WhatFinger


Final standings, Wildcard, Playoffs and World series

My 2009 MLB Predictions



In 2006, I was the subject of derision when I predicted the Tampa Bay Devil Rays would win that year’s World Series. Much of it was deserved as the team had the worst record in Major League Baseball that season losing 101 games.

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Although I did not predict the success of the team now known as the Tampa Bay Rays in winning the AL championship and reaching the World Series in 2008 there were some who praised me for seeing a promise of things to come two years earlier. Who will be the Tampa Bay Rays of 2009? How about the Kansas City Royals who have not made a post-season appearance since winning the 1985 World Series? Or the Pittsburgh Pirates who have not enjoyed a winning season since 1992? Or will the San Francisco Giants win their first World Series since moving to the Bay Area more than half a century ago? With that here are my predictions for the 2009 season. AMERICAN LEAGUE AL East Boston Red Sox Tampa Bay Rays# Baltimore Orioles Toronto Blue Jays New York Yankees # - denotes AL Wild Card winner The Boston Red Sox are simply the class of not only the American League East but the entire American League. Terry Francona enters his sixth season as Boston Red Sox manager and the team has never looked better. The rotation of Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester and the ageless Tim Wakefield are the envy of baseball. Competing for the number five spot are Clay Buchholz and ex-Dodger Brad Penny. If neither Buchholz nor Penny pan out the Sox can turn to future Hall of Famer John Smoltz. When a team can utilize a John Smoltz as a Plan B it is rich in pitching. Their bullpen is equally deep led by closer Jonathan Papelbon. Returning with Papelbon are Justin Masterson, Hideki Okajima and Manny Delcarmen. Joining them is Takashi Saito, the former closer for the Dodgers and Ramon Ramirez, who was the set up man for Kansas City Royals closer Joaquim Soria in 2008. With respect to position players the Red Sox have American League MVP Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz. Jason Bay made Red Sox fans forget about Manny Ramirez. While Jason Varitek’s bat has slowed his presence behind the plate is invaluable for the Red Sox pitching staff. Jed Lowrie emerged last season as solid, if unspectacular shortstop. Jacoby Ellsbury led the AL in stolen bases last season with 50. If the Sox do have question marks it is with the injury prone J.D. Drew who was much improved in 2008 and Mike Lowell whose hip injury might limit his time at third base in 2009. However, the Sox have the luxury of moving players like Youkilis, Lowry and Mark Kotsay not to mention the gutsy ex-Tampa Bay Ray Rocco Baldelli to work around Lowell’s absences. But make no mistake the Tampa Bay Rays are no fluke. The Rays defeated the Red Sox in the ALCS in seven games and will take them to their limit. Their starting rotation is every bit as good as the Red Sox. Scott Kazmir, James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine and Matt Garza struck fear in the hearts of American League batters. The addition of David Price will not prove a respite either. The Rays bullpen is also very good with the likes of Troy Percival, Grant Balfour, J.P. Howell and Dan Wheeler. In the off season, the Rays added Brian Shouse and Joe Nelson. However, it is not clear the injury prone Percival is healthy enough to be the closer in 2009 nor it is clear that any of the aforementioned pitchers are closer material. Perhaps ex-Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen could fill the breach although he has had as many injury problems as Percival. The Rays offense proved to be a steamroller with the likes of veteran Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria. Akinori Iwamura made a seamless transition to second base to accommodate Longoria at third. Josh Bartlett is dependable at short. B.J. Upton has not yet reached his full potential. Willy Aybar and Gabe Gross were valuable assets off the bench especially when both Longoria and Crawford were injured late last season. Matt Joyce, acquired from the Detroit Tigers in the Edwin Jackson trade, should get some playing time in light of Fernando Perez’s wrist injury which keep him out for much of the 2009 season. I would be remiss if I did not mention the addition of longtime Phillie and former World Series rival Pat Burrell. The Rays will be formidable enough to reach the post season for a second straight year. Rays manager Joe Maddon will find a way to make 9=8. As Dave Trembley enters his second full season as manager of the Baltimore Orioles he is well aware the team has not enjoyed a winning season since 1997. I do not believe they will have one in 2009 but they will come very close. Their starting rotation isn’t top of the line but could prove to be competitive. Jeremy Guthrie is a much better pitcher than his 10-12 record in 2008 would indicate. Guthrie is joined by two lefties, ex-Florida Marlin Mark Hendrickson and ex-Chicago Cub Rich Hill as well as Japanese import Koji Uehara. The fifth spot in the rotation is wide open as Danys Baez proved ill-suited to starting pitching. Perhaps former Red Sox prospect David Pauley will get a look. George Sherrill was a pleasant surprise as the Orioles closer saving 31 games last season. Sherrill could use some middle relief help as veteran Jamie Walker was ineffective last season. Dennis Sarfate had his moments but any contribution from Baez and former Orioles closer Chris Ray, who did not pitch in 2008 due to Tommy John surgery. The Orioles have signed Nick Markakis to a long term contract and the addition of veteran Ty Wigginton is welcome news. Brian Roberts returns at second base and Cesar Izturis is an improvement at shortstop. Aubrey Huff is a solid designated hitter but will Melvin Mora be able to replicate his 100 + RBI season in 2009? Will 2009 be the season that Adam Jones and ex-Cub Felix Pie blossom in the outfield? Ex-Cincinnati Red Ryan Freel is sure to get his uniform dirty and become a quick fan favorite. But the player generating the most excitement in the Orioles organization is catcher Matt Wieters. He probably won’t be on the opening day roster but expect him to play a big role in the Orioles offense. He might be to the Orioles what Evan Longoria was to the Rays last season. Besides the Orioles need more than Gregg Zaun behind the plate. Although Zaun is a gritty player the ex-Toronto Blue Jay is not an everyday catcher. Speaking of the Toronto Blue Jays, the team went 51-37 after firing John Gibbons (as I predicted they would in 2008) and replacing him two time World Series winning skipper Cito Gaston on June 20, 2008 (which I did not predict.) However, the Jays have a tall task in 2009. After Roy Halladay their starting rotation is anyone’s guess. A.J. Burnett is wearing Yankee pinstripes and Shawn Marcum underwent Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss the entire 2009 season. Dustin McGowan and Jesse Litsch had their moments but they are going through growing pains. Ricky Romero and David Purcey will likely be given a shot in the starting rotation. Casey Janssen, who missed all of 2008 with a torn labrum, is also an option. He would most certainly be put into the rotation if the Jays were to trade Halladay in mid-season. The Jays do have a better than average bullpen. Anchored by closer B.J. Ryan, Jesse Carlson, Jeremy Accardo, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor and Brandon League pitched out of their league and kept the Blue Jays competitive late in 2008. However, the Blue Jays Achilles heel is offense. Vernon Wells was the only Jay who hit 20 homeruns in 2008. What is amazing there is that Wells missed a third of a season due to wrist and hamstring injuries. Alex Rios power numbers slumped in 2008 after he hit 24 homeruns in 2007. Adam Lind can bop the ball but hasn’t done it consistently. Lyle Overbay and Jose Bautista have decent power but aren’t consistent run producers. Scott Rolen was a disappointment in 2008. Aaron Hill, Joe Inglett and Marco Scutaro are assets in the infield but they do not have power. The Jays need power. They could have had Adam Dunn but Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi bad mouthed his skills. If the Jays offense continues to be anemic and Dunn hits 40 homeruns with the Washington Nationals then Ricciardi might rue his comments. But the Blue Jays won’t have the buyers’ remorse the New York Yankees will have. