I can't wait until the 2010 Major League Baseball season opens on Sunday night when the New York Yankees, the defending champions, pay a visit to the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
When the NBA season is over, this is the only sport we can depend to keep us in the edge of our seats until NFL and college football seasons begin. Who'll challenge the Yankees this season in the American League? Will Roy Halladay lead the Phillies pitching rotation back to the World Series? Will the Rockies finally win the National League West over the Dodgers?
Take a look at my picks and get ready for another good year of baseball.
AL EAST (*my pick, **my wild card)
*1) New York Yankees
-I'm excited about the addition of Curtis Grandson and I believe this will be a big year for Mark Teixeira, who lead the AL with 122 RBIs and tied with Carlos Pena for 1st with 39 HRs. I think this team will go as far as C.C. Sabathia takes them. This will be Derek Jeter's last season on the Yankees current contract, hurry up and sign him to an extension. Alex Rodriguez needs 17 homers to reach 600 HRs in his career. **2) Boston Red Sox
- The Red Sox pitching rotation will be the best rotation in the majors. When you have Jon Lester (who finished 4th in the AL in ERA with 3.41), Josh Beckett, John Lackey, Tim Wakefield, Clay Buchholz, and Daisuke Matasuzaka, this team will be dangerous defensively this year. 3) Tampa Bay Rays
- Carl Crawford (2nd in the AL with 60 stolen bases) and Carlos Pena (tied for 1st in the AL with 39 HR) are free agents after this season. Evan Longoria (finishied 4th in the AL with 113 RBIs) with will have an MVP type season. If the Rays don't have a strong 1st half start, expect a trade or two before the trade deadline.
4) Baltimore Oriloes
-It's good to see Miguel Cabrera back with the Oriloes, but even he can't save this young team from coming back to be playoff contenders anytime soon. 5) Toronto Blue Jays
- Without Roy Halladay, this team is going to be nonexistent this year. Aaron Hill and Adam Lind will have their numbers but this will not be a good year to visit the Skydome.
AL CENTRAL
*1) Minnesota Twins
- With Joe Mauer (who was the first catcher to lead a league in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in the same season), and a whole new ballpark called Target Field, this team will win this division this year. The big challenge is how do you replace closer Joe Nathan, who went down for the season with elbow surgery.2) Chicago White Sox
- Ozzie Guillen and Kenny Williams will be the best manager/general manager rivalry this season. Let's see if Jake Peavy, the 2007 Cy Young winner who was traded last season while injured, and Mark Buehrle will be the one-two punch this team needs this season. The biggest question will be on offense. They finished 12th in the AL with runs last season. 3) Detroit Tigers
-Pitcher Justin Verlander (who tied for 1st with 19 AL wins) will have another productive season, but a 3.45 ERA will not get it done this year. Miguel Cabrera (who finished 4th in batting with .324, 103 RBIs, and 34 HRs) will need to have another productive season, especially with some new rookies coming this year. Johnny Damon will not be enough to help this team go to the playoffs. 4) Kansas City Royals
-I expect SP Zack Greinke, last season's CY Young winner, will have a bit of an off year after going 16-8 and leading the majors with a 2.16 ERA last season. Rick Ankiel and Jason Kendall was a nice touch, but this team will not get any better. This team have not been back in the playoffs since they won the World Series in 1985. 5) Cleveland Indians
- Grady Sizemore I know your patience is wearing thin this season. Manny Acta, the former Nationals manager, will continue to ruin this team as well.AL WEST
*1) Los Angeles Angels
- This has won five division titles in the last six seasons. They are the only team in the AL West to win the World Series in the last 20 years. Even though they lost Chone Figgins (Mariners) and John Lackey (Red Sox), don't count on them to fall apart this season. Kendry Morales (who had 108 RBIs and 34 HRs) will have a good productive season, especially with the signing of Hideki Matsui, and CF Torii Hunter to back them up. 2) Seattle Mariners
- The Mariners were the worst AL offensive team last season with only 640 runs. Picking up Chone Figgins, could be what the Mariners need to get out of this offensive funk. Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee will be one of the better one-two punches in the majors but will they get the run support they to finish games. Ken Griffey Jr. needs 30 HRs to tie Willie Mays for fourth all-time in homers. Why would you sign Milton Bradley, his 8th team in 10 seasons, he's not worth it. 3) Texas Rangers
- When you have Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Josh Hamilton, and Nelson Cruz, you will be in the Top 10 in HRs, RBIs, and Runs in the majors. They have to find a way to get a better ERA than a 4.38. Rich Harden, from the Chicago Cubs, was a good pickup but that won't save Ron Washington's job this year. 4) Oakland Athletics
- A 4.29 ERA, 4th in the AL, was a good sign good for this pitching staff, but what about their offense. Eric Chavez must help this team do better that 759 runs this season. Andrew Bailey, who lead the team in saves will have to be a force in the bullpen. NL EAST
*1) Philadelphia Phillies
-Roy Halladay is finally playing with a playoff contender. Even though they had to trade Cliff Lee to get him, Roy's 17-9 with a 2.79 ERA last season, will carry Cole Hamels, who finished with a disappointing 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA last season. Ryan Howard, who finished tied for 1st in RBIs with 141 and 3rd with 45 HRs last season will continue to lead the best lineup in the National League. **2) Atlanta Braves
- Bobby Cox will do a great job going out with a bang in his final year as manager. I think starting rookie Jason Heyward at right field will be a good fit for the squad. I hope Derek Lowe, who lead the team with 15 wins, and Tommy Hanson, will get this pitching rotation going this season. They finished 3rd in the majors with a 3.57 ERA last season. 3) Florida Marlins
- I can't wait to see another good year from SS Hanley Ramirez, who finished 1st in the NL batting title with .342, 106 RBIs, and 24 HRs. Hanley is my second favorite player in the league. SP's Josh Johnson, who lead the team with 15 wins, and Ricky Nolasco will be a great one-two punch this year. 4) New York Mets
- I know this team battle with injuries all last season, and Jose Reyes starting the season on the DL is not a good sign, but they were so bad offensively. They were 25th in runs (671), 30th in HRs (95), and 25th in RBIs (631) in the majors last season. I think Johan Santana will have an off year with the Mets as well. 5) Washington Nationals
- I can't wait to see Stephen Strasburg pack the house in his first start with the Nats this summer, other then that that's it.NL CENTRAL
*1) St. Louis Cardinals
- You have Albert Pujols, the best player in the league and three-time MVP, SPs Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright (combined for 36 wins last season), Matt Holliday (signed a 7- year, $120 million deal), and one of the best managers of the game Tony La Russa. They have this division in the bag. Albert needs 34 homers to reach 400 HRs this season. 2) Chicago Cubs
- I have a feeling the World Series curse will live forever. Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, and Aramis Ramirez are in their 30s and this will not get any better this season. Th worst part is they didn't make any good changes this offseason. Get ready for a long season. 3) Milwaukee Brewers
- Prince Fielder, who tied for 1st in the majors with 141 RBIs and 2nd in the majors with 46 HRs, will be a free agent after this season. If he can get another 100 RBI and 40 HR season, he's leaving the Brewers and will find another team that will pay him what he's worth. Ryan Braun, who batted .324 with 114 RBIs and 32 HRs, will be another bat that everyone will fear this season. They picked up Randy Wolf but I don't think that'll help their 2nd to NL-worst 4.83 ERA behind the Nationals. 4) Cincinnati Reds
- SP Aroldis Chapman will show great promise with the Reds when he starts on the mound very soon. Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto will show promise in this lineup this season. They need to figure out how to get some runs especially when you leave 1131 runners left on base last season. 5) Houston Astros
- The last three years have been horrible for the Astros. It's too bad they can't get some good free agents when you pay Carlos Lee ($18.5 million), Roy Oswalt ($15 million), and Lance Berkman ($14.5 million) too much money. I don't see this team getting any better this year.6) Pittsburgh Pirates
- I'm not going to waist my time. They'll trade their best players before the trade deadline and end their season with their 18th straight losing season. NL WEST
*1) Colorado Rockies
- It's time for the Rockies to win their first division title in their 17-year history. Troy Tulowitzki, who finished with 92 RBIs and 32 HRs, is going to have a great season. I can see him with at least 90-100 RBIs and 35-40 HRs this season. Todd Helton, a 13-year veteran who finished 4th in batting with a .325, will finish in the Top 3 in hitting this year.2) Los Angeles Dodgers
-Manny Ramirez said he believes this will be his last season with the Dodgers, I'm afraid this will not be a good year for his squad. Things didn't go very well after his suspension batting only .290, 63 RBIs, and 19 HRs. The Dodgers were first in the majors with a 3.41 ERA, but can Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw lead this team to a playoff run? I don't think so. 3) San Francisco Giants
- Tim Lincecum, last season's Cy Young Winner with 2.48 ERA and 261 strikeouts, will be lead one of the best rotations in the NL. Matt Cain and Barry Zito will have to step up this season. Offensively the Giants are tied 28th in RBIs, 29th in HRs, and 26th in runs. Pablo Sandoval (who finished 2nd in the NL batting with .330, 90 RBIs, and 25 HRs) can't do all the dirty work on his own. 4) Arizona Diamondbacks
- The Diamondbacks are falling apart and it's pathetic. Justin Upton has to find a way to help this team get out of a bad offensive funk. Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, and free agent signee Edwin Jackson have to find a way to get this rotation going if they want to win this season. 70 wins will not get it done this year.5) San Diego Padres
WORLD SERIES PICK: YANKEES over PHILLIES
AL MVP (*my MVP pick)
*1) Evan Longoria, 3B Tampa Ray Rays
2) Joe Mauer, C Minnesota Twins
3) Mark Teixeira, 1B New York Yankees
4) Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers
5) Ichiro Suzuki, OF Seattle Mariners
NL MVP (*my MVP pick)
*1) Albert Pujols, 1B St. Louis Cardinals
2) Ryan Howard, 1B Philadelphia Phillies
3) Hanley Ramirez, SS Florida Marlins
4) Troy Tulowitzki, SS Colorado Rockies
5) Prince Fielder, 1B Milwaukee Brewers
AL CY YOUNG (*my CY YOUNG pick)
*1) C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees
2) Cliff Lee, Seattle Mariners
3) Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
4) Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox
5) Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
NL CY YOUNG (*my CY YOUNG pick)
*1) Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
2) Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
3) Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
4) Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
5) Josh Johnson, Florida Marins
AL MANAGER of the YEAR (*my pick)
*1) Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins
2) Don Wakamatsu, Seattle Mariners
3) Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels
4) Joe Girardi, New York Yankees
5) Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox
NL MANAGER of the YEAR (*my pick)
*1) Jim Tracy, Colorado Rockies
2) Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves
3) Tony La Russa, St. Louis Cardinals
4) Charlie Manuel, Philadelphia Phillies
5) Joe Torre, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL ROOKIE of the YEAR: Austin Jackson, CF Detroit Tigers
NL ROOKIE of the YEAR: Jason Heyward, RF Atlanta Braves
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