2008 MLB Preview

A change of scenery for the MLB preview, which I have always posted on my original website, TheBostonInsider.com. However, I will not be keeping that site past this spring because of the issues I have had with Yahoo! Geocities. The Daily Blog will be the permanent home for all my senseless ramblings in a few weeks but for those of you who actually follow the site, you know that has been the case for some time now. The 2008 season is wide open for the first time since the early 1990's. The Red Sox, Yankees, Tigers and Mets still can use their piles of cash to stay competitive but small market teams like the Rockies (2007 National League champions), Diamondbacks, Brewers, Indians, Twins and Blue Jays are capable of making some noise. AL EAST 1. Boston Red Sox 2. Toronto Blue Jays 3. New York Yankees 4. Tampa Bay Rays 5. Baltimore Orioles The AL East has been dominated by the Red Sox and Yankees for so long that it's hard for some to accept that the Blue Jays and Rays are emerging as powers but that is the reality. Both Boston and New York have began to change some of their high spending ways by starting to develop their own talent in place of buying All-Stars when they need to fill a hole. Still, the days of counting Toronto and Tampa Bay as automatic wins are over. AL CENTRAL 1. Detroit Tigers 2. Cleveland Indians 3. Chicago White Sox 4. Minnesota Twins 5. Kansas City Royals The additions of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis give the Tigers a huge boost in the Central. Jim Leyland's club is one of the early favorites to win the World Series, if they can find a bullpen. The Indians will try to bounce back from droppinga 3-1 series lead to Boston in last year's ALCS in what could be the last year in Cleveland for 2007 AL Cy Young winner and upcoming free agent CC Sabathia. Keep and eye on the Royals, a team that is starting to develop some serious talent. AL WEST 1. Seattle Mariners 2. Los Angeles Angels 3. Texas Rangers 4. Oakland A's On paper, the Angels should win this division but their lack of pitching depth will hurt this team. The M's went out and traded for Erik Bedard, the ace they need to go along with Felix Hernandez, the move that should hand them the division title. NL EAST 1. New York Mets 2. Philadelphia Phillies 3. Atlanta Braves 4. Washington Nationals 5. Florida Marlins The Mets are dealing with a ton of injury problems this spring but their starting rotation of Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine and Oliver Perez should carry the Mets this summer. The Phillies will be dangerous if they get pitching. Can Hanley Ramirez win the NL MVP on a 60-win team? NL CENTRAL 1. Chicago Cubs 2. Milwaukee Brewers 3. Cincinnati Reds 4. Pittsburgh Pirates 5. St. Louis Cardinals 6. Houston Astros The Cubs will try to repeat as Central champions in the year they go for their first World Series title in 100 years. Milwaukee is the most serious threat to take the division away from Chicago. The Reds and Pirates are improving while the Cardinals and Astros are on the way down. NL WEST 1. Arizona Diamondbacks 2. San Diego Padres 3. Colorado Rockies 4. Los Angeles Dodgers 5. San Francisco Giants The NL West may be the hardest division in baseball to slot. The D-Backs have the pitching to go deep into October with a 1-2 punch of Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. The Padres can pitch but struggle to score runs, which is just the opposite for the Rockies. The Dodgers brought in Joe Torre but that's not enough to take the West. BASELESS BASEBALL PREDICTIONS AL PLAYOFFS ALDS: Red Sox over Mariners (3); Tigers over Blue Jays (4) ALCS: Red Sox over Tigers (6) NL PLAYOFFS NLDS: Mets over Brewers (4); Cubs over Diamondbacks (3) NLCS: Cubs over Mets (7) WORLD SERIES Red Sox over Cubs (7) INDIVIDUAL AWARDS AL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Red Sox NL MVP: Prince Fielder, Brewers AL CY YOUNG: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays NL CY YOUNG: Johan Santana, Mets AL ROY: Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox NL ROY: Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs SPECIAL AWARDS AL HOMERUN CHAMP: Manny Ramirez, Red Sox NL HOMERUN CHAMP: Matt Holliday, Rockies FIRST AL MANAGER FIRED: Ozzie Guillen, White Sox FIRST NL MANAGER FIRED: Tony LaRussa, Cardinals AL BIG NAME TRADED BY JULY 31: Jermaine Dye (White Sox to Mariners) NL BIG NAME TRADED BY JULY 31: Troy Glaus (Cardinals to Dodgers) AL INJURY THAT IMPACTS PLAYOFF CHASE: Phil Hughes, Yankees NL INJURY THAT IMPACTS PLAYOFF CHASE: Ben Sheets, Brewers