MLB Update – Red Sox Try to Keep Up with Yankees in the AL

There’s been a lot of action going on in the N.L. what with agent Scott Boras arguing with the New York Mets over Carlos Beltran’s surgery, and Mark McGwire admitting to using steroids but keeping his hitting coach job with the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the A.L. things have been relatively quiet which is one of the reasons that a traditional update just won’t suffice for the American League.  Instead, let’s take a look at some of the contenders for the A.L. Pennant and see where they stand right now.

American League Update:  Yankees Are Still the Top Team

** Odds are to Win World Series

1. New York Yankees  +325 – - The odds on the Yankees to repeat are low, but they might not be too low to warrant a bet.  Unless some teams in the A.L. continue to make changes, the Yankees look awfully tough to beat this coming season.  The Yankees acquired another really good pitcher in Javier Vasquez. That allows them flexibility with Joba Chamberlain.  If Chamberlain ends up in the bullpen, the Yankees shouldn’t miss a beat and in fact might be better for it. How’s that for improvement!

2. Boston Red Sox +650 – - Adrian Beltre could definitely help the Red Sox in the hitting department and adding John Lackey to their starting rotation could be huge.  The word to remember is “could”.  As good as Lackey is, unless Dice-K returns to his old form and Jon Lester continues to pitch well, the Red Sox are going to have trouble getting to the Yankees in the A.L. East. At least, that’s the way I see it right now.

3. Seattle Mariners +1800 – - Am I giving the Mariners too much credit right now for acquiring Cliff Lee?  Possibly, but their ace, Felix Hernandez was terrific last season and Lee gives them another ace #2.  If they can get into the playoffs, then they have two guys that could shut down an opposing team.  That’s four potential victories in a seven game series.

4. Los Angeles Angels +1400 – - The Angels will need one thing to happen and one thing only.  Okay, maybe they need two things to happen but the first thing is absolutely essential to their success.  The #1 guy in their rotation, Ervin Santana, is going to have to really step it up this season.  He will have to improve big time on his 5.01 ERA and 1.47 WHIP.  If he doesn’t, then there’s no way that the Angles even beat the Mariners for the A.L. West Title much less win a pennant.

5. Minnesota Twins +2500 – - The Twins have catcher Joe Mauer, who is the most important player to any team in the league in my mind. He’s fresh off winning the A.L. Batting Title and MVP but had off-season kidney surgery and might not be ready for opening day.  Also, doesn’t kidney surgery just sound awful?  Either way, Joe Mauer by himself can’t bring this team any closer to a pennant.  The Twins need to find a real pitching ace because even though Scott Baker is good, he’s not Josh Beckett or Felix Hernandez good.

6. Detroit Tigers +2800 – - The Tigers looked like A.L. Central champions for most of 2009 but then they began to implode and ended up losing the A.L. Central Title to the Minnesota Twins.  They are still a viable candidate to make it into the playoffs but like a lot of teams in the A.L. they just aren’t good enough overall to take on the Red Sox and Yankees unless both of those teams are hit with injuries.