EARLY PREDICTIONS

...for starting a diary.

I don't really think we're going to finish behind Tampa Bay, and I don't think Boston will finish first in the AL East, either.

So sure am I of these two things, that I'll bet you a case of Harp Lager against a case of your brew of choice that neither one of them happens.

Other than that, I think your picks are fairly valid...except I don't think Milwaukee will make the postseason. I like Houston and St Lo again.

He wails a personal attack on us CC readers and contributors.
"...deprive us of intellectual pleasures".
Anyway, that being said, I'm with Z and would also wager a case of fine brew on the same points.
Boston winning it all?
I'll even take a 2 case for one bet with that.

These'll probably change in a month or so, buuuut.

AL East

1. Boston
   
2. New York
   
3. Toronto
   
4. Baltimore
   
5. Tampa Bay

I could go either/or with the top two. I think Toronto stays competitive but never truly threatens. I'm picking Boston because I hate them less and they have more individual players I like and do not have Alex Rodriguez. F the Yankees. The O's might very well play a whole lot better this season than they did last season and still end up with roughly the same record. I think this is the year where Tampa Bay has a decent shot at getting out of last place, but it won't happen because they're still the Devil Rays.

AL Central

1. Cleveland
   
2. Chicago
   
3. Minnesota
   
4. Detroit
   
5. Kansas City

Since they brought Tony Batista back from Japan I wanted to drop the Twins down a spot on principle, but what, is Detroit going to get their mess together? Are the Royals getting out of last place? I doubt both, so I guess the Twins finish third by default. I could see them being better since Morneau and Mauer should both be improved and they still have Johan Santana, but Cleveland is really good and Chicago is the defending World Series champion that, on paper, might have gotten better.

AL West

1. Oakland
   
2. Los Angeles
   
3. Seattle
   
4. Texas

Texas is going to stink it up bad, PU. They did a good job dealing Soriano but the Adam Eaton trade was just stupid and I don't think Millwood, Eaton and Padilla are going to make them better. I'm picking the A's because I like Frank Thomas and their rotation could be the best in the AL with Harden, Haren, Zito and Blanton, plus maybe Loaiza is better than I expect even though he stunk away from RFK last year and has largely stunk his entire career. I can see the Angels winning but I will not pick them because screw Darin Erstad. Seattle might be a little better, I don't know. They have Carl Everett now.

NL East

1. New York
   
2. Atlanta
   
3. Philadelphia
   
4. Expos
   
5. Florida

If Atlanta wins the division this year with that team against the loaded Mets with Pedro, Delgado, Beltran (who absolutely has to be better than he was last year), Wright, Floyd, so on and so forth, then Bobby Cox should simply be inducted into the Hall of Fame the day they clinch. They should roll a podium out to center field after the game ends like they do with the Super Bowl (minus the center field part) and just do it right then and there. I'm picking the Mets, but they are the Mets, and I have almost no faith in them. Florida is going to be dreadful and I don't think the Expos will be a whole lot better this time around. Philly remains an also-ran.

NL Central

1. St. Louis
   
2. Milwaukee
   
3. Chicago
   
4. Houston
   
5. Pittsburgh
   
6. Cincinnati

The NL Central is kind of interesting. The Cardinals are the overwhelming favorites, obviously, and then I could see any of the next four teams finishing second if things work their way and don't work for the others. Milwaukee needs to get better from their nice start last season, which KC didn't when they had that surprise 83-win year in '03. If the Cubs rotation is healthy they can win the World Series. Since I think that's so unlikely, I pick them to finish third. If the Astros actually hit anything this season they'll be good again, and yeah they got to the World Series without doing it last year, but that was with Roger Clemens having a season for the ages and Andy Pettitte quietly having his best season ever. If Pettitte puts up a 2.39 ERA again I'll be shocked. If Clemens does eventually sign with them to pitch a portion of the season, I doubt he'll go 1.87. And Pittsburgh, well, Pittsburgh is the least likely, but they did add some bats (not great ones, but bats they remain) and they have Zach Duke and Oliver Perez, who was pretty super in 2004. Reds have no chance.

NL West

1. San Diego
   
2. San Francisco
   
3. Los Angeles
   
4. Arizona
   
5. Colorado

I'll be honest: I have no clue what to make of the Dodgers, so I'm putting them third. Padres repeat as champions but this time are actually worth a damn, and the Giants make a race out of it but fall short because Randy Winn gets hurt and they have a 120-year-old outfield. D-Backs exist, Rockies barely do that.

AL MVP: A-Rod
NL MVP: Pujols
AL Cy Young: Santana
NL Cy Young: Pedro
AL ROY: Liriano I suppose
NL ROY: Hermida