Keene Equinox

Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: courtesy photo

With the baseball season almost underway, it's prediction time and while I may not be Peter Gammons it's always fun to pick the winners and losers before the season begins.

American League East: New York Yankees.

Since the best division in baseball is undoubtedly the AL East, that's where we'll start off.

The winner of this division will be the New York Yankees. Yes, I know I've just outraged and insulted most of this paper's readers but that's my pick and I'm sticking to it.

It may not be the most popular pick, but I see a new team in New York. With Joe Girardi and a few young guns.

Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrerra, and Joba Chamberlin give the team the type of energy that's been lacking in this club for awhile and you can see the excitement buzzing around Legends Field.

Of course there are questions about the pitching, but with a lineup that has the best offense in baseball along with the best player in baseball, (Alex Rodriguez), the pitching staff can give up five runs a game and still win.

The Red Sox have great pitching but their sluggers are getting older and I can't see them continuing to produce much longer.

Prediction: The Bronx Bombers win the division by five games.

American League Central: Detroit Tigers.

Moving on to the AL Central; no one is going to beat the Detroit Tigers.

The biggest trade in the off-season with the Marlins brought Miguel Cabrerra and Dontrelle Willis to Mo-Town. This instantly makes them the most improved team in Major League Baseball.

Along with being a great team, the Tigers play in a poor division.

Look for the Twins and Indians to be competitors until about the All-Star break then the Tigers run away.

Prediction: Tigers win this division by at least 10 games.

American League West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Now for one of the worst divisions in baseball, the AL West.

There's only one diamond in the rough here and that is the Angels. Look for the Halos to win their division with ease.

I wouldn't be surprised if this race was over at the end of April.

The only real threat in the division is Seattle and they don't have what it takes to beat a team like the Angels.

The pitching will carry them and by doing all the small things right they will run away in the West.

Prediction: Angels win the division with ease, probably by more than 15 games.

With each division in the AL having a powerhouse and the playoff picture already clear, the National League will have much more interesting match-ups.

National League East: Philadelphia Phillies

I feel the NL East will be the best race in baseball. The race is headlined by two great teams: the Mets and Phillies.

The Phillies were able to overcome a huge deficit in the last months of the season and with some help of the Mets choking, they represented the NL East.

However, this year the Mets look to return to their "Amazing" days by adding the best pitcher in baseball; Johan Santana.

Despite the acquisition, last year's result will turn out to be the same this year with the Phillies beating Goliath by one game for the right to play in October.

Prediction: The combination of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley will help push the team to first place but by only one game.

National League Central: Chicago Cubs

With the NL Central sporting horrible teams, the division crown is really up for grabs.

The Cubs were able to come out on top last year, but were quickly eliminated.

Chicago was really the only team to make any type of improvement in the division with the signing of right fielder Fukadome.

I'm not sure how much of an impact he's going to make, but with the rest of the division being so weak, it may be huge.

Prediction: The Cubs will repeat as division champs despite having slim to no pitching.

National League West: Colorado Rockies

Finally the last division and the most intriguing; the NL West.

The division has three teams who could win it, the Rockies, Padres, and Diamondbacks. All three of these teams are equally good and will make for a great race come September.

I feel this three-way race will end in favor of the Rockies because towards the end of last year they found great success.

Something in that team clicked and I feel they will pick up from the Cinderella season they had last year.

Prediction: Rockies carry 2007's magic in 2008.

However it turns out, it's bound to be a great baseball season full of rivalries, playoff races, and hopefully no controversy.



Chris Thelin is a freshman majoring in journalism. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the Equinox.

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