2010 MLB Predictions: And This Year's Oscar Goes to

The Academy Award nominations are out, so it must be just about time for pitchers and catchers to report to camp.  This year’s field is pretty much “Up In The Air” (my pick to win the Oscar for Best Picture this year). Here’s a look at how this year’s major league teams stack up for 2010, plus a look at which Best Picture Oscar winner of the past will be playing prominently in the clubhouse throughout the season (in parentheses).

AL EAST

1. New York Yankees  (The Greatest Show On Earth - 1952)  

Determined to repeat as World Series champions, the Yankees look to last year’s blueprint to try and duplicate another championship season.

2. Boston Red Sox  (No Country For Old Men - 2007)

With the aging bodies of David Ortiz, Mike Lowell, and Tim Wakefield producing diminishing returns early in the season, the Red Sox need a late push and a slightly younger roster just to squeeze into the wild card.

3. Tampa Bay Rays  (The Sound Of Music - 1965)

You won’t be hearing all those cowbells echoing through Tropicana Stadium by the end of summer.  The Rays starting staff fails to live up to past standards, which is music to the ears of the Red Sox and Yankees.

4. Baltimore Orioles (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest - 1975)

As Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  Orioles-owner Peter Angelos finally gets out of last place in the division, but that isn’t the different result he has been looking for.

5. Toronto Blue Jays (The Last Emperor - 1987)

The last time the Blue Jays were a first place team was seventeen years ago, when Cito Gaston was the manager.   That dynasty has long been a thing of the past and shows no promise of returning.  

AL CENTRAL

1. Minnesota Twins (The Best Years Of Our Lives - 1946)

With their division rivals taking a step backward this season, the Twins wrap up a playoff spot early and make a lot of noise late into the playoffs with a World Series appearance.

2. Chicago White Sox  (Chicago - 2002)

The White Sox added quite a few new pieces to their ensemble, but Ozzie Guillen struggles to get this squad to harmonize on the field.  The new additions look good on paper, but there are quite a few sour notes in a disappointing season.

3. Detroit Tigers  (The Silence Of The Lambs - 1991)

The Tiger offense is toothless and doesn’t inflict fear into the opposition at all.  Instead of the roar of the jungle, it is more like the silence of the lambs in Comerica Park this season.

4. Cleveland Indians  (Rain Man - 1988)

Indians fans won’t need an autistic savant to count all the runs they score this season.  Plus, with David Huff and Aaron Laffey at the back of a patchwork rotation, Cleveland will be praying for a lot of rainouts.

5. Kansas City Royals  (Platoon - 1986)

The Royals go through 50 different lineups trying to find the right mix, as this perennial group of underachievers led by Alex Gordon and Billy Butler fail to put it all together once again.

AL WEST

1. Seattle (All The King’s Men - 1949)

With King Felix Hernandez securely back in the fold for the next five years, newcomers Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins add to an established roster and propel the Mariners to the division crown.

2. Los Angeles Angels (The Departed - 2006) 

After dedicating last season to fallen comrade Nick Adenhart, the Angels once again use his memory to light the spark under the 2010 season.  Unfortunately, it is other departed team members, John Lackey and Chone Figgins, who are sorely missed as the Angels fail to reach the playoffs.

3. Texas Rangers (Crash - 2005)

The Rangers played like a team on the rise last year but crash back to Earth with a patchwork rotation that is an accident waiting to happen.

4. Oakland Athletics  (A Beautiful Mind - 2001)

Billy Beane is revered for his innovative thinking, which made "Moneyball" a term synonymous with his overachieving Athletics.  After another last place finish, it might be time to reassess whether the Oakland GM still has all his marbles. 

NL EAST

1. Philadelphia Phillies  (A Man For All Seasons - 1966)

Roy Halladay finally gets a chance to find out what it’s like to pitch in the fall.  The Phillies rotation carries this team deep into the playoffs once again.

2. Florida Marlins  (You Can’t Take It With You - 1938)

Marlins owner Jefferey Loria is the cheapest owner in the big leagues.  If he’d spend even a little more money toward improving his roster, he might receive a nice return on his investment.   He might as well spend his money now because it’s not going to buy him anything in the afterlife.

3. Atlanta Braves (Gone With The Wind - 1939)

There’s trouble in the deep south again.  Plantations might not be burning to the ground, but an anemic offense leaves the Braves hopes gone with the wind.  The only way this team is scoring bunches of runs is when the wind is blowing out.

4. New York Mets (Mutiny On The Bounty - 1935)

Omar Minaya is asleep at the wheel, and after a season spent battling the Nationals for last place, Mets fans rise up and demand that someone else lead them back to shore.

5. Washington Nationals  (Million Dollar Baby - 2004)

Rookie fireballer Stephen Strasberg might not start the season with the big club, but he’ll give the Nationals some much-needed buzz with his 102-mile-per-hour fastball.

NL CENTRAL

1. Milwaukee Brewers  (Forrest Gump - 1994)

The Brewers pitching is somewhat suspect, but they can do it all on offense.  Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder drive in run after run after run and Milwaukee runs all the way to the division title.

2. St. Louis Cardinals  (Unforgiven – 1992)

Matt Holidays’ error in the playoffs cost St. Louis from advancing last October.  A poor start, fresh after signing a seven-year, $120 million dollar contract has the Cardinal faithful in a very unforgiving mood.

3. Cincinnati Reds  (Gladiator – 2000)

Dusty Baker’s squad fights valiantly into the final weeks before falling out of playoff contention.  In today’s era, you can’t win on just heart and brute strength. 

4. Chicago Cubs (Titanic – 1997)

This expensive vessel experiences disaster during the season and sinks into the depths while the Captain spontaneously combusts in frustration on the bridge.

5. Houston Astros (The Sting – 1973)

Whatever happened to The Killer B’s?  The Astros miss that kind of sting in their offense this season.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates (Slumdog Millionaire – 2008)

Pirate’s owner Robert Nutting refuses to spend money on established players when an 18th-consecutive losing season is already a foregone conclusion.

NL WEST

1. Colorado Rockies   (Braveheart – 1995)

Jim Tracy instilled a winning spirit into the Rockies when he took over a manager in midseason of the 2009 campaign.  The 2010 Rockies continue that crusade and march into the playoffs by winning the National League West.

2. San Francisco Giants  (On The Waterfront – 1954)

AT&T Park is built right on the waterfront. A power hitter or two capable of reaching McCovey Cove would be enough impetus to squeak the Giants into the wild card.  Alas, GM Brian Sabean is the one who ends up being all wet.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (Kramer vs. Kramer – 1985)

It’s McCourt vs. McCourt this time, as the owner’s nasty divorce battle keeps the Dodgers from being able to spend money to fill the holes on a once vibrant roster.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks  (Rocky - 1976)

There is no rags-to-riches finish for Arizona this year.  The Diamondbacks have enough talent to contend, but AJ Hinch does not have the experience to lead a team that underachieves for the second-straight season.  With another manager at the helm, they could have been a contender.

5. San Diego Padres  (All Quiet On The Western Front – 1929)

The Padres are still years away from contending and stick with their slow rebuilding plan.  The trading deadline quietly passes without Adrian Gonzalez going anywhere.