MLB 2008 Season Preview

Since the Boston Red Sox and Oakland A's decided to open up the baseball season in Japan, I've been left bumping up my MLB preview by a week. Last year was exciting, personally, due to the Phillies finally making the playoffs. The rest of the season was kind of a drag with the Bonds scandal and a rather dull regular season. I think this year has a lot of good things in store. Since this Roger Clemens mess has apparently passed for now, the focus can purely be on baseball, and that is always a good thing.

So as usual, here are my predictions. Plain and simple.

STANDINGS

AL WEST - Seattle Mariners
AL CENTRAL - Detroit Tigers
AL EAST - Boston Red Sox
AL WILDCARD - Cleveland Indians


The AL is definitely interesting. With the defending champ Red Sox and Yankees fighting it out in the East and the Blue Jays supposedly coming on strong (I don't buy it) the Sox should win an overmatched Yankees team that did not improve upon their deficiencies from last year. The Tigers will have the best offense in baseball with Justin Verlander in Cy Young contention. I like the Mariners in the West. Their pitching should be improved with the additions of Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva to help a solid bullpen. The offense is in question, but it is an Adrian Beltre contract year. Here's what he did during his last contract year:

2004 with the Dodgers: BA .344/ R 104/ HR 48/ RBI 121

An Average Season Since: BA .267/ R 81/ HR 23/ RBI 92

NL WEST - Arizona Diamondbacks
NL CENTRAL - Chicago Cubs
NL EAST - NY Mets
NL WILDCARD - Philadelphia Phillies

The NL is a little bit more predictable than the AL. The main question is out of the West where the D'backs, Rockies, and Dodgers will be looking for a playoff birth. The Cubs have to win that division. The Mets look good from a pitching stand point and have enough offense to carry them to the top of the East. I'm sticking with my team and giving the Phils a Wildcard birth. Injuries are an issue for them, and I think they may be relying too heavily on the likes of Jayson Werths of the world, but we shall see. The offense is potent and Chase Utley should be in the running for NL MVP.

POST SEASON

ALCS - Tigers v. Red Sox
NLCS - Cubs v. Mets

WORLD SERIES - Cubs v. Tigers

CHAMPS - Tigers

AWARDS

NL MVP - Alfonso Soriano
AL MVP - Miguel Cabrera

NL CY YOUNG - Cole Hamels
AL CY YOUNG - C.C. Sabathia

NL ROY - Justin Upton
AL ROY - Joba Chamberlain

NL HOME RUN LEADER - Ryan Howard
AL HOME RUN LEADER - David Ortiz

NL BATTING CHAMP - Hanley Ramirez
AL BATTING CHAMP - Ichiro

HOWARD HR'S - 55

WORST PHILLIE - A Durbin