AL East

There are few "sure things" in life. Some that come to mind are death and taxes, which are not exactly what most people like to think about. But, with the baseball season less than four weeks away, lets take a look at each team's "money player" for the 2011 season. "Sure thing" will be defined as anybody who has and will put up consistent numbers over a minimum of a three year period. We aren't looking for flashes in the pan as much as legitimate stars who have been and will be consistent throughout this season and their career. 

We're two weeks into spring training and now that pitchers and hitters have started to get their groove back, attention is going to shift towards results.  The Tampa Bay Rays bullpen is wide open, and many pitchers are vying for a spot.  From grizzled veterans to young phenoms, the Rays have a variety of arms to look at.

Not to mention a guy by the name of Manny Ramirez. 

I saw an interview of the Yankees' player development director, Mark Newman, by noted baseball prospect expert John Sickels, and was more than a little surprised at some of the spin Newman puts on various players in the organization.

Maybe surprised isn't the right word. 

The story line on Yankee phenom, Jesus Montero, has been that he is a can’t miss major league hitter.  Before the 2010 season, he was listed by Baseball America as the No. 4 overall prospect in all of baseball.

But the down side to his story was that he might never be a major league catcher. 

Since 1995, the New York Yankees have been in the playoffs every year except one—2008.

As a result, the current generation of Yankee fans is spoiled. We, who are Yankee fans have lived the past 16 years watching players such as Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neil, Tino Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, C.C. Sabathia, etc.

Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez are the highlighted names, but virtually every move Theo Epstein made this winter made good sense and improved the team. Boston now boasts a roster deeper and better-balanced than any other in the American league, and perhaps better than any other in baseball.

With the last two spots of the starting rotation still vacant, many wonder if top-pitching prospects Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances will be considered for the job. According to Cashman, that would be a no.

“Betances and Banuelos aren’t earning spots in the rotation out of spring training,” Cashman told the New York Daily News, “They’re going to get their first taste of big-league camp, then they’re going to get slotted into Trenton. They have no chance to make this team.”

For once Brian, I actually agree with you.

I am finally at the end of my series examining the relative strengths and weaknesses of the teams in the AL East, on a position-by-position basis. The players at each position have been ranked in relation to their peers within the division, with each team being assigned points based on where their player ranks in comparison to the other players.

Today, the series concludes with a look at the Designated Hitters.

The best player will earn 10 points for his team, with the remaining players being assigned points as follows: 7-5-3-1.

Earlier this spring, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman insisted that Manny Banuelos, who won't turn 20 years old for another few days, had "no chance" to make the major league team out of spring training. 

The countdown has begun, and it is only 26 days to Opening Day.  

Every year, new players filter in and out of the league as they look to make a name for themselves in the majors.  

However, these particular players won't take long to cement their spot on their teams as we look at the top 5 rookies who will make an immediate impact for their team in 2011.

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