2007 Major League Baseball Preview.

My proudest prediction of last year's preview was that the Atlanta Braves would end their run of division championships. I stated that Leo Mazzone's defection to Baltimore would haunt the Braves because he was far more important to their success than the incompetent Bobby Cox. And the Braves are going nowhere again this year despite what many are predicting. So here goes this year with the AL today and the NL tomorrow.

American League East

1. New York Yankees (Predicted Record 96-66)
Every year you expect the Yanks to slip and they never do in the regular season. They have failed to win the World Series since 2000 because they don't have enough pitching. This year is no different. They have a stacked lineup and will get an MVP year out of Alex Rodriguez. They will score enough runs to win the division but will flame out in the playoffs again. They have a lot of questions on their staff like can Andy Pettitte stay healthy (I don't think he can) and can Chien-Ming Wang win 19 games again (No)? Mike Mussina, who is the smartest pitcher in baseball not named Maddux, Glavine or Martinez, will win another 17 games and Mr. Ego Roger Clemens will be there mid season to help but it still won't be enough to get out of the ALCS.

2. Boston Red Sox (93-69)
This is a hard team to figure. They won the World Series going the Moneyball route and then completely abandoned it, the most recent example being the ridiculous contract they gave new right fielder J.D. Drew. The Sox have a lot of questions that stop me from picking them to win the AL and get to another World Series. I think Josh Beckett will have a great year and win 18 games and I also think Dice K is the real deal and will also win 18. Schilling seems to be motivated but is 40 years old. I don't see him winning more than 12 games. The bigger issue is the top of their lineup. Julio Lugo is a terrible leadoff hitter and Coco Crisp is just as bad. They will get plenty of runs provided by Manny and Ortiz but they just don't have the horses to keep pace with the Yanks.

3. Toronto Blue Jays (92-71)
No team in the AL will get more from their top two starters than the Jays will from Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett. The problem for the Jays is 3-5 in the rotation. The key to the Jays post season chances is Gustavo Chacin. If he can become the consistent 15 game winner I think he can be the Jays can win this division. The Sox and Yanks don't have any rotation depth either and the Jays are going to put up a lot of runs. I like the signing of Frank Thomas a lot. He is going to hit 35 home runs and provide protection for Vernon Wells who will continue to improve and justify is huge contract. B.J. Ryan will continue to be great out of the 'pen and the middle relief should be improved over last year because it can't get worse.

4. Baltimore Orioles (78-84)
I'm convinced this team will never compete until interfering owner Peter Angelos dies. But at least this off season they didn't go out and sign over the hill guys who can't play anymore like Sammy Sosa and Javy Lopez. The big problem for the O's is that their pitching stinks. Ottawa native Erik Bedard will only get better and likely win 16 or 17 games this year and appear in the All Star game. Fellow Canadian Adam Loewen is really going to struggle against the tough AL East lineups he will face all year though. The offense isn't great but they will score enough runs to win a bunch of 10-8 games.

5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (68-94)
The D Rays have a lot of great young talent. Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crwaford are already very good players on the verge of being great and B.J. Upton, Elijah Dukes and Delom Young are going to be absolute studs within 3 years. But all those guy are position players and until Tampa gets some decent pitching other than Scott Kazmir they are going to continue to lose 90 games a year. Their rotation is just awful and is my choice for worst in the league. But at least all two of their loyal fans will have a fun young lineup to watch.

American League Central. By far the best division in baseball.

1. Detroit Tigers (100-62)
Last year was no fluke because the Tigers have the best starting rotation in baseball, even with Kenny Rogers now sidelined for the first few months of the season. Jeremy Bonderman and Justin Verlander are future Cy Young winners and Mike Maroth will win 15 this year in Rogers place. They still have the best manager in baseball in Jim Leyland and one of the game's best defensive catchers in Pudge Rodriguez. Add Gary Sheffield, who absolutely loves playing for Leyland and therefore won't be a pain in the ass, to the already strong lineup, and Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney getting even better out of the bullpen and the Tigers are heading back to the World Series.

2. Cleveland Indians (97-65)
The Indians are going to be very dangerous to this year and may leap over the Tigers to win the division. They have a strong and durable top of the rotation in lefties C.C. Sabathiaand Cliff Lee (the two guys who will get them by the Yanks in the ALDS)and righty Jake Westbrook. Joe Borowski is good for 35 saves and they have strong middle relief. And Travis Hafner may hit 50 home runs this year, he is that good. Aside from Hafner the offense includes stud Gardy Sizemore and the underrated Trot Nixon along with Casey Blake who should hit .300 this year. This team is also possibly the best defensive team in the league. If the Indians were in the AL East they would win 105 games.

