It's that time of year again. Grab the sunblock, sunflower seeds, and binoculars, it's baseball season! At the beginning of every year I like to predict at what I feel will happen over the course of the season, and six months later realize how far off I was. It's a humbling experience, but once in a long while I make a correct prediction. So lets get down to it!
AL East
This has the potential to be either Ali /Fraiser or Tyson/ Spinks. Four of the fives teams in this division improved themself over the offseason. The Yankees started off the festivities by signing BoSox Johnny Damon. This infuriated Red Sox faithfulls, as Johnny Damon stated a year earlier, and I quote "I will never play for the Yankees." The Red Sox countered by immediately signing ace Josh Beckett. Lying in the weeds are the Toronto Blue Jays, who may have been the most active of all the teams in this division. Toronto signed starter AJ Burnett, Closer BJ Ryan, Troy Glaus, and Lyle Overbay. It looks as if Toronto hit it big at the Belagio if you ask me. Then we have the sleeper, the Baltimore Orioles. Long time Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone signs with the Orioles. This is going to immediately make each and every starter on the Orioles roster better. When it comes down to it, Boston and New York will battle it out alone. Why? For exact opposite reasons. The Red Sox will ride to the division crown on the strength of their pitching rotation, with the two headed monster known as Schilling and Beckett. The Yankees have a lineup that could be confused for an AL All star Team. It's almost impossible to shut down Jeter, Giambi, A-rod, Matsui, Sheffield, Damon, and Posada all at the same time. Not to mention, the Yankees have a average starting rotation. The Orioles will wither at their thin rotation, while the Blue Jays will fall when both Halliday, and Burnett sucumb to injuries in late May. Don't ask me why, but I don't think Tampa Bay will be a factor. Ultimately, New York will fail to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995, due to a combination of injuries, and inconsistancy in their starting rotation.
Final Standings
1.Boston
2.New York
3.Baltimore
4. Toronto
5. Tampa Bay
AL Central
There is no doubt in my mind that Chicago will once again win the AL Central. The only question is whether or not they will finish with the best record in the league. Cleveland will finish second because of the extreme depth of their rotation, and balanced lineup. Did I mention they have all world first basemen Travis Hafner? He forces pitchers not only to pitch him carefully, but those in front of him as well. Peralta, Martinez, Cliff Lee, and potential rookie of the year Fausto Carmona will step up and Cleveland will win the Wild Card. Is it just me or do the 2006 Cleveland Indians remind you of the 1991 Atlanta Braves? The Twins, Royals, and Tigers will flounder, and once again contemplate why they even show up. But, don't worry twins fans, you still have Johan Santana (for the time being).
Final Standings
1. Chicago
2. Cleveland
3. Detroit
4. Minnesota
5. Kansas City
AL West
The time is now, and I can feel it. Living near Oakland, I am praying for the A's to win the division, and perhaps the World Series. If Oakland is going to do it, this is the year. They have the team, and a favorable division to play in. Oakland acquired Frank Thomas, Esteban Loaiza, and Milton Bradley. Sticking Thomas in the middle of their lineup automatically makes Eric Chavez, and Nick Swisher better hitters. Don't even get me started on their pitching staff. Without a doubt the best in baseball: Barry Zito, Rich Harden, Danny Haren, Esteban Loiza, and Joe Blanton. Complementing their superior staff is the best young closer in baseball, Houston Street. Anaheim will not be a factor this year for a variety of reasons. First, they lost both Jarrod Washburn, and Paul Byrd. Replacing Washburn is Jeff Weaver? Not a good move. Sure, he eats up innings, but they aren't productive innings. Facing The AL West's tough left handed hitters (Chavez, Swisher, Bradley, Kotsay,Teixera, Blalock, Ichiro, and so on) he should be shelled. Second, K-rod (Francisco Rodriquez) is their best pitcher, and without a lead he cannot enter the game. Anaheim will have few leads this year.
Final Standings
1. Oakland
2. Anaheim
3. Texas
4. Seattle
MVP-Eric Chavez/Oakland. Will benefit from a healthy Frank Thomas in front of him. Will see many fastballs, and hit 40 HR's, and over 100 RBI's. Also, he's the best defensive player in the AL. Lets get to basics, its MVP, not most valuble hitter.
Cy Young- Josh Beckett/Boston. The first season he will stay healthy his entire career, and guess what? He will win the Cy Young. Benefiting from less stress as the number 2 starter, he will find his comfort zone.
Rookie of the Year- Fausto Carmona/Cleveland. Carmona will get at least five starts against both the Royals, Tigers, and Twins. Guess that equals? A low Era. Combine that with a huge offense backing him, he should win at least 12 games.
Batting Champ-Michael Young/Texas. Perhaps the most underrated baseball player in the last ten years.
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the orioles signed ramon hernandez. halladay isnt injury prone.... twins wont flounder..... redsox best roto in baseball... schilling beckett, wakefield clement.... papelbon delcarmen and foulke in the pen. Zito is the only one to win a cy young on the A's staff.... last time i checked he is the ace. you were thinking of 03, Halladay won the Cy Young, not Loaiza....... Halladay 22-7 3.25 204Ks, Loaiza 21-9 2.90 era 207Ks. K-Rod is better than street.... as well as Lidge...... but not in 3-4 years. Weaver is better than washburn, paul byrd was hurt majority of last season.....you named anderson and erstad as AL West hitters Weaver would face.... theyre both on his team. didnt bartolo colon win the cy young last season? i think he might be their best pitcher. chavez hits .260 this season with 40 bombs and 100 rbis...... david ortiz... .320 50 homers and 130 rbis..... Beckett mediocre choice for boston, but Halladay or Santana or Schilling will win it.... theyre the 3 best in the AL. you said Carmona for ROY? Jonathan Papelbon has 9 saves and yet to surrender a run.......ichiro wins the batting champ before Young.... he hits for average, but the batting title will come from a loaded lineup..... perhaps Johnny Damon?
Being a huge Tampa Bay Devil Rays fan, I need to jump in and support my team. You said that the Devil Rays will be no factor this year. That statement is entirely incorrect. The right statement would have to be, the Devil Rays have not been a factor as of yet. Ask the Yankees if the Devil Rays will be a factor. (The $200 million dollar Yanks went 11-7 against the $30 million dollar Rays last year) So far into the season the Rays are only 4 games under .500 and they have Rocco Baldelli, Jorge Cantu, Aubrey Huff, and Julio Lugo all on the DL. NOt to mention Mark Hendrickson just came off the DL. With Allstars Johnny Gomes, Carl Crawford, and Scott Kazmir (Who has handled another East foe, the Sox, throughout his short career) the D Rays can and will be a factor this year and and for many years to come.