2009 MLB Preview

The grass has been trimmed to mere centimeters and the gates are nearly unlocked. The time of year more popular than Columbus Day is fast approaching and baseball fans are as anxious as ever.

Major League Baseball is days away from kicking off another season, and teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers are hoping to show they were no one-hit (and pitch) wonders.

The Mets and Yankees move into new stadiums this year. Both teams handed out wads of cash to big-name players in hopes of bringing a World Series to their new home turf. Mark Teixeira is the powerful bat the Yankees had longed for at first base, while Frankie Rodriguez is the closer the Mets believe will stop them from getting beat in the ninth, and down the stretch.

When the clock strikes 8 p.m. on Sunday, there will be something on television nightly for the next seven months. Sometimes games will be entertaining, sometimes they’ll keep you up past your bed time. The only guarantee I can make is the season will be filled with good surprises (Josh Hamilton), disappointments (Barry Zito) and blockbuster trades (Manny Ramirez). Maybe even a little scandal (Alex Rodriguez) mixed in.

Here are my fearless predictions for the 2009 season:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

East: Boston Red Sox – A.L. East teams will spend another year beating up on one another, but in the end, the Red Sox will emerge victorious. Their offense is way too dangerous and their pitching staff is deep. The Sox have one of the best 25-man rosters in the game today.

Central: Minnesota Twins – It’s amazing what this team does year after year without emptying their bank account. I believe starting pitcher Francisco Liriano will rebound to his 2006 form and catcher Joe Mauer (back) should be all fixed. Worth noting: The Twins also move into a new stadium this year.

West: Anaheim Angels – A youthful pitching staff comprised of potential stars sets up a strong bullpen. Rodriguez will be missed, but Scott Shields and Brian Fuentes are viable replacements.

Wild Card: New York Yankees – I don’t want to completely write off the Yankees. I also don’t have it in me to pick the Rays and the Indians let me down last year. The Yankees seem like the logical safe bet.

MVP: Josh Hamilton, Rangers

CY Young: C.C. Sabathia, Yankees

Rookie Of The Year: Matt Wieters, Orioles

Manager Of The Year: Terry Francona, Red Sox

NATIONAL LEAGUE

East: New York Mets – The Mets have two of the best hitters in the game (David Wright, Jose Reyes), one of the top pitchers (Santana) and many solid pieces to compliment them all.

Central: Chicago Cubs – Every year Cub fans come out in droves and declare “this is our year.” For the first time in my lifetime, I actually think they’re right. This is the best group of  players in the National League.

West: Los Angeles Dodgers – Ramirez is back, and any player who puts up that much of a fuss over $45 million had better perform. I think he’ll swing the best bat in baseball this year.

Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies – The reigning World Series champions deserve to make the playoffs, just not as division champs. Jamie Moyer, the 46-year-old-pitching version of Julio Franco, still has the stuff to be a number two or three starter — and, that’s in a hitter’s park like Citizen Bank Ballpark.

MVP: Manny Ramirez, Dodgers

CY Young: Johan Santana, Mets

Rookie Of The Year: Cameron Maybin, Marlins

Manager Of The Year: Lou Piniella, Cubs

Playoffs & World Series:
Anaheim Angels over New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox over Minnesota Twins

Chicago Cubs over Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets over Los Angeles Dodgers

Boston Red Sox over Chicago Cubs in the World Series