2009 Predictions – Now with twice the incompetence!

AL East – Toughest division in baseball only getting tougher.
1. Yankees. Pains me to do it, but there’s just too much talent here. How are people actually predicting that they’ll miss the playoffs?
2. Red Sox (WC). Is anybody else scared by how critical the large father is to this season? And hopefully Lester is immune to the Verducci effect.
3. Rays. Dream season last year, so a step back seems pretty likely. Still, it’s unfortunate that one of the 4-5 best teams (possibly best 3) teams in the majors will miss the playoffs because all 3 are in the same division.
4. Blue Jays. Careful Jays, you’re getting closer to O’s territory than Sox/Yankees. Watch out next year.
5. Orioles. The AL East is going to be really scary once the Orioles start to become relevant again (not that far off).

AL Central – would all give the Jays a run for their money in the East.
1. White Sox. Why am I picking all the teams I dislike the most to win their divisions?
2. Indians. Search for the real Travis Hafner continues.
3. Tigers. Who wants to trade for Verlander?
4. Royals. That’s right, the Royals ride the coattails of sir Greinke to a non-last-place finish, meaning…
5. Twins. Mauer injury torpedoes the season.

AL West – No longer the Angels’ division for the taking
1. Oakland. Significantly improved offense, and the perpetual crop of promising young pitchers. Of course, having made the prediction, they’ll probably deal Holliday at the deadline.
2. Angels. Too many injuries to their top pitchers. Tough to win the division with 3-4 #5 pitchers.
3. Rangers. Can we give them some pitchers, just for one season, just for fun?
4. Mariners. King Felix counting the days until he can get the heck outta dodge.

NL East – Can the Mets collapse for a third year in a row?
1. Mets. It just has to happen this year, right? Still, that rotation is scary (and not in a good way).
2. Phillies (WC). The Hamels elbow situation is enough for me to bump them down.
3. Marlins. This team can hit a little bit. Watch out with Hanley in the middle of the order.
4. Braves. Top of the rotation is solid. Rest of the staff and lineup, well, not so much.
5. Nationals. Over/under on average IP per outing for starters: 3 1/3 (chicks dig the long ball). Would dominate at AAA.

NL Central – I suppose somebody has to win.
1. Cubs. Seriously, Gritz? I suppose if this year is finally the year Big Z’s arm falls off, then they don’t win, but I don’t see it otherwise.
2. Cardinals. If Ludwick follows up on last year hitting behind Pujols, this team can score some runs. Then again, they do have a Molina…
3. Reds. Promising young pitchers and hitters + Dusty Baker = EPIC FAIL.
4. Brewers. Had their shot, and it’s gone. Where is Fielder going to end up after 2010, and who’s going to be stuck with a Giambi contract?
5. Pirates. Picking both the Royals AND the Pirates to not finish last? I oughta check my meds.
6. Astros. Cornering the market on players who were good in 2001. And they have Darin Esrstad.

NL West – See NL Central comment
1. Dodgers. Chad Billingsley is going to become much more widely known really soon.
2. D’backs. Maybe Webb is much more fragile than he looks?
3. Giants. Attack of the over-the-hill lefty starters.
4. Padres. Remember when I picked them to win the division last year? That was fun. Both Peavy and Oswalt could be dealt midseason – who wants to win the World Series?

AL Wild Card: Red Sox, but neck-and-neck between Sox and Yanks.
NL Wild Card: Phillies (coin flip between Phillies and Mets, depending on the how many starts Hamels makes).
AL Cy Young: Sabathia.
NL Cy Young: Santana. Should have had it last year.
AL MVP: Longoria (outside the box pick).
NL MVP: Pujols (please?).

Postseason:
AL: Yanks over Chi-Sox, Red Sox over A’s. Yankees over Red Sox.
NL: Dodgers over Mets, Phillies over Cubs. Dodgers over Phillies.
WS: Yankees over Dodgers.