Know Thy Enemy 2013: Baltimore Orioles
Daniel Poarch brings you the 2013 Baltimore Orioles season preview.
Category: Know Thy Enemy
Know Thyself 2009: Boston Red Sox
The 2009 Boston Red Sox are in the final stages of preparing for what is certain to be an entertaining and exciting season. The spring is finally behind us, the roster is set and the team is moving northward to christen Citi Field with some Major League talent.
Now all the roster moves are behind us and the questions move from the "who" of the offseason as they shift to the analysis of performance and the "what" of baseball. This past week has been spent looking at the competition in the American League East, and stiff competition it is. In most cases, the Red Sox had the position by position edge over each team from the Yankees to the Orioles and it should come as no surprise, in that light, that the staff here at Fire Brand gives the Red Sox the edge to win the AL East in 2009.
Today we summarize much of what we've talked about in our "For Better or Worse" series this offseason as we go player by player through the Red Sox roster and prepare for live baseball next week.
Know Thine Enemy 2009: Toronto Blue Jays
It wasn't long ago that the Toronto Blue Jays were expected to be in the position now occupied by the Tampa Bay Rays as the third wheel atop the American League East. While there is some strong young talent in Toronto, J.P. Riccardi's five year plan is looking more like a two term presidential rebuilding plan in action. It's hard to believe that this team is anything resembling "on the road to competing" in the most vaunted division in baseball.
Last year was a mess for the Blue Jays. Between injuries, slumps, manager changes, and overall bad luck, the Jays still found themselves dreaming of a run at the Wild Card late in the Summer. While an 86-win season was respectable and would have put you in the playoffs in the NL West, it yielded another season leaving Jays fans frustrated with what could have been if there were any semblance of an offense behind one of the best rotations in baseball.
Know Thyself 2008: Boston Red Sox
You guessed it — we’re picking the Red Sox to repeat as American League East Division Champions. Coming off a…
Know Thy Enemy: 2008 New York Yankees
Much like this year’s political campaigns, Yankee fans want change. Ever since the Luis Gonzalez bloop single fell into shallow…
Know Thy Enemy: 2008 Tampa Bay Rays
When you’ve finished nine of the ten seasons in your franchise’s history in last place of your division and you’ve…
Know Thy Enemy: World Series Preview
Shortened World Series Know Thy Enemy due to a chaotic couple days here for the Fire Brand scribes, but I…
Know Thy Enemy Part II: ALCS 2007 Preview- Indians vs. Red Sox
Some quick Red Sox/Indians notes before we finish the ALCS Know Thy Enemy
Know Thy Enemy Part I: ALCS 2007 Preview- Indians vs. Red Sox
Here we stand, on the date of October 10, two days before the first pitch of the 2007 American League…
2007 Division Series Know Thy Enemy: LA Angels vs. Red Sox
Last year, the experience was shattered by an August collapse. In 2005, the postseason was washed away in the blink…