3. Minnesota Twin (90-72)
Loosing Francisco Liriano to injury was a huge blow to the Twins chances this year but they still have the best pitcher in the game is John Santana who is a lock to win the Cy Young award in the walk year of his contract. Past him though the rotation has too many question marks. I also think they are going to continue to struggle to score runs despite having Joe Mauer (the best catcher in the majors) and Canadian kid Justin Morneau who should each hit .320. Despite a great year last year I don't think Torii Hunter will improve on his .278-31-98 and Rondell White is done being a good player. In any other division the Twins would have a chance but not this one.

4. Chicago White Sox (87-75)
This is going to be a very trying year for the White Sox. Jermiane Dye is in the final year of his contract so expect him to have a huge year and be in the top three in MVP voting. But I think this team is getting sick of manager Ozzie Guillen's bullshit. This is a veteran team and if they are not in contention in early September things will get really ugly. Their rotation is still strong enough to keep them in contention but their middle relief is weak. They also have an old lineup and don't think Darin Erstad is going to add much, nor is Jim Thome going to repeat his 42 home run year again.

5. Kansas City Royals (59-103)
A lot of people are ripping the 5 year $55 million contract the Royals handed starter Gil Meche but I actually think it was a good signing. He is a proven innings eater and he could have won 16 games on a team with a good offense (such as the Jays for example). But he won't win 12 games with the Royals because they are absolutely horrible. Their rotation is brutal and the only real chance they have to avoid losing 100 games is if Meche and rookie Zack Greinke pitch out of their minds. Their lineup will struggle to score runs despite the presence of Rookie of the year candidate Alex Gordon (the surest can't miss rookie this year) at third base. It's going to be a very long year but at least their fans have a great park to watch them in.

American League West

1. Anaheim Angels (95-67) I refuse to call them the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Angels should dominate their own division this year with a rotation that is probably the second best in the league behind the Tigers once Batrolo Colon returns. John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar are consistent guys all capable of winning 15-17 games and Jered Weaver should only get better. And Franciso Rodriguez has become the games most dominant closer (sorry Mo Rivera fans). Vlad Guerrero is still the best all around outfielder going and their up the middle defense of SS Orlando Cabrera, 2B Howie Kendrick and CF Gary Matthews Jr. is fantastic. The one problem they are going to have is scoring runs because Garrett Anderson is on the downside of his career and Matthews probable won't be on 'roids anymore.

2. Texas Rangers (89-73)
The Rangers may be the suprise team of the year in the AL. They have Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla as their 1-2 starters and serviceable 3-5 guys who just have to be decent because this team is going to score a tonne of runs. With Michael Young, Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock pounding the ball they will be dangerous. I also think Sammy Sosa is good for 20-25 homers this year because the ball just flies out of The Ballpark at Arlington. The key for this team is going to be new closer Eric Gagne. If he can stay healthy, a very big if, watch out.

3. Oakland A's (89-73)
The A's are hoping lightning can strike two years in a row by signing ageing Mike Piazza to replace Frank Thomas and his 30+ home runs. Piazza has no shot at even 25 home runs because his bat has slowed considerably and it showed last year against NL pitching. Though he'll be rested as a DH I don't think he will help an already poor offense. Jason Kendall and Shannon Stewart are no longer top of the order guys and Eric Chazev was awful at the plate last year. Unless Nick Swisher and Bobby Crosby have huge years they can't win the division. The rotation should be good but not great and Huston Street will still be dominant in the closer role. If Rich Harden can stay healthy all year they have an outside shot but I don't see Joe Blanton or Dan Haren ever being more than 15-16 game winners.

4. Seattle Mariners (67-95)
Other than watching the best young pitcher in the game Felix Rodrgiuez continue to develop and watching Ichiro hit .365 in the walk year of his contract Mariners fans are not gong to have much to cheer for. Bringing in Jose Vidro was pure desperation and that move looked brilliant compared to bringing in Jeff Weaver as the number 3 starter. A bad offense, weak rotation and average bullpen add up to a very long season in Seattle.

Cy Young - Johan Santana, Twins who then signs with the Mets in the off season.

MVP - Alex Rodriguez, Yankees who then opts out of his contract and joins Sweet Lou on the north side of Chicago with the Cubs.

Rookie of the Year - Alex Gordon, Royals

Playoffs

ALDS - Tigers over Angels
ALDS - Indians over Yankees
ALCS - Tigers over Indians