WHEN DO PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT?:

With three loaded teams, AL East figures to stage epic race in 2009 (Ted Keith, 1/15/09, Sports Illustrated)

The first salvo of what promises to be the most entertaining -- and quite possibly the best -- division race in years was fired at Fenway Park on a frozen January day in the midst of what was supposed to be a relatively friendly roundtable discussion for a charity event.

At a Q&A that is part of the annual "Hot Stove, Cool Music" weekend put on by Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and Hall of Fame journalist Peter Gammons, Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Fernando Perez was asked what it was like to beat the Red Sox in last year's American League Championship Series. Boston's diminutive and opinionated second baseman -- and the reigning AL MVP -- Dustin Pedroia, chimed in: "Don't get used to it."

The remark may have been meant to elicit a laugh, but it nevertheless spoke to the heart of why the AL East will be so competitive and so much fun to watch in 2009. In what is by far the toughest division in baseball, there is no offseason.

You'd expect a team that found sudden success--like the Rays--to back up a bit the next year, but they still have so much upper level talent feeding into the majors that last year was extremely unlikely to be their high point. From just a talent standpoint, they're the pick of the litter. But the Boston rotation is just ridiculous. Beckett/DiceK/Lester remain constant, but then there are the old--Wakefield, Smoltz, Penny--and the young--Buchholz, Masterson, Bowden--to choose from for 4th and 5th starters. Basically, they won't be starting 4 guys who'd be in most other teams' rotation.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 16, 2009 4:33 PM