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am picking the Bronx Bombers to inaugurate the new Yankee Stadium with a last place finish. Yes, the Yankees spent nearly half a billion dollars on C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. But like the Obama Administration they are throwing good money after bad. Sabathia’s low-key personality is better suited to Milwaukee or the West Coast than to the intense scrutiny of New York. Can you say Randy Johnson? Burnett did win a career high 18 games with the Blue Jays in 2008 but prior to last season he had never won more than 12 games in a season. Burnett has been on the disabled list a dozen times in his career. Joba Chamberlain is better suited for the bullpen and Andy Pettitte isn’t the pitcher he was half a decade ago. It is also unclear if Chien-Ming Wang is fully recovered from his foot injury sustained during interleague play in 2008. There’s not much protecting Mariano Rivera in the bullpen. Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez and Damaso Marte make for a so-so corps of relievers. Jonathan Albaladejo might be what stands between Rivera and the 9th inning this season. Aside from the steroids revelations, Alex Rodriguez will miss the first month of the season due to arthroscopic hip surgery. He will also need to undergo a more intensive procedure following the 2009 season. Cody Ransom is in the unenviable position of opening up the new Yankee Stadium at the hot corner. The roster is also aging. In addition to Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Johnny Damon and Mariano Rivera are all over 35. Both Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui turn 35 in June. Given this demographic dynamic why are the Yankees still looking to trade 24-year-old Melky Cabrera? In the off season the Yankees were prepared to send him to the Milwaukee Brewers for 36-year-old Mike Cameron but Milwaukee ultimately opted to resign Cameron. But it seems Cabrera is expendable as Brett Gardner has won the job as everyday centerfielder. With legends like DiMaggio, Mantle and Bernie Williams as predecessors, Gardner has very big shoes to fill. He could fill them but he might not grow into the position this season. I would be remiss if I didn’t state that simply flipping Damon and Jeter in the batting order seems like little more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The Yankees decline has only just begun. Last year, the team failed to make the post-season after 13 consecutive appearances under Joe Torre. Joe Girardi is under a lot of pressure. It is not all his fault. The Yankees minor league system that produced Jeter, Rivera, Posada and Bernie Williams is ancient history. The Yankees instead chose to spend money to mask a deep organizational deficit which will take years to rebuild. With that said Hal Steinbrenner, like his father George, expects results today. If the Yankees aren’t within a game of first place by mid-June look for Girardi to be fired and replaced possibly by Luis Sojo, a former Yankee who is currently managing their Class A minor league affiliate in Tampa. AL Central Minnesota Twins Kansas City Royals Cleveland Indians Chicago White Sox Detroit Tigers No one expected the Minnesota Twins to contend in 2008 with the loss of three starting pitchers in Johan Santana, Carlos Silva and Matt Garza and Gold Glove centerfielder Torii Hunter. Yet the Twins came within a one game playoff of winning the AL Central in 2008. The Twins have arguably the most underrated starting rotation in MLB with Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey and Glenn Perkins. Throw in a healthy Francisco Liriano in the mix and you have a rotation that could dominate the division for the next five years. All five starters are in their 20s and have not yet reached their peak. The Twins also arguably have the most underrated bullpen in MLB. Joe Nathan might be the most consistent closer in the bigs saving 35 or more games every season since 2004. Even Yankees great Mariano Rivera can’t make that claim. While middle reliever Pat Neshek will have to sit out the 2009 season due to Tommy John surgery the middle relief corps of Jesse Crain, Craig Breslow, Boof Bonser and Matt Guerrier do the job. The big unknown here though is the fate of Twins catcher Joe Mauer who has severe lower back problems. If Mauer is not ready for the start of the season they will have to rely on the triumvirate of veteran Mike Redmond and rookies Drew Butera and Jose Morales. If they do not pan out and Mauer can’t answer the bell then the Twins will be in the market for a catcher. Perhaps Kelly Shoppach of the Cleveland Indians could be a short term solution? Even if Mauer is down for the count the Twins can still rely on 2006 AL MVP Justin Morneau. Surrounding Morneau is a nucleus of talented young players like Alexi Casilla, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez all of whom are coming into their own. The inclusion of former White Sox third baseman Joe Crede will help too. However, if any player personifies the Twins it is shortstop Nick Punto. He doesn’t have a lot of size or power but he plays spectacular defense and is capable of playing several different positions. Whether the score is 1-0 or 10-0, Punto plays all out. Don’t be surprised if Punto becomes a major league manager one day. If he does it will be because he learned under Twins manager Ron Gardenhire who is one of baseball’s best teachers of fundamentals. It is these fundamentals that earn the Twins the AL Central Division title in 2009. The Kansas City Royals have not made the post-season since winning the World Series in 1985. I do not believe the Royals will do so in 2009 but I think Royals fans will have a lot to cheer about this season. Trey Hillman enters his second season as Royals manager with a much better team on the field. The Royals starting rotation is anchored by veteran Gil Meche and Zach Greinke who last season began living up to his potential with 13 wins. Greinke was rewarded with a four year contract extension. The rest of the rotation is rounded by Brian Bannister, Luke Hochevar and Kyle Davies. While they have been inconsistent they are still in their 20s they have time on their side. If only one of them blossoms this year it would be a significant boon for the Royals. Joaqim Soria quietly saved 41 games for the Royals in 2008. The bullpen surrounding Soria is good. While Soria will miss the departed Ramon