2008 American League Preview: Bet on the Yankees

Following my NL preview, I give you my AL version.

Division Winners – Yanks, Tigers, Angels

Wild Card – Red Sox

Pennant – New York Yankees

Cy Young – Roy Halladay

In contention – Bedard, Harden, Carmona, Justin Verlander, Felix Hernandez

MVP – Alex Rodriguez
in contention – Manny Ramirez, Sizemore, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez

Rookie of the Year – Evan Longoria

In contention – Buchholz, Chamberlain

Manager of the Year – Joe Girardi

In contention – Terry Francona, Joe Maddon, Eric Wedge

Manny Ramirez (40-plus HR, 135 RBI) will have a monster year. Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and Sheffield will form a 3-4-5 in Detroit that combines for over 100 Homers and 350 RBI.

Robinson Cano becomes a legit superstar and the second best player on the Yankees. Joe Girardi is tossed in more games than Torre was his entire Yankee career. Phil Hughes goes for 13 wins with a high 3 ERA.

The loss of Schilling devastates the Sox rotation. Dice K regresses from his 2007 campaign. Dontrelle Willis bombs in Detroit, J.D. Drew has a very solid second year in Boston.

C.C. Sabathia has serious arm issues mid year. Rich Harden finally puts it all together for 20 starts. Josh Hamilton has a big year in Texas, while Torii Hunter has a huge impact on the Angels’ lineup, giving Vlad legit protection.

The Mariners 1-2 of Bedard and Hernandez wins 36 games and becomes the most feared combination in baseball. Seattle still misses the playoffs. The Yanks and Sox brawl on a summer Saturday in the Bronx on Fox and then meet in the ALCS.

2008 World Series – Mets defeat Yankees

World Series MVP – Jose Reyes