2008 Baseball Predictions..

I know I'm wicked late with my baseball predictions for 2008 . Things are quite active here in Boston sports scene these days. Boston Boys of Winter the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins are doing something we haven't been used to in a while-head towards the playoffs.


Plus our defending World Champion Red Sox were sent on this ridiculous season opener trip to Japan by the MLB to promote baseball and player transations.



Anyway lets get to the predictions....



AL EAST

1-BOSTON RED SOX
The offense will be fine. The concerns are the rotation. Ace Josh Beckett needs to avoid the DL-Dice K needs to be the pitcher the Sox shelled out big money for,Tim Wakefield must thrive better than last year with new personal catcher Kevin Cash,rookies John Lester and Clay Buchholz must live up to lofty expectations. If the rotation of offense struggles in mid June- GM Theo Epstein has the desired farm talent to trade to plug the holes in the ship.


2-TORONTO BLUEJAYS: A lot of writers think they'll beat Boston to win the AL East. They certainly have the arms. I think this club is better than the Yankees but injuries will be their downfall down the stretch.

3-NY YANKEES: The rotations a horror show. You'll see set up guy Joba Chamberlain in the rotation by June.

4-TAMPA BAY RAYS: This is a young team to watch. Making my predictions I had them number 3 but the Yankees front office won't let it happen. Looking forward to seeing rookie 3B Evan Longoria up in the bigs by mid April. Heckuva hitter!

5-BALTIMORE ORIOLES.. 1B/OF Kevin Millar hoping to improve his hitting so that the Red Sox reacquire him for the stretch run of a WS ring.


AL CENTRAL

1-DETROIT TIGERS: Their line-up is better than anyone elses in the AL possibly the NL too.

2-CLEVELAND INDIANS: They to have a great line-up but not as good as Detroits.
They'll take the Wild Card home though.

3-MINNESOTA TWINS:Rotation could use another 2 statrers. Good hitting line-up though and I like set up guy Pat Neshak.

4-CHICAGO WHITE SOX: What a disaster after winning the WS . They've been free falling ever since.

5-KANSAS CITY ROYALS: Those George Brett years seem light years away for KC fans.
Most AAA teams and AA teams are more talented.


AL WEST

1-LA ANGELS: They squeak by the Seattle Mariners at the end of Sept. Expecting a big year from Vladdy Guerrero now that he's got Torii Hunter protecting him like Ramirez does Ortiz in Boston. They need SP Jered Weaver to return to step up.

2-SEATTLE MARINERS: Seattle will need to go shopping in the FA pool next season for a slugger. Richie Sexson is horrid,Brad Wilkerson is a shade above mediocrity .

3-Oakland A's: Massive rebuilding here. Look for Rich Harden to get dealt by July trade deadline.
4-TEXAS RANGERS:If team president and HOF Nolan Ryan were able to come back and pitch-they'd surpass Oakland. Pitching here is dreadful.



AL WILD CARD WINNER: CLEVELAND INDIANS

ALCS: BOSTON RED SOX over DETROIT TIGERS in 6 games



AL CHAMP......BOSTON RED SOX

AL MVP: MIGUEL CABRERRA DETROIT
Runner Up.........Alex Rodriguez

AL CY YOUNG: JOSH BECKETT -BOSTON
Runner Up........Erik Bedard Seattle

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: EVAN LONGORIA- TAMPA BAY
Runner Up Jacoby Ellsbury -Boston

AL MANAGER of THE YEAR....JIM LEYLAND DETROIT

Runner Up: Terry Francona Boston

NL EAST

1-NY METS: Without question the team to beat in the NL if not all of baseball. A great hitting line-up and a pretty good rotation too. I'm not big on Willie Randolph as a mgr. though.

2-ATLANTA BRAVES: They have a great hitting line-up too. Tom Glavine rejuvenated to be back finishing his career in Atlanta. Bobby Cox is one of baseballs best mgrs.

3-PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Need to shop for a couple starters and a healthy closer and hope the Braves rotation gets taken back to the nursing home to get in.

4-WASHINGTON NATIONALS:Better hitting line-up than Florida but their rotation flat out sucks.
5-FLORIDA MARLINS: This team needs to be sold to an owner who will spend some money.

Ya think?





NL CENTRAL

1-CHICAGO CUBS: This kid Kosuke Fukudome has the best name in the majors.
I really want the Cubbies to win this year.

2-MILWAUKEE BREWERS: Have the line-up to survive even the acquisition of washed up closer Eric Gagne. Look for David Riske-Salomon Torres and Derrick Turnbow to take turns as a closer throughout the year.

3-CINCINNATI REDS: Good hitting line-up but the rotation is just below average.

4-ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: Albert Pujols elbow might not survive past July. Think you'll see Cards front office convince Pujols to shut it down by July-have surgery and be ready for next years.

5-PITTSBURGH PIRATES: Hopefully the hockey Penguins can keep playing til June and the football Eagles will start training camp early to take sports fans minds off this below average club.

6-HOUSTON ASTROS: Houston fans we have a problem. Our rotation is missing.

NL WEST

1-LA DODGERS: I like the Dodgers aka the Western Yankees better than the DBacks this year based on they'll have a better Mgr. in Joe Torre. He's simply the perfect guy to guide this club back to prominence. Torre brings his winning Yankee coaching staff with him to get these underachievers back in Oct. Good solid club.

2-ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (WILD CARD) Their 1-2 punch of Webb and Haren are the best in the NL even the Mets and Braves. May need to deal for some offense come July.

3-SAN DIEGO PADRES: Will make it another fight for the Wild Card. Another team offense shopping at the trade deadline in July. Ancient SP Greg Maddux had a great spring.

4-COLORADO ROCKIES: Those 2007 World Series DVDs are proof they didn't dream they were in the fall classic. Welcome back to earth Colorado.

5-SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: Barry Zito on the DL from carrying that pressure of carrying that huge paycheck he hasn't been earning. This team may be worse than Kansas City.

WILD CARD-ARIZONA

NL CHAMP: NY METS

NL MVP: JOHAN SANTANA NY METS

Runner Up Mark Texeira Atlanta

NL CY YOUNG: JOHAN SANTANA NY METS

Runner Up: Brandon Webb Arizona

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:HIROKI KURODA LA DODGERS

Runner Up: Joey Votto -Cincinnati

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: JOE TORRE LA DODGERS

Runner Up: Bob Melvin Arizona

WORLD SERIES: BOSTON RED SOX OVER NY METS IN 7