2010 National League Predictions

Yesterday, I made my predictions for how the American League would shake out in 2010, where picked the Yankees to get back to the World Series. Now, it's time to take a look at the NL and see who they will face in the World Series. Can the Phillies get there for a third straight time?

NL East
1. Phillies
As Phillies fans, we follow this team every day and make a big deal out of all the little things that go wrong. Sure, the Phils have some issues in the back end of the rotation and their bullpen isn't quite where it should be, but you do realize how insanely good the lineup is, right? How this lineup goes 1-7 like an American League team and even the 8th hitter is known to swing a clutch bat? And, you do understand they have the best pitcher in baseball and he's licking his chops about facing NL lineups? Make no mistake about it, despite their minor flaws, this Phillies team is loaded and ready to get back to the World Series.

2. Braves
While I'm not going to enjoy seeing Jason Heyward destroying Phillies pitching in the years to come, let's hold off placing the crown on the kid just yet. The Braves do have a good rotation and some great hitters in the middle of the lineup but you have to be a fool to think Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus are going to give Atlanta 162 games this season. This is a team on the rise, not a team that has arrived.

3. Marlins
Florida seems locked into the middle of the NL East. They don't quite have the pitching or the hitting to keep up with the big boys but they certainly aren't going to fall back to the bottom. The jury is still out as to whether their latest crop of young guys can be counted on.

4. Mets
Remember when these guys used to be a threat? Before I regret my words, the Mets could still make some noise if they somehow avoided the injury bug, something they have already succumbed to this season. Their pitching is a joke, though, with their bottom three of Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese being abysmal. It's going to be another long year for the Mets and I wouldn't be surprised so see them compete with the Nats for last place.

5. Nationals
Why do the Nationals keep bringing in useless veterans? What do Adam Kennedy, Matt Capps and Tyler Walker bring to the team that someone from Triple A can't? Bring on Stephen Strasburg already and sell some tickets.

NL Central
1. Cardinals
It's hard to pick against the Cardinals given the weakness of the rest of the division. They lost a whole lot more than they gained this offseason, though signing Matt Holliday was huge. The rotation doesn't look great with Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse in there but the Cardinals always seem better on the field than they are on paper.

2. Reds
This pick might be a bit of a reach but Cincinnati looks like they are poised to make a move. They have four guys coming off 20 homer seasons (Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Jonny Gomes) and have some good young pitchers that are coming along nicely. Them finishing second might tell you more about the rest of the Central.

3. Brewers
The Brewers never seem to quite get over the hump. We are now entering the years where their young guys like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are supposed to be carrying the team to multiple division titles. Unfortunately, neither Braun nor Fielder can pitch, so while the Brewers will score a lot of runs, their aging, mediocre pitching staff is going to give up more than their fair share.

4. Cubs
On paper, the Cubs should be better than 4th in the division. When you look a little deeper and realize that they are counting on Marlon Byrd to be a big part of the offense and that Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukodome are pretty awful, you realize that this team just isn't that good.

5. Astros
The team where former Phillies go to die is going to be a joke this year with only the perennially awful Pirates keeping them out of the cellar. With Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence in the middle of the lineup, why are they so bad? Take a look at their starting rotation. Bud Norris? Brian Moehler? Brett Myers as the number three? Yikes.

6. Pirates
Do I have to give a reason why I picked them for last place?

NL West
1. Rockies
The Rockies have become the trendy pick to make the World Series by industry experts who are desperately trying to pick someone besides the Phillies. While I agree that the Dodgers have fallen off and that has allowed the Rockies to take over the division, I don't take them seriously as World Series contenders. They are pretty solid all-around, with an always dangerous lineup, a reliable bullpen and a deep rotation, but they don't do any one thing that separates them from the rest of the NL, especially the Phillies.

2. Dodgers (Wild Card)
An offseason of no moves has kept this team stagnant. They are still a good team with the bats but I really don't see how their rotation is going to hold up the whole year. When Vicente Padilla is your Opening Day starter, it's hard to pick them to go far.

3. Giants
New year, same old Giants. They still have a great rotation but their lineup just has nothing going for it. The Giants are perennially a bat or two away from contention and this year won't be any different.