Ramirez he can still rely on the likes of Ron Mahay as well as the newly acquired Kyle Farnsworth, Horacio Ramirez and Robinson Tejeda. Joel Peralta had a disappointing 2008 after a sterling season in 2007. Mike Aviles was a revelation at shortstop last season supplanting Tony Pena, Jr. Alex Gordon will continue to improve at third base and the acquisition of power hitting first baseman Mike Jacobs from the Florida Marlins will boost their offense. It will be interesting to see how Mark Teahen works out at second base. Even if he isn’t the second coming of Frank White it will be difficult to keep Teahen’s bat out of the lineup. Miguel Olivo and John Buck will continue to platoon behind the plate. Former Red Sox outfielder Coco Crisp will patrol center field for the Royals in 2009. Joining him in the outfield are veterans Jose Guillen and David DeJesus. The Royals outfield might be the most underrated in the majors. Will Mitch Maier be to the Royals in 2009 was Aviles was to them in 2008? This is the season where the Royals become contenders. They might be another year away from post-season play but the Royals will be noticed in 2009. After nearly winning the AL pennant in 2007, the Cleveland Indians were a disappointment for most of 2008. Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner had poor campaigns. The Tribe gave up by mid-season having traded away players like C.C. Sabathia and Casey Blake. One of the few Indians who had a better 2008 than 2007 was Cliff Lee. His 23 wins earned him the AL Cy Young Award. Lee anchors a rotation that includes Fausto Carmona, Anthony Reyes, Scott Lewis and ex-Yankee Carl Pavano. After winning 19 games in 2007, Carmona struggled mightily in 2008 with 8-7 record with a 5.44 and walked more batters than he struck out. Which Fausto Carmona will we see in 2009? Reyes is a reclamation project as is Pavano who won a grand total of 9 games in a Yankees uniform since 2005. The Indians signed long time Chicago Cub Kerry Wood to be their closer. However, given Wood’s long history with injuries the Tribe would be wise to keep Jensen Lewis close at hand. Rafael Perez is a dependable lefty out of the bullpen and the addition of former Met Joe Smith should be of some help but Rafael Betancourt and Masahide Kobayashi will have to pitch better in 2009. When Victor Martinez faltered behind the plate Kelly Shoppach stepped into the breach. Somehow I don’t think is a viable platoon. One option would be to move Martinez to first base but Ryan Garko is ensconced there. One of these guys won’t be in an Indians uniform and if it’s Shoppach who goes it will be a big mistake on their part. The infield of Garko, Astrubal Cabrera, Jhonny Peralta and former Cub Mark DeRosa is more than respectable. DeRosa will play third base in 2009 but can play other positions as well. Outside of Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore was the Indians best player in 2008. He anchors an outfield that includes Ben Francisco, Shin-Soo Choo and David Dellucci although rookie Trevor Crowe might eat into Dellucci’s playing time especially with Dellucci beginning the season on the DL with a bad left calf. The Indians will be better in 2009 but only marginally so. But marginally better isn’t what the Indians are aiming for so manager Eric Wedge could be in trouble if the team isn’t significantly better this season. The Chicago White Sox won the AL Central Division in 2008. Manager Ozzie Guillen might not be so happy this year even if the Chisox are President Obama’s favorite team. The team is aging. Granted it is not as acute as with the New York Yankees but nearly half the roster is over 30. Don’t be surprised if there is a significantly different team at U.S. Cellular Field by this time in 2010. This isn’t to say that there aren’t veterans who won’t make a contribution. Lefty Mark Buehrle is a workhorse who will continue to log both innings and victories. But Jose Contreras and Bartolo Colon are nearing the end of the rope. Gavin Floyd and Jon Danks are two of the better young starting pitchers in the American League however. The bullpen is very good with closer Bobby Jenks and set up men like Scott Linebrink and Matt Thornton. You never know what you are going to get with the likes of Octavio Dotel but Lance Broadway and D.J. Carrasco are other viable options. Love him or hate him, A.J. Pierzynski is one of the better backstops in the AL. The White Sox, however, have significant gaps in the infield. Paul Konerko is on a steep decline. Veteran Wilson Betemit and rookie Brandon Allen will get some playing time at first but whether they are long term solutions remains to be seen. Alexei Ramirez was one of the best rookies in the AL and in a couple of seasons the team will be built around the young second baseman. However, with the departure of both Orlando Cabrera and Joe Crede there is tremendous uncertainty on the left side of the infield. Brent Lillibridge will get a shot at short and even if he is good can he be expected to have Cabrera’s on the field leadership? Josh Fields will likely get the nod but Dayan Viciedo will likely get a look as well if Fields isn’t smooth. As for the outfield can Carlos Quentin repeat his breakout season of 2008? Will he stay healthy? Will Jermaine Dye continue to be productive? DeWayne Wise can get to the ball but neither Brian Anderson nor Jerry Owens has made Chisox fans forget about Aaron Rowand. Just don’t be surprised if you see a lot of headlines featuring Guillen berating various players more so this season than in seasons past. The Detroit Tigers had the most disappointing season in MLB in 2008. Many expected them to return to the World Series especially with the acquisition of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Florida Marlins. While Cabrera put up excellent numbers Willis seemed lost and found himself demoted to their Single-A affiliate in Lakeland, Florida. It was a very humbling experience for a one time World Series champion as it was for manager Jim Leyland and the entire team. There is every reason to believe their bad fortune will continue in 2009. Their starting rotation is quite uncertain. Justin Verlander had a poor season and Jeremy Bonderman had season ending shoulder surgery. Aside from Willis’ woes, Nate Robertson appears equally lost. The only silver lining was the emergence of Armando Galarraga. The Tigers are hoping Rick Porcello will be the 2009 version of Galarraga. Ex-Tampa Bay Ray Edwin Jackson and Zach Miner should get opportunities to start for the Tigers in 2009. The bullpen is equally uncertain. Todd Jones has retired and it is clear that Fernando Rodney is a set up man and not a closer. Joel Zumaya has simply not been healthy since his spectacular success of 2006. The Tigers did sign ex-Diamondback Brandon Lyon to be their closer but he has spent most of his career as a set up man. Look for ex-Ranger Gerald Laird and Matt Treanor to platoon behind the plate. The Tigers still have a decent offensive team. Miguel Cabrera is emerging as a solid first baseman and will continue to put up prodigious power numbers. Although Cabrera looked trim in the 2009 World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela his weight has been an issue throughout his career. Placido Polanco is solid at second and former Twin Adam Everett is also solid at short but won’t provide much at the plate. Brandon Inge is adequate at third. Curtis Granderson provides excellent speed and range in center field and Magglio Ordonez will remain