MLB Opening Day

Baseball is back ladies and gentlemen. While my love of the game may have fallen below that of football and basketball at times in the last few years, baseball is still the game of my youth. Most of you that know me know that I grew up with the game, playing from age 5 through high school (switch hitting 3rd baseman with a penchant for being due up with 2 on and 2 out). I spent my summers growing up traveling around the country with my mom and eventually one of my younger sisters trying to hit every MLB ballpark. We still have about a quarter left to hit thanks to recent openings and out of the way destinations. As will become easily apparent throughout the season I'm a huge Atlanta Braves fan. I've caught a lot of flack for it since I grew up in Austin, most say I should have gone with the Stros or Rangers. But hey, I got more Braves games on tv thanks to the old TBS deal than Astros and Rangers combined, and they were my t-ball team, I thought we were the same team. Either way, theres no doubt that one of my favorite all time sports memories was Sid Bream rounding 3rd to beat the Pirates and forcing Barry Bonds down the dark path of steroid abuse since his arm was too weak to gun him down. Now that all of that is out of the way, let's get to some random predictions, shall we?

AL West:
This one is a no doubter in my mind, and has been for the last few years. Since Oakland has perfected their fire sale mentality, the Angels have had this sucker on lockdown. The Rangers will score tons of runs but give up almost double, and the Mariners, well theyve got Ichiro and King Felix, that's about it tho. Angels should take this running away.

AL Central:
This one should provide a good battle with most of the teams having a shot at the crown. I'm going with Cleveland this year. I think Grady Sizemore is going to really blow up this year and with Lee and Carmona they've got a solid rotation going. Minnesota doesn't have the firepower and the White Sox are too unpredictable and inconsistent, especially with Guillen at the helm.

AL East:
This one is always a battle, but now after last years surprise people are considering it a 3 team race. The Rays made a surprise run and have a fun young team that deserve better than the 45 people on average that will show up for regular season games. HOWEVAH, I don't see them making a similar run this year. I think ESPN will get their wish with Boston and NY fighting down to the wire for the crown w/ both still making it. I'm going to give the Yankees the nod for the division this year after adding Teixiera and Sabathia to an already absurd team but Boston wont be far behind, taking the Wild Card.

PLAYOFFS:
That being said, I think Boston is setup the best in the playoffs. With a stacked lineup, arguably the best closer in the game, and a starting rotation for the playoffs that will include Becket, DiceK, my man Smoltz, and throw in Wakefield's Knuckler...you've got a tough tough team. I'm thinking Boston over Cleveland in the ALCS

AWARDS:
MVP: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland
Like I said, I think this is the year that Grady really breaks through and reaches the upper eschelon's of the game. This kid can do it all and I expect to see him put it together this year.

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle
There are a lot of possibilities for this award, Sabthia, Lee, Liriano in a comeback, but for some reason I'm thinking we will get a diamond in the rough situation with King Felix in Seattle. He's gonna be hungry this year and expect a 20 win year performance out of him. While he will do his part, it will come down whether or not he gets the help he needs around him.

ROTY: Elvis Andrus, Texas
This award is always a crapshoot since we are dealing with relative unknowns. Andrus is legit however as the Rangers see enough in the kid to force Michael Young, a 5 time all star and all star MVP mind you, to move positions.

Now we go back to the more civilized world of the NL where the game isn't tainted by the abhorrent designated hitter.

NL West:
I think we are going to get another 2 team race here this year between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks. While Arizona has some great arms I think the Dodgers have too much power to be caught and see them winning the division fairly handily.

NL Central:
This division should be a fun one to watch this year. Most of the action will be between the Cubs and Cardinals again, but the Astros and Brewers could both put up a fight. This one is going to go down to the wire I think. While Pujols is always a threat, I think the Cubs have better pitching w/ Zambrano and Dempster and will sneak by in one of the closer division races.

NL East:
Finally we get to what I think will be the best battle of the year. This should be another 3 team race with 2 making the postseason. Between the World F****** Champs (© Chase Utley), the recently Choke happy Mets, and of course the Braves, this will go down to the wire. You've got several Cy and MVP candidates here in the East in what will make for several entertaining matchups. While I am pumped about the Braves and expect big things, I dont think they will get the division crown this year. HOWEVAH, I expect them to sneak in as the wild card team, right behind the Mets. Before you accuse me of being a homer (not unfairly) I think the Braves are going to have a fantastic starting rotation this year. If you didn't see last night's performance, Derek Lowe absolutely tore through the Phillies lineup, giving up only 2 hits and 0 runs in 8 innings. Javier Vazquez is a work horse and Jair Jurrjens is an ace in the making. Add in Kawakami, a Japanese import with fantastic control, Tim Hudson when he gets healthy, and Tommy Hanson soon enough, one of the best pitching prospects in the game, and you've got one of the best starting rotations in the league. While there isn't a sure fire power guy, the lineup is full of guys that can hit homeruns and should do enough to get wins. I think this year finally end the Mets choking habits as the Phils see a little bit of a slip from last year. Their pitching was lights out and you obviously count out a team w/ both Utley and J-Roll, but I think this will be a case of resting on their laurels. Meanwhile you've got names like Santana, Reyes, Beltran, and Wright that will carry the Mets all year.

PLAYOFFS:
While the Braves will make it back to the playoffs this year, I think it will come down to matchups. If they get LAD I think they lose, if they get the Cubs I think they win. I think it will come down to the Dodgers and Mets in the NLCS and go 7 games. Right now, I'm giving the Mets the nod because I think the K-Rod signing will end up being the most important of this years offseason.

AWARDS:
MVP: Albert Pujols
Again there are tons of guys that can put up big #s, Howard, Han Ram, and Beltran will all be up there, but I'm expecting a big year out of Big Al.

Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
Again, plenty of great pitchers in the league, so why give it to Roy-O? 2 words kids: contract year. Oswalt is ready to get paid and get out from under a team that has refused to give him run support for years. Expect Oswalt to rebound from a less than stellar WBC and add to the 0's at the end of his next deal.

ROTY: Jordan Schafer
Ok, this is me being flagrantly homerrific, but this kid is a stud. Yes he had a setback when he got popped for HGH a few years back. That aside, Jordan is a fantastic young player with tons of talent both on offense and defense. Not only that, but he became the 99th player to start his career with a Home Run in his 1st At Bat. Not a bad start for what I expect to be a productive year.

WORLD SERIES:
So I've got it down to the Sox and Mets in the World Series. While it pains me to predict a ring for a town that clearly doesn't need another right now, Buckner isn't at first and Mookie isn't coming to the plate any time soon. Boston is built for the postseason this year I think. Plus, the Mets do love to choke.

So there you go, there's one set of predictions from someone clearly unqualified to give them. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. Play Ball.