4. Diamondbacks
Another team with major rotation questions starting at the top, where Brandon Webb looks like he can't be counted on to pitch this year. While they still have Dan Haren, Arizona really has no one else they can count on. Oh, and Adam LaRoche is their clean-up hitter.

5. Padres
Poor Adrian Gonzalez, he has to play for a team that has Jon Garland on the mound on Opening Day. Expect Gonzalez to account for like half of the teams runs on offense and for the Padres to be out of contention by June.

NLDS:
Phillies over Dodgers
Cardinals over Rockies

NLCS:
Phillies over Cardinals

World Series:
Phillies over Yankees
Revenge made sweet with the help of Doc Halladay.

MVP: Albert Pujols
The award is his as long as he stays healthy. I would love to see Chase Utley finally put together a full season of great numbers and steal it away.

CY Young: Roy Halladay
Brace yourselves, NL, Halladay has been freed from the AL East and is ready to mow down all in his path.

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back tomorrow for my Phillies individual player predictions.

2010 American League Predictions

Baseball is here! With the Eagles discarding players left and right, the Flyers sinking into the abyss and the Sixers season long over, the Phillies taking the field on Monday will be a welcome sight. With the acquisition of Roy Halladay, the Phils are in prime position to get back to the World Series for a third straight year.

With the season starting on Sunday as the Yankees take on the Red Sox, it's time to make some predictions. My season preview this year will be broken down into three parts with my predictions for the American League in this post, my predictions for the National League early tomorrow and finally a piece with all of my individual projections for each player on the Phillies coming Tuesday. Last year, I was pretty close as I picked the Phillies to lose to the Red Sox in the World Series. Right outcome, wrong AL East team; let's see if I can do even better this year.

AL East
1. Yankees
The Yankees look poised to make another run at the World Series after they re-tooled their roster, jettisoning Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui for Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson. Like the Phillies, the Yankees didn't sit back and just hope their rotation would be strong for another year; instead, they picked up Javier Vazquez to be the best 4th starter in baseball. With Joba Chamberlain slated to be in the bullpen from the start of the season, I don't see any holes on this Yankees team. It's going to be tough to unseat the champs.

2. Red Sox (Wild Card)
The Red Sox have jumped on the latest "smart baseball" trend and loaded up with defense and pitching as they hope to win a lot more close games this year. Unfortunately, I don't see how they can keep up with the Yankees when they have no one in their lineup that scares anyone. Sure, Victor Martinez and Kevin Youkilis are professional hitters, but they will be relying on J.D. Drew to do too much and hoping that David Ortiz still has something in the tank. That's not going to be a recipe for postseason success.

3. Rays
The Rays trot out mostly the same team as last year as they hope their young players continue to develop and carry them back to the playoffs. Remember, that World Series trip in 2008 was just a pleasant surprise; this team wasn't supposed to really compete for another few years. Now they seem to have the pieces in place; unfortunately, there are two huge roadblocks ahead of them in the division. If it's any consolation, if the Rays were in the Central or the West they would easily win either division.

4. Orioles
Like the Rays, if the Orioles were in any other division, I would like them to make a run at the Wild Card. With Matt Wieters and Adam Jones getting on base ahead of Nick Markakis, who is looking to bounce back from a slight downturn last year, the Orioles should put up plenty of runs. Their big issue is their pitching. Really, Kevin Millwood on Opening Day? Really? How is that going to cut it in the AL East?

5. Blue Jays
Yuck. There isn't much to like about the Blue Jays, who have no pitching and only a sprinkling of talented hitters. With Roy Halladay out of the mix, Toronto fans aren't going to have much fun watching Shawn Marcum and Ricky Romero, the team's "aces", get lit up all year.

AL Central
1. White Sox
The White Sox are a solid mix of good starting pitching (don't forget they added Jake Peavy last year), speed (Juan Pierre and Alexei Ramirez) and power (Carlos Quintin and Paul Konerko). Sure, they don't do anything great, but they will beat you in a number of ways. While Bobby Jenks is a shaky, there are enough other arms in the pen to keep the Sox in games.

2. Tigers
The addition of Johnny Damon gives Detroit a solid lineup from top to bottom to go with a pitching staff that is top-heavy but could be just deep enough. Damon was a great pickup and should score a ton of runs as he gets on base ahead of the big bats in the middle. The Tigers won't be a great team but they should be competitive in an unimpressive AL Central.

