MLB 2008: Player and Team Predictions

This season in Major League Baseball looks to be an interesting one on many levels. There are milestones to be passed and curses to break, and so I will take an in depth look into this years season.

In Cincinnati, Ken Griffey Jr. is just seven home runs away from becoming the sixth player in major league history to hit 600 home runs. Manny Ramirez, the left fielder of the Red Sox, is just nine homers away from the 500 home run plateau.

Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels, Ray Durham of the Giants, Edgar Renteria of the Tigers, Jim Thome of the White Sox, Mark Grudzielanek of the Royals, and Todd Helton of the Colorado Rockies are all within 150 hits of reaching 2,000 career hits.I believe that every single one of these milestones will be reached during the season.

Now that we have covered the milestones that could possibly be accomplished this year, we will predict who will win each division and wild cards in both leagues. We will start in the American League East where I will choice the Toronto Blue Jays, yes that is right the Toronto Blue Jays.

I am picking the Blue Jays for a multitude of reasons. One being their strong rotation anchored by Roy Halladay, and A.J. Burnett. The offense will be led by Frank Thomas, looking to add onto his 513 home runs.

In the American League Central it was a tough decision but I am going with the Cleveland Indians. I made this decision based on pitching. While Detroit has Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander who is my favorite to win the AL CY Young award, Cleveland is loaded top to bottom.

When you look at the Indians rotation you have the defending Cy Young award winner C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, Paul Bird, Jake Westbrook, and Cliff Lee, that could possibly be one of the best rotations in Major League history if all of them stay healthy.

In the American League West it comes down to either the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim or the Seattle Mariners. I am picking the Seattle Mariners for one reason, there is less of an injury risk. Also the Mariners host one of the best 1-2 punches in the game, Erik Bedard, and Felix Hernendez.

In the National League things start to get messy. In the National League East three teams are looking to take the division crown, the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and the team I am picking to win the division, the Atlanta Braves. I chose the Braves because they have one of the most balanced line ups in all of baseball. Also they quite possibly have the best 1-2 punch when it comes to hitting, with Chipper Jones, and Mark Texeria.

In the National League Central it would be easy for me to pick the Chicago Cubs, but I am not, because I am picking the Milwaukee Brewers to win the Central. I believe Ben Sheets, Prince Fielder, Bill Hall, Ryan Braun, and J.J. Hardy can and will lead the Brewers to their first central division title in team history.

The National League West looks to be the most competitive division in baseball, last years division winners the Arizona Diamondbacks look to repeat and I believe they will, but they will have to beat out a tough Colorado Rockies team, along with the San Diego Padres who I believe took a step back losing CF Mike Cameron, and an improved Los Angeles Dodgers team. I am picking the Diamondbacks because to me they have the best starting rotation in all of baseball, and a strong line up.

The Diamondbacks made one of the biggest moves in the off season by acquiring pitcher Dan Haren from the Oakland Athletics. They also traded away closer Jose Valverde to the Astros in the off season but acquired Chad Qualls, and Chris Burke in the deal. I believe Brandon Webb and Dan Haren will finish 1-2 in Cy Young voting at the end of the season.

I see Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones will win the National League MVP, and Miguel Cabrera of the Detriot Tigers winning the AL MVP. In the postseason I see the Cleveland Indians winning the AL Pennant, and the Arizona Diamondbacks winning the NL pennant. 

I believe the Arizona Diamondbacks will win the World Series four games to two. Who knows if my predictions will come true but what I do know is that it will be an interesting season.