Bold MLB 2008 Season Predictions & Preview: Mets don't win division?

There's nothing quite like it. Cheap ticket prices, amazing warm weather, the smell of hot dogs & freshly cut grass on the baseball diamond in February and early March. It's that time of the year again with Spring Training rolling around and getting us all excited for the upcoming 2008 MLB season. It's also time to make some bold predictions for the long season ahead of us. Of course with injuries, the inevitability of a surprise team, and a little lack of better judgement, predicting the MLB season is incredibly difficult to do. However, after looking at all the new free agent pickups, new coaches, and using basic instinct, I've come up with my predictions for the 2008 season. Some of my predictions may sound crazy, but the baseball season usually plays out that way, I mean who predicted the Rockies to go that far last season? Enjoy, because it's sure to cause some argument.

American League East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox (Wildcard)
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Baltimore Orioles

The World Champions Red Sox are solid don't get me wrong, I just think the Yankees are due to win the division. I feel the Red Sox starting pitching, (besides Beckett) still has some question marks. I think that Dice-K will struggle down the stretch, much like he did last year (4.96 ERA in last 16 games), as teams will start to figure him out better. On top of that, the health of Curt Schilling is in question as well. Their excellent bullpen, will save them (along with the return of Bartolo Colon). I just like the shape of the Yankees rotation this year with Pettite coming back to the Bronx. Wang will have another solid season and could have around 19 wins, again. He will have a chance compete for the Cy Young, again. Joba Chamberlain & Phil Hughes will have to step up this year, but I think they can get it done with the run support they have. Mussina (like every year) could return to dominating form or he could be shaky, or most likely injured. With or without him, I still think the Yanks take the division. The Blue Jays will make it interesting for a while,with former Cardinals Rolen & Eckstein helping their cause. However, much like last year, they will fade away in the last couple months. For those of you picking the new Rays to finish over the Blue Jays, that just won't happen. The Rays just don't have the pitching yet. Unfortunately, in the Steroid Pandemic of Baltimore, I have nothing positive to say about them.

American League Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals

Here's the Tiger's projected 2008 lineup:

1. C. Granderson - CF
2. P. Palanco - 2B
3. G. Sheffield - DH
4. M. Ordonez - RF
5. M. Cabrera - 3B
6. C. Guillen - 1B
7. E. Renteria - SS
8. I. Rodriguez - C
9. J. Jones - LF

I think the Tigers will win the division, but not without a fight. The Indians are a good team and everyone is quick to rule them out because of all the Tigers new acquisitions. Although adding potential All-Stars like Cabrera & Renteria to an already solid lineup would seemingly mean you're are the team to beat, I think the Indians will keep it close until the end. The Indians pitching is just too good to be ignored and they still have solid hitters in Hafner, Martinez, Sizemore, etc. They'll benefit from D-Train struggling to adjust to the American League. Carmona may digress for the Indians, but Sabathia, Byrd, & co. will pick up the slack to help fight for a Wildcard spot (only to lose out to the Red Sox). The WhiteSox will not have a losing record. They will surprise many by having a good 1st half (competing for first place), only to fade away quickly later in the 2nd half. They have bombers to keep them in any game & Cabrera/Swisher were great pickups. However, I just think the pitching is too thin. Unless Contreras can rebound & Danks/Floyd can show they belong, it'll be another dissapointing season for Ozzie & the southside. The Twins & Royals will fight for fourth place, unless Liriano can regain his form when he returns.

American League West
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland A's

The Angels added Hunter (arguably the best defensive Center Fielder in the game today) & John Garland to a rotation that was in need of a consistent pitcher. I was never partcularly impressed with Garland, but he just finds a way to win and is on another team that will get him plenty of run support (their lineup is just too good). Ervin Santana will make the rotation (eventually) and will regain his form. Seattle will keep this division race extremely tight. With the addition of Bedard, they now have a solid rotation, assuming King Felix can remain healthy. Johjima is quickly becoming a star catcher. However, for this team to beat the Angels and live up to expectations, they simply must hit better. Sexson has to turn it around and can't bat .205 again. Putz is a solid closer. Rangers have no pitching again, and the Athletics have no hitting. What else is new?

National League East
1. Atlanta Braves
2. New York Mets (Wildcard)
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

This is by far my boldest prediction, and some of you are dropping your jaws, but the thought of the Braves taking this division over again isn't so far fetched anymore. This will be one of the closest division races ever with the Phillies, Mets, and Braves vying for the division crown until the last couple weeks. I still think the Mets will win the wildcard because Pedro and Santana will be able to get it done. They have some question marks with Maine (he struggled in 2nd half), Oliver Perez, and Orlando Hernandez. They will be able to win games because of the great run support they'll get from the All-Star lineup, but they won't pan out like the club envisions. Pedro needs to remain healthy. With Delgado, Pedro, Perez, and El-Duque, the Mets could implode with injuries. I think they'll remain healthy enough to win plenty of games, I just think this will be the Braves year. Adding Glavine gives them a veteran capable of easily winning 10-15 games. Hudson will have a career season and will compete for Cy Young. This is the year that everyone in the country will know the name: Jeff Francoeur. And don't forget Chipper (the veteran who consistently puts up solid numbers), McCann and Teixeira, who will help the Braves contend for a World Series title. The Phillies will have some problems with starting pitching, but their bullpen should be solid with the addition of closer Brad Lidge (health could be an issue, unfortunately) with Gordon as the setup man.  They also added Geoff Jenkins & Pedro Feliz who are utility men, but may not be everyday players.  The Phillies will make it a close race, but somebody's got to lose.