3. Twins
The loss of Joe Nathan hurts but that's not why I have them third in the division while many experts think they will win the Central. Sure, they have some great bats in Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, but have you taken a look at their starting rotation? Carl Pavano is their number 2 starter? They are actually going to count on Francisco Liriano every 5th day? Look, I know the Twins always seem to perform above expectations and I could be wrong, I just think this is the year they take a few steps back.

4. Indians
Like Grady Sizemore, this team once had so much promise but just slowly faded away. While their lineup still has enough punch to keep them competitive, their rotation could be bad enough to let them slip back towards the Royals. When Austin Kearns is your biggest offseason acquisition, you've got problems.

5. Royals
Jason Kendall? Rick Ankiel? Scott Podsednik?? What's the point? If you're the Royals, why aren't you just rolling the dice with the young guys and hoping for a miracle rather than wasting your time and money on again veterans? Poor Zack Greinke.

AL West
1. Mariners
The Red Sox of the AL West are built on pitching and defense and look ready to unseat the Angels as division champs. With Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez making up the best 1-2 punch in the AL and Ichiro, Franklin Gutierrez and Milton Bradley providing great outfield defense, the Mariners look like they have the right formula for success. Also just like Boston, questions abound in the lineup, but this team is built to win in the regular season.

2. Angels
Like the Twins, the Angels always seem to perform better than they look on paper but they look like a team poised to take a step back this year. The AL West has been pretty weak in recent years so the Angels have benefited from playing some weak competition; with the Mariners and Rangers both making strides, LA must step their game up or they will fall by the wayside.

3. Rangers
Even with Ron Washington on coke, the Rangers are on the rise. While Nolan Ryan's supposed reclamation project with the pitching staff is a bit over-hyped, it's hard to argue with the immediate turnaround the team made last year on the mound. If they can somehow get 25+ starts from Rich Harden, Texas could do some real damage.

4. A's
All one needs to do is notice that Eric Chavez is going to be in the lineup every day to know all that you need to know about the A's. Until they get a new stadium and bring in some real revenue, there aren't enough Moneyball tricks up Billy Beane's sleeve to keep this club competitive.

ALDS:
Yankees over White Sox
Red Sox over Mariners

ALCS:
Yankees over Red Sox
ESPN will love this ALCS as the Yankees get back to the Series

MVP: Mark Teixeira, Yankees
A-Rod gets all the press but Teixeira continues to put up big numbers

CY Young: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
He will finally earn his "King" nickname

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back tomorrow for my National League predictions.

2009 Phillies Predictions

That image above is that last time we saw the Phillies playing. What will 2009 hold for the defending World Champs? Over the last few days, I made my NL and AL predictions. Today, I will look more in-depth look at the Phillies and make predictions for each individual player. I'll make predictions for all players on the Opening Day roster, plus J.C. Romero.

Phillies Overall Record: 94-68 (Division Winner, Lose in the World Series)

Pitchers: (W-L, ERA, Saves)

Joe Blanton: 13-10, 4.30
He won't put up sparkling numbers but he will pitch deep into games and stay healthy, everything you want in a #4 starter.

Clay Condrey: 2-2, 4.25
Always seems to have a precarious hold on a roster spot, I expect his ERA to drop a bit

Chad Durbin: 4-2, 3.30
There is almost no way he can repeat his 2008 performance when his ERA was a sparkling 2.87. He will still be a reliable 7th inning guy but he'll fall back towards his career norms.

Scott Eyre: 3-2, 4.40
Completely shut hitters down upon arriving in Philly last year, he will struggle when he is asked to be the top lefty out of the pen but will flourish again once Romero comes back.

Cole Hamels: 17-9, 3.15
Will get better run support this year and rack up a few more wins. Also expect at least one short DL stint.

J.A. Happ: 5-6, 4.25
Will get a chance to start a few games this year due to injuries and will be solid but not great. Will be frustrated with his current bullpen role in and struggle in the beginning of the year.

Brad Lidge: 2-2, 2.74, 40 saves.
He's going to blow a save sometime early in the season which will ease the pressure on him a bit. He will remain one of the elite closers in the game.

Ryan Madsen: 4-3, 3.45, 2 saves
Will continue to be a reliable 8th inning option, will gets tons of innings early in the year with Romero out and that could lead to fatigue later in the season.

