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Basically, I’m sticking with my picks from last year in the pennant races. In the American League, I’ll take the Boston Red Sox to fend off the suddenly talent-rich — because they’re just plain rich — New York Yankees, who will squeeze out the defending AL champs the Tampa Bay Rays for the wild-card slot. Even diminished from last season, the Anaheim Angels behind manager Mike Scioscia should win the West in a cakewalk. That leaves the Central, and although I like the White Sox, and can easily see them winning the division and going deep into the playoffs if they get one last good year out of their veteran talent — especially pitcher Jose Contreras — I have to insist on the logical choice and pick the Cleveland Indians. Again, sentiment, Kerry Wood, and Mark DeRosa have nothing to do with it. Well, maybe a little. Yet Anthony Reyes is the reason I’m going with the Tribe. If he turns in a Gavin Floyd 2008 season, and I believe he will, the Indians will win. I’ll take the Bosox over the Yanks in the AL Championship Series.
Now, to the National League. I’ll take the Cubs to repeat as Central Division champs. There’s no one else to compete, not even the Saint Louis Cardinals with a repaired Chris Carpenter. I’ll take the New York Mets to win the East and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the West — just too much talent on both teams to be denied — but then comes the hard part. The defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies won’t be bad. They’ll score runs in droves and should compete unless ace Cole Hamels goes down. Yet the team to watch — this year’s Rays — is the Florida Marlins, with good young pitching and talented young hitting. Don’t discount the Atlanta Braves, who have the mix of youth and veteran leadership to compete over the long haul. The East should be a dogfight, which means the Arizona Diamondbacks out West might actually sneak into the wild card by beating up on the weak-sister San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and San Francisco Giants. Me, I’m going to take the Marlins as the wild card, just to be able to say I told you so.
