's the link for everyone....... http://bleacherreport.com/articles/918262-every-mlb-teams-odds-to-win-the-2012-world-series#/articles/918262-every-mlb-teams-odds-to-win-the-2012-world-series/page/2
Posted by jete02fan

In Response to Re: Bosox favorites again in the A.L. East?? : This is more hostile fandom based inaccuracies by the queen of fiction. She should stick to her support of Pike's revelations about the trufan site, myths about the side board, conspiracy theories, hypocrises, ambushes, and manufactured realities.
Posted by nhsteven

though nhsteven can be annoying (as I) I certainly would never side with pike on anything.... you have warped values kimsaysthis . pike is a very venomous sub-human species. pike is the kind of guy that if you were in New York and some Yankee hoodlums approached you that you would without hesitation push pike to the ground and run for for your life.
Posted by BurritoT

The yankees red sox rays jays and the orioles after closing of last season no team is favor to win. I think this was the most improve division and toughest teams. I myself is red sox fan from southern Ontario played a lot of baseball as teen in the seventies. I go to Blue Jay games and have tickets for the Red Sox And Jays home opener in Toronto can't wait. I love baseball season especially live gms.and I am planning a trip to Boston but tickets are hard to come buy but working on it. The Jays will be better team and Orioles will be a better improvement, and the  Yankees can never leave them out and last minute Rays will make this  eastern div. unpredictable and as usual exciting.
Posted by orr4neely8

In Response to Re: Bosox favorites again in the A.L. East?? : Jete,   Perspective, perspective, perspective ... to Sox fans like me, they ARE always the Masters of the Universe.  All others are mearly necessary parts so the universe can function.   That doesn't mean the universe doesn't bite sometimes, just that all theother parts exist so we can enjoy being Sox fans.   :o)
Posted by SinceYaz

Largely depends on #4 and #5........who will they be? And we are also assuming Buch will return to his 2010 form. The pitching failed us in September and we have really done nothing to improve it, except swap Pap for Bailey, and Melancon for Bard (maybe), and I don't see any improvement here, maybe even a downgrade, and lost a potential premier RFer in the process for another singles hitter in Sweeney.
Posted by Alibiike

Find it difficult to believe that anyone in their right mind would predict that the Red Sox are the favorites to win the AL East in 2012.  Given the fact that they have only won the division once in the last 16 years, the odds would seem to be against them although they have often been favored "on paper" more often than not in recent years.  I don't think that they have necessarily "improved" the team by replacing Papelbon with Bailey, Bard/Wheeler with Melancon, Lowrie with Punto, Varitek with Shoppach and Reddick/Drew with Sweeney.  At best, they have simply cut payroll by not re-signing Papelbon to the type of contract he earned and received from the Phillies.    Obviously the Red Sox will compete effectively for the wildcard as they always do and the addition of the Angels into the mix should serve to add an element of excitement that has been missing as the focus has repeatedly been on the 3 AL East teams claiming two postseason spots.  Injuries are certainly a factor especially to pitchers, but I think that the 162 game schedule in baseball helps to minimize that random element of "bad luck" more than in any other sport and that good teams can and often do make adjustments to address them.  Those who are looking at the macro number of runs scored by the 2011 team and trying to draw comfort from it in terms of offensive production should consider the fact that most of the Sox damage was done against the Jays (10 and 8 record with 137 runs scored versus 77 runs against) and the Orioles (10 and 8 with 118 runs scored versus 92 runs against).  The only team that the Yankees scored 100 plus runs against was the Orioles (122 runs scored and 72 runs against), but they dominated them 13 to 5 in wins versus losses.  The Red Sox were -39 in runs scored against the Rays and -8 against the Rangers two teams which the Yankees outscored during the regular season by 40 runs collectively (3 and +37).  That's a huge difference and gives some insight as to why the Yankees were easily able to win the AL East besides the fact that they had the best bullpen in the league in 2011.  One would hard pressed in early January to argue that the Red Sox bullpen is even slightly better heading into the 2012 season than it was last year. 
Posted by samclemens

In Response to Re: Bosox favorites again in the A.L. East?? : I agree bro, #4 & 5 starters need substantial improvement. Sox really uoght to pick up Oswalt , he is worth 1 year/ 7.5 Million , maybe more! Bot if Cherington doesnt make a serious move now, this club could easily choke again, I cant forget how we were #1 offense in AL, until we werent, "#1 starting five" ubtil July or so, Sox are formidable, but must add a 13-15 game winner type IMO!
Posted by DeweyCBoston

Note: Third place was one game worst than second place and decided in the last inning of game 162 by strange happenings in Baltimore and Tampa Bay. One could rationalize it as second place easily.
Posted by UticaClub

If the Sox can pull off a Garza trade, you can lock em up as the favorites for next year... Assuming Buchholz is healthy.
Posted by SoxPatsCelts1988