Jamie Moyer: 15-12, 4.54
Old Man Moyer will continue to eat innings and fool just enough hitters to pick up a good number of wins.

Brett Myers: 16-11, 3.78
No minor league stints for Myers this year, I think his head is on straight and he is going to have one of his best seasons.

Chan Ho Park: 9-7, 5.20
I'm not expecting much from Park, I expect him to lose his job after 15 starts or so and then slide into a long relief role.

J.C. Romero: 4-2, 2.99, 2 saves
The league should be very fearful of an angry Romero when he comes back.

Hitters (AVG, HR's, RBI's)

Catchers

Chris Coste: .254, 6, 25
This may finally be the year that Coste gets supplanted by Lou Marson as backup catcher, but Coste will still put up decent numbers.

Carlos Ruiz: .232, 6, 41
There is only one way for that average to go, and that's up. His real value is in how he calls the game.

Infielders

Eric Bruntlett: .234, 2, 12
Will get his usual smattering of at bats here in there as a defensive replacement.

Miguel Cairo: .250, 0, 9
Don't expect much from Cairo, it's still unclear what his exact role with the team will be. He isn't a strong enough hitter to be a reliable pinch hitter.

Greg Dobbs: .275, 7, 35
I expect his production to decline just a bit. Will still be one of the best pinch hitters.

Pedro Feliz: .253, 16, 52
More valuable in the field, let's just hope he stays healthy. I would love to see him find his power stroke again.

Ryan Howard: .265, 45, 140
The power numbers will still be there and he'll raise his average just a touch. Not quite good enough to compete for MVP.

Jimmy Rollins: .275, 15, 65
A little more power from Rollins but still nowhere near his MVP numbers.

Chase Utley: .322, 35, 128
My exact prediction from last year with the exact same comment: "MVP! MVP! Those numbers should get it done."

Outfielders
Raul Ibanez: .290, 25, 112
The difference between him and Burrell is that batting average. He won't hit for as much power but he will still drive in a ton of runs.

Matt Stairs: .260, 9, 26
I'm not convinced he remains on the roster all year. He's too much of a defensive liability to be useful.

Shane Victorino: .285, 12, 50
A slight drop in his production but he will still tear up the base paths.

Jayson Werth: .277, 18, 58
Last year was probably his peak year so he is on his way back down.

So that's what I think will happen this season. Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section.

2009 National League Predictions

Yesterday, I made my predictions for the American League, where I predicted that the Red Sox would make it to the World Series. Now we have the National League predictions where we find out just who Boston will be facing. Can the Phillies defy the odds and repeat as World Series Champions?

NL East
1. Phillies
Make it three NL East crowns in a row. The Phillies were smart to bring everyone back with the only big move being the swap of Pat Burrell for Raul Ibanez, which looks at worst to be a wash. While there are some concerns over the lefty-heavy lineup, this group will still mash with the best of them. Add in the fact that the core of this team, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, are all still in their primes and you have the recipe for a successful team this year and for the foreseeable future. The bullpen will likely come back to Earth a bit and the 7-8-9 hitters will still be a black hole but this Phillies team looks poised to repeat as National League Champions.

2. Mets (Wild Card)
The Mets biggest weakness last year, the bullpen, all of the sudden becomes a strength with the additions of J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. It's been well documented that if they had even an average bullpen last season they would have easily won the NL East, so you can be the Mets will be a dangerous team this season. Their main concern now is a weak rotation that starts with Johan Santana and follows with a whole lot of question marks. If Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey find some consistency, the Mets could win 95 games. Unfortunately for Mets fans, it's an unlikely scenario.

3. Braves
The Braves should be much better this year but they still have too many holes to seriously compete. Their outfield corner spots are a mess with an ancient Garret Anderson and Jeff Francoeur coming off an awful season. Francoeur is still young enough to rebound but he has a long way to go to become even an average major leaguer. The Braves rotation looks better with the additions of Derek Lowe and Javy Vazquez, but they still have Tom Glavine penciled in as the 5th starter and he hasn't been effective or healthy for years. Atlanta is still an impact player or two away from contending.

