Millar: Parity Will Make American League East A Tough Division
BOSTON (CBS) -- With David Price at the front of their rotation, there is some hope surrounding the 2016 Boston Red Sox.
Former Red Sox first baseman and MLB Network analyst Kevin Millar joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Monday morning ahead of Opening Day, and doesn't think Boston is destined for a third straight last place finish in the division. Early predictions have the Blue Jays claiming their second straight AL East, but Millar believes that while gifted offensively, Toronto has question marks in their starting rotation.
"This division is tough because of the parity in it. You look at the NL Central last year with the Pirates, Cardinals and Cubs all winning 95+ games – they're not that good in the east but the teams are solid," said Millar. "The Yankees are better than people give them credit for, and the Red Sox will not finish in last place again. The one thing about the Blue Jays' offense is they absolutely mash the baseball. Then there's the Orioles and the Rays. The Rays pitch. So it'll be an interesting east, that's for sure."
For the Red Sox, it's pretty simple. It all falls on the success or failure of their starting five.
"At the end of the day it's about pitching. This team needs to pitch. They signed David Price, [but Clay] Buchholz has to have a better year and he knows that," said Millar. "They have to pitch."
Millar also touched on the Pablo Sandoval controversy, how long Travis Shaw should have the starting job at third, and Hanley Ramirez's transition to first base:
Millar and Chris Rose start 17 hours of coverage on MLB Network starting with "Intentional Talk" at 9 am. You can see they had some fun at the circus taping this promo:
