2006 Standings

Here's how I think things will shake out (with last year's record in parenthesis).

AL East
1. New York Yankees (95-67) -> They are like the Braves, once they stop winning the division, I will start picking against them. They had enough pitching last year despite what everybody was saying, and they still have Mariano Rivera.
2. Boston Red Sox (95-67) -> It is still up in the air of how Josh Beckett will do in the American League, and how Curt Schilling and Keith Foulke will bounce back from injuries last year. I think they will all do fine, and Mike Lowell will have a bounce back year as well. I would pick them, but it is just so hard to go against the team that has won the division for the past 10+ years.
3. Toronto Blue Jays (80-82) -> They will finish with a better record than last year, but that won't matter since they are playing against the Red Sox and Yankees. All that money for another 3rd place finish, sounds like the New York Mets...
4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (67-95) -> I am not nuts I swear. I think with as much young talent as they have it will be hard for them not to jump over the Orioles.
5. Baltimore Orioles (74-88) -> Leo Mazzone will be good for the pitching staff, but they just loaded up on washed up veterans over the off-season and I don't know if Brian Roberts' last year was a fluke or if he is for real.

AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox (99-63) -> They had the best record in the AL last year, and their rotation got BETTER. Barring injuries, which is what every team needs to worry about, they should have another solid season and compete for the AL pennant.
2. Cleveland Indians (93-69) -> I can see them with another 90 win season and compete with Boston and the AL West loser for the Wild Card. I love their young lineup and their pitching staff is solid. I don't like the fact that they lost 2 key bullpen guys, but they did have the best bullpen ERA in the Majors last year so they should still be solid. Andy Marte will take the job from Aaron Boone by the All-Star break - I guarantee it.
3. Minnesota Twins (83-79) -> I love Francisco Liriano and Scott Baker and they have Joe Nathan and Johan Santana still, but I am not so sure about their starting lineup. Can they stay healthy? Can Rondell White still produce? Is Tony Bautista still alive? So many questions.
4. Detroit Tigers (71-91) -> Question mark at the closer position, and how will their rotation do this year? I like Bonderman and I think Verlander will be solid, but can Kenny Rogers still perform, and what is he gonna do about them pesky camera men this year? I like Granderson in center, and Magglio should be healthy this year. Inge is coming into his own, and I think next year they will be in the hunt for the Wild Card for a while. But that is next year...
5. Kansas City Royals (56-106) -> Who will have the worst record in the Majors this year - the Kansas City Royals. I think they will be the only team with 100 losses again this year. They just aren't very good.

AL West
1. Oakland Athletics (88-74) -> I have been back and forth on this one all off-season. I love the addition of Esteban Loaiza and if Frank Thomas gives them 100 games it will be a success. Huston Street was already amazing, and now he is adding a change up. I like their offense and they have the deepest starting rotation in the bigs.
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of Unites States of the World (95-67) -> The addition of Jeff Weaver is what made me think of making them the winners of the division. But I think it is the aging Darin Erstad and Garret Anderson that will be their downfall.
3. Texas Rangers (79-83) -> I think this will be the most competitive division in baseball, and Texas will finish above .500, but not far enough above .500 to win the division or the Wild Card. They have a tremendous lineup, but they should've gotten PITCHING for Alfonso Soriano, not more hitting. Millwood has been solid for his whole career, but he may not have a great season in Arlington.
4. Seattle Mariners (69-93) -> I don't think they will lose 90 games this year, but they still won't finish above .500. I love Felix Hernandez, but they are bringing him along slowly, so he won't have the impact this year that he does next year. I also cannot believe Jamie Moyer is still hanging in there. He's gotta break down sometime.

NL East
1. Atlanta Braves (90-72) -> Until someone beats them, I am picking them - End of Story.
2. Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) -> They have the hitting, and they have the rotation, but I don't think Tom Gordon will be quite as good as Billy Wagner has been.
3. New York Mets (83-79) -> See Toronto Blue Jays
4. Washington Nationals (81-81) -> They won't finish above .500, but they won't finish below the Marlins. Alfonso Soriano won't be nearly as good in Washington and RFK as he did in Texas.
5. Florida Marlins (83-79) -> The fire sale will have them in last in the East for a couple of years, and then back in the World Series. It just happens that way. Miguel Cabrera doesn't have enough around him, and Dontrelle Willis (who I think is overrated by the way) won't have enough help in the rotation and bullpen. Just too much youth.

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals (100-62) -> I don't think they will get 100 wins, but they will still win the division. They didn't gain much, but they didn't lose much either. They still have Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, and Jason Isringhausen.
2. Milwaukee Brewers (81-81) -> Before you call me a homer, read what I have to say about the rest of the division. They have the best farm system in the majors with the exception of Anaheim, and JJ Hardy was hot after the All-Star break. If Ben Sheets can stay healthy, they will be tough to beat.
3. Houston Astros (89-73) -> They lost Roger Clemens for who knows how long. And they don't have enough hitting. Their rotation has a lot of question marks after Oswalt and Pettite and Backe. Brad Lidge is the reason they will finish ahead of the rest of the teams.
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-95) -> I think the addition of Sean Casey is a great one. I like their young rotation, and lineup, but their bullpen is a question mark.
5. Chicago Cubs (79-83) -> I don't think the addition of Juan Pierre will mean as much as everyone thinks. He only has a career .355 OBP. I also think Mark Prior will break down again. Him and Kerry Wood. I like Dempster as the closer, but I wonder how much confidence Dusty Baker has in him.
6. Cincinnati Reds (73-89) -> No pitching. They have enough offense, but that will not be enough. No closer, and only 1 quality starter (Aaron Harang).

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (71-91) -> I like their off-season additions better than any other team in the weakest divsion in baseball. They have a solid pitching staff and are getting Eric Gagne back. That should be enough to overtake the Padres.
2. San Diego Padres (82-80) -> They didn't lose much, but they still have trouble scoring runs. I don't know how the rotation after Jake Peavy will fare. Chris Young will benefit moving from Arlington to PETCO, but Chan Ho Park wasn't too successful after returning from injury last year.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (77-85) -> The addition of Orlando Hudson will really help Brandon Webb and the rest of the rotation. I don't know if El Duque will be as successful in the NL as he was in the AL, but having Miguel Batista in the rotation should be a plus.
4. San Francisco Giants (75-87) -> I only put them ahead of the Rockies because Jason Schmidt is coming back from injury. Barry Bonds will play in 50 games, maybe. He'll probably retire during Spring Training, and I would be very happy. They just got older in the off-season, except for the addition of Matt Morris. I like Matt Cain and Brad Hennessey and Noah Lowery, but I don't think they have enough offense.
5. Colorado Rockies (67-95) -> I like their young team, which is why I will pick them to finish much higher NEXT year. But this is this year, and they still don't have much in the pitching department. Their hitting will keep them in games, and Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook will be much improved, but they don't have much in terms of pitching after that. Brian Fuentes is still good at keeping hitters off balance with his funky delivery, but Jose Mesa is going to get lit up in Coors.