4. Marlins
The Fish were a surprise last year as they won 84 games and finished 3rd in the division. The uptick in wins can be attributed to the power-laden lineup and the arrival of Hanley Ramirez as an elite player. They didn't add any free agents in the offseason so they will continue to rely on their minor league system to fill any holes. The Marlins will continue to improve as these rookies develop.

5. Nationals
The Nats and the Pirates will compete for the worst record in baseball. I don't like anything about this team at all, from their signing of a useless defensive player in Adam Dunn to their abysmal rotation and bullpen. About the only thing this team has going for them are the Zimmerman's: third baseman Ryan and rookie phenom Jordan. If Jordan Zimmerman were on any other team, he would be in contention for Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately he's going to get about three wins pitching for this crappy team.

NL Central
1. Cubs
I have a feeling the Cubs are going to fall back a bit this year but I don't see anyone else in the Central strong enough to catch them. Their big offseason move was to bring in Milton Bradley to hit cleanup and that could be a solid move for the 100 games or so where he is actually healthy. The rotation remains a plus for the Cubbies but I don't see them getting over the hump in the playoffs. I picked the Cubs to finally break their curse and win it all last year but I don't see them making any kind of run this season. Sorry Cubs fans, your wait continues.

2. Brewers
If the Brewers had any semblance of a pitching staff I would put them above the Cubs. Besides Yovani Gallardo, I don't see any other pitcher worth getting excited about on this team. The bullpen will also be a mess, which is too bad because it looks like another year the talents of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and the rest of this young lineup will be wasted. It really is an amazing lineup when you consider every regular position player, with the exception of Jason Kendall, has a legitimate shot at hitting 20 homers this year.

3. Reds
I like the Reds to make a big leap this year. They have always had a strong lineup that has only gotten better with the emergence of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce, but now they have some pitching to even out this team. With youngsters Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto, who only figure to get better, and the pickup of a decent 5th starter in Micah Owings, the Reds can finally feel good about who they send to the mound every day. Add in an elite closer in Francisco Cordero and you have a team that is nearly ready to compete.

4. Cardinals
Thanks to Tony La Russa, the Cardinals always play better than they look on paper. With the way the roster looks this year, if they want to break .500, it's going to some of La Russa's best work. While they still have the best hitter in baseball in Albert Pujols, there isn't another hitter in the lineup that really instills fear in the opposing pitcher. Ryan Ludwick had a great season last year but it's too early to tell if it was a fluke. Their biggest offseason acquisition was Khalil Greene, whose best years are behind him. Unless Chris Carpenter can return to form, the pitching staff also looks weak.

5. Astros
This team deserves to suck since they were dumb enough to hire Ed Wade. While they made a remarkable run last year to stay in contention, Houston has only one way to go: down. Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt still anchor the team, but both have problems putting together a full season. The Astros also still feature former Phillie Michael Bourn near the top of the lineup, but his .229 batting average shows that isn't a good thing. Their biggest offseason move was bringing in Mike Hampton, and knowing that he will be their #3 starter tells you everything you need to know about the Astros.

6. Pirates
Officially the worst team in baseball, they will be fortunate to win 65 games this year. With the trading of Jason Bay, very few people living outside of the state of Pennsylvania can even name more than four Pirates. Haven't they had a top pick in the draft for like 15 years in a row now? Shouldn't they have more talent than this?

NL West
1. Dodgers
If they hadn't re-signed Manny, this team was going to be in trouble. As it is, they aren't a lock to win the division because of their suddenly thin pitching staff and weak bench. Are they really going to rely on Jason Schmidt to take the ball every 5th day? And, while I like Randy Wolf, he shouldn't be near the top of any rotation. Luckily, the NL West only takes like 85 wins to be the champ, so Manny's typical 35 homers and 130 RBI should carry them to the playoffs. The continued emergence of Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier won't hurt, either.

2. Diamondbacks
With Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Doug Davis, Jon Garland and Max Scherzer, the rotation is probably the best in the National League. Unfortunately, there is another part of baseball called hitting where the D-backs aren't quite up to par. They have some great young hitters in Stephen Drew and Conor Jackson who can really slug the ball, but the lineup may not have a .300 hitter in it. The best power hitter of all on the team is Mark Reynolds but his 204 strikeouts and .239 batting average are a testament to his all-or-nothing swinging style. Arizona won't score enough runs to keep up with the Dodgers but their pitching will keep it close.

