Biased MLB Preview
Monday, March 3
Ever since the landmark case of U.S. vs. Pitchers, Catchers, et. al (108 U.S. 21) desegregating spring training and allowing all players to report, not just the battery, this time of the year for baseball fans has always proven to be a special one. Hopefully 2008 will be a special year for these fans, especially. But most special is the fact that we can only hope that this year can be half as special as last's--which provided 182 special regular season games for each team, filled with home runs, double plays, doubles, and even ground rule doubles!
Here's Da Great White Hype's Biased MLB Preview:
AL East Champion: New York Yankees
AL Central Champion: Cleveland Indians
AL West Champion: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Circumscribed by the Limits of Orang County
Wild Card: Boston Red Sox
Yankees over Angels (finally!)
Indians over Red Sox
Indians over Yankees
AL Cy Young: C.C. Sebathia
AL MVP: Grady Sizemore
NL East Champion: New York Mets
NL Central Champion: Chicago Cubs
NL West Champion: San Diego Padres
Wild Card: Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Cy Young: Dan Haren
NL MVP: Ryan Howard
Mets over Padres
Cubs over Diamondbacks
Cubs over Mets
World Series: Indians over Mets
Looking in the AL, the team that made the biggest splash in the offseason was the Detroit Tigers. Although they have some great young pitching with Bonderman and Co. already, I'm not convinced that newcomer Dontrelle Willis (22 games won since 2005) will make it an elite staff from top to bottom. And they did also recieve Miguel Cabrera in that trade, who is now reuinted with former Florida manager Jim Leyland. But in that division, I like the Cleveland Indians and the best outfielder in the AL-Grady Sizemore. 
Newly-acquired Tigers 3rd Baseman Miguel Cabrera and some jump-off. I bet if Migs had a quarter for every time he heard "wow he's so fat and out of shape" he'd go to KFC and get a bucket of sauceless wings.
The Yankees are looking like a Yankees team of the late 90's--relying on players brought up from within the organization, like P's Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and newly-announced opening day starter C.M. Wang. Besides a log-jam at first (with Giambi, Duncan, Damon, and Phillips), they do lack depth on the bench, which is a usual staple for a Yankees team. But I do like the Yankees and therefore I'm picking them to win the division. Los Angeles of Anaheim brought on Torii Hunter (extra "i" for incentive) as well as Judy Jon Garland this offseason, and I believe they will run away with this division.
In the NL, Flushing is still reeling from the collapse of last year, allowing the Phillies to capture the crown and the only playoff birth from that division. Now with the game's best pitcher of the past 4 years added to their rotation, I can see the Mets winning 98 games and blocking the Phils out of the postseason. Phils pissed off Ryan Howard with the arbitration deal, but I look for him to have a 53-121 season this year. 
The most regarded foreign prospect (FuckYouDome) signed with the Cubs in the Winter, and they might reap some karmatic benefits after letting Mark Prior go. And now that Arizona signed one of the best young righties in the game from Oakland (Dan Haren pictured right), they have a pitching staff that will be able to dominate in the 5 game series (along with Brandon Webb, who last year in a stretch of 42 innings last year looked as domiant as any pitcher ever, whilst not allowing a run in those innings).
Posted byDa Great White Hype at 3:12 PM
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