i think this season there will be several tight division races. the central and west in both leagues could have one of three or fours teams competing. the AL east could have all teams finishing with a .500 record. and everyone is giving the phillies the NL east crown because of their pitching. but it's a long season so we'll see.
AL WEST
1. athletics- it's their year. best pitching in division, improved offense and the release of the movie version of "moneyball"
2. rangers- pitching issues, but plenty of hitting and talent, could make trade for pitching to push for division.
3. angels- will be better once 1B morales comes back. offense shaky overwise. starting pitching will be there.
4. mariners- king felix and no offense. but watch for 2B rookie dustin ackley should be good for years to come.
AL CENTRAL
1. white sox- fewest questions in division.
2. tigers- good pitching, starting and relief. but white sox have better offense.
3. twins- too many areas of uncertainty- infield, bullpen, injuries. but it is the twins and they've won the last two division titles.
4. royals- transition to moustakas and the rest of the youth movement is set to begin. rated best farm system in the game
5. indians- if sizemore gets healthy, he will be part of selling off of veteran pieces as the season goes on.
AL EAST
1. red sox- even with all the talk of adding carl crawford and adrain gonzales, if beckett and lackey falter flip a coin, the yankees could win it.
2. yankees- they're the yankees even with question marks they will try and get someone at the trade deadline. even if starting pitching shaky at back end. bullpen = great.
3. rays- they will compete, even if they lost a ton of people, especially out of their bullpen. if they get that straightened out they could fight for division.
4. orioles- if young pitching comes around, veteran players stay healthy and help. buck factor. could finish .500
5. blue jays- lost too much talent from last year, but plenty of help on the way.
AL
MVP- alex rodriguez, yankees- it pains me to say it but with a monster spring he just might bring this home.
ROOKIE- desmond jennings, rays- carl crawfords "replacement" will showcase he just may be. could also be teammate jeremy hellickson as well.
CY YOUNG- jon lester, red sox- another good season, will lead sox into playoffs. wouldn't be shocked if it was david price of the rays either.
MANAGER- terry francona, red sox- he could celarly have won it last year almost leading the red sox to the playoffs with all those injuries. so he'll get it this year instead.
NL WEST
1. giants- enough pitching to avoid world series hangover. but rockies and dodgers will be looming.
2. rockies- the big three: tulo, cargo and ubaldo. do they have enough surrounding players to help?
3. dodgers- this team could fall anywhere from first to fourth. they have the talent but can they learn how to win. first year manager don mattingly will help them.
4. padres- better up the middle, but the trade of gonzales to the red sox hurts and their pitching might not be as good.
5. diamondbacks- below average team in all facets of the game.
NL CENTRAL
1. cubs- in a very tight and tough race where any of the top four teams could finish in first, i'm picking the improbable. somewhat weak offense but better pitching than the rest.
2. cards- no wainwright, but larussa will keep them competitive in what could be pujols' last year with team. which could be rallying cry.
3. reds- good club, but thin margin for error if starters get hurt and cueto already is.
4. brewers- greinke, marcum already will miss time. rotation depth, lineup depth, bullpen, defense all concerns.
5. astros- starting pitching will help them compete. overall talent thin this year. youth movement under way with brett wallace and j.a. happ replacing berkman and oswalt.
6. pirates- the hiring of clint hurdle will be good. intriguing young position players, starting pitching, terrible.
NL EAST
1. braves- that's right not the phillies. this team has a better everyday players, youth and a stronger bullpen.
2. phillies- rotation should carry them into the postseason but age and injuries have already hit the everyday players and bullpen plus they may not see chase utley all year.
3. marlins- plenty of upside, could surprise but won't beat out either braves or phillies.
4. nationals- weak rotation but beginning to turn it around. next year with strasberg back and werth and zimmerman hitting could reach .500.
5. mets- santana hurt and among off the field stuff with their owners it probably will be a long season in queens. where's the new york giants when you need them?
NL
MVP- albert pujols, cardinals- will have a monster year with free agency looming for the first time
ROOKIE- craig kimbrel, braves- will be saves leader on division champ
CY YOUNG- cole hamels, phillies- the forgotten fourth guy in a great rotation rises to the challenge.
MANAGER- jim tracey, rockies
WILD CARDS: YANKEES, PHILLIES
ALCS: RED SOX OVER YANKEES
NLCS: BRAVES OVER GIANTS
WORLD SERIES: RED SOX OVER BRAVES
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