Making predictions on how the season will play out is always fun.  I enjoy talking about why I think certain teams will win and arguing for my points.  It’s always fun to do and it is that time of year again.  Here are my predictions and a little bit on why I think the season will play out like this.

American League

East: Yankees- Their pitching staff to me is the best in the bigs.  Although they have the Rays and Red Sox also in their division, I think the Yankees will come out on top the East when it is all said and done.  Their offense will be great as it has been in the past and will be able to give the outstanding pitching staff some run support.  Mark Teixeira, the big offensive pickup for the Yankees will be a great offensive presence in the middle of the lineup and will bring veteran leadership along with others like Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada.  Youngsters Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano will come up at the bottom of the order and will produce big numbers as well.  Brett Gardner who recently won the centerfield starting spot over Melky Cabrera will bring speed at the bottom of the order.  If he can get on, he will most likely score with the top of the order coming up after him.  The pitching staff you can summarize very easily.  The starting rotation is great.  The bullpen is good as well and will close out games with relative ease. 

Central: Twins- The reason I have the Twins over the Indians is the pitching staff.  The Twins pitching staff is better than the Indians’ at both the starting spots and the bullpen.  Kevin Slowey is their number one starter and will produce big numbers this season.  Joe Nathan, their closer will have a good season as he does every year and will finish the season toward the top of the list in saves.  With the offense the Twins have, the pitching staff will be able to take advantage of the weak Central.  Justin Morneau, only a couple years out of his MVP season, will be a big part in the Twins offense.  Joe Mauer’s injury is not a big deal and should be back shortly after the season starts.  The many youngsters on this Twins team will still produce well and keep the offense and defense moving smoothly.  Denard Span will be a great offensive producer at the top of the lineup.  Alexi Casilla and Delmon Young are two others who are going to have good seasons.  Things are looking good in Minnesota!

West: Angels- The Angels offense, although without Mark Teixeira, are still going to be very productive.  Chone Figgins, Vladimir Guerrero, and Torii Hunter are just a few of the returning players that will be important to this teams success.  Newly aquired Bobby Abreau has looked great in Spring Training as well as during his stint in the WBC.  Their pitching staff has lost their closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets but the pitching staff is still in pretty good condition.  John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Joe Saunders are the top three starters on the staff and are all have respectable stuff.  Brian Fuentes is going to take over as the closer and should be a great fit for finishing off a game.  The Angles, like the Twins, are going to be able to take advantage of the weak West division.  The closest team to the Angels will be the Rangers who will be clearly out of the running for the division title.  The Angels will run away from the rest of the West as they have in the past few years and will be a force to be reckon with come playoff time.

Wild Card: Red Sox- The Red Sox offense is going to be mainly the same this year as it was last year but the pitching staff has been fixed up a little.  Bringing in John Smoltz was an interesting move that I don’t think was entirely necessary but nontheless, it is just another good pitcher for the Red Sox.  The bullpen is going to be good as it was last season with Jonathon Papelbon at the end of the line and the Red Sox will be a good team in the playoffs with good chances as pulling off a Wild Card upset.

National League

East: Phillies- The reigning Champs will defend their title well in ’09.  Rollins, Utley and Howard are just the start of a great offense.  They aquired Raul Ibanez over the offseason who should be a good offensive presence.  He will fit in well with the Phillies because of their small ballpark.  Ibanez hits for the fences every time and will put up big offensive numbers this season.  The pitching staff is where most of the concern is.  Cole Hamels is clearly their best starter.  Other than Hamels, the pitching staff isn’t all that great.  Joe Blanton, Brett Myers and Jamie Moyer will not put up as great numbers as they all have in the past.  Brad Lidge will be a solid performer at the end of games as long as he has the run support.  The offense will surely put up a lot of run support so the Phillies will be able to get through the season over the Mets and Braves with the not so great pitching.   

Central: Cubs- Last season, the Cubs were looking big, looking to win the World Series.  When they came out in the regular season with a bang, they looked like they were for real.  Their offense was fantastic, their pitching phenominal, and their coaching, well it’s Lou Pinella.  Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee at the middle of the lineup produced big last season.  Rookies Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukadome also put up good numbers in their rookie campaign.  This season, the more experienced second year players will just add to the already great offense.  The pitching will also be great.  Carlos Zambrano will be their number one starter and always puts up big numbers.  Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly are good second and third pitchers that will sometimes be off, but when they’re on, they’re ON!  Kevin Gregg is going to be the closer and that puts firearm Carlos Marmol as the probable set up man.  The bullpen will be one of the best in the National League and will greatly help the Cubs get to the playoffs. 

West: Dodgers- Manny being Manny will come up this season as it has every season but despite that the Dodgers are still going to have a great season.  Manny will have a great offensive season and so will the rest of the Dodgers lineup.  Rafael Furcal, coming off an injury, will be great at the top of the lineup.  Orlando Hudson, the new pick-up, will have a good offensive season as well as a big defensive player.  Russel Martin will have his usual really good but under the radar season.  He has been great for the Dodgers ever since being brought up to the bigs.  Their starting rotation has me at a little bit of a delay but it is still good enough to get through the season against the West.  The Giants probably have the best pitching in the West but the Dodgers still have a good enough one to go into the playoffs confident and with big goals. 

Wild Card: Mets- The Mets offense is already great and their bullpen was fixed up when they got both Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz.  No more blown saves every day.  Last season, the bullpen was the weak point of the Mets but this year, that will not be the case.  Although the Mets will not catch the Phillies in the East, they will go into the playoffs as a confident and powerful team.

Playoffs

Yankees vs. Twins- Yankees

Angels vs. Red Sox- Red Sox

Yankees vs. Red Sox- Yankees

Phillies vs. Cubs- Cubs

Dodgers vs. Mets- Mets

Cubs vs. Mets- Cubs

Yankees vs. Cubs- Yankees- The Yankees get their 27th Championship in franchise history.  Their pitching matches up pretty well with the Cubs’ and the offense does too.  I think it will all come down to who wants it more and who is having a good day and who is having an off day.