The season starts early this year so I have to bump up my yearly predictions post by a week. Here is how I think the divisions will finish followed by playoff and awards predictions.

National League

East
1. Mets: If Pedro is 75% of Red Sox Pedro, they should be able to run away with this now that they have Santana.
2. Phillies: {Wild Card} Great offense with speed & power and Hamels in an ace, but not enough pitching.
3. Braves: Slightly above average line up and rotation, but mediocre bullpen.
4. Marlins: Hanley Ramirez vs.
5. Nationals: No pitching, but Wily Mo hits 35HR and strikes out 130 times.

Central:
1. Brewers: Gallardo has ace stuff and Fielder/Braun anchor good line up. God help them with Gagne though.
2. Cubs: Zambrano gets lazy now that he has his long term contract
3. Reds: Harang has ace stuff, I expect Arroyo to bounce back, and Bailey has potential
4. Astros: Koby Clemens gets called up and uses his dad’s left over HGH to hit 35HR
5. Cardinals: Their 2 best pitchers Carpenter and Mulder have injury issues
6. Pirates: Snell & Gorzelanny are decent young arms, but this team still sucks.

West
1. Diamondbacks: Webb and Haren are a great 1-2 and young offense has potential
2. Dodgers: Good young core of Martin, Kemp, and Loney.
3. Padres: Great top of the rotation, but no offense
4. Rockies: Lack of pitching and lack of last year’s magic.
5. Giants: They will offer to pay for Bonds legal bills, taxes, and HGH for him to come back by year’s end.

American League

West
1. Seattle: Eric Bedard and Felix Hernandez will both be in the Cy Young running.
2. Angels: Good, but not great team; I would not be surprised it they tied Seattle in the regular season.
3. Oakland: Billy Beane is the most over-rated gm in sports. Aside from picking good young pitchers he sucks at assembling an offense and uses lack of payroll as a crutch.
4. Texas: After another last place season, Tom Hicks sells the team back to George W. Bush who states that even though the Rangers suck, he is going to stay the course and stick with Tom Hicks failed plan.

Central
1. Tigers: Great Line Up and I think Willis regains old form to make it a great 1-3 at the top of the rotation.
2. Cleveland: {Wild Card} They need the back of the rotation and bullpen to improve to compete with the Tigers.
3. White Sox: Controversy erupts after Bobby Jenks is routinely found drunk and eating hot dogs in the bullpen.
4. Twins: This should consider the year a success if Liriano stays healthy, Bonser does not get fatter, and Delmon Young does not attack an umpire.
5. Royals: Another year of sucking, but I will root for Tony Pena’s kid.

East
1. Red Sox: I am a little worried about the starting pitching, but I think Delcarmen will team with Oki and Papelbon to make a great foundation for the bullpen. The offense will have potential to rival or be better then Detroit’s. Manny will bounce back big being a contract year and he will write his own philosophy book. Drew will hit better then last year. Jacoby drives other teams nuts by hitting .320 and stealing 45 bases. Ortiz, Pedroia, Youk, and Lowell all do their thing with solid years.
2. Yankees: There are a lot of question marks on this team but they will find a way to win around 90
3. Toronto: If this team stays healthy, they can compete for the wild card, but they always seem to have key injuries and I don’t think this year will be different.
4. Tampa Bay: This team would be a contender in the N.L. They have a good middle of the order, and some good young arms, but no pitching depth. Expect them to have a brawl with every other team in the division.
5. Baltimore: The great show HBO’s The Wire detailed the decline of Baltimore the city; their baseball team has almost as many issues. However, my fellow Greek Nick Markakis will have a really good year.

NLCS
New York Mets over Arizona Diamondback in 6 Games: Mets have a better offense and Santana will dominate every game he pitches against Diamondbacks line up.

ALCS
Boston Red Sox over Detroit Tigers in 7 Games : When I sat down to write this, I initially was not going to go the homer route and pick the stacked Tigers. But Detroit does not have a proven closer like Papelbon or a proven playoff ace like Beckett. So I am going with the Sox at the risk of being a homer.

World Series
Red Sox over Mets in 6: Manny hits game winning home run off of Billly Wagner over the Montstah to win it at Fenway and get partially revenge the Super Bowl.

A.L. Awards:
MVP: Miguel Cabrera: his ass may be big, but in the middle of that line up he will put up .325  40HR and 130RBI

Cy Young: Erik Bedard: He will dominate a weak hitting A.L. west and lead the league in Strike Outs. I know his Spring has been terrible, but that is just the spring. Plus, he has not got a huge contract yet and a big year this year will get him that.

Rookie of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury: It is not just the speed. Last year showed he could be patient at the plate, slap the ball into the opposite field, and drive the ball when he pulls it.

Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon (the Rays get some sympathy from the Deval and finish at .500.

NL. Awards
MVP: Prince Fielder: Prince hits 58 HR with absolutely no allegations of performance enhancing drug use.

Cy Young: Johan Santana: Against a weak hitting N.L. and a good offense backing him he will dominate.

Rookie of The Year: Geovany Soto: Cubs Rookie catcher bats .300 with 15 home runs.

Manager of The Year: Ned Yost: He gets rewarded for the Brew Crew’s division win.