Updated: Aug 18, 2005, 3:12 PM

Vote: State of the American League


The defending champs have a healthy lead in the AL East, an offense responsible for the most runs in baseball and more home games than road games remaining on the schedule. So why are so many fans worrying about the Boston Red Sox?

Because as Curt Schilling, Pedro Martinez and Keith Foulke, right, proved last year, pitching counts in the postseason. And with Foulke still on the mend after knee surgery and a bullpen sporting the worst ERA in baseball, cracks are showing.

So which team's bullpen might help it dethrone the champs? Will a sleeper sneak through and grab the wild card? As September nears, who are your front-runners for some major hardware?
  • 1) If Boston closer Keith Foulke isn't more effective after returning from knee surgery than he was in the first half, who is your pick to win the American League?
  • 2) What do you expect out of Foulke, who was 5-5 with a 6.23 ERA before going on the DL and undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery?
  • 3) Which AL contender has the strongest bullpen?
  • 4) Which team will win the AL East?
  • 5) Which team will win the AL West?
  • 6) If the Red Sox hold on in the East, which team will earn the AL wild card?
  • 7) From a viewer's perspective, which current wild-card contender would you most like to see in the playoffs?
  • 8) Who gets your vote for AL Cy Young?
  • 9) Who gets your vote for AL MVP?
  • 10) Who gets your vote for AL Rookie of the Year?

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