Ahhh, opening day!

(OK – two teams started yesterday and two more, including mine, wait ‘til tomorrow, but we have to observe it some time, so why not today?) Thus a good time to put my foot perilously near my mouth and predict how I guess the season will shake out complete with snarky comments. Your mileage may vary.

NL West

San Francisco – The best in the league got better over the winter.
Arizona – If they can stay off medicare for six more months.
Colorado – With a real catcher for the first time in 7 years!
Los Angeles – For the first time ever, in the shadows of their former tenants.
San Diego – Proud sponsors of the DL all-star team!

NL Central

St. Louis – Too much talent to ignore.
Chicago – Bound to be better with Dusty, but Eric Karros?
Houston – Three questions: Jeff Kent? Jeff Kent? Jeff Kent?
Pittsburgh – Getting better, but have a long way to go.
Cincinnati – I just don’t see any pitching on this team. Sorry, Mr. O’Rama.
Milwaukee – At least the ballpark is supposed to be nice. They might need dollar beer night to fill ‘er up, though.

NL East

Atlanta – One last hurrah?
Philadelphia *wildcard* - Close out the Vet in style.
Montreal – The barnstormers have talent, but will they keep any of it?
Florida – Could fall if the fire sale continues.
New York –Mo Vaughn leaves the Angels and they promptly win it all. He joins the Mets and they finish last. It’s no coincidence.

AL West

Seattle – They’re baseball’s energizer bunny.
Anaheim *wildcard* - Just enough talent – like David Eckstein.
Oakland – If they already know Tejada’s gone, why not trade at the deadline? Look what the Johnson trade did for Seattle.
Texas – If they had pitching, they could be really good. Then again, if I had a million bucks, I’d be rich.

AL Central

Minnesota – But will they sell any tickets?
Chicago – The ghosts of Comiskey will have their revenge.
Cleveland – Not really worthy of a third-place finish, but look at the competition.
Detroit– Not really worthy of a fourth-place finish, but look at the competition.
Kansas City – They’re lucky there are only five teams in this division.

AL East

New York – Not their best team in recent years, but good enough to win the division.
Boston – Wouldn’t surprise me too much if they got the wildcard. More than that would surprise me.
Toronto – Does J. P. Ricciardi really have a plan?
Tampa – Lou Piniella will not have fun this year.
Baltimore –How soon until Cal Ripken pulls a George Brett?

NL Postseason

San Francisco defeats Philadelphia
St. Louis defeats Atlanta
San Francisco defeats St. Louis

AL Postseason

Seattle defeats Minnesota
New York defeats Anaheim
Seattle defeats New York

World Series

San Francisco defeats Seattle

There you have it. Of course I'd be beyond delighted were it to be the Rox wininng it all, but I'm not delusional.