a major contributor in right field. Marcus Thames has good pop in his bat but is streaky. Ryan Raburn, Brent Clevlen, Jeff Larish and Clete Thomas will be competing for playing time in 2009 although their acquisition of Josh Anderson from the Atlanta Braves has put their future with the big league club in doubt although the release of Gary Sheffield does open a roster spot. Carlos Guillen should see the majority of the time as the team’s designated hitter. I don’t expect the Tigers to be as woeful as the auto industry or the Detroit Lions but I don’t expect the Tigers to do much to raise morale in Michigan this year. Jim Leyland’s contract runs out at the end of this season and I do not expect him to manage the Tigers in 2010. AL West Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Oakland Athletics Texas Rangers Seattle Mariners The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have won the AL West four out of the last five seasons. There’s little reason to believe they won’t do it for a fifth time in six seasons as Mike Scioscia enters his tenth season as the Halos’ skipper. The Angels starting rotation is second to none with John Lackey, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver. Imagine how much more dangerous they would be if Kelvim Escobar, who missed all of 2008 with a shoulder tear, should return. Yet the Angels begin the season with both Lackey and Santana on the 15-day disabled list with elbow troubles. However, the Angels had similar problems at the beginning of 2008 and it did not deter them. In 2009, the likes of Dustin Moseley, Shane Loux and Nick Adenhart are waiting in the wings. Both Lackey and Santana should be back by May 1st. Others will note that the Angels no longer have Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez. Lost to free agency, K-Rod saved a major league record 62 games. Former Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes won’t save 60 plus games but has saved 30 plus games three of the last four seasons. The Angels bullpen is very deep with Scot Shields, Justin Speier, Darren Oliver and Jose Arredondo. Look for the young Arredondo to get a shot at the closer’s job should Fuentes falter. Arredondo does remind some in the Angels organization of another K-Rod. Mike Napoli and Jeff Mathis make for a solid platoon behind the plate. Chone Figgins, Macier Izturis and Howie Kendrick are back in the infield. Of course, the Angels did not re-sign Mark Teixeira in the off season. In retrospect it might not have been so wise to trade Casey Kotchman in mid-season. However, the Angels are eager to see what Kendry Morales can do at first base. The Angels outfield is very deep with Vladimir Guerrero, perennial Gold Glove winner Torii Hunter, Gary Matthews, Jr. and ex-Yankee Bobby Abreu. One familiar face however is not back. After 15 plus seasons the Angels declined to exercise their option on veteran Garrett Anderson who will toil for the Braves in 2009. However, the Angels still have Juan Rivera and the versatile Reggie Willits in the mix. Simply put the AL West is the Angels’ to lose. The most significantly improved club in the AL West if not the entire AL is the Oakland Athletics. General Manager Billy Beane decided to spend some money this off season. It probably won’t be enough to overtake the Angels or win the AL Wild Card but they are an undoubtedly improved team and will firmly ensconce manager Bob Geren. The Athletics still have a young starting rotation with Justin Duchscherer, Dana Eveland, ex-Cub Sean Gallagher, Gio Gonzalez and Josh Outman. It doesn’t help that Duchscherer will start the 2009 season on the 15 day disabled list with elbow troubles. So Dallas Braden will get a chance to start in his place. However, the Athletics have a strong bullpen. Brad Ziegler succeeds Huston Street as the Athletics closer and is supported by veteran relievers Michael Wuertz and Russ Springer. Jerry Blevins and Santiago Casilla were also impressive out of the bullpen last season. Kurt Suzuki is gradually emerging as one of the better catchers in the AL. After seven seasons in a Yankee uniform, Jason Giambi returns to the Bay Area. He’ll supply the power that Daric Barton lacks at first base. The addition of ex-Chisox shortstop Orlando Cabrera will give the Athletics a fire under their belly. It will likely move Bobby Crosby to third base which could make Jack Hannahan the odd man out. That is, unless, Eric Chavez is healthy enough to play. Mark Ellis is solid at second base. One time Red Sox superstar Nomar Garciaparra will contribute off the bench even if he can avoid injuries. The Athletics obtained the services of power hitting outfielder Matt Holliday from the Colorado Rockies. Holliday and Giambi will join designated hitter Jack Cust as a triumvirate of power the Athletics have lacked in recent years. The outfield is otherwise an open question. Ryan Sweeney seems to be answer in right field but can Rajai Davis be an every centerfielder? Look for Ben Copeland and Travis Buck to compete for playing time. With some of these questions still unanswered the Athletics will likely start the 2009 season slow but will make their presence known after the All Star Break. The Texas Rangers are not known for good pitching. Perhaps playing in 100 degree heat outdoors isn’t conducive to it. Veterans Kevin Millwood and Vincente Padilla are at the top of the rotation with lefty Matt Harrison at number three in the rotation and Scott Feldman at number four. The fifth starter is anyone’s guess. Brandon McCarthy, Tommy Hunter and even Dustin Nippert are options. So is Kris Benson who hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2006. The bullpen isn’t much better with C.J. Wilson mustering only 24 saves in 2008. But the other options aren’t much better with Josh Rupe, Frank Francisco and Joaquin Benoit. The Rangers do, however, have hitting in abundance. Josh Hamilton had a sensational season hitting .304 with 32 homeruns and 130 RBIs. Milton Bradley is now with the Cubs but Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, David Murphy and Chris Davis can swing the bat. Could Andruw Jones experience a renaissance in Arlington after two horrible seasons with the Braves and Dodgers? If Hank Blalock can be healthy for the entire 2009 season it will be of help as well. It would be nice if Nelson Cruz were to live up to his potential. Taylor Teagarden and Jarrod Saltalamacchia will platoon behind the plate. Frank Catalanotto and Marlon Byrd are helpful off the bench. Manager Ron Washington will have a typical year in Texas with good hitting and poor pitching. But it will probably be enough to keep the Rangers out of last place. In 2008, the Seattle Mariners had their worst season in a quarter century. So new Mariners skipper Don Wakamatsu figures there is no where to go but up. But is Ken Griffey, Jr. really the answer? Don’t get me wrong Griffey, Jr. will bring fans to Safeco Field and it will be nice for him and the game to go on a farewell tour. But the Griffey, Jr of 2009 is not the Griffey, Jr of 1999 and will likely be of limited help to the team. While Felix Hernandez continues to progress both Erik Bedard and Carlos Silva were major disappointments in his first season in a Mariners uniform. Jarrod Washburn and Miguel Batista weren’t much better. So the Mariners appear to have succumbed to the temptation of converting Brandon Morrow into a starter. But now that J.J. Putz is with the Mets it would be crazy not to have Morrow as the team’s closer. Either that or one is left with David Aardsma or Tyler Walker in that role. The Mariners should leave Morrow in the bullpen and give either Ryan Rowland-Smith or ex-Oriole Garrett Olson a chance to start. Ichiro Suzuki will get his usual 200 hits and Jose Lopez and Yuniesky Betancourt are solid season up the middle at second and shortstop, respectively. In four seasons with the Mariners, Adrian Beltre has never regained the form of his 48 home run season with the Dodgers in 2004. Russell Branyan has some power but strikes out way too much. He is a poor man’s Richie Sexson. The outfield will be interesting to watch with Wladimir Balentien as well as ex-Met Endy Chavez and ex-Indian Franklin Gutierrez in the mix. Hopefully they will have the good sense to use Griffey, Jr. as a designated hitter. I have a gut feeling that Gutierrez is going to have breakout season with the Mariners in 2009. Otherwise it is going to be long year in the Pacific Northwest. Other AL Predictions AL Rookie of the Year – Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles AL Cy Young Award - Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox AL Most Valuable Player - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays NATIONAL LEAGUE NL East Philadelphia Phillies Florida Marlins New York Mets Washington Nationals Atlanta Braves In 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series since 1980. Despite a busy off season for the Mets, Charley Manuel’s club is still the team to beat in the NL East. The Phillies do have concern about tightness in the left elbow of NLCS and World Series MVP Cole Hamels but he should be able to make their Opening Day start against the Atlanta Braves on April 5th. If Hamels can’t answer the bell then Brett Myers will step in. The ageless Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton are also in the rotation. The fifth spot is between young J.A. Happ and veteran Chan Ho Park. No one is expecting Brad Lidge to have another perfect season as the Phillies closer. But he leads an exceptional bullpen that includes Clay Condrey, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson and Scott Eyre. Losing J.C. Romero to a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance enhancing substance but ex-Giant lefty Jack Taschner should fill the breach. Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste are a good platoon behind the plate. The Phillies infield might be the best with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley. It is interesting to note that Rollins had a down season after winning the NL MVP in 2007. But it didn’t prevent them from going all the way. Pedro Feliz and Greg Dobbs are a solid platoon at third base. Shane Victorino made the departure of Aaron Rowand negligible. Ex-Mariner Raul Ibanez should make up for the departure of Pat Burrell. Jayson Werth will start the year in right field but might end up as trade bait for pitching later in the season if John Mayberry, Jr. is called up and hits like his father. But otherwise look for Philly to win their third consecutive NL East title. The Florida Marlins should not be taken lightly. The team went a respectable 84-77 in 2008. It was a 13 game improvement over 2007 and as Fredi Gonzalez enters his third season as Marlins’ skipper with many of the same players they had a year ago they will contend in the NL East. 15-game winner Ricky Nolasco might be the best kept secret in the NL. Who knows he could be this year’s Tim Lincecum. He is joined in the rotation by Josh Johnson, Andrew Miller, Chris Volstad and Anibal Sanchez. Not exactly household names but they could be. Sergio Mitre could be a factor later in the season although he will serve a 50 game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. Matt Lindstrom has a great future as the Marlins closer and has strong set up men in Logan Kensing and lefty Renyel Pinto. John Baker is the number one catcher but Ronny Paulino should get his share of playing time as well. The Marlins infield is as good as the Phillies. Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla and Jorge Cantu strike as much fear in the hearts of NL pitchers as do Howard, Utley and Rollins while veteran Wes Helms and young Gabby Sanchez platoon at first. Jeremy Hermida, Cody Ross and Cameron Maybin have the tools to become the best outfield in the NL. The New York Mets ended both the 2007 and 2008 seasons in disaster falling precipitously out of the post-season picture. Despite significant off season moves I am not convinced it will pay off for manager Jerry Manuel. The Mets have a magnificent ace in Johan Santana. He would have been a 20 game winner if not for the Mets bullpen (more on that in a moment.) The rest of the rotation is a big question mark. John Maine is coming off rotator cuff surgery and you never know what you are going to get from Oliver Perez or Mike Pelfrey from start to start. Livan Hernandez will continue to log innings as a number five starter. Their bullpen should be better than it was last year. Their big off-season acquisition was the signing of former Angel Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez to a three-year contract. K-Rod saved a major league record 62 saves for the Angels in 2008. It would be a lot to ask for him to save that many in 2009 but it is what Mets fans are expecting. If K-Rod should falter then ex-Mariners closer J.J. Putz could step into the breach. But you can be sure if Putz struggles at Citi Field the New York faithful will let him hear it. Sean Green, another former Mariner, joins holdover Pedro Feliciano in the bullpen. Raul Castro and Brian Schneider are adequate behind the plate. Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and David Wright are back for another season as is veteran second baseman Luis Castillo. Delgado had a very bad first half and a very good second half last season. The Mets need him for the whole season and it is not clear that Delgado can deliver. Castillo hasn’t been the same player since he left the Minnesota Twins. Former Red Sox infielder Alex Cora takes on the role played by Damion Easley last season. Carlos Beltran will patrol center field for a fifth season with the Mets. Has Ryan Church sufficiently recovered from his two concussions to play everyday in 2009? If not then Jeremy Reed, Nick Evans and Angel Pagan will have an opportunity to shine. Fernando Tatis and Marlon Anderson are valuable players coming off the bench. The Mets have the talent but just not the heart. I think the team does require a significant shake up. Beltran’s contract is probably too big to trade away. While I would be inclined to shed the team of Delgado and his attitude his contract expires at the end of this season. If the Mets don’t make the post-season or struggle mightily they could trade David Wright for prospects. Wright is signed with the Mets through 2012. The Washington Nationals have plenty of heart. They just probably aren’t going to win many games for Manny Acta in 2009. Their starting rotation could be described as an experiment. John Lannan who went 9-15 with the Nationals last season is their ace. Yes, it’s not saying much. Then again he is 24 and has time on his side. The same cannot be said for ex-Orioles Daniel Cabrera and ex-Marlin Scott Olsen. Cabrera has control problems on the field while Olsen has control problems both on and off the field. Shairon Martis, who started four games for the Nationals in 2008, and Jordan Zimmermann, who makes his major league debut in 2009, round out the rotation. The bullpen looks fairly decent with Joel Hanrahan as the closer with holdovers Saul Rivera, Steven Shell and lefty Mike Hinckley. Ex-Dodger Joe Beimel should also play a big role in the Nationals bullpen this season. Jesus Flores and Wil Nieves will platoon behind the plate. The Nationals could not sign Mark Teixeira but did sign a genuine slugger in Adam Dunn who will play first base in 2009. This will limit playing time for veteran Dmitri Young. But perhaps Dunn’s presence will help third baseman Ryan Zimmerman who struggled offensively in 2008. Ronnie Belliard and Cristian Guzman return at second and shortstop respectively. Ex-Marlin Josh Willingham will add some power to the outfield. Lastings Milledge is the everyday centerfielder while Austin Kearns and Elijah Dukes platoon in right field. Willy Mo Pena and Willie Harris are useful off the bench. The Nationals won’t be much better than they were a year ago but they are a competitive club. Just ask the Phillies and Mets. Or for that matter the Atlanta Braves. The Nationals, who lost 102 games in 2008, went 12-6 against the Braves last season. The Atlanta Braves are not the team that went to the post-season 14 consecutive times any more. It would not surprise me if this Bobby Cox’s last season managing the Atlanta Braves. He has won more than 2,300 games as a major league manager. However, I don’t think he’ll win many games this season. It would be a shame to end his managerial career this way but I cannot see how he can avoid it. Tim Hudson underwent Tommy John surgery and will be out for most of 2009. The Braves did sign free agent pitcher Derek Lowe and acquired Javier Vazquez from the Chicago White Sox. However, both pitchers have a history of inconsistency. At 43, Tom Glavine is on his last legs in the majors. Jair Jurrjens did win 13 games last season but Jorge Campillo and Charlie Morton aren’t quite ready for prime time. Japanese pitcher Kenshin Kawakami could be of help. Mike Gonzalez is the closer for now. Rafael Soriano is better suited as a set up man. I would not be surprised if Boone Logan had an opportunity to close this season. Casey Kotchman might have been the unhappiest man in baseball when he was traded for Mark Teixeira from a sure winner in Anaheim to an also ran in Atlanta. Kotchman struggled after the trade. Kelly Johnson is dependable at second while Yunel Escobar has a bright future at short. Chipper Jones did win a NL batting title in 2008 but his body is fragile and it would be asking a lot for him to play more than 120 games a season. Signing Jones through 2012 is a big mistake. Jeff Francoeur had a disappointing season in 2008 as well after driving in more than 100 runs in 2006 and 2007. Ex-Angel Garrett Anderson and Matt Diaz will platoon in left while Gregor Blanco plays his second full season for the Braves in centerfield. Ted Turner must be pleased he no longer owns the Braves. NL Central Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates Milwaukee Brewers Houston Astros The Chicago Cubs are poised to win their third consecutive NL Central Division title. While that might not be enough to get beyond the NLDS it is clear that Lou Piniella’s club is the best team in this division. The starting rotation is sensational with Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Harden and Ryan Dempster. Sean Marshall will likely be the number five starter in 2009. The starters will likely not have to pitch longer than six innings with Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Marmol and ex-Marlins closer Kevin Gregg pitching the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. Throw in Neal Cotts, Chad Gaudin and Luis Vizcaino and you’ve got a deep bullpen. Deep enough to carry Aaron Heilman who has been ineffective the last two seasons in the Mets bullpen. Geovany Soto emerged as one of the best catchers in baseball last season with his NL Rookie of the Year campaign. There are all star caliber players at first and third with Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, respectively. Ryan Theriot is getting better at shortstop. There is some competition at second base between Mike Fontenot and ex-Cardinal Aaron Miles but a little competition won’t hurt at a position once occupied by Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Ex-Ranger Milton Bradley joins an outfield of Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome. With the speedy Joey Gathright and the dependable Reed Johnson as your fourth and fifth outfielders this team can’t miss the 2009 post-season though it will likely be 101 years since last winning the World Series. As long as Tony LaRussa is manager of the St. Louis Cardinals they cannot be discounted. However, the Cardinals are counting on Chris Carpenter being healthy. Since winning the World Series in 2006, Carpenter has only pitched a little over 20 innings and hasn’t won a game. If Carpenter can’t answer the bell then Adam Wainwright has the stuff to be a number one starter. Kyle Lohse and Todd Wellemeyer exceeded all expectations in 2008. It will be lot to ask them to replicate that success in 2009. Joel Pineiro has never regained the form when he won 16 games for the Mariners in 2003 although pitching coach Dave Duncan hasn’t given up yet. LaRussa has tapped rookie Jason Motte to be the closer. If Motte falters the task might fall to Ryan Franklin, a role he briefly held in 2008. The not so strong bullpen is rounded out by Kyle McClellan, ex-Tampa Bay Ray Trever Miller and ex-Twin Denys Reyes. Yadier Molina, however, is one of the best catchers in MLB. Albert Pujols returns to St. Louis for his ninth big league season. The reigning NL MVP is the centerpiece of the Cardinals lineup. He had off season elbow surgery so he should be healthy all season. The middle of the infield is strong with Skip Schumaker at second and ex-Padre Khalil Greene at short. Third base is a question mark however as Troy Glaus begins the 2009 season on the DL with a bad shoulder. David Freese will be given a short at the hot corner. But if Freese falters and Glaus doesn’t respond to treatment look for them to try to acquire Garrett Atkins from the Colorado Rockies. Rick Ankiel, Chris Duncan and Ryan Ludwick comprise the Cardinals outfield. Does anyone expect Ludwick to hit 37 homeruns again? Probably not but Ludwick will certainly contribute. The Cardinals are not without holes but LaRussa has a way of plugging holes. It won’t be enough to make the post-season but they will give the Cubs a run for their money. The Cincinnati Reds were a disappointing 74-88 in Dusty Baker’s first year as manager although not everyone on the team was a disappointment. If not for Josh Hamilton, the Texas Rangers would have been kicking themselves for parting with Edinson Volquez who won 17 games for the Reds last season. But you are only as good as your last game. After winning 16 games in 2006 and 2007, Aaron Harang went 6-17 last season. Bronson Arroyo rebounded with 15 wins and Johnny Cueto had flashes of brilliance. The number five spot in the starting rotation is between Micah Owings and Homer Bailey. If Owings loses out he has a very strong bat. They might even have to pull a Rick Ankiel and convert him into an outfielder. David Weathers and Francisco Cordero are strong in the 8th and 9th innings. The addition of Arthur Rhodes gives the Reds a reliable lefty out of the bullpen. The addition of ex-Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez will be of help to the pitching staff. Joey