You could make a case that the best three teams in MLB reside in the AL East Division. Tampa Bay went to the World Series. The Red Sox lost a game 7 to the Rays to deprive the Sox of a chance to win back to back World Series. The 2009 Red Sox are going to be very good. The pitching is in great shape with the Big 3 of Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and Jon Lester is as good as it gets. They still have fan-favorite Tim Wakefield and his knuckleball. They also brought in Brad Penny and down the road John Smoltz will join the fold. Justin Masterson showed promise as a starter and out of the pen last year. The Red Sox are very good at the end of the game with Ramon Ramirez who has electric stuff, Hideki Okajima is very funky and it's hard to pick up his pitches and Jonathan Papelbon is as good a closer as there is in the game. The Red Sox offense is very potent with very patient hitters who will take their walks 2008 MVP Dustin Pedroia is a hitting machine. Kevin Youkilis is a big time run producer and DH Big Poppy David Ortiz and third basemen Mike Lowell should have bounce back years.