AL East

Derrek Lee had a down year in 2010. Lee's 19 home runs marked his lowest total since 1998 (min. 250 PA). His 80 runs were his lowest total since 2000. His 80 RBI were his lowest total since 2001.

I suppose saying he had a "down year" is a bit of an understatement. From 2007-2009 Lee averaged 26 home runs, 92 runs, 94 RBI, .304 AVG and a .340 BABIP. So what gives?

Marco Scutaro was the "highlight" signing of 2009's offseason. For those who are true fans and/or have played the game, you know that he was not the big solution. In fact, he should never have been signed in the first place. He is simply overpaid and overrated. If the Red Sox did want to sign him it should have been at a much cheaper annual salary. 

For those who fancy themselves baseball analysts, two teams have been thrown around as World Series favorites since the Hot Stove season started heating up.

With Philadelphia’s pitching making headlines and Boston’s offense creating water cooler conversation, many are hoping for an NL/AL super postseason pair up.

While anything can happen in a series, never mind during the season, let’s take a look at what team has the advantage on paper headed into April 1.

Jonathan Papelbon was having a decent spring—that is, until his fourth outing, where he allowed three earned runs on a hit, three walks and a hit batter in just one third of an inning of work.

However, he followed up that performance with a clean inning of work against the New York Yankees. All is perfect in paradise? Not quite.

Catching is a position in baseball that deserves immense credit; those able to combine power and average with All-Star-calibre defense are far and few between. 

Look at the likes of Joe Mauer and Ivan Rodriguez: 16 Gold Gloves, two MVPs and 11 Silver Sluggers. Within this generation, they are two of the very best. 

So, when teams claim to have the next superstar of the future, many are skeptical. 

As Opening Day anxiety continues to mount, the New York Yankees are still in somewhat of a mini-crisis on the pitching mound, as they are yet to name a formidable five-man rotation.

Manager Joe Girardi has already named ace C.C. Sabathia and recovering ace A.J. Burnett as his one-two punch, but the other three spots remain in limbo.

There was an excellent article about Marco Scutaro in today’s Boston Globe. Columnist Nick Cafardo crafted an insightful story in which he detailed the shortstop’s health issues last season, providing a considerable amount of behind-the-scenes information that fans had not previously known. But does that mean Scutaro should be the Red Sox’ starting shortstop in 2011?

There was good news all over the place on Sunday afternoon, as the New York Yankees hammered the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-1, in Grapefruit League action.

Start with the starter, Yankee ace CC Sabathia, who looked in midseason form. During his time on the bump, Sabathia allowed only one run (on a solo homer to Jimmy Rollins) on six hits and one walk, while striking out five.

Man. Talk about living on the edge.

There is not a single player on the New York Yankees‘ roster who is going to have more of an influence on the eventual outcome of the team’s 2011 season than A.J. Burnett.

Every season we seem to talk about Nick Markakis and his breakout potential—and every season we are sorely disappointed with the results. 

While he has always been solid, though unspectacular, the 2010 season was by far his worst: