The Crystal Base-Ball: Predictions For 2009

Well, 2008 has come and gone, a year later, 2009 is here.

I did that math in my head. I know, I am a genius.

2008 saw the Tampa Bay Rays' feel-good story stop just short at a Philadelphia Phillies World Championship.

It also saw a rookie by the name of Evan Longoria not only win Rookie Of The Year, but go to the World Series and play like he was a 10-year veteran.

A few careers came to an end, and a free-agent home run king didn't even get signed.

What does 2009 hold?

Well for starters, two new ballparks, both in the same city.  The Yankees open up their new cathedral and the Mets open up Citi Field.

Pitchers and catchers report in nearly a month, but having a 100-plus temperature of baseball fever since November, I would like to break down a few things I think will happen in 2009.

The rookie to keep an eye on in 2009 will be Matt Weiters of the Baltimore Orioles.  A switch-hitting catcher with a stronger arm then some pitchers will be a force right off the bat and should be on the Orioles roster come April. 

Weiters, like Jason Varitek and Mark Teixeira, is from Georgia Tech. He has been clocked throwing a 92-93 mph fastball as a relief pitcher but he is a catcher. I wouldn't want to attempt to steal second base when he is behind the plate. 

I will have my eye on him come fantasy baseball in the late rounds for sure.

I have a few sleepers at Cy Young.

In the American League, I have Chien-Ming Wang making his return to the mound and winning 20-plus games.  With the weight of being the number one starter in New York off his shoulders,  he could easily go out there and win some easier matchups than before.  Its just the ERA that he has to control, that's the thing.  The wins will come.

In the National League, look for Cole Hamels to dominate the NL East and get a 20-win season.  He will need to do something, to back up his strong words towards the New York Mets. He will if he can beat the so-called cowards.

As far as MVP goes, I have a homer pick.  Being a Yankees fan and an Alex Rodriguez fan, he is my choice.  He will continue his "on again, off again" season routine this year.  Winning the MVP in 2003, 2005, 2007, Alex Rodriguez remains good in the odd-years and wins an MVP in 2009.

Over in the National League, its an easy choice for me, Hanley Ramirez.

Ramirez will be the best player in the league, hitting over .300 with a possible 40-40 year and maybe even over 100 RBI's.  He has a lot of potential, no doubt, hitting .301 last year with 33 home runs and 67 RBI's. 

Look for Hanley Ramirez to surprise and go before Alex Rodriguez in some MLB fantasy drafts as well.

As far as who will go to the Fall Classic, I think the Yankees are the odds-on favorite, but will need to get past that tricky best-of-five first round before I start feeling really good about it.

I look for them to face either the Florida Marlins or the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies.

There you have it, cut and dry.  I may be wrong on a few of these, but the good thing for me is I don't predict this stuff for a living.

At least I will admit when I am wrong, unlike John Kruk and Steve Phillips of Baseball Tonight on ESPN, who predict way more wrong than right and don't talk about it the next day.