The 2010 MLB Season is Ready to Begin!

I'll be honest I wasn't really looking forward to this season as much as years past, mostly because it was a frustrating offseason for Dodgers fan. No major moves, some key losses, and the ongoing embarrassment of the McCourts divorce. With that said, the season opens tomorrow and I know as soon as the first pitch gets thrown I'll be back in the baseball mood.

Since my NBA preview had some terrible predictions (Spurs in the 2 spot, Thunder, Bucks and Bobcats missing the playoffs) I got some outside help from Clipper Brian who put together a quick prediction for this year.

Here it goes:

NL West

1. Colorado Rockies– Looking healthy and poised to win the division. A strong rotation highlighted by Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis. A solid bullpen and one of the game's lights-out closers, Huston Street. Most importantly, a resilient group who can grind games out.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers– Outkast…Idlewild Soundtrack…Hollywood Divorce…few things though. I think this divorce will hurt for more than one season. This off season was crucial yet there were no big signings or trades, the abortion of the O-dog experiment way too early and of course…Fannie Ramirez. Too many if's for me to give them a first place finish in the division. I'm expecting big years from Kemp and Ethier but most importantly I’m lookin for Clay to get in the Cy Young mix.

3. San Francisco Giants – Heres a stat– Barry Zito after the all star break posted a 2.83 ERA and 74 strikeouts. You love the starting pitching here and the additions of Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff give the Giants lineup a bit more credibility though nobody will mistake them for a power hitting team.

4. Arizona Diamondbacks– Not liking missing Eric Byrnes and Brandon Webb is not starting the season. Aside from the fact that I think Justin Upton stole Matt Kemp’s all star spot last year and that there is no real power in the lineup, I see the Diamondbacks doing alright. You like the additions of Edwin Jackson and possibly Adam Laroche but the fire power to contend in a league where runs are going to be at a premium just isn't there.

5. San Diego Padres– Why did you trade Peavy? The farm system is weak, the lineup is garbage, not strong up the center and I just don’t see where they are going to be able to contend for anything in the near future. Adrian Gonzalez will be gone by the end of the year. I suggest young arms so they can have something to build on moving forward.

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals– Skip Bayless told me they were worse than last year. I see them taking this division going away. Carpenter won a lot of games last year but his stuff was nowhere near the 2005 Cy Young award winning Carpenter, as seen in Game 1 vs. the boys in blue. With an entire offseason to return to form he and Wainwright should dominate this division. Look out for Brad big belly Penny with something to prove as well. If the Cubs fold like bad hands in poker there could easily be a 10-15 game distance between the Cards and Cubs.

2. Chicago Cubs– The names Shay Cotton, Earl Manigault, Hank Geathers, Raymond Lewis and Evan Burns come to mind – the greatest to never do it. It’s simple. They have the talent to make it to the World Series but I’m not betting on them to win anything because they are classic underachievers.

3. Milwaukee Brewers– Peace to Randy Wolf. Failing to see the bright spots outside of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. I can see them scrapping to a 3^rd place finish but not much more. Barely .500.

4. Houston Astros– Love Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman but I wish I could see them play for other teams….not seeing an over .500 finish.

5. Cincinnati Reds– Aaron Harang is not a number one. Would love to see him come in as a #4 or to round out somebody’s rotation. With Edinson out because of Tommy John surgery, I just don’t see where the fire power is going to come from in any aspect of their team. Brandon Phillips is a thug and so is Orlando Cabrera, but no power, no pitching, no pen=no good.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates - …………

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies– Strong rotation….great lineup….good bullpen…decent depth….strong up the center….World Series…period.

2. Atlanta Braves– I’m saying 3^rd best rotation in the NL behind the Phillies and Giants. Possible rookie of the year Brian Heyward being seen as the new Pujols or Griffey. Chipper. McCann. And what do ya know…Troy Glaus at 1^st. Wild Card winners.

3. New York Mets– This team makes me uncomfortable….sorry…even the addition of Jason Bay can't make me like the lack of strength after Johan and Scary Mathews in center....high expectations for their fans…fail output.

4. Florida Marlins– Not enough fire power in the rotation, bullpen or lineup. Will not lie down but a last place finish is on the way.

5. Washington Nationals– Hate to speak with a forked tongue. I did put all my hope into Blake Griffin. However, any team putting their hopes and dreams on a rookie must be trolling or looking for a last place finish. You do like the additions of Jason Marquis and you hold out hope for Wang to make a positive impact. You like Adam Dunn, Adam Kennedy and Ryan Zimmerman to help play spoiler for teams late in the season but not to do anything more than finish in last place.