3. Giants
This team is on the upswing. Their pitching, with the exception of Barry Zito and Randy Johnson, is young and only going to get better. The lineup doesn't look great but it could be much improved if Pablo Sandoval lives up to even half of the hype. I'm not sure what they were thinking when they signed Edgar Renteria to a big contract but at least he gives them a veteran presence to mix in with all of the kids.

4. Rockies
How was this team in the World Series two years ago? This team destroyed the Phillies on the way to getting destroyed by the Red Sox in the World Series and since that time the Rockies have been a shell of their former selves. They spent the offseason unloading players like Matt Holliday, rather than building the roster, so expectations are low in Colorado. They still have some guys that can mash, like Braw Hawpe and Garrett Atkins, but their rotation isn't going to cut it.

5. Padres
The pitchers are still there for the Padres but the lineup is still weak. Petco Park saps runs but this group wouldn't score any no matter where they played. Jake Peavy and Chris Young can't pitch every day so the Padres will find themselves in the cellar in a hurry this year.

NLDS:
Phillies over Dodgers
Cubs over Mets

NLCS:
Phillies over Cubs

World Series:
Red Sox over Phillies
They get back to the series but they are World F'n Champs no more.

MVP: Chase Utley
I picked him last year and he was well on his way before he got injured. If he stays healthy this year he will finally put it all together.

CY Young: Johan Santana
He will make it a New York sweep for both Cy Young awards.

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back later for my Phillies individual player predictions.

2009 American League Predictions

Opening Day is just around the corner, so it's time for me to weigh in with my predictions for the 2009 baseball season. This season figures to be an interesting one as our hometown Phillies look to defend their crown as World F'n Champions. My season preview will be broken down into three parts with my predictions for the American League in this post, my predictions for the National League tomorrow and finally a piece with all of my individual projections for each player on the Phillies coming this weekend. I hope to improve on my predictions from last year, where I predicted the Cubs winning the World Series over the Indians, but really how could I do any worse?

AL East
1. Red Sox
With no more Manny, it's all about pitching for the Sox. With Josh Beckett, Dice K and Jon Lester bringing up the front of the rotation and John Smoltz, Justin Masterson and Clay Buchholz ready to fill in should Tim Wakefield or Brad Penny falter, their rotation is completely stacked. Add in Papelbon closing out games and you have the best pitching staff in baseball. The lineup isn't bad, either, although I'm shocked they are still allowing Jason Varitek to swing a bat for this team.

2. Yankees (Wild Card)
You have to like the moves they made this offseason, picking up the best available arm and the best available bat. While I don't think Mark Teixeira will be that much of a difference maker, CC Sabathia will improve the rotation by leaps and bounds. CC pushes everyone down a spot and gives them much more depth on the pitching staff. I do think the bullpen will be suspect, but the lineup will mash just like it always does.

3. Rays
It will be a let down season for last year's Cinderella story. It's not that the Rays necessarily got worse in the offseason, though, their slip in the standings will be due more to how good the Yankees and Red Sox are. This Rays team is still solid, well-rounded club and you could argue that they are the 3rd best team in the league, not just this division. It will be fun to see what Pat Burrell does in a DH role that he was made for.

4. Blue Jays
Poor Toronto, they really aren't that bad of a team, they just have no shot in the AL East. You put them in the AL Central or West, and they would have a shot at making the playoffs, but they will be a distant 4th in the East this year. They didn't do anything in the offseason to make themselves better, instead the Jays will rely on rookies to fill the few holes they have. They have an excellent bullpen and a rotation that is anchored by a dominant-when-healthy Roy Halladay, but that just isn't enough in this division.

5. Orioles
I really, really wanted to pick the Orioles ahead of the Blue Jays because I love their lineup. Nick Markakis is a star in the making, Aubrey Huff quietly crushed 32 homers last year and they will have phenom Matt Wieters behind the plate before midseason. Unfortunately, I took one look at their rotation and immediately slotted them in last place. Their ace is Jeremy Guthrie, a quality pitcher, but from there it gets really ugly: Adam Eaton is their 3rd starter and the rest of the rotation is filled with unproven and inconsistent players. Needless to say, they will lose a lot of games 11-8 this year.