Votto will start his second season as the Reds first baseman after finishing runner up for NL Rookie of the Year. Brandon Phillips offensive numbers dipped a bit in 2008 but he is a solid second baseman. Alex Gonzalez and Jerry Hairston, Jr. will platoon at short. Edwin Encarnacion isn’t the best defensive third baseman but has solid power numbers. But Jay Bruce is the player this franchise is being built around. Bruce has the potential to hit 40 homeruns a year. Then again Adam Dunn hit 40 homeruns a year for the Reds and that didn’t get them to the postseason. Like Dunn, Bruce strikes out a lot. In fact, Bruce struck out nearly one in every four times he went to the plate. Still, at only 20 years of age, there is reason for the Reds to be excited about Bruce. Bruce is joined in the outfield by ex-Rockie Willy Taveras in centerfield while Chris Dickerson and Norris Hopper will platoon in left. The Reds aren’t ready for the post-season but they will improve in 2009. The Pittsburgh Pirates have not enjoyed a winning season since 1992. They have finished in the basement of the NL Central for the past two seasons and three of the last four. I don’t believe the Pirates will win 81 games in 2009 but I do believe they will get out of the cellar. But it won’t be easy. The starting rotation might more closely a jazz quintet. It’s strictly improvisational. Paul Maholm led the staff with 9 wins in 2008 and is the de facto ace. Who will join him? Take your pick. Ian Snell, Zach Duke, Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Dumatrait, Jeff Karstens and ex-Indian Shawn Nottingham are all possibilities. We could also hear from Tom Gorzelanny before the season is out. The bullpen is actually decent with Matt Capps doing a nice job as the closer with 21 saves. John Grabow, Craig Hansen, Tyler Yates and lefty Sean Burnett will get a lot (and I mean a lot) of work but should be up to the task. Ryan Doumit acquitted himself well enough to become the Pirates number one catcher last season. Brothers Adam and Andy LaRoche occupy the corners at first and third, respectively. Freddy Sanchez is back at second base although the 2006 NL batting champion offensive numbers slipped in 2008. Jack Wilson enters his ninth season as the Pirates shortstop. All-Star Nate McLouth leads an outfield consisting of Brandon Moss and the speedy Nyjer Morgan. Look for Morgan to have the kind of breakout season that McLouth enjoyed in 2008. Eric Hinske will provide a veteran bat off the bench. I expect the Pirates to make a few moves during the season and to catch fire after the All-Star break. They will catch enough fire for a fourth place finish the NL Central. The Milwaukee Brewers made it to the post-season in 2008 for the first time in 26 years. The biggest impact player in the major leagues wasn’t Manny Ramirez in a Dodgers uniform. It was C.C. Sabathia in a Brewers uniform. If not for Sabathia taking the mound every fifth day there is no way the Brewers win the NL Wild Card. Now with both Sabathia and Ben Sheets gone new manager Ken Macha is going to have a tall task before him. There was a lot of turmoil in the clubhouse when Ned Yost was canned with less than two weeks left in the regular season. Although interim manager Dale Sveum regrouped the team enough to make the post-season he didn’t inspire enough confidence in the front office to lead on the field this season. Veteran Jeff Suppan and ex-Cardinal Braden Looper are serviceable pitchers but they aren’t Sabathia and Sheets. Yovani Gallardo has the potential to be another Sabathia or Sheets but he isn’t ready to do it this season. Dave Bush and Manny Parra aren’t number one starters either. The bullpen is no less unsettled. The Brew Crew signed all times saves leader Trevor Hoffman but the former Padres legend will begin the season on the DL with an oblique injury. The closer is anyone’s guess – Carlos Villaneuva, Mike DiFelice, Seth McClung, the oft injured and aptly named David Riske, the wild and well traveled Jorge Julio and Todd Coffey. Catcher Jason Kendal is going to have a long season behind the plate. The Brewers offense will continue to be good with powerhouses like Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. Along with Fielder J.J. Hardy and Rickie Weeks are good up the middle although Bill Hall struggled with a .225 average in 2008 and has not regained his 2006 form when he belted 35 homeruns. Braun has good compatriots in the outfield with veteran Mike Cameron and Corey Hart who as far as I know does not wear sunglasses at night. Mike Lamb, Craig Counsell and Tony Gwynn, Jr. make for a versatile bench. However, the Brewers offense does not make up for their pitching and they will learn that the hard way in 2009. On the other hand, Houston Astros manager Cecil Cooper might wish he was back in a Brewers uniform. The Astros have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Roy Oswalt. But there’s a big drop off after Oswalt’s turn in the rotation with the likes of Wandy Rodriguez and Brian Moehler. The injury prone Mike Hampton is trying yet another comeback as is Russ Ortiz. The Astros are his fourth big league organization since 2005. Journeyman Jose Capellan will likely get a shot in the rotation. Jose Valverde is a rock solid closer who has led the NL in saves for two straight seasons. Geoff Geary, Tim Byrdak, LaTroy Hawkins and 41-year-old Doug Brocail make for a veteran but dependable bullpen. Lance Berkman is the team’s offensive leader but his shoulder is giving him trouble. Can Miguel Tejada bridge the gap? Kaz Matsui is hoping for a healthier 2009 after missing more than two months due to various injuries. Geoff Blum is adequate at third. The Astros outfield is good with the speedy Michael Bourn in center, the powerful Carlos Lee and potential NL batting champ Hunter Pence in right. Veterans Darin Erstad and Jason Michaels round out the outfield. The Astros pitching is simply too thin for them to contend in the NL Central this season and are thin in homegrown talent. NL West San Francisco Giants Arizona Diamondbacks# Los Angeles Dodgers Colorado Rockies San Diego Padres # - denotes NL Wild Card winner The San Francisco Giants have the best starting rotation in MLB. 2008 NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum is joined by Matt Cain and a triumvirate of lefties in former Cy Young winners Barry Zito and Randy Johnson as well as Jonathan Sanchez. Zito had a strong second half after a horrible 2007 and horrible first half of 2008. Look for him to continue to rebound in 2009. Noah Lowry might make his presence known after missing all of 2008 with forearm trouble. Brian Wilson got around the league as the Giants new closer. The addition of ex-Cub Bobby Howry and ex-Rockie Jeremy Affeldt will be of tremendous help to Wilson. The Giants pitching staff could not ask for a better catcher than Bengie Molina. The Giants infield, on the other hand, is a grand experiment. Aside from ex-Tiger Edgar Renteria the infield is unknown outside their immediate families. Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa are the new corner men at third and first with Emmanuel Burriss starting at second base. Veteran Juan Uribe will be of some help here. The outfield has more of a veteran presence with Randy Winn in right field and Aaron Rowand in center. Look for Rowand to rebound after a disappointing first season with the Giants in 2008. But the player to look out for is left fielder Fred Lewis. He has the speed. He has the defense. Look for him to add power to his game in 2009. Look for him to be the most improved player in MLB this season. Despite an inexperienced infield the pitching might be enough to return manager Bruce Bochy to the World Series. 