Being a loyal follower of the Red Sox it’s really hard to muster up the guts to talk trash to anyone who doesn’t follow the Devil Rays.  Well maybe we can toss in Mariners fans, not because their team is atrocious, but rather because I’m convinced they think Edgar Martinez is still playing for them.  Let’s just say that their baseball IQ is lacking...to put it nicely (However, huge props to Safeco Field.  It’s still my favorite modern park.).  I read something this week that just put me over the edge and now I need to talk a little trash.  I can’t hold myself back.  Tom Singer wrote on MLB.com that the Blue Jays were going to take the AL East.  Sure, this is a possibility in the “anything can happen” world of baseball (See Yankees choke in 04), but Toronto has now hit trendy sleeper pick status.  I always hate that pick because A.)  by the time the season starts they go from sleeper to World Series favorite thus rendering them a non-sleeper and B.)  they finish in 4th place or worse due to the pressure.  However, it’s the crap that they say about mediocre or fringe players that kills me.  You would swear that some of these writers pulled out the oils and said “Who wants a body massage?”

The second the Blue Jays overpaid for AJ Burnett the sleeper talk started.  I’m convinced that this is because Curt Schilling ogled him in the media to the point that they have ordained Burnett the next Tom Seaver.  Seriously, when do we get excited for .500 pitchers?  Sorry, sub-.500.  All of a sudden Hubie Brown’s “upppppppside” justification is sneaking into baseball.  Unfortunately we’re talking about a recently drafted AJ Burnett.  We’re talking about a guy who has 7 years experience with the Marlins.  His record?  49-50.  Bronson Arroyo has 6 years experience and is 33-33 and spent a decent amount of time in the bullpen.  Why is everybody gushing over this guy?  It’s a ”I won’t believe it until I see it” type of scenario.  As far as pitching is concerned, the best pitcher in the division is Roy Halladay, but he needs to stay healthy or he’ll be teetering on wasted talent status soon.  I’m not going to touch on BJ Ryan until David Ortiz’s game winning home run from last year lands.  One word sums up the money he got.  Dumb.

Then Singer goes on to say that they “nailed” down the corners with Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay.  I’ll give them Overbay.  Good young talent, but I’m not convinced he’s the next Will Clark or Mark Grace yet.  Glaus is a HUGE enigma.  Back injuries are so hard to overcome.  Once they are there it’s tough to get rid of them and Troy has lost major time due to his back.  When healthy he will add some pop, but odds are he’s going to be on the DL by May 25.  Offensively they have one guy I would kill for and that’s Frank Catalanotto.  He kills the Sox more than any player I have ever seen in my life.  If he did as well against every other team, as he does the Sox, then he would be in the HOF before he retires...The Girolimetti Italian Baseball Players HOF, but let’s not mince prestige here.  Thankfully, for us, they traded Sox Killer #2 Vernon Wells.  Last time I checked they still have Shea “Trade me Faggot” Hillenbrand.  Aside from his typical hot start what can he do over the course of a season?  He cannot carry a team and he obviously cannot play in the field as he’s being relegated to DH duties.  Not the right career path at his age.  I predict a trade demand by June.  If I were JP Riccardi I would sell him to Japan.  Enjoy the wasabi Shea.

If you read further down his column you see Singer pick the Yankees second and the Sox third.  Of course he picked the Sox third, because I think the genius forgot Josh Beckett is in our line-up now.  I don’t mind if a writer gushes over an AJ Burnett, but lets not forget that the Marlins 1A starter is on the Red Sox now.  Forgetting to mention him just reeks of “Well if I don’t bring him up I can actually prove my point” bad writers syndrome.  So Tom Singer, if you really look at this team you’ll find out that the Blue Jays are more like The Orphans;  a supposed tough team that really wants to play with the big boys, but when the time comes they’ll fold faster than the oragami Shea will learn in Japan.

I’ll have my predictions in place come April, but here is my gut feeling.

1.  Red Sox (After a crappy start the team gels in June.  Papelbon ROY.)
2.  Yankees (Another year older makes them a hit or miss pick.)
3.  Baltimore (The cancerous Sosa and Palmeiro are gone.  Watch out for them to be frisky.)
4.  Toronto (The pre-season hype will kill them.)
5.  Devil Rays (Lots of young talent.  Too bad none of it is in the pitching department.)