2008 Baseball Projections......

If you think knowing that Boston and Oakland are 1-1, Washington being 1 for 1, and Atlanta 0 for 1 is giving me an unfair competitive advantage, leave the room. Everyone else can read on.....

NL East
New York Mets 94-68: Johan Santana's individual season will conjure up memories of Pedro in 1999, Maddux in 1995, and Dr. K in 1985. That good. And I sound totally unbiased here, don't I?? Seriously, there are questions about the bullpen, corner OF's, and frailty, but the Mets are still the most well-rounded team in the Senior Circuit.
Atlanta Braves 88-74: That said, the Braves will provide a challenge for a while. Like the ATL's lineup better than the Phils, don't like the Glavine reunion tour, or any of the other back end pitchers.
Philadelphia Phillies 85-77: We know the infield can hit, watch for Burrell in a contract year. On the other end, watch Brett Myers remind everyone why he was sent to the bullpen, and watch Brad Lidge spend three different stints on the DL.
Washington Nationals 75-87: They won more games(73) than people thought last year, and as frightening as the pitching staff may be, the additions of Dukes and Milledge and the new park should get them a couple more wins.
Florida Marlins 66-96: Market Correction Yr 3 provides the worst results yet. Pitching is battered, I don't expect the bullpen to hold up as well, and expect a drop-off from the Willingham's and Jacobs and Hermida's with no Miguel Cabrera serving as protection.

NL Central
Chicago Cubs 87-75: Fukudome! Means another division title but the 1908 misery continues!
Milwaukee Brewers 85-77: Smart move sending Hall and Braun elsewhere in the field. And Gagne could be in the mix for Comeback Player of Year honors. Now, if they could only pluck some more starting pitching.
Cincinatti Reds 82-80: The sleeper team of 2008. Especially if Joey Votto and Jay Bruce get AB's. And I'm no Dusty Baker fan.
Houston Astros 75-87: Ed Wade essentially trades Lidge for Valverde, which will hike up their win total a bit. He also deals the entire farm system for Miguel Tejada, which will cause a GM vacancy in 2 years.
St Louis Cardinals 72-90: I think we have been waiting for the big Cards free-fall. Wait no more. The pitching staff will have more success batting in the 8 hole than recording outs.
Pittsburgh Pirates 69-93: I actually like their rotation a lot. But who is going to hit when they trade Jason Bay?

NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks 93-69: The one team that can take on the Metsies, especially with the addition of Haren, and the faith that some of the 07 dissapointments(Drew, Upton, Young) will pick it up.
Los Angeles Dodgers 90-72: A lot of faith in predicting a +8 upgrade, but I think Andru Jones becomes the best non-Santana acquisition, and the pitching staff can't be as decimated.
Colorado Rockies 85-77: Thought I would be alone in picking a non-playoff return to Earth for the Rocks, but Vegas has them at 83.5. The rotation got hot last year, it's still not very good.
San Diego Padres 84-78: Another division, and I wouldn't dream of the Pads filling in a 4th place finish. But biggest offensive addition, Jim Edmonds? Come on, Kevin Towers!
San Francisco Giants 61-101: Ladies and gentlemen, the worst team in baseball! And Barry Bonds will be laughing all the way to prison....

AL East
Boston Red Sox 98-64: Clay Bucholz will make people forget about Curt Schilling. That leaves a grand total of ZERO questions for the defending champs.
New York Yankees 91-71: I love Joe Girardi, and I love the lineup. But this is the weakest rotation the Yanks have compiled in years. Trust me, Joba won't be in the pen for the whole year.
Toronto Blue Jays 86-76: A good team with too many questions. Will B.J. Ryan be healthy? Will Vernon Wells perform like a superstar? Will Roy Halladay return to ace status?
Tampa Bay Rays 79-83: I understand the attraction of service time, but sending Evan Longoria down was a gutless move. Especially because TB could be better than 79 wins.
Baltimore Orioles 65-97: I like the direction the organization is going, finally. But they are taking it on the chin this year.

AL Central
Detroit Tigers 95-67: Could be the first team to score 1,000 runs in nearly a decade. And I'm not as concerned about the bullpen, Dombrowski will make a move.
Cleveland Indians 93-69: Can't put them above Detroit. But the concept of that pitching staff plus a resurgent year from Hafner isn't comforting to others.
Chicago White Sox 79-83: No clue what Kenny Williams is doing. Depleting the farm system, trading away the second best pitcher(Garland) and acquiring decent veterans that won't put this team over the top?
Minnesota Twins 75-87: Who's going to pitch with Liriano still not healthy?
Kansas City Royals 72-90: I don't think they are good, but why does KC get ripped for trying to improve the team(Meche, Guillen) and spending money, versus taking the Loria route?

AL West
Los Angeles of Anaheim of California of the U.S. of Planet Earth 88-74: With Escobar potentially out for the year, the Angels have gone from legit contenders to the default crappy division winners.
Oakland A's 82-80: They are a lot better than people think, even without Haren, Swisher and soon Blanton. Gio Gonzalez is a future stud, Daric Barton can hit. Moneyball Pt 17!
Seattle Mariners 81-81: The most overrated team in baseball. Not even close. The lineup is pedestrian at best. Bedard is a great addition, but Felix Hernandez is iffy, the rest of the rotation surprised last year, and the best set-up man is gone.
Texas Rangers 75-87: Allegedly the farm system has produced arms in waiting. I'll believe it when I see it.

NLDS: Mets over Dodgers in 4, D-Backs over Cubs in 3
ALDS: Red Sox over Indians in 5, Tigers over Angels in 4
NLCS: Mets over D-Backs in an epic 7-gamer.....
ALCS: An exhausted Sox team loses to Detroit in 6

World Series: Can't bring myself to pick the Metsies......Tigers in 7