2008 must have very difficult for Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin. The D’Backs jumped out of the gate last season winning 21 of their first 30 games. However, they would fade and not make it to the post-season in 2008. Adam Dunn could not do for Arizona what Manny Ramirez did in Chavez Ravine. The Diamondbacks might have the best one two punch in baseball with Brandon Webb and Danny Haren at the top of the starting rotation. The addition of former Angel Jon Garland gives the D’Backs another pitcher at or near their caliber. Dependable lefty Doug Davis is the number four starter while Yusmeiro Petit will get an opportunity to be the number five man. Look for Chad Qualls to be the closer with the departure of Brandon Lyon. Although ex-Phillie Tom Gordon might get some save opportunities. Jon Rauch, Tony Pena and veteran lefty Scott Schoeneweis round out the pen. Chris Snyder and Miguel Montero are a dependable pair behind the plate. Chad Tracy, Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drew return to the D’Backs infield with ex-Washington National Felipe Lopez taking over at second base. Every team needs an Augie Ojeda in the infield. Conor Jackson, Justin Upton and Chris Young are not even in their prime. However, Eric Byrnes is the heart and soul of the team and his presence is sorely needed after missing much of the year with problems in both hamstrings. Tony Clark also provides veteran leadership. After their slow disintegration in 2008, the Diamondbacks have something to prove in 2009. The mere presence of Manny Ramirez in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup will not automatically earn them a post-season spot. Take it from a Red Sox fan. The Dodgers have not had to deal with Manny over a full season. In 2009, Joe Torre will see both the good and the bad of Manny and the team. Chad Billingsley had a break out season with 16 wins. But the rest of the starting rotation is a hit or miss proposition with Hiroki Kuroda, Clay Kershaw and veteran lefty Randy Wolf. As both Jason Schmidt and Claudio Vargas on the DL look for Jeff Weaver to be the number five starter. If your team has to rely on Jeff Weaver then look out. Jonathan Broxton did an adequate job as the Dodgers closer late last season but faltered in the post season. Cory Wade or Hong-Chih Kuo might end up with the job before season’s end. Guillermo Mota returns to the Dodgers in a middle relief role. Tanyon Sturtze and Will Ohman will likely toil in the bullpen as well. The infield looks reasonably good with James Loney at first, ex-D’Back Orlando Hudson at second, Rafael Furcal at short and Casey Blake at third. The Dodgers signed Furcal to a three-year contract. When he’s healthy he is good but the problem is Furcal is not often healthy. Perhaps they will keep Blake DeWitt around just in case. Doug Mientkiewicz and Mark Loretta will come in handy as veterans off the bench. Manny Ramirez is joined in the outfield by Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Juan Pierre will be kept around to fill in for Manny for late inning defense. Manny will be Manny no doubt. But over an entire season a team needs more than one player to win. That won’t be enough especially with the pitching the Giants and Diamondbacks have to offer. After winning the NL championship in 2007, Clint Hurdle and the Colorado Rockies came down to earth in 2008. It will be a long climb back to the top. The Rockies will have to do without Jeff Francis in 2009 due to shoulder troubles. The starting four, however, isn’t bad with the likes of Aaron Cook, Usvaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Jason Marquis. But they are not great either. The number five man will be either Greg Smith or Jorge De La Rosa. With Brian Fuentes now an Angel, Manny Corpas and ex-Athletic Huston Street are competing for the closer’s job. Taylor Buchholz might be one of the most underrated middle relievers in the game. Jason Grilli and veteran lefty Alan Embree also comprise an average bullpen. Last season, Chris Ianetta supplanted Yorvit Torrealba as the Rockies number one catcher. Todd Helton missed nearly half of last season with back problems. Troy Tulowitzki had a disappointing sophomore season which gave both Jeff Baker and Clint Barmes more playing time. Ian Stewart appears to be ready as the everyday third baseman making Garrett Atkins expendable. Ex-Athletic Carlos Gonzalez has an opportunity to become the Rockies franchise player in centerfield. Brad Hawpe, Seth Smith, Ryan Spilborghs and another ex-Athletic Matt Murton will rotate in the corner outfield positions. 2007 seems so very long ago. After narrowly missing the post-season in 2007 everything came apart for Bud Black and the San Diego Padres in 2008. Humpty Dumpty will not be put back together in 2009. The Padres do have two strong starting pitchers at the top of the rotation in Jake Peavy and Chris Young. But then Peavy and Young and bite your tongue. Cha Seung Baek is your number three starter and the next two slots are open questions. Lefties Cesar Ramos and Wade LeBlanc are candidates as are ex-Nationals starter Shawn Hill and one time Cubs great Mark Prior. Now that Trevor Hoffman is gone after more than 15 years, Heath Bell has the unenviable task of replacing him. Cla Meredith was a disappointment after a stellar season in 2007 although Mike Adams was impressive and Mark Worrell has some promise. Young Nick Hundley and veteran Henry Blanco will platoon behind the plate. The Padres do have a genuine power hitter in Adrian Gonzalez at first base. His brother, Edgar, plays at second although he will compete for playing time with Everth Cabrera. Veteran David Eckstein will replace Khalil Greene at short and Kevin Kouzmanoff returns for another season at third. Brian Giles also returns as the Padres everyday right fielder. The outfield also includes Jody Gerut, Scott Hairston, Chase Headley and ex-Tampa Bay Ray Cliff Floyd. Do not be surprised if both Peavy and Gonzalez are traded before the end of July. Other NL Predictions NL Rookie of the Year – John Mayberry, Jr, Philadelphia Phillies NL Cy Young Award – Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants NL Most Valuable Player – Fred Lewis, San Francisco Giants 2009 Post Season Predictions ALDS – Boston Red Sox vs. Minnesota Twins. Red Sox win 3-1. ALDS – Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Tampa Bay Rays. Rays win 3-1. ALCS – Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays. Red Sox win 4-3. NLDS – Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs. Diamondbacks win 3-0. NLDS – Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Francisco Giants. Giants win 3-2. NLCS – Arizona Diamondbacks vs. San Francisco Giants. Giants win 4-2. 2009 World Series – Boston Red Sox vs. San Francisco Giants. Giants win 4-3. And there you have it for another year. Maybe this year I’ll get it right. Aaron Goldstein was a card carrying member of the socialist New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP). Since 09/11, Aaron has reconsidered his ideological inclinations and has become a Republican. Aaron lives and works in Boston.


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Guest Column Aaron Goldstein -- Bio and Archives

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