A NEW SEASON, A NEW HOPE

Three words…. Baseball is back! And it’s about time! This off season was like non-other. We saw the Yankees spend more money than Obama’s stimulus package. In by doing so they locked in the a left handed ace in CC Sabathia, a right handed ace in A.J. Burnett, and swooped in on Mark Teixeira, a switch hitting, slugging first basemen that plays above average defense. The Tribune sold the Cubs, which means more misery, just under new ownership. Many other free agents took awhile before they found homes, as they took “pay-cuts” so they could play this year. (Boo frigging who so those players who felt they deserved more money) We saw Ken Griffey Jr. return to Seattle to cap off a Hall of Fame career. And Manny being Manny, might yet again propel the Dodgers back to the playoffs.

I recently returned from “Spring Break ’09, No Regrets, Wooo” (This was the motto of our trip to Myrtle Beach; the “wooo” represents us lifting up our shirts, flashing people… Kristin, never got into it, I wonder why?) And have now taken the last few days to indulge myself into each team before I picked my division/wild card winners.

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFF

AL EAST - NEW YORK YANKEES

AL CENTRAL - CHICAGO WHITE SOX

AL WEST - LOS ANGELES ANGELS

WILD CARD - BOSTON RED SOX

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFF

NL EAST - NEW YORK METS

NL CENTRAL - CHICAGO CUBS

NL WEST - ARIZONA DIAMONBACKS

WILD CARD - LOS ANGELES DODGERS

AL

YANKEES - The Yankees pitching is just plain nasty (it should be after all that money they spent) With the Addition of Mark Teixeira (my pick for AL MVP) and once AROD returns, I expect them to win the toughest division in baseball. Player to watch - Chien Ming Wang

WHITE SOX - I might be a little biased here, but they have a front end rotation that can win anywhere from 13-18 games each. And when Jose Contreras comes back and stays healthy, they have a legit shot of repeating as AL Central Champs. Player to Watch - John Danks

ANGLES - They have a veteran team with a somewhat of a battered pitching staff (Lackey and Ervin Santana coming back from injuries) With Vlad, Torii Hunter, and the Addition of Bobby Abreu, they should be strong enough for another AL West Title. Player to watch - Joe Saunders

RED SOX- Despite not having Manny around they still have a strong line-up and I expect Jason Bay to hit at least 25 homeruns. Beckett, Lester and Dice K (my CY Young pick) to be just fine, as Brad Penny and John Smoltz could be sleepers for this team. Player to watch David Ortiz (can he survive without Manny)

NL
METS - They have speed with Jose Reyes, power with David Wright and now have a bullpen with Putz and KROD. If the rotation can just be good enough, they'll win the division as they enter their new home. Player to watch - Oliver Perez
CUBS - On paper they have the best team in the National League, but games aren't won on paper. If they can stay healthy (Zambrano, Harden, Milton Bradley, Soriano) they should be strong enough to hold on. Player to watch - Ryan Dempster
DBACKS- They have a talented rotation as Webb, Haren, Garland and Doug Davis should be good enough to win the division. Expect young Chris Young, Justin Upton and Stephen Drew to continue to grow. Player to watch - Max Scherzer
DODGERS - He's back! With Manny Ramirez back in the line-up and the addition of Orlando Hudson the Dodgers are good enough to return to the playoffs and compete for a division title. Their staff isnt as good, but should score enough runs to win. Player to watch - Russell Martin

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM EACH TEAM
A's - Have a young pitching staff and might make a run at the playoffs. Will score more runs with Giambi, Orlando Cabrera, and Matt Holliday. Player to watch - Matt Holliday

Texas Rangers - They will score runs, but wont shut anyone out. Players to watch - Josh Hamilton and young SS Elvis Andrus

Seattle Mariners - The return of Junior will spark ticket sales, but not much else. Rotation on paper isnt bad (Felix Hernandez, Silva, Washburn, a healthy Bedard) it will be an interesting year. A healthy Junior will surprise people... (25 or more homers) Player to watch - My boy, Ken Griffey Jr.

