Rays exit playoffs in round 2

Another disappointing season ends with the Rays dropping the A.L. Championship series to the Toronto Blue Jays. The regular season provided a lot of highlights: 123 Wins, Matt Holiday led the team in hitting with a .319 average, Mark Teixeira clubbed 43 home runs and had 114 RBI's. Joel Pineiro highlighted the pitching staff with an incredible 21-0 record, Matt Cain had a 2.12 ERA, Tim Lincecum struck out a team high 206 batters and Jonathan Broxton earned 33 saves with an ERA of 1.51. Still when it mattered most, the team couldn't produce the 12 wins that it takes to earn the championship. Toronto faltered against a superb Giants team in the World Series, congratulations to both teams for fine seasons.

Looking to 2010, I expect more competitive balance than last season. The Rays will be tough but probably not quite as good on paper as the 2009 team. The Jays will be there but they may also take a step back next season. Florida's move to Baltimore will only make things tougher in the A.L. East. The Angels look very strong for 2010 however the A's have a tough road repeating after the previous manager jettisoned many of their draft picks to pursue this years pennant. Texas looks to be building a very strong young team that may give teams a run for their money in the A.L. West.

In the N.L. East, Baltimore moves their young talented team to New York and finds themselves in a division where Cincy won 95 games and Milwaukee 93, ouch! Both Cincinnati and Milwaukee look tough again in '10 and don't discount the Braves who have some fine young players as well as the Phillies who have Josh Hamilton and two top 5 picks in this years draft. In the West the Giants have a couple of staff aces in Carpenter and Oswalt but they could have a tough time getting to 110 wins again. Arizona can make things tough in any series but the injury to Youkilis and his limited usage will hurt their overall season win/loss mark.

Overall, I think the league will be stronger than ever in 2010 and hopefully everyone will be back and active from the start of the Hot Stove season through the end of the year.