mlb season picks

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies 93-69
2. Atlanta Braves 88-74
3. New York Mets 86-76
4. Florida Marlins 79-83
5. Washington Nationals 65-97

Rationale: Phillies are still the best team in the division. I won't bet on the Mets until they prove it on the field, too big of choke artists the last few years. Braves in the mix for the wildcard now that starting pitching is better. Marlins are definition of mediocre, Nationals might be the worst team in the league.

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs 95-67
2. St. Louis Cardinals 91-71
3. Cincinnati Reds 84-78
4. Milwaukee Brewers 80-82
5. Pittsburgh Pirates 70-92
6. Houston Astros 68-96

Rationale: Cubs are loaded and have no excuse to win this division ... save for one. And that excuse is Tony LaRussa, who will once again show why he's the greatest manager to ever grace the sport with his presence by milking another playoff berth out of an at-best average team. Reds are getting closer. Brewers lost too much pitching. Pirates and Astros are buried and the dirt is starting to pile up.

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers 90-72 *
2. Arizona Diamondbacks 90-72
3. San Francisco Giants 75-87
4. Colorado Rockies 73-89
5. San Diego Padres 60-102

* = win division in one game playoff.

Rationale: Flip a coin, LA and Arizona should battle for the title all season long. The other three are simply aiming for respectability.

NL Wildcard: St. Louis Cardinals
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Dodgers
NL Cy Young: Cole Hamels, Phillies
NL Rookie of the Year: Cameron Maybin, Marlins
NL Manager of the Year: Tony LaRussa, Cardinals
First NL Manager Fired: Cecil Cooper, Astros

AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays 95-67
2. New York Yankees 89-73
3. Boston Red Sox 88-74
4. Baltimore Orioles 75-87
5. Toronto Blue Jays 70-92

Rationale: The Rays got better, and they're the defending division and league champs. Why would you bet against them? Yankees pitching is slightly better than Boston's at this point, and that gets them the wildcard. Orioles and Blue Jays are nothing more than punching bags.

AL Central
1. Kansas City Royals 86-76
2. Minnesota Twins 85-77
3. Cleveland Indians 85-77
4. Chicago White Sox 83-79
5. Detroit Tigers 80-82

Rationale: I know I'm a traditionalist when it comes to baseball. I despite the wildcard. I hate the DH. I'm not a fan of interleague play, although at least I can see the rationale behind that decision. So ... this division in 2009 has me pumped up. Because every team is good enough to finish first, and flawed enough to finish last. And none of these squads are good enough to threaten the Yankees / Red Sox / Rays triumverate for the wildcard. This is literally a last-man-standing takes it brawl. And when those type of fights break out on the diamond, the team with the best pitching tends to win them. Hence ... my homer pick. The Royals are going streaking! I mean, going to the postseason! Because nobody in the division can match the Greinke / Meche top of the rotation, and nobody has a number 5 starter as good as Brian Bannister. (And nobody has a Hochevar ready to step in at a moment's notice). I expect all five teams to finish within 10 games of each other, and everyone to be in it at the August 31st waiver deadline, which will make for the funnest September this town has seen since 2003.

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels 89-73
2. Seattle Mariners 79-83
3. Texas Rangers 70-92
4. Oakland A's 69-93

Rationale: the one division you can mark your preseason pick in ink with. Nobody comes close to the Angels. Nobody.

AL Wildcard: New York Yankees
AL MVP: Evan Longoria, Rays
AL Cy Young: Zack Greinke, Royals
AL Rookie of the Year: Matt Weiters, Orioles
AL Manager of the Year: Trey Hillman, Royals
First AL Manager Fired: Jim Leyland, Tigers

Divisional Playoffs:
Cubs over Dodgers 3-1
Cardinals over Phillies 3-1
Rays over Royals 3-2
Yankees over Angels 3-1

League Championship Series:
Cubs over Cardinals 4-2
Yankees over Rays 4-2

World Series:
Cubs over Yankees 4-3