baltimore gets no respect....

[George_Foreman]

i was just watching around the horn, and they were discussing "who's going to win the AL east". not ONCE were the words "baltimore" or "orioles" or "O's" mentioned. not once. all yanks/sox....

now i know it's old news that these two teams overwhelm all others, but is baltimore really that out of it? they've got mora back and bedard will be returning soon. i honestly think they've got as good a chance as either the sox or the yanks, and baltimore is MY mid-season pick to win the AL East.

who's yours?

[so0perspam]

The BoSox are the obvious choice for me.

[beltrans_boy]

i was just watching around the horn

Well, that's your first problem...

I voted for the Sox. That lineup is just too powerful, and once/if they get that rotation and bullpen to click, it's going to be hard for Baltimore to catch up.

[bigh0rt]

The BoSox are the obvious choice for me.

Same here. I don't think Baltimore's arms will carry them through July/August the way that Boston and the Yanks are capable of (not necessarily "going to" at all, but as I said, capable of).

You can't predict how Bedard will be when he comes back. For the sake of him being on my DL, I hope he's exactly the way he was pre-injury. Rodrigo Lopez has posted an ERA of 4.50 or higher in both June and all of July thus far.. Chen's July numbers are slanted by his 1.1 IP outing vs the Yankees, but he may be showing signs of going back to his regular career 4.34/1.35 self (strange stat: 2005 .257 BAA as opposed to a .250 career BAA). Ponson's 1.73 WHIP, 5.93 ERA, and 59 K's to 41 BBs aren't figures I'd like to see in a guy I'm throwing out every five days in hopes of making a playoff push, either.

[LBJackal]

Boston. The Orioles don't have any SP's whatsoever, so I don't see them having much of a chance. Chen is OK I guess... and Bedard is good when healthy... but other than that they only have some scraps. And their only decent arm in the pen is BJ Ryan. And their hitting has definately been good but they're still only 3rd in their division in terms of scoring runs, with the Jays right on their tail (431 versus 428).

So overall... if Boston blows it, the Yanks will take it. I'd klike to think the Jays have a chance, but with Doc out for over a month that doesn't seem very likely.

[George_Foreman]

i was just watching around the horn

Well, that's your first problem...

I voted for the Sox. That lineup is just too powerful, and once/if they get that rotation and bullpen to click, it's going to be hard for Baltimore to catch up.

aww common. it's good television.

err... well, at least it's entertaining television.

as for the lineups, i don't see boston as having a huge advantage. sure, i'll take the bosox OF with damon and manny and nixon, but the orioles have one of the best IFs in the game with roberts, mora (who rarely gets his props), and of course tejada. oh, and javy lopez is the equal of tek, IMO. if you want to argue pitching, i think it's a tossup. the sox will have the better rotation once schilling returns, but the baltimore pen is better with julio/ryan against the non-existant closer of boston.

[WharfRat]

I personally think the division is a complete tossup, with Boston with slightly better chances but the Orioles and the Yanks all with potential to take it. I think all three teams have their strengths and weaknesses, and basically it's a question of who can best avoid getting bit on the rear by their weaknesses. All three have powerful offenses with holes in their pitching, and I don't think there's all that much separating the three. I expect them all to be right there at the end - this will be a fun one, because I'm not convinced any of these teams will go out and get it like Anaheim or St. Louis.

But if you put a gun to my head, I say....Boston.

[blankman]

I say the Yankees. Two games back in the loss column is hardly anything.

Pitching is the big worry, but if they keep hitting, especially Giambi, that gives them a big chance already.

Felix Rodriguez could be a huge impact coming out of the pen if he can regain his form.

The next stretch for them is the real determining factor to me: Boston, Texas and Anahiem series.

[Half Massed]

why isn't tampa bay on that poll? they could pull a huge second half run together, right? right? or are they arleady mathematically eliminated? man, how sad would that be?

seriously though, everyone in the division has question marks, and whichever team has the most question marks go through for them will take it. if any one of the teams can pull it together, they could be a team to watch out for in the playoffs, but if none of them really do, an early exit is in their future. there's no obvious choice as of now, but i guess i'd have to say sox as well, just because i think they have the best chance of pulling it together. if the O's get a strong starter, then watch out though...

[BronXBombers51]

Orioles will continue to fade and the summer will be a constant battle between the Yanks and Sox for first place. I'm a little biased but I'm taking the Yankees to win the division. I do think it will be decided during the last 3 games of the season, where it's Yankees vs. Red Sox in Fenway.