Twins - They are a pain in my side every year. They just always get it done. They have speed and a solid rotation once again. Their CF Gomez has the talent to be an All-Star player for years. Player to watch - Carlos Gomez

Indians - If not the White Sox, I expect the Indians to win the division. With last years CY Young winner, in Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona and a line-up thats filled with speed and power have they could be as good as anyone. Grady Sizemore is a MVP type talent. Players to watch - Sizemore and Chin Soo Choo

Tigers - They as well seem to have the talent in the line-up and if Justin Verlander and Bonderman return to the form from a few years ago, might compete for a division title. Players to watch - Miguel Cabrera and Curtis Granderson

Royals - They wont be push overs this year. Their rotation of Greinke, Meche and Davies might surprise people. Have one of the best shortstops in the league.... Player to watch - Mike Aviles

Rays - They have talent, but dont think they will be able to pull off the magic again. Evan Longoria and BJ Upton are only going to get better, and their rotation is the same. I just dont think they will be able to repeat. Could still win at least 87-90 games. Player to watch - Carl Crawford

Blue Jays - Alex Rois is a must watch and Roy Halladay will win 17 games (at least) again. But have no shot of winning more than 70 games. Player to watch - Roy Halladay

Orioles - They have two young talented outfielders coupled with Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff... But thats about it. Players to watch - Nick Markakis and Adam Jones

Giants - Their rotation has the chance to be absolutely ridiculous. With Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Matt Cain, and hopefully a useful Barry Zito - have a chance to compete every game. Player to watch - Randy Johnson

Rockies - They have come so far from playing in the World Series just two years ago. It will be another long year in the mountains. Player to watch - Troy Tulowitzki

Padres - Thanks for playing! Expect Jake Peavy to be gone by the trade deadline. Player to watch - sweet swinging Adrian Gonzalez

Cardinals - They somehow won 86 games last year without Chris Carpenter. He's feeling good along with Adam wainwright. And they have the best hitter in the league, my NL MVP pick, Albert Pujols. Player to watch - Kyle Lohse

Reds - This is my surprise team. They have Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Edwin Encarnacion, and Alex Gonzalez. Their rotation includes Aaron Harrang, Bronson Arroyo, Micah Owings, Johnny Cueto and my player to watch - Edison Volquez (NL CY Young pick)

Astros - They have veteran presence with Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, Miguel Tejada, and Roy Oswalt. But I expect this to be a long season in Houston. Player to watch - Hunter Pence

Brewers - Their line-up should score some runs, but their pitching might allow a few more. They might surprise people if their young staff grows up quickly. Player to watch - Ryan Braun

Pirates - I hear their stadium is beautiful! Player to watch - Nate McLouth

Phillies - They definitely have the talent to win the division again and I wouldnt be surprised if they did. I just closed my eyes and pointed to the Mets to win the NL East. The Phillies line-up is pretty scarey and could go back to the World Series. Player to watch - Raul Ibanez

Braves - Chipper Jones signed a contract to stay and retire a Brave as he finishes off a Hall of Fame career. Derek Lowe, Javy Vazquez and Jair Jurrjens will keep them competitive at the front end of the rotation. Player to watch - Tom Glavine

Marlins - They always seem to retool with solid young players, and hell, might even win the World Series this year (1997 and 2003... 2009?) Ehh, I doubt it, but they have a future MVP on their team. Player to watch - Hanley Ramirez

Nationals - Adam Dunn signed a 2 year contract to play here. Expect a .250 batting average, at least 75 homers and close to 200 RBIs and over 300 strikeouts! Player to watch - I hear the stadium is beautiful

There is nothing like going to a baseball game, getting a bag of peanuts, sitting back and hopefully see something you have never seen before. I will be attending opending day with my dad tomorrow as the White Sox take on the Kansas City Royals. He'll be buying peanuts, we'll grab a few dogs, and freeze our asses off.

AND THE WINNER IS:

YANKEES OVER DODGERS IN 5