Let's be clear. The Yankees are going to win a lot of baseball games this year. Why? Because the Yankees always win a lot of games, whether they're winning the World Series (as they did last year and have done five times since 1996) or even when they're not making the playoffs (as they didn't in 2008, for the first time since 1993 -- years in which they won 89 and 88 games, respectively).

So they'll win a lot of games. Will they win the franchise's 28th (twenty-eighth!) ring? Let's examine the makeup of Bronx Zoo '10 from a slightly different historical angle ...

Bluejays.com's Jordan Bastian says Jays lefty Marc Rzepczynski suffered a injury to his pitching hand thanks to a comebacker off the bat of Yankees second baseman Ramiro Pena Monday night.  Even though the injury does not appear to be serious, the 24 year-old hurler may have seen his chance to make the big club out of spring training go down the drain as he surrendered five runs in 4 2/3 innings during a 5-3 loss to the Bronx Bombers in Tampa.

Between 1910 and 1919, Boston played .579 ball, only finished under .500 once, and went 4/4 in their World Series appearances. A century later, are the Red Sox poised for another "Boston Teen Party"?

Help me, help you, help everyone:

http://www.tangotiger.net/survey/

Carpe Diem.

This is my third year penning previews at Batter's Box and my third year musing about the Orioles.  It hasn't been fun, folks- but I feel as though I'm growing up with this team- one crappy season after another.  But there may be hope yet. 

In Surprise news, the Royals still suck.

One week from today is the Jays last pre-season game.  From this point on Cito intends on playing the regulars more and more to get ready for the real games.  Cito also announced that Jason Frasor is his likely closer.

The Jays got off to a fast start in the spring but the results have been rockier recently.  Shaun Marcum celebrated his being named as the opening day starter by giving up nine runs yesterday and Brian Tallet and Marc Rzepczynski have been getting hit around too.  Brandon Morrow, Dustin McGowan, Jesse Carlson, Edwin Encarnacion and Lyle Overbey are battling injuries.

But these games don't count right?

The AL West was the best division in baseball last season with an average of 86 wins per team.  The Angels won the division by ten games for their sixth consecutive win. The last time the Angels did not win the division was 2003 when Oakland won 96 games and Anaheim had a losing record.

As we turn our thoughts to the 2010 edition, let's start setting the context. Yup, it's Data Table time.

There are 5 teams in the NL East. I asked 2 questions about each team. That's 10 questions! Did I ever mention I'm a math teacher?

It's the biggest division in baseball and it's smack dab in the middle of what learned baseball fans call the senior circuit.  Five of the six teams will be looking at former Blue Jays to boost their fortunes in 2010.  Guess which team could have the most former Jays on their roster this season?  Guess which team doesn't have a former Jay as of now?  Which player (not a former Jay!) denied me a free taco five years ago?  Who really let the dogs out?  And where the hell are my Toronto Star Season Passes already?  The answers to most of these questions and more in the Batter's Box 2010 NL Central rundown.

 

The Blue Jays have to replace some starter pitcher innings this season. You probably knew that.

3 teams with 88 wins or more last year after the winner in 2008 had just 84 wins, what to expect this time? All 5 teams have made the playoffs at least once between 2003 and 2009, so again, how to predict? Mix in that, vs 2008, the Dodgers were +11, Diamondbacks -12, Rockies +18, Padres -12, Giants +16 - most variable division out there - how the heck do you predict?

We've tried a variety of pre-season preview formats here on Batter's Box over the past few years, some with each team getting its own thread, some division-by-division, some all written by members of The Roster, others involving "guest" previews, some by invitation and other by volunteers.

This year? The answer is (Z) All of the Above.

Beginning later this week ...