MLB 2006 (Part II)

Before I get into my picks for the National League, I have to go on a little rant. We are in the middle of the best month and a half stretch in the entire year. From the middle of March until the end of April, nothing beats it. First and foremost, you have the NCAA tournament, the only sporting event in the world that never disappoints. Then you have the start of the baseball season, which despite all of the negativity surrounding it, is still one of the greatest roller coaster rides that a fan can go on. Next weekend is the Masters, which even for people who don't know anything about golf is still a must-watch event. In a couple of weekends is the NFL Draft, one of my personal favorite events. Add to all of this the playoff stretch in the NBA and spring practice of College Football, and it is clear that this is the time of the year that sports fans relish more than any other. Now, on to the picks for the NL.

NL East
1)Atlanta
2)Philadelphia
3)New York
4)Washington DC
5)Florida

The last time the Brave's didn't win their division 'Home Alone' was the top movie, 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ' premiered on NBC, and current Brave rightfielder Jeff Francouer was six years old. (It was 1990). Though many things have changed since the dawn of the Braves dynasty, some are still the same as they were. Bobby Cox is still running the show in the Dirty South, and as long as he can put on the uniform, I'm gonna pick the Braves to win the division. I think the Phillies are much improved, and I thought they ripped off the White Sox in getting Aaron Rowand for Jim Thome, especially with reigning NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard ready to emerge as one of the best hitters in the entire league. The Mets have once again spent a lot of money over the winter, but I still don't know if I could trust Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine as my 1 and 2 starters. The Nationals have some nice players, but not enough to compete for anything. The Marlins will be solid...in 2009.

NL Central
1)St. Louis
2)Chicago
3)Houston
4)Milwaukee
5)Pittsburgh
6)Cincinnati
*If Roger Clemens goes back to the Astros, they will finish in second place

The past two season, the Cardinals have wrapped up the Cental by the All-Star break, and by August, the media has eliminated Houston from playoff contention. Then the Astros make a huge run, and the end up making the playoffs. Finally, one of those teams win a tough NLCS against the other, then get swepped right out of the World Series. This year, I see St. Louis taking the division again, but I think the Cubs will be better than people may think. (Is this a biased opinion? Most certainly yes) Juan Pierre provides a lead-off man the Cubs haven't had since, well, since they traded Lou Brock before he became the Hall-of-Famer he was. If Prior and Wood can combine for 40 quality, pain-free starts, the Cubs should be around in September. The Astros got worse over the winter, but if the Rocket comes back in May, they'll be playoff contenders as well. A lot of people have the Brewers as a potential sleeper, but outside of Ben Sheets, I can't see anybody you can count on to win a big game. The Reds and Pirates each are a disgrace to their cities football teams.

NL West
1)Los Angles
2)San Francisco
3)Arizona
4)San Diego
5)Colorado

This division actually improved over the winter, which is quite sad, because it still is really bad. The Dodgers added some nice pieces (Former Cubs Bill Mueller, Kenny Lofton, and Nomar Garciaparra, as well as the guy the Cubs went after, Rafiel Furcail), and if they get Eric Gagne back, they should take the title back to Dodgertown. The Giants are one big stereroid bust away from being in contention from last place. The D-Backs have some solid players, and I really like Gold Glove second baseman Orlando Hudson, who they got from Toronto for Troy Glaus. They need some more pitching though, and appear to be a couple of years away. The Padres lucked into the division crown last season, but that wont happen again. The Rockies still play in Coors Field, meaning they still can't win.

Wild Card: Philadelphia
I really wanted to go with the Cubs, but I just couldn't. The Phillies haven't made the playoffs since their 1993 World Series appearance, but I think that '06 is the year. I love the lineup, and I think that the rotation can do well enough. Plus lets face it, the National League just isn't very good.

MVP: Derek Lee
OK, heres the homer pick of the year. D-Lee had an amazing 2005, and who am I to say he won't improve again. I know I said that David Ortiz deserved MVP despite the fact he can't field, but I Lee gets the nod over Albert Puljos this season because of his glove. I expect another .340 batting average, 45 home runs and 130 R'sBI.

Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
And this is my pick with the assumption Roger Clemens won't be back. If he is, Oswalt then gets to face the opponents number two starter, meaning even more wins. This guy throws hard, and more importantly, throws strikes. Facing him and Andy Pettite back-to-back would not sound like something that gives opponents smiles.

Playoffs:
St. Louis over Philadelphia
Atlanta over Los Angles
Atlanta over St. Louis

World Series:
Oakland over Atlanta in six games