All 10 teams in the American League East and National League East began the day with records above .500.
Even given the tough competition in the American League East, one can imagine such a team doing interesting things.
The American League East has some excellent teams, and a win or two here and there adds up fast.
That leaves the Yankees looking fairly ordinary in a flattened American League East, in which parity now trumps excellence.
The Blue Jays have finished third or lower in the five-team American League East in 18 of the past 19 seasons.
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Could you imagine for a single season seeing the American League East comprised of the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, Braves and Rays?
Finishing second behind the Yankees in the American League East, the Red Sox met them again in the seven-game American League Championship Series.
The Orioles averaged 106 wins in his first three full seasons and won the newly formed American League East division in five of his first six.
Managing in the American League East is vastly different than any other division within baseball, especially if you have a ball club with high expectations and an even higher payroll.
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The skipper of my beloved hometown Baltimore Orioles, he guided the Birds over 17 years to six American League East titles, five 100-win seasons, four pennants and the 1970 world championship.
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As the Blue Jays aggressively assemble a roster that appropriately represents the elite caliber of talent in the American League East, they cannot forget the value and importance of a seasoned manager.
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For example, if the Kansas City Royals wanted to reap the financial benefits of playing in the American League East for a single season, floating realignment could help them achieve this goal.
After a brief stint in the American League West (1970-1971), the Brewers had called the American League East home for 22 years (1972-1993) before a temporary relocation to the American League Central (1994-1997).
Besides winning his third American League East title and narrowly defeating a tenacious Baltimore Orioles ball club during the regular season and in the American League Division Series, he accomplished these amazing feats with a heavy heart.
The daunting presence of their formidable opponents in the American League East would temporarily disappear and either ball club would have a new opportunity to reengage fans and compete in a division better suited for their financial constraints.
There is no doubt that a lack of familiarity and comfort with the Yankee organization, competing in the American League East, and New York City in general at least partially explains why Mr. Lee rejected overtures from Mr. Cashman.
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To combat the wealthy behemoths in the American League East, Billy Beane defied decades of player development strategies and the wisdom of seasoned scouts by allowing an assistant general manager with a Harvard degree in economics to enter into the inner sanctum of the draft room of the Oakland Athletics with a laptop.
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After averaging around 23, 000 per game from 2008 to 2010, a stretch that saw the Rays win two AL East titles and one American League pennant, attendance has plummeted this year to just over 16, 000 a game through the first 19 home dates.
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