AL Central
1. Indians
I picked the Indians to win the Central last year and they completely bombed, so why am I picking them again this year? Because last season was a one year blip for an incredibly talented team. No team that features box score filler Grady Sizemore in the lineup and the rejuvenated Cliff Lee on the mound can be held down for long. While it is a little scary that Carl Pavano holds down a spot in their rotation, the Indians will have a bounce back year. Of course, if Victor Martinez hits just 2 homers again and Travis Hafner can't stay healthy and hits .197 again then you can expect them to quickly fall back towards the AL Central cellar.

2. Twins
The Twins are so much better in real life than the are on paper. They don't have a particularly scary lineup and their rotation doesn't blow anyone away, but they play the game the "right way" (whatever that is) and they do all the little things that win games. As long as Joe Mauer comes back fully healthy, the Twins will make it a tight race with the Indians.

3. White Sox
The Other Sox are built like a steroid-era AL team with the way they rely on the long ball to generate their runs. While it is impressive that Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome all smashed over 30 homers last year, there is no guarantee that Quentin wasn't a one year wonder and that age won't catch up to Dye and Thome. Mark Buehrle and ex-Phillie Gavin Floyd lead a good rotation, but I think this hit-or-miss lineup is going to miss way too much this year.

4. Tigers
Talk about the ultimate disappointment. Like everyone else, I thought the Tigers were going to score 1000 runs with how stacked their lineup was last season. While they did manage 821 runs, they also gave up 857 along the way. With the recent release of Gary Sheffield, now the worry might be that their lineup is too feeble to compete with no offense to speak of at catcher, third or short. The pitching staff won't be bailing the Tigers out anytime soon, either.

5. Royals
Like the Orioles, I am tempted to move the Royals up to 4th place because they are rapidly improving. It all starts with the pitching staff as Gil Meche continues to prove he is worth the money and Zack Greinke somehow found a way to win 13 games on a bad team last season. The lineup is getting better, too, with Coco Crisp at the top and an underrated Mark Teahen hitting 3rd. Give this team one more year in the cellar and then watch out in 2010.

AL West
1. Angels
Even though the pitching staff is being led by Jered Weaver until the cavalry comes back from their myriad injuries, the Angels are still the class of the AL West. Former Phillie Bobby Abreu will make a nice addition to the middle of the lineup that is starting to show its age as Vlad Guerrero and Torii Hunter's bats are slowing down. The Angels are just a well balanced team with enough speed and power in the lineup and a strong bullpen holding things down in all the close games they always end up being in.

2. A's
The A's have a first place offense but a completely unproven rotation. Seriously, after Justin Duchscherer, I am betting most people that don't live in the Bay Area can't name another starter in the Oakland rotation. Fortunately, they do have a number of really good, young arms, just like they always do, but it's way too soon to tell if they will be good enough to compete. The offense, which was just awful last year, suddenly looks pretty good with the additions of Matt Holliday, Orlando Cabrera and Jason Giambi. They even have Nomar coming of the bench! Unfortunately, there are just too many question marks in the rotation and the bullpen to seriously consider them for the division crown.

3. Rangers
Will this team ever get any real pitching? Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla at the top of a rotation is still a recipe for disaster. The Rangers didn't make a single move to upgrade their pitching staff that gave up 967 runs last season, so no matter how good their lineup looks, they will always be stuck at the bottom of the division. They are lucky the Mariners are so awful.

4. Mariners
All you need to know about the Mariners is they are so desperate to get fans to come to the ballpark they signed Ken Griffey Jr. to finish out his career for this last place team. You have to feel for Feliz Hernandez because this lineup will waste at least a dozen of his quality starts this season. You also have to feel for Ichiro, but I have a feeling he is going to be looking to get out of town after this season, anyway.

ALDS:
Red Sox over Indians
Yankees over Angels

ALCS:
Red Sox over Yankees
Should be another epic series between these rivals

MVP: Grady Sizemore
If he can get his batting average close to .300 and the Indians win their division, his usual season of 30 homers, 90 RBI and 35 steals should help him bring home the hardware.

CY Young: C.C. Sabathia
The new King of New York will shine in the limelight, easily winning 20 games as he once again blows through American League lineups.

Agree or disagree with my predictions? Want to make your own? Include your thoughts in the comment section. Check back later for my National League predictions.