BASEBALL PREVIEW 2007

My 2006 predictions proved that I know little to nothing about baseball. I couldn't have been further from right at all, which explains why I'm not an expert. I paid slightly more attention to the off season moves this year, and I look forward to another exciting year.

Roger Clemens will sign with the highest bidder. The only question is whether that will be the Yankees or the Red Sox. Both teams have deep pockets and really could use him (the Yankees more than the Sox). I have a feeling he will sign with the Yanks because of Pettite and because it will get Red Sox fans in a nervous uproar. Plus, who wouldn't want to see Dice-K in a pitcher's duel with Clemens?

Barry Bonds will break the home run record while baseball fans everywhere hang their heads in shame. It will be one of the saddest days in baseball history, with the media not quite sure how to react.

The Cubs will be better (hell, they can't get much worse), but Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will spend a significant amount of time on the DL, as their baseball careers become a recurring Groundhog's Day. I'm hoping they resign Carlos Zambrano to a long term contract because he is their ace, and will be for (hopefully) years to come.

The American League East will be the most exciting division to watch, for no other reason than it features the biggest rivalry in sports: the Yankees and the Red Sox. The American League Central, with every team but the lowly Royals having talent, and the National League East, with every team having potential to make some noise, will be a lot of fun to watch as well.

Here are my Season Standings Predictions:

American League East

1. Boston Red Sox*
2. New York Yankees
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays

National League East

1. New York Mets*
2. Philadelphia Phillies**
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washinton Nations

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers*
2. Cleveland Indians**
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals

National League Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals*
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Pittsburgh Pirates

American League West

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim*
2. Texas Rangers
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Seattle Mariners

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers*
2. San Diego Padres
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Fransisco Giants
5. Colorado Rockies

*=Division Winner
**=Wild Card

I think the Boston Red Sox have what it takes to win their second World Series in four years. They have a hell of a pitching staff, good bullpen (especially with Papelbon as the closer) and a decent line up. Injuries can always take down a team, but the Sox seem to have a very solid team, which will result in them beating the St. Louis Cardinals in a rematch of the 2004 World Series, and the Sox will find a way to get legend Johnny Pesky on the bench for that series.

I still don't recognize the Houston Astros as a team. The have been officially off my radar for many years.

Don't forget to read these predictions again in October to see how I did.

Written by: RF

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