HOLY TORNADO! Predictions...

I figure before the season starts and baseball's lack of parity is on display, I might as well try my hand at some division predictions...

AL East

For the first time since Tampa Bay ws created in expansion, I feel that the AL East has five legitimate contenders. Tampas young talent is now maturing and reaching the primes of their careers with Soctt Kazmir, Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, BJ Upton and Delmon Young. Tampa is my favorite story coming out of the AL East because they are a young, fun team that has unbelievable upside.

Now, let me preface this pick with COMPLETE UNBIAS. The Yankees DO NOT HAVE THE PITCHING to win this division this year. I am not saying the Red Sox are better hitters, but look at the Yanks rotation: Wang is hurt, Pettite is already having lingering back spasms, Pavano is the opening day starter and he hasn't pitched in about two years, Kei Igawa has been hit hard in spring training, Mussina is getting old but hes consistent and Philip Hughes cannot be expected to step up in his first year in New York. The Boss will remove Cashman's head come the end of the season.

1. Red Sox
2. Yankees (Wild Card)
3. Blue Jays
4. Devil Rays
5. Orioles (sorry Miggy, no World Series for you this year like you wanted. Jaret Wright couldn't help the Yankees, he certainly won't help the Orioles)

AL Central

Take out the god-forsaken Kansas City Royals and the AL Central looks to be a photo-finish. Without Liriano to complement Santana, the Twins rotation is a question mark this year. This will be the year that the Twins do not reign over the Central. The White Sox look good, as does pennant winning Detroit, but I have to reach and give the division to the Cleveland Indians. With 5-tooler Grady Sizemore, C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez and a slew of young talent waiting to explode, I think Cleveland makes a huge leap this year and takes the division.

1. Indians
2. Tigers
3. Twins
4. White Sox
5. Royals

AL West

This year, Oakland won't have a chance. I look at the line up and wonder how they could have let the Big Hurt go so easily after his 40 year old buckling knees carried the team offensively last year. Eric Chavez has fallen from grace and shows no sign of upside. Their chance was when they had Zito, Mulder and Hudson, but those days are long gone now. The Rangers are hurt by their ballpark, a pitchers nightmare and hitters dream. Even though Texas is very talented on offense and will benefit from a full year of Ian Kinsler, I don't think they have enough. I give it up to the LAA Angels. Bartolo Colon had a good pitching session the other day showing excellent velocity and control, and combining that with Ervin Santana, Jered Weaver (once he's healthy), K-Rod, Howie Kendrick, and a reliable outfield, the Angels should win this division. It will NOT be by a huge margin though.

1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. Athletics
4. Mariners

NL East

Though I am an AL guy at heart, the NL East is probably the most evenly matched division in baseball (minus the Nationals since they let Soriano go). The Phillies showcase the reigning MVP and hope that Brett Myers and Cole Hamels can pitch them to a playoff berth. The Phillies have horribly underperformed the last few years, as each year it seems there are "experts" talking preseason about how this is the year for the Phillies. Well, sorry, but it still is not the year for the Phillies. Ryan Howard or not, the team faces too many sluggers in their bandbox home to be successful. The Marlins are my favorite team in this division with so much young talent that it is truly sad thinking about how the Red Sox, Yankees and other big spenders will pluck them away in the coming years. With a $15 million payroll, the Marlins cannot expect to get into the playoffs. This team overperformed immensely under fired Manager of the Year Joe Girardi. It will be fun to watch how they perform individually, but hopes for a playoff appearance are doubtful.

This leaves the Braves and Mets. Both teams stocked with talent and big names BUT one doth not look past the rotations to figure this one out... The Mets are putting out there Tom Glavine, the Shadow of the Former El Duque, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Chan Ho Park. There isn't a single pitcher in that rotation at the top of his game. I don't even need to go over the Braves rotation because the Mets are so mediocre. And Pedro doesn't pitch until June but that doesn't matter, he will NEVER be the Pedro of 1999-2000.

1. Braves
2. Mets
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

NL Central

To me, this is the most puzzling division to figure out. The Cards are an easy pick for the division, but I think that the wild card comes out of the central as well. For me, the Astros are the wild card in this league, adding Carlos Lee to Lance Berkman is deadly and with the 2nd best pitcher in the league with Oswalt, the Astros take the WC. The Cubs have hitting, but no pitching to back it up. As per usual, Prior and Wood are question marks and Ted Lilly isn't going to win more than 12 games this year. Dempster is a shaky closer as well. I like the Brewers as well, but there's too much competition in the league for the small market beer-makers. Cincinatti is interesting with Arroyo and Harang as a one-two punch but I don't buy the hype. Arroyo could easily be a one-hit wonder.

1. Cardinals
2. Astros (Wild Card)
3. Cubs
4. Reds
5. Brewers
6. Pittsburg (Jason Bay won't waste his whole career on a loser...)

NL West

Arizona is going to be good this year...second place good. Randy Johnson will flourish now that hes out of New York and the young stud outfielders Chris B. Young and Carlos Quentin are going to surprise the league this year. Colorado simply doesn't have the pitching to win, despite the blossoming superstars Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins. The Dodgers overperformed last year and lost J.D. Drew in the offseason. San Francisco got a key pickup with Barry Zito, but they lost Jason Schmidt. Bonds will play a Clemens-length season or until he hits 756. San Diego will hold on to the division again, as Clay Hensley will benefit from Greg Maddux's presence and Jake Peavy and Chris Young will dominate hitters in pitchers dream Petco Park.

1. Padres
2. Diamondbacks
3. Dodgers
4. Giants
5. Rockies

Thats it...goodnight Senegal.