AL East: New York Yankees
Wild card: Boston Redsox
For the Yankees, starting pitchers Andy Pettitte and Kei Igawa should be upgrades over Randy Johnson and Jaret Wright. With no holes in their starting lineup and the best closer in baseball, the Yankees should be able to hold off Boston to repeat as AL East champs.
Boston made a big splash in the off-season signing Japanese pitching star Daisuke Matsuzaka and outfielder JD Drew. The Bosox have too many bats in their lineup to miss the playoffs. Shaky middle relief will keep them behind New York.
Toronto added good pieces in free agency, re-signing outfielder Vernon Wells and signing veteran designated hitter Frank Thomas. If a consistent third starting pitcher emerges, Toronto could fight it out for the division.
Tampa Bay comes into 2007 as young team on the rise. Delmon Young and Carl Crawford provide great pieces to build around. In this tough division, they will consider fourth-place as a moral victory.
Baltimore has declined every season since signing shortstop Miguel Tejada in 2004. One of the worst pitching staffs in baseball will not change the Orioles fortunes.
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
Adding Gary Sheffield to the middle of a young Tiger lineup could put them over the top. They return the best starting rotation in the division and should play with a chip on their shoulder after a total collapse in last year's World Series.
After regressing last season, the Indians look poised to rebound behind a great young hitting team. Travis Hafner will become a household name this year, very possibly contending for the league's MVP award.
The Chicago White Sox fell flat down the stretch last season. Their steadily declining pitching staff should keep them out of contention and don't expect Jermaine Dye to put up the same numbers as last season.
Despite having the reigning batting champ, Cy Young and MVP award winners, the Twins will not be able to keep up with the lineups in their division. Outside of star Johan Santana, there is no real No. 2 or 3 starter. The return of Francisco Liriano should bring the Twins back to contention next season.
The Royals will be the worst team in baseball. Period.
AL West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Anaheim comes into this season with the best pitching staff in the American league. Big bat Vladimir Guerrero is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game and closer Francisco Rodriguez has the potential to be the best in baseball.
Oakland looks to regress this season after winning the division last year. No. 1 pitcher Rich Harden is poised to emerge as a star. However, the lack of depth behind him will keep the A's behind the Angles.
The Texas Rangers went out this off-season and signed aging former stars Kenny Lofton and Sammy Sosa. Michael Young should once again dominate at the plate for Texas. No. 1 starter Kevin Millwood and closer Eric Gagne are glimmers of what they used to be.
A dangerous Seattle lineup has underachieved the last two seasons.
If Richie Sexon and Adrian Beltre can live up to the big money deals they signed last off-season, Seattle will have a chance to win 80 games. Yet, a completely new and unproven pitching staff will keep the Mariners in the cellar.
Playoffs
(1) NY Yankees over (3) Anaheim
(2) Detroit over (4/wild-card) Boston
(1) NY Yankees over (2) Detroit
NL East: New York Mets
Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies
The Mets are without pitcher Pedro Martinez until July, but they will still make a strong run into the playoffs. Third baseman David Wright and shortstop Jose Reyes are among the best at their position in the National League.
Every day will be Ryan Howard Day in Philadelphia this season, as first baseman Ryan Howard and second baseman Chase Utley will put up big numbers once again to give the Phillies the wild-card.
The Braves will also fight for that final playoff spot, but they will come up a bit short with a weak bullpen other than closer Bob Wickman.
Florida needs more than third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis to succeed.
As far as the Nationals, without outfielder Alfonso Soriano, some experts are saying they are the worst team in baseball... ever.
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis has been strong in the playoffs every year lately, and won the World Series last October. Despite manager Tony LaRussa's recent DUI arrest, the Cardinals will again win the Central division. Pitcher Chris Carpenter is the best in the National League and they will get plenty of offense from first baseman Albert Pujols.
The Cubs have first baseman Derrek Lee, but pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior get injured every year.
St. Louis has built up a large lead in their division the past few years. The Brewers and Astros will be out of the playoff hunt by the end of August. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will fight amongst themselves to stay out of the bottom of the division.
NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles acquired pitcher Jason Schmidt from the Giants, which gives them strong starting pitching. Schmidt, Derek Lowe, Brad Penny and Randy Wolf have all won 16 games or more in previous years.
The Padres have pitchers Greg Maddux and David Wells, which would be great if this was 1995.
Arizona traded Randy Johnson away to the Yankees after the 2004 season, and got him back now that he appears to be older and washed up.
The Rockies continue to struggle to get a good pitcher in home run-friendly Coors Field.
San Francisco will face too many distractions around outfielder Barry Bonds and the loss of Schmidt will hurt their pitching rotation.
Playoffs
(1) St. Louis over (4) Philadelphia
(2) Los Angeles over (3) New York
(1) St. Louis over (2) Los Angeles
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
