2004 BASEBALL SEASON PREDICTIONS:

The season has I guess technically already started, but how weird to have not only two regular season games in Japan, but then the Yanks and Devil Rays have to come back and play a couple more spring training games. Oyvay! Anyways, here goes with my predictions for the 2004 season, and this year they are all right.

NL EAST
1. ATLANTA BRAVES
2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (W)
3. NY METS
4. FLORIDA MARLINS
5. MONTREAL EXPOS

Until the Braves prove me otherwise, I'm just going to keep putting them at the top; Bobby Cox might not be much of a post-season manager, but he knows how to put together a solid regular season team. The pitching staff is a complete overhaul for the most part, but like year's past, it's a solid and competent one. The Phillies should finally make into the playoffs. The Mets are much improved, much more complete. With Matsui heading up there knew double play combo, they have a much improved defense in the infield, and with Cedeno pretty much out of the picture maybe they'll start catching some balls in centerfield. As for the Marlins, no Rodriquez, no Derek Lee; reliance on a pitcher, who did not even come alive until the post season. This division is too much improved for them to make any waves. And watch the Expos surprise everyone and win the division, but I don't see it.

NL CENTRAL
1. CHICAGO CUBS
2. HOUSTON ASTROS
3. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
4. MILWAUKEE BREWERS
5. CINCNATTI REDS
6. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

I can't resist picking the Cubs, even though they haven't had back to back winning seasons in over thirty years, but this is one of the best Cub teams in its franchise history. That pitching staff, especially once Prior is back, will be hard to score runs on, and they have an even better offense with the addition of Derek Lee. The Astros have a better line-up than the Cubs and a fairly equal pitching staff. These are probably the two best staffs in the National League; however if the Cubs are this good, I just can't bet against them. There will be some great series to be had here. The Cardinals didn't really do a damn thing to improve themselves which is kind of confusing. I'm betting that the Brewers spring training highs were not a complete fluke; their pitching has improved and they have a solid line-up. The Reds just don't have the pitching; Corey Lidle is your opening day starter, not a good sign. And the Triple AAA style ball the Pirates will be reduced to playing will just be sad; may be this year's Detroit Tigers.

NL WEST
1. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
2. COLORADO ROCKIES
3. SAN DIEGO PADRES
4. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
5. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

The addition of Richie Sexson is a great one; it balances out a solid line-up and makes the jobs for the pitching staff a little easier, and with Randy Johnson and Brandon Webb as your ace and no.2 you're doing pretty well in the pitching area; I just don't know who's going to save games for them. The Rockies have to be the most improved team in the league next to the Padres. They finally seem to have a pitching staff that can pitch in Denver. The Padres will have there brand new stadium and new looking squad headlined by Brian Giles. Nevin won't be there for awhile, but this is a team on the way up. The Giants made some odd off season moves, and this pitching staff does not have the depth of past Giants teams. They don't even have an overpowering no.1 guy, but hell, the Mariners won 118 games in that same situation, so who knows. The Dodgers did nothing to improve there line-up, and they got rid of some solid pitchers, but they still have Gagne, and apparently that can take you a long way.

PLAYOFF PICTURE:
CUBS OVER PHILLIES
DIAMONDBACKS OVER BRAVES

CUBS OVER BRAVES


AL EAST
1. BOSTON REDSOX
2. NEW YORK YANKEES
3. BALTIMORE ORIOLES
4. TORONTO BLUEJAYS
5. TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

This division overall has improved, but I take the RedSox over the Yankees for the simple fact that they have less ego clashing to deal with; although Curt Schilling needs to learn when to shut-up. That guy is annoying as hell. The Yankees are by no means going to self destruct, but I see Steinbrenner getting pretty angry at season's end when they don't make the playoffs for the first time in forever. The Orioles' bought team didn't get as much attention as the Yankees, but they basically did the same thing (Ponson, Tejada, Palmero). However, this will improve them enough to probably win 80 or so. The Bluejays are a team I just can't get a fix on, and with the best Devil Rays team in franchise history, the BJays could finish at the bottom of the barrell, or they could surprise everyone and make a run for the playoffs; I just don't know. Like I said, this is the best Devil Rays team ever, which means they will cause some problems for other teams in the division, but they are by no means strong enough to compete here.

AL CENTRAL
1. KANSAS CITY ROYALS
2. MINNESOTA TWINS
3. CHICAGO WHITESOX
4. DETROIT TIGERS
5. CLEVELAND INDIANS

The Royals are the little franchise that could, and with the A's falling off a little bit, they can take over that spot along with the Twinkies. The Twins and Royals almost seem interchangeable, but you have to pick one of them. The Whitesox should be kicking themselves in the ass; they should have won this division last year easily and been a strong contender for the World Series; Chris and I both picked them to make it. But they didn't do it last year, and with the Twins and Royals improvements, I don't think they'll even come close this one. The Tigers still have no pitching, but they have a little more hitting, and I just think the Indians are on the road to self-destruction.

AL WEST
1. ANAHEIM ANGELS
2. SEATTLE MARINERS (W)
3. OAKLAND A'S
4. TEXAS RANGERS

The Angels made some of the better off-season moves. The additions of Guerrero and Colon give them a true superstar in that line-up and a true no.1 starter. These two ingredients should improve an already proven team. The Mariners look to be getting back to their unbeatable team of three years ago, that is until the playoffs. The A's still have most of their pitching staff intact, but that line-up just keeps getting worse and worse, but they are one of the best August teams in the past few years which is very important in this game. The Rangers are finally in a position where they can start moving up; it won't be this year, but they will make some waves.

AL PLAYOFF PICTURE
REDSOX OVER MARINERS
ANGELS OVER ROYALS

ANGELS OVER REDSOX

WORLD SERIES
ANGELS OVER CUBS (7 GAMES)

NL CY YOUNG WINNER - CARLOS ZAMBRANO
NL MVP - JIM THOME

AL CY YOUNG WINNER - MIKE MUSSINA
AL MVP - VLADMIR GUERRERO

Thougt I was going for Cubs/Redsox world series didn't you? Man if that ever happens, the end of the world is near, seriously.