Poor Play, Injuries Throughout American League East Helping Red Sox' Cause

Poor Play, Injuries Throughout American League East Helping Red Sox’ Cause

by Tony Lee on Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 8:30AM

Those who shied away from predicting that the Red Sox would win 100 games cited the fact that the American League East was just too loaded for that. There would be 72 games against four solid teams, and very few of them would be easy.

But if you glance at the division standings just over two weeks into the season, you realize how difficult it is to predict such things. Not only are the Red Sox in the midst of one of the worst starts in team history, but those above them are not doing anything to make anyone forget the 1984 Detroit Tigers, perhaps the best AL East team since divisional play began in 1969. Entering Monday, only the AL East and the six-team NL Central have as many as four teams with losing records.

Every team, not just Boston, has their own issues with which to contend. Last week we analyzed the first week of play in the AL East and tried to predict what was real and that which was only a mirage. This week, let's take a look at some legitimate early concerns for each of the Red Sox' divisional opponents.

Baltimore
As Expected, Baltimore Rotation Hits its First Rough Patch

New York
Phil Hughes Situation Makes Uncertain Yankees Staff Even More Questionable

Tampa Bay
Rays Have to Hope for Johnny Damon to Make Speedy Recovery From Finger Injury

Toronto
Sloppy Defense Could Hamper Toronto in 2011