2008 Season Preview - Part 1

Here are my predictions for the standings this season with a few notes on each team

AL East
TOR – I’m tired of everybody saying if healthy, you can say that about every team so on paper I like the Jays to take the division
NYY – They may run out of innings at the end of the season if they stick to the limits on their young pitchers, but there offence can carry them through the regular season.
BOS – I think this team played over their heads last season (how many people picked them last year?) and when the only major addition is replacing Coco Crisp with Jacoby Ellsbury, this team will not repeat.
TB – Great young talent, finally have some quality pitching to go with the offence, should come close to .500
BAL – In this division, will lose more than 100

AL CENTRAL
CLE – Need Hafner to bounce back, and Carmona to repeat his breakout season. Have great pitching depth in rotation and bullpen
DET (Wild Card) – We all know about their offence, but the bullpen will blow way too many games.
MIN – No staff anchor to lead all the young arms, offence should be improved with Delmon Young.
CWS – Will be better than last year, but that’s not saying much
KC – Taking baby steps towards respectability

AL WEST
LAA – Injuries to Lackey and Escobar make this division race a lot closer, will need Kendrick to perform up to his abilities to improve their offence from last year
SEA – This team just screams out mediocre to me, but Bedard and Hernandez could be deadly up top.
TEX – Same old story, not enough pitching
OAK – Can Beane successfully rebuild this team yet again?

NL EAST
PHI – Really like the offence, but not sure Lidge is the answer to their closer
NYM – Santana will be up to his usual tricks, but with their starters will need to heavily rely on middle relief
ATL – Could be good enough to make it a 3 team race, but need 1 more year out of Smoltz and Glavine
FLA – Have a few nice young prospects, but when your opening day starter is Mark Hendrickson, that’s not a good sign
WAS – New ballpark is the only exciting thing about this team

NL CENTRAL
MIL – Great cast of young players ready to take the next step, need Gagne to be like he was in TEX not BOS
CHC (Wild Card) – Will have to sort things out in the bullpen. Curse will live on past the century mark
CIN – Some of the top rated prospects reside with this team, but I don’t think Dusty Baker was the right choice for this team
HOU – Rotation has too many questions beyond Oswalt
PIT – Have some intriguing arms in the rotation that could make them better than most expect
STL – Even a fully healthy Pujols isn’t enough for this team

NL WEST
ARI – Young players have another year under their belt, making this team that much better
LAD – Have a good mix of veterans and young players, if only they can get along
SD – Need to find someone to help carry the offensive load with Adrian Gonzalez
COL – Required an amazing stretch to get into the playoffs last year, well no such miracles this year
SF – At least they still get to watch Cain and Lincecum every 5 days

I’m not big on picking playoffs, but if I have to, I’ll show my bias and say Toronto over Arizona.