AL West

1. Seattle Mariners– I like Felix and Cliff here and I think they can help the young arms in this rotation. I like the move for Milton Bradley back to a division he destroyed. The only person as consistent as Ichirio is, well, Ichiro (not even Jeter, Yankee cockslobbers) – the guy's had 200+ hits every season in the MLB. You pull for Griffey and as a throw in, you pull for Matt Tuiasosopo, brother of Washingston standout QB and Raiders ex-QB Marques Tuiasosopo.

2. Texas Rangers- “Only thing whiter dog is Brooke Shields”…too soon?.... *tries to imagine Tex takin that 8-140 mil contract that the Rangers offered him years back*….whew…what a dynamite lineup they would have had. Michael Young is always the most underrated player in baseball to me. If Cruz can eliminate some of the holes in his swing, then they have enough between Kinsler, Vlad and Josh Hammy to hit their way into contention. Even if their manager is a fiend.

3. Anaheim Angels– I think Artie went with the idea of subtraction by subtraction. No Vlad. No Chone. No Lackey. Scot Shields is a shell of his former self….who can't wait to see Torii Hunter, Bobby Abreu and Hideki Matsui carry the Angels this year??????*doesn’t raise hand*

4. Oakland Athletics– Ben Sheets looks horrible. LOL at Coco Crisp. Weak rotation. Weak lineup. Lots of young arms and you know how Oakland gets with young arms. I can see possible playoff runs in the future followed by the inevitable dismantling of the team.

AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers– Two words. Joe Nathan….what F’words. You like Verlander and Porcello and what you really do is hope. Things you hope for– Bonderman, Dontrelle and Magglio to return to 2007 Mags (roids?) Miguel should contend for the MVP again and Brandon Inge is great at 3^rd base.

2. Minnesota Twins– Someone asked me what I thought of Russel Martin a few weeks ago. I replied, "Joe Mauer 8 years 184 million"…he’ll hit .350 again….Morneau should get back into the 300s and smack 100 RBIs…I like the O-dogg still *stares at Ned*. If they can weather the loss of Nathan, they can actually win the division. Until then, I’m rollin with the Detwat Tigers.

3. Chicago White Sox– You like Peavy and you like Buerhle. You like the pen and Bubba. You even like cheap steals Juan Pierre and Alex Rios and how they have the potential to return to form. You don’t like the competitiveness of the division, Andruw Jones at DH, the lack of power in the lineup or just the general likelihood that the team will be inconsistent and go through droughts.

4. Cleveland Indians– 2 years ago they beat the Yankees 3-1 in the playoffs with Cliff and C.C. Wow. Phail/10. At least they still have Fausto Carmona?...yikes…problematic…less than .500 finish. Feel bad for Grady and Travy Haf.

5. Kansas City Royals– Kansas City Loyals….loyal to what you ask? Loyal to last place. Not much outside of Zach Greinke who had a stellar season last year, but who doesn’t expect him to be in a big market at some point in the future?

AL East

1. New York Yankees– Strong rotation.Strong Bullpen.Decent up the center– some say Granderson is losing his range, though I’m not convinced. Btw, hes a great addition to the squad if you didn’t know. If the pitching isn’t enough, they can always hit themselves into championship contention. A-Rod 35-120-.300. Jeter– 200 hits again and finally gets the MVP he has deserved for years.

2. Tampa Rays– Never understood the Kazmir move. More subtraction by subtraction. But decent starting pitching with Shields and Garza. I’m expecting 15+ wins from D. Price. The lineup is ridiculous with BJ, Crawford, Pena and Burrell. I’m expecting Longoria to contend for MVP. Think this team will have the look of the '08 Rays who were feisty, pitched well and had a little bit of swagger.

3. Boston Red Sox– If I hate one team more than the Yankees, it’s their rival. Their collective dick is not a mechanical bull and analyst, you shouldn’t be a drunk white girl. With that said, A a dynamite rotation with Beckett, Lester and the newly acquired Lackey. The additions of Beltre, Cameron and Scutaro may prove to be problematic. Dice-K and Pappel-Bond are overrated pieces of shit and I can see this highly overpaid team underachieving like no tomorrow. Special lulz to David Ortiz and Victor Martinez’s defense.

4. Toronto Blue Jays– No Roy…not sure why they are even relevant. At least they aren’t Baltimore?

5. Baltimore Orioles– Lulz at Cesar Izzy, the former Dodger for making it this long without a bat. Mmmm…did anyone know Miguel Tejada went back to playing 3rd base for the Orioles? Outside of Andrew Jones in center a snore-fest and a last place finish.

WorldSeries:

Phillies over Yankees in 6

JaffeJu/Clipper Brian