Who will drop out of the AL Playoffs in '09?

[manufor3]

I think it is the Rays. Even though they made it all the way, teams now see them as a threat and will try harder against them.

[K-State Spur]

The Rays are only going to get better. They were the youngest team in the playoffs. Remember that a lot of people were predicting BIG things from this group - just not this early.

Of course, they could miss if the Yankees and BoSox make monumental gains this offseason.

As it is, I think the ChiSox are the most likely to not repeat. Their division should be a lot tougher next year.

[bostonguy]

It depends how the Rays handle the world series hangover. It wont be based on their talent, but on their mentality. Of course people will overlook the fact that losing in a championship series is the worst way to get eliminated. It's not easy to rebound from losing like that young team or not. Time will tell if they can overcome this new hurdle.

[T Park]

White Sox.

[AFBlue]

Rays spent most of the year with at least one of Crawford or Longoria on the shelf and with two of their superstars underperforming for most of the year (Kaz and Upton).

They also have a wealth of pitching prospects at or near the Major League level to plug in or trade for an "everyday" RF or DH.

I'm not saying everything will go right for them next year, but that it wasn't as if everything went right for them this past year....they dealt with adversity and showed the mental toughness to win the toughest division in baseball.

I think they've got a better shot to be in the playoffs than the ChiSox.

[JamStone]

Of those four, the White Sox have the least amount of talent, so I would say them. Angels are in a division where it will be hard for them not to make the playoffs. Boston has crazy pitching. Tampa has strong pitching but young, so it will be interesting if they can pitch that well again. White Sox pitching is also erratic, and they're line-up isn't that daunting once you get past the fact that at any given time they can get hot at the plate and hit a lot of home runs. They're not .300 hitters, and good pitchers can do well against them. So, yeah, White Sox. Cleveland, Minnesota, and hopefully Detroit should all push the White Sox next year.

[manufor3]

can i change my vote to la...

[pkbpkb81]

the al west will be a 500 divison this year imho

and the angels have come back to the pack a little bit so i will say them

but in the central i wouldent be suprised if clevland or minnsota over take the whitesox's