Welcome Back

After 160 days, baseball is back, and I for one couldn't be happier. To celebrate the unofficial return of summer (given the snow on the ground here today it doesn't feel like baseball season), I now offer my predictions about the season, which undoubtedly will be laughably wrong in October:

NL East
1. New York Mets--Took care of their biggest problem--the bullpen.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (Wild Card)--If Cole Hammels' elbow is okay, the defending champs will challenge again.
3. Atlanta Braves--They will go as Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez go.
4. Florida Marlins--A year away from being a contender, by Hanley Ramirez is worth the price of admission.
5. Washington Nationals--Adam Dunn is good, the rotation is not.

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs--Milton Bradley gives them a much-needed left-handed bat and a reason to watch every day (the over/under on his first eruption is 30 games).
2. Milwaukee Brewers--It doesn't bode well for your team when Jeff Suppan is the Opening Day starter, but the offense is still stellar.
3. St. Louis Cardinals--The bullpen is a gigantic question mark, as is the rotation behind Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright.
4. Cincinnati Reds--A young team on their way up, if Dusty Baker doesn't ruin the arms of Johnny Cueto and Edison Volquez.
5. Houston Astros--Quick, name a starter for the Astros other than Roy Oswalt...I can't either.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates--The Pirates won't lose 100 games, and you have to start somewhere.

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers--Two words: Manny Ramirez.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks--Brandon Webb and Dan Haren will keep them in the race all year long.
3. Colorado Rockies--At least they're not as bad as the Padres.
4. San Diego Padres--The important question is, how much will they get in return for Jake Peavy?

AL East
1. Tampa Day Rays--Pat Burrell is a welcome addition, and David Price won't be in AAA for long.
2. Boston Red Sox (Wild Card)--The best rotation in baseball will only get better when John Smoltz joins the team in June.
3. New York Yankees--The middle-relief is atrocious, and newly-acquired CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett are elbow injuries waiting to happen.
4. Toronto Blue Jays--Roy Halladay makes them one of the best teams in baseball every fifth day, but he can't pitch every day.
5. Baltimore Orioles--There are a lot of young guys getting valuable playing time, but it will be a couple of years before the O's are out of the cellar.

AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins--This division is wide-open, but the Twins are best-equipped to win, if Joe Mauer returns soon.
2. Cleveland Indians--The offense will be better, but there are a lot of questions in the rotation.
3. Detroit Tigers--This team is capable of winning the division or finishing last. Middle of the road seems just about right.
4. Chicago White Sox--Who will go bat-shit crazy first, Ozzie Guillen or Milton Bradley?
5. Kansas City Royals--I'm not sold on the rotation, but Joakim Soria is lights out.

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels--Bobby Abreu will be one of the best off-season signings.
2. Texas Rangers--Their offense is better than Oakland's, with both rotations being about the same.
3. Oakland Athletics--Will Matt Holliday have a new team by July 31?
4. Seattle Mariners--They probably won't lose 100 games again, but they are still not close to contending.

NLDS
Cubs over Phillies
Mets over Dodgers

NLCS
Cubs over Mets

ALDS
Rays over Twins
Angels over Red Sox

ALCS
Angels over Rays

World Series
Cubs over Angels (The Curse is Over)

There you have it. Be sure to come back in October to laugh at me.