As April rolls around, let's look at the return of our national pastime as hell froze over and the Red Sox finally won the World Series. Will they repeat? Will the Evil Empire return to prominence? Will the National League break through and surprise some people? Here's a division-by-division look at this year's hot stove.
NL East No longer referred to as the NL Least, the Braves, Marlins, Phillies and Mets all have legitimate hopes of winning the division, while the Nationals are poised to break out onto the scene in a big way. The Fish snagged a bat, the Mets an arm and some speedy Beltran legs, but the most important acquisition in the division was the golden right arm of Tim Hudson that the Braves secured in a December trade. Expect the streak to keep going as the Braves in number 14 in a row.
NL Central The Cubbies and Cardinals are the favorites going in, even though Chicago's offense will suffer with the loss of Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou. They will depend on their stellar rotation and the young bats of Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez to carry them. The Astros will also rely on their workhorse pitching staff, led by Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. Surprise years from Milwaukee and Cincinnati will keep them in the race until August, but the veteran bats and addition of Mark Mulder will give the Cards the upper hand.
NL West If Barry Bonds was healthy and not on steroids, I'd pick the Giants. If the Dodgers had held on to either Shawn Green or Adrian Beltre to go along with Derrick Lowe, I'd pick the Dodgers. If the Diamondbacks had spent money on a pitcher not named Russ Ortiz, I'd pick Arizona. But instead, I'm going to pick San Diego, which made few additions to a young team that is led by superstar-in-the-making Khalil Greene and closer Trevor Hoffman. If youngsters Adam Eaton and Jake Peavy pitch well, the Padres should win the division.
AL East Man, the Baltimore Blue Rays would be quite the squad to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox. That's all I'll write about the three meaningless teams in the division. Both the Yankees and Red Sox spent big this offseason, with names like Johnson, Renteria, Wells, and Martinez roaming the AL East grounds now. While everyone talks about Johnson, the Red Sox moves to add Wells, Matt Clement, and Wade Miller to an already strong rotation make them the favorite going in. Instead of a collection of superstars, they are a team led by one bat (Ramirez) and one arm (Schilling). The Yanks will win the division, but the Sawx will even it up in the ALCS.
AL Central Go, Indians!!!! Cleveland sports probably the most likable squad this year, with young, exciting guns to go with veterans like Kevin Millwood and Bob Wickman. It's too bad they'll fall short of the Minnesota Twins, who bring back a solid staff of Johan Santana, Brak Radke, and Kyle Lohse. Chicago will be improved as will Detroit, as Troy Percival and Magglio Ordonez will both return to form after injury-riddled 2004's. Minnesota is clearly the best team in the division, though, and should withstand runs from Cleveland and Chicago, whose pitching is far too thin.
AL West This division is always interesting. Billy Beane did good in revamping the Oakland rotation, but he'll benefit next year. This year, the pitchers are too young. But the big three has become a big four with Zito, Harden, Dan Meyer and Dan Haren looking good for years to come. This year, though, the Mariners and Rangers will hit the ball all over, but the balance of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will be the difference. The slugging of Vlad Guerrero, the pitching of Bartolo Colon and young upstarts like Casey Kotchman and Dallas MacPherson make Anaheim the team to beat.
In the playoffs, expect the Braves to beat the Cubs in the first round and the Cards to dispose of the Padres. Hudson versus Mulder in games 1,4 & 7 will prove the Braves the best team in the NL. The Red Sox will beat the Twins and the Yanks will take care of the Angels. And, in a repeat of last year's epic thriller, the Sox will beat the Yanks in 7 and take care of the Braves easily in what will be somewhat of an undercard to the ALCS.
