Alright it's a new baseball season, and as I did last year, here are some predictions.  The format will pretty much follow last year's, the usual stuff.....wins range, playoffs predictions, individual awards, etc.  Enjoy.

AL East:

1. NY Yankees (92-95 wins):  The lineup is obviously the strong point with a 1-7 of Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, Hideki Matsui, Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada.  Preeetty decent.  The failures of this team will yet again be its starting pitching and middle relief, which while providing for another division championship will once again fail in the playoffs.

2.  Boston Red Sox (85-89):  The Red Sox led the league in runs last year and even though they lost Damon they'll still score plenty of them.  Coco Crisp and Mark Loretta will set the table for David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, arguably the best 3-4 hitters in baseball.  Curt Schilling should have a good comeback year, but they've got major closer and relief issues that will hold them back.

3.  Toronto (80-83):  They'll be the poster children for the long-held belief that you can't buy success.  A new team will only mimick last year's end result.  Granted, the additions of Troy Glaus, Benji Molina, Lyle Overbay, BJ Ryan and A.J. Burnett will help in talent, but they'll struggle with cohesion and after all is said and done they just won't be able to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox.

4.  Baltimore (74-78):  Any roster with Corey Patterson and LaTroy Hawkins is in serious trouble.  Miguel Tejada almost demanded a trade, which would have been to the Cubs, because the Orioles didn't do enough to improve over the offseason.  Apparently taking in the two worst players from the Cubs roster a year ago was enough to satisfy him. 

5. Tampa Bay (67-72): Young offensive talent certainly isn't the issue.  A lineup of Carl Crawford, Jorge Cantu, Aubrey Huff and Joey Gathright looks good.  I mean that thing's good.  I wanna be friends with it.........unfortunately, pitching in all forms is a total wasteland.

AL Central:

1. Cleveland Indians (93-97):  The reason the Indians faltered in the final week of 2005 was its starting pitching and middle relief.  The rotation still falls apart a little, but not much, after Cliff Lee and C.C. Sabathia.  The lineup is rock solid with Grady Sizemore at the top and a middle order of Jhonny Peralta, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez.  Adding Guillermo Mota and Danny Graves will boost the bullpen and give the White Sox more than they can handle.

2.  Chicago White Sox (88-91):  The starting pitching is the best staff in baseball.  The lineup should have no trouble scoring runs as long as Jim Thome and others can stay healthy.  The defense, though, is shaky, with Thome taking over at first, Juan Uribe prone to meltdowns and Aaron Rowand in Philadelphia.  In addition, the bullpen couldn't be in a worse situation, with Dustan Hermanson out for who knows long.  When close baseball games enter the late innings, a bullpen as inexperienced as this one will break down sooner or later.

3.  Minnesota Twins (79-82):  This team is much too top-heavy.  Johann Santana will again dominate, and Joe Nathan is one of the best closers in baseball.  The lineup is shaky at best--very little power in the middle of the lineup.  In a better lineup Joe Mauer would hit 2nd or 6th, not 3rd with power numbers of 9 home runs and 55 rbi after last season.  Justin Morneau has immense power but poor discipline and mechanics, leading to severe inconsistency.  Francisco Liriano could be the AL Rookie of the Year, but past Santana and Nathan the entire pitching staff is mediocre.

4.  Detroit Tigers (76-78):  Best case scenario:  The Tigers young guns finally break through, and the lineup of Ivan Rodriguez, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez stays healthy for a full season and a run at the division.  Worst case scenario, injuries absolutely destroy this team and Detroit is nothing but a burning inferno come September.

5.  Kansas City Royals (12):  Haha, just kidding.  More like 50.  Moving on.

AL West:

1. LA Angels (93-96):  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, alliteration notwithstanding, are the prototypical complete team-a solid lineup, great defense, with depth in starting and relief pitching.  A full year from Vladimir Guerrero only sweetens the deal.

2.  Oakland (88-90):  This is a very intriguing team.  The pitching staff is young and powerful with Rich Harden, Dan Haren and Huston Street, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year.  However, the lineup could be a liability with not much past Eric Chavez, who isn't that special himself.

3. Texas Rangers (71-74)  The Rangers used to get by with great hitting and terrible   pitching.  They've evened out a bit, so let's settle for bad at both.

4.  Seattle (69-71).  Last year, in my infinite wisdom, I picked them to win the division because of their offensive improvements and experienced staff.  They don't really have much of either these days.  Seattle's had some great contributions to society--Pearl Jam, Starbuck's.....but leave baseball to California.