National League Central
1. Chicago Cubs
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Houston Astros
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Cincinnati Reds
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Now, the division that everyone ranks as the worst in baseball & they might be right.  This is another division that seems tough to call, but I just don't see the Brewers having the same success they did last year.  Now, their pitching is very questionable.  Their starters include a projected rotation of Sheets, Suppan, Capuano, Bush, Gallardo, and Villanueva. That doesn't exactly scream the rotation of a contender to me.  The loss of Doug Davis will hurt them.  When was the last time Sheets could finish a season?  They also added Eric Gagne after he was recycled by Boston last season and it will be interesting to see just how good he will be.  There will be lots of questions surrounding the pitching, but their hitting should be solid again with reigning rookie of year Braun, Fielder, and SS J.J. Hardy leading the attack.  Their hitting will always keep them in the game and I expect them to have a good 1st half, only to be hurt by suspect pitching in the 2nd half.  I just don't see the Cubs having too much problems with this weak division this year.  The Cubs, who added Fokudome to a good lineup should have no problem scoring runs this year.  Soriano should contend for the NL MVP after a season at Wrigley.  There are questions at closer (is it Marmol? Howry? Wood?) However, the Cubs should win the division easily.  The race for 2nd will be followed closely by the Astros who added Kaz Matsui, Tejada, and Jose Valverde.  Besides Oswalt, pitchers like Wandy Rodriguez need to step up.  If the rest of their rotation can get going, they can give the Cubs & Brewers a run for their money.  The Cardinals really need Carpenter back, but Wainright & Clement should help them out.  Glaus was added and he's not too much of a upgrade over Rolen. The Cardinals could suprise everyone, but then again, they could just as easily compete with the Pirates, who have decent pitching-but a shaky offense & bullpen.

National League West
1. San Diego Padres
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Francisco Giants

This is by far the most difficult division to call.  The Rockies pitching was fantastic last year, but it was a dream season (kind of like the 2005 White Sox, 'cept for the World Series win portion).  I just don't see it happening again in a tough division where the teams are so evenly matched.  I just have a feeling about the Padres.  They will win the division,but it will only be by a game.  The Diamondbacks and Padres have the best pitching of the division and that's what will elevate them into the playoffs.  The Padres are pissed off about last year (& narrowly losing to the Rockies).  They might not have the best lineup, but the additions of Tadihito Iguchi and Jim Edmonds (comeback player of the year candidate) will help lead the attack.  Adrian Gonzalez is quickly becoming one of the best young slugging first basemen in the game.  He'll put up even better numbers than last year (2007: 30 hrs, 100 rbis).  Peavy, Young, Maddux, Wolf, and Prior is one of the best rotations in the majors.  Prior will have a good season after the Cubs couldn't give him a chance (but they gave Lieber one? C'mon now).  The Diamondbacks rotation is just as solid after they signed Dan Haren to form a great 1-2 punch of Haren & Weber.  They have a bunch of young hitters, but will improve, especially Chris Young. They'll just barely lose out on wildcard and division. The Dodgers may have become a lot more competitive with Andruw Jones signing on, but their starting pitching is just too weak for the great bullpen (led by Saito) to make up for it. Giants might have a better Spring Training without Bonds, but the division is just too tough this season for them to have a much better year. Especially, if Lowry can't get it together (lousy spring so far). 

PLAYOFFS

ALDS: Yankees over Tigers 3-2, Anaheim over Boston 3-2

ALCS: Yankees over Anaheim 4-2

NLDS: Cubs over Mets 3-2, Braves over Padres 3-1

NLCS: Cubs over Braves 4-3.

World Series: Yankees over Cubs 4-1.

*Sounds like the craziest playoffs you could think of right? Well, every year it is chaotic and something unexpected happens. The Cubs making it to the World Series? I'm not just saying it because I'm a Cubs fan, but I think its a definite possibility. However, I think this is the Yanks year. They'll be the only NY team to live up to the expectations. Sorry, I just don't believe all the hype surrounding the Mets this season. The Yankees will break Cub fans hearts in the last year of the legendary field known as "Wrigley Field" Next year it could be Viagara Field for all we know. see: http://www.nflfootballonline.com/arneima/weblog/856.html

Again, I could be wrong, very wrong, but the again, these are just some predictions to have some fun with. Take care.

***Next Blog, I'll give out my preseason predictions for awards for the upcoming season.