A Day Late and a Dollar Short

So Pemberton isn’t the only one tardy on the predictions.  Late is the new early around these parts.  Sadly (and not just because he’s a genius; but he is, basically a genius) I actually agree with all of his division winners except for the NL West so rather than just re-post his post I’m going to go top to bottom for each of the divisions along with select notes.  Because people care, that’s why.

AL East:
1. Yankees-The best team in the game and it’s not close
2. Rays-Love the youth and the ability to trade Crawford for a piece if need be
3. Red Sox-Papi is mostly dead
4. Orioles-Love me some Brian Matusz
5. Blue Jays-Nowhere to go but up.  Or further down
Easily the most talented and exciting division in baseball.  The O’s are going to be sick in a few years if they can avoid injuries too.  Super fun to watch these top 4 teams and I’m taking the Rays to win the Wild Card by a game or two over the Sox.

AL Central:
1. Twins-A bigger payroll than the Dodgers and a sneaky powerful offense
2. Tigers-Miggy is going to do some damage this year
3. White Sox-Nice staff, questionable bats
4. Royals-Finishing 4th actually counts as a win for them
5. Indians-Grady gets traded and you’ve got Choo and a bunch stiffs

AL West:
1. Rangers-If they have health they win, if not they finish 3rd
2. Angels-Hate them this year.  Hate this team, cannot say that enough
3. Mariners-Love them but not buying the offense
4. A’s-Off to a nice start, wake me up in June

NL East:
1. Phillies-They were the best team in baseball last year and better this year
2. Braves-Nice offense, good D, good staff, a lot to like here
3. Marlins-Josh Johnson, Nolasco & Volstad are nice
4. Mets-I’d love to love them but that lineup is basically a mess
5. Nationals-Strasburg will be fun at least

NL Central:
1. Cards-In a cakewalk
2. Brewers-Too many bad contracts to add talent around Prince/Braun
3. Cubs-Too many bad contracts
4. Reds-Sweet young players here, give these guys another year or two
5. Pirates-Sweet young players here, give these guys another year or two
6. Astros-Maybe the worst roster in all of baseball

NL West:
1. Rockies-Even as a Dodger fan you have to love these guys.  Speed, power, pitching, defense, this team is nice and has a great homefield advantage
2. Dodgers-Even as a Dodger fan you have to hate these guys.  Been over this so many times already but: yawn.  Let’s get a new owner who can actually spend money and get something done.  How about Carl Crawford in left?  Can we sign him?  He’s a free agent at the end of the season, does Colletti even know?  I’m not even saying I want Crawford but how about some chatter?  Stupid frozen wallets
3. Giants-Would have picked AZ here but it looks like Webb is a total question mark so I’m going to pick the team that we know can at least throw the ball over the plate
4. Diamondbacks-See above
5. Padres-Gotta figure Bell and Gonzo are out the door meaning the Padres best player by the end of the season could be named…Kyle Blanks?  Am I forgetting anybody?
It’s between LA and ATL for the NL Wild Card and I’m going to go with Atlanta making 2010 the year that fantasy baseball officially passes real baseball in my heart, mind, and boner.

Playoffs are impossible so give me a Rockies/Rays World Series in a MLB-worst-case-scenario-for-ratings-but-best-case-scenario-for-myself.