NL East:

1. NY Mets (88-91):  A lineup of a resurgent Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and David Wright will score plenty of runs.  If Pedro Martinez can stay healthy, he'll carry the starting pitching staff with a good relief corps with Billy Wagner at the end.

2.  Atlanta Braves (84-87):  The streak will finally end.  The Braves have won the division for about 15 years in a row now, and while that's all good and fine, it won't continue.  The lineup is weak--you can't expect Andruw Jones to hit 50 home runs again, and the 5-8 hitters are all young and unproven.  The bullpen is a big question mark and the starting pitching isn't anything to brag about.  But, they're the Braves, so you can't write them off entirely.

3.  Philadelphia Phillies (78-80):  They've lost Billy Wagner and Jim Thome, but they still have Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell and Chase Utley who could be the best second baseman in baseball.  The starting pitching is a lowpoint, and will keep them from success.

4. Washington Nationals (75-78):  A rotation of John Patterson, Livan Hernandez and Tony Armas has some promise, and the lineup won't be half bad with Alfonso Soriano, Jose Vidro, and Jose Guillen.  Overall however, not much depth and a few injuries could sink this team.

5. Florida Marlins (73-75):  Gotta love the Florida firesale that takes place every five years or so.  They lost Juan Pierre, Luis Castillo, Mike Lowell, Paul LoDuca, Todd Jones, A.J. Burnett, and Josh Beckett.  They still have Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera, but two players don't make a team.

NL Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals:  (95-98):  The rotation looks very good, with Chris Carpenter at the top and Sidney Ponson a solid sleeper candidate.  The lineup will again produce with Albert Pujols, a god among men. The Astros will keep it competetive, but there's really no doubt on this one.

2. Houston Astros (88-90):  Losing Roger Clemens will be pretty huge, so it's up to Roy Oswalt and Andy Pettite to carry the load.  The lineup will be adequate, certainly not great, and the bullpen should be strong.  As a whole, they can win a lot of games, but they shouldn't be too much for the Cardinals.

3. Chicago Cubs (80-83):  Around .500 should be expected.  The lineup looks promising with Juan Pierre and Todd Walker to set up Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Michael Barrett.  The rotation is the big question mark.  Big is actually an understatement.  Mark Prior and Kerry Wood will start the year on the disabled list which could be a precursor to a very long season.  If they do stay healthy, the rotation looks as follows:  Prior, Wood, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux, and Wade Miller--impressive to say the least.  The bullpen was improved with Scott Eyre and Bob Howry.  This team, if healthy (I've said that about five times now to emphasize the importance) could actually win the division, but what are the chances of Wood and Prior actually doing that?  Not much.

4. Milwaukee Brewers (78-80):  If the Cubs have any sort of health issues, the Brewers will probably finish higher than them.  They've got some good young hitters and a rotation that won't dazzle the eye but will be pretty reliable. 

5.  Cincinnati Reds (75-77):  Not really much to say in this department.  The Reds have a solid lineup.  Terrible pitching, and a tough division, so you really can't expect much.

6.  Pittsburgh Pirates (70-73):  Pittsburgh is a beautiful city....

AL West:

1.  San Diego Padres (83-86):  In baseball's worst division, Padres fans rejoice.  Jake Peavy is a stud, and Brian Giles leads a fairly competent team.  Nothing special, and while a trip to the playoffs is always nice, a first-round sweep just reminds everyone how illegitemate your success was.

2. San Francisco Giants (80-82):  A successful return from injury for Jason Schmidt won't save this team.  Barry Bonds is under more investigation than Colonel Mustard caught with a bloody candlestick in his back pocket.

3. LA Dodgers (77-80):  Bringing in Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra won't help much.  The starting pitching is weak and their offense is weaker.  Enough said.

4. Colorado Rockies (73-76):  This could actually be a pretty decent team.  The division can be won by anything slightly better than mediocrity.  Young hitters like Clint Barmes, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins will give a nice cusion for Todd Helton.  Brian Fuentes is a great looking closer, and if they can get any starting pitching at all, they can succeed.

5.  Arizona Diamondbacks (69-72):  How shitty is it for the White Sox to trade Orlando Hernandez to the DBacks.  That's like stealing a loaf of bread in Russia and getting sent to Siberia.  Not much to talk about.

World Series--Cardinals over White Sox in 6.

NL Cy Young:  Chris Carpenter.

NL MVP:  Albert Pujols.  Team sweep.

AL Cy Young:  Johann Santana (finally)

AL MVP:  David Ortiz.  A DH will finally win it.

And that's all she wrote folks.  Any comments are, of course, unwanted.