MLB Midseason Review and Preview

I know that the All-Star Game is well over a week away and that the Red Sox are still two games away from being halfway done with their season but that is not going to stop me from doing my annual MLB Midseason Review and Preview.

Looking back at my preseason predictions was not pretty but with (almost) a half of a season completed, I'm pretty confident in these updated projections.

Five Baseless Predictions:

1. The owners will look more seriously at realignment and baseball will be divided into two 15 team leagues by 2013.

Take a quick look at the overall American League standings.  The Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays are the top three teams yet, as of today, the Rays would be left out of the playoff picture. 

That is a problem that needs to be addressed and if there were five playoff spots per league (MLB has already discussed implementing a second Wild Card team for both leagues), then the best five teams would make the postseason, regardless of division.

2. The Mets will trade Jose Reyes to the Rays for B.J. Upton and a pitching prospect in a deal that will push Tampa Bay past New York and into the playoffs.

Reyes is having a monster season but is unlikely to remain a Met when he becomes a free agent after this season.  Moving him before he hits free agency assures the Mets of getting some value in return for its best player.

The Rays are on the outside looking in right now in the A.L. playoff picture but renting Reyes for two months is the spark they desperately need for their lineup and would give them enough juice to make the postseason for the third time in four years.

3. CC Sabathia will win the Cy Young Award, opt out of his contract with the Yankees, and sign a 5-year/$150-million dollar deal with the Angels this winter.

The Yankees might have the most cash but they have invested it in aging superstars, like Alex Rodriguez, who are entering the final years of their careers.  Looking ahead five years the Red Sox and Rays look more likely to win the World Series than the Bombers.

Sabathia knows this and will bolt New York for Southern California and Arte Moreno's millions.  The Angels have swung and missed on several marquee free agents the last few offseasons and with a prize like Sabathia on the market, Moreno will finally overpay to get his man.

4. The Dodgers will be sold to Marc Cuban and will be back in contention in the National League by 2013.

MLB owners have tried to keep Cuban from joing their fraternity in the past when he was mentioned as a potential buyer of the Pirates, Cubs, and Rangers but with one of the crown jewels of the sport suffering at the hands of Frank McCourt, Cubans billions are the answer in L.A.

The thought of putting Cuban's enormous resources at work for the Dodgers is scary and he could transform them into the Yankees of the West Coast.

5. Tony Bautista will surpass 50 home runs for the second straight year and subject himself to numerous drug tests to prove he does not use performance-enhancing drugs.

After years of drug scandals and mistrust of baseball's sluggers, Bautista will restore some faith in the game's home run hitters.

Awards Section

A.L. MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox (Preseason Pick - Carl Crawford, Red Sox)
N.L. MVP: Prince Fielder, Brewers (Preseason Pick - Albert Pujols, Cardinals)

A.L. Cy Young: CC Sabathia, Yankees (Preseason Pick - Sabathia)
N.L. Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Phillies (Preseason Pick - Halladay)

A.L. Rookie of the Year: Michael Pineda, Mariners (Preseason Pick - Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays)
N.L. Rookie of the Year: Craig Kimbrel, Braves (Preseason Pick - Brandon Belt, Giants)

A.L. Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, Rays (Preseason Pick - Terry Francona, Red Sox)
N.L. Manager of the Year: Ron Roenicke, Brewers (Preseason Pick - Jim Tracy, Rockies)

Postseason Predictions

A.L. East: Red Sox
A.L. Central: Tigers
A.L. West: Rangers
A.L. Wild Card: Rays

Wild Card: Red Sox over Rangers; Tigers over Rays
ALCS: Red Sox over Tigers

N.L. East: Phillies
N.L. Central: Brewers
N.L. West: Rockies
N.L. Wild Card:  Braves

Wild Card: Phillies over Rockies; Braves over Brewers
NLCS: Phillies over Braves

WORLD SERIES: Red Sox over Phillies