2007 League Predictions

We did the individual, now for the team selections..drum roll please...

AL East

This has been a two team race between the Yankees and Red Sox for ... years. The Blue Jays managed to slip into 2nd last year, but by then the division race was long over. Baltimore will be a little better, but still mediocre. The Rays? Who knows just how bad they may finish.

The winner of the AL East in '07 will be...(if you are thinking right now that I am about to say the Red Sox, you would be wrong) the New York Yankees.

No, this is not biased opinionry - especially since opinionry isn't a word. The Red Sox have the edge in start pitching, but the Yankees pen, offense, and depth is better. And though Joe Torre has made a number of mistakes in recent years, he's still better at what he does than Terry Francona. The Sox will be back in the wildcard.

97 Wins to the Yankees

AL Central

The White Sox are just 1 season removed from their world title, and they have the capability to bounce back from their disappointing '06 season to win everything again.

The Indians were a disappointment to many last year, but were as mediocre as I expected them to be, given their pitching. The Indians have a lot of bright young stars, but the pitching is still a question mark.

The Tigers are the defending AL champs and have the strut to go with it. If Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander continue to blossom, and the pitchers remember how to field, the Tigers could have another big year. They certainly won't sneak up on anyone.

The Twins lost Francisco Liriano to Tommy John surgery and Brad Radke to retirement. When Sidney Ponson and Carlos Silva are battling for a rotation spot, you've got problems.

The Kansas City Royals. 'nuff said.

And the 2007 ALCS winner is.....the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers starting rotation and bullpen will help them outlast a tough Indians squad (even with Kenny Rogers now out indefinitely). The White Sox will be selling off parts by August.

95 Wins for the Tigers

AL West

Can a previously managed Buck Showalter team go to a World Series again? Nah, these are the Texas Rangers. Their pitching is improved, but still mediocre. The Seattle Mariners have a pretty good nucleus, but signing Jeff Weaver shows you how desperate they are to fill out their rotation.

This will come down to the "A" teams, the Angels and A's. If Rich Harden can stay healthy, the A's can have a top notch rotation. The Angels will need Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver to get healthy fast to help out John Lackey. But the Angels still have Vlad and an outstanding bullpen...and it should be enough.

93 Wins for the Angels

NL East

This is really just a two team race. The Marlins will fall back to Earth after their surprising run in '06. The Nats will be worse than gnats. And the Braves will at least be competitive. But this division is between the Phillies and the Mets.

The Mets starting rotation is in shambles at the moment. GM Omar Minaya will have to make significant moves to keep the Mets in the hunt. And while he will probably come up with a solid arm, the Phillies will have too big of a lead to overcome, and will gladly settle for the wildcard.

98 Wins for the Phillies

NL Central

It's still hard to fathom that the Cardinals are the defending WS champs. But they are another year old and weaker. The Cubs spent more money than George Bush has in Iraq to bolster their team, but their pitching still looks as lame as Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

The Astros have already lost Andy Pettitte and will probably lose out on Roger Clemens once he decides to play again. The Pirates will simply stink; there's no two ways about it.

The winner of the AL Central will be the Cincinnati Reds. Yes, you heard me right. They don't have a solid closer and have a bunch of injuries, but they will still be better than the much more heralded Cards and Cubs.

92 Wins to the Reds

NL West

This division is a crap shoot, year in and year out, and this year is no different. Put the Dodgers, Giants, Padres, and even the Rockies, in a hat and pick one. Bruce Bochy has taken his managerial skills from SD to SF and the Padres will suffer from the loss. The Giants will still try to rely too much on Barry Roids. The Rockies will be competitive, but that's not a rave. No, as much as I hate to say it, the LA Dodgers will win the division.

96 Wins for the Dodgers

PLAYOFFS

AL Div Series; Yankees over the Angels; Sox over the Tigers
NL Div Series; Phillies over the Reds; Dodgers over the Mets;

ALCS: Yankees over the Sox :)
NLCS: Dodgers over the Phillies


WS: In an old time match up, the old time results rise to the top. Yankees over the Dodgers for championship #27.