Play Ball

The baseball season is finally upon us, and I once again have the unique thrill and pleasure to be able to turn on my TV, watch my beloved New York Mets, and scream, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING SWINGING AT THAT PITCH, ORDONEZ???"

Yes, the Gold Glove shortstop who can't hit his weight (or MY weight for that matter) is back, so I guess all is well in Metland. And now it is time for me to once again lick my finger, stick it up to the wind and see if I can pick how the season will go. As a Mets fan, I will try not to let that bias affect my predictions... that much.

Let's go to the American League first, starting in the East, or as anyone would probably call it, "The Yankees and Everyone Else Division". It's been that way the last few years, as there has been little to no drama in the AL East, and this year, it looks like it's going to be that way again. Yes, they are aging, and the world is rooting for them to lose for once, but it's not going to happen. Toronto is just not good enough to challenge, they seem forever torn between challenging and rebuilding. They dumped David Wells, then shell out $68 million to keep Carlos Delgado north of the border. No better than second place and no shot at the wild card. Boston's season ended when Nomar went down with a wrist injury in spring training, and Nomo's not going to throw a no-hitter every time out. Tampa Bay and Baltimore are nothing more than also-rans. The Orioles swore to go with a youth movement this year, then they went out and bought a few more 30-somethings and I think they actually wound up with an even OLDER team than last year's. It'll be another long year, and unfortunately Mike Hargrove will get stuck with the blame, and Peter Angelos will fire him after the season.

In the Central, Chicago's out to prove that they weren't a one-year wonder, and with the addition of Wells, they may do just that. They've gotta get past Cleveland first, however, especially now that Juan Gonzalez has a team and ballpark he is happy with (for the moment). Take the ChiSox, though; they're only getting better. Detroit's brand of "Scrap Iron" ball will keep them in third place and ahead of the hopeless small market teams, Minnesota and Kansas City, who at this point just hope that there is some silver lining in the next collective bargaining agreement that will save them without having to go through Baseball Armageddon to do it (more on that later).

In the West, it's the Texas A-Rods versus the Oakland Giambis. No, actually it's the Texas Rangers, who are practically paying A-Rod more than the rest of the team combined, against the Oakland A's with their multiple Giambis (Jeremy and Jason). Seattle may sneak in and cause a stir as well, but that depends on whether or not they actually have anything left after the defections of Randy Johnson, Griffey, and A-Rod. Anaheim is, well, Anaheim, and so they will finish far back, leading Disney to wonder if they should just throw nine cartoon characters on the field by the end of the season if it will get fannies in the seats.

Over in the National League, the West features a bunch of teams who have broken the bank in recent years and have nothing to show for it. The Giants are the exception to this rule; they actually have chemistry, and a damn good manager in Dusty Baker. Expect them to breeze to another division title. The middle of the pack will be the Dodgers, who will put Gary Sheffield back on the trading block as soon as he opens his big fat yap again; the Rockies, who now have pitching but no hitting (other than Walker and Helton), the reverse of past years; and the Diamondbacks, who are going to kick themselves for firing Buck Showalter after last season as the oldsters continue to break down and the team sinks closer to oblivion. Or in this case, San Diego, who will take up the rear.

In the Central, St. Louis is picked by many to cruise through the season, but I don't buy it. The Reds will be back, as soon as Griffey gets over his annoying hammy problems. Houston will be third; many say that they will be back with a vengeance, but unfortunately, not with that stadium of theirs. The Astros have unfortunately become another version of the Colorado Rockies; Enron Field will beat them more than the opposition. The Cubs have Sammy locked up for a while, so they can concentrate on actually building a nucleus for future years. This year will be a good start, they'll wind up in fourth. As for Pittsburgh and Milwaukee, what can you say about them except... well... um... they have nice new stadiums.

Now to the East, where it's the Mets and Braves duking it out again. Actually, this may be the best division in baseball, as all five teams can at least be considered "on the rise". The Phillies are picked by many to surprise, but I think they're still a year away, and although they'll get to .500, they'll finish fourth behind the Marlins. Since somebody has to finish last in this division, it will unfortunately be the Expos, which is a shame because they can be a fun team to watch, but with zero fan support and no English radio coverage (again), they're as good as gone from Montreal. Which leaves the contenders. And to that, I say, the hell with bias. Mets all the way. It is a different year, no more Braves thumping the Mets on a regular basis. In fact, the Braves are in trouble, and really on the decline. They have only two good healthy arms in Glavine and Maddux, Smoltz is in trouble, Millwood hasn't gotten past his struggles, and even Rocker can't save their still-awful bullpen. I will be branded a lunatic for this, but I say that Atlanta slides all the way to THIRD in the NL East, and the Marlins challenge Cincinnati for the wild-card.

On to the postseason. In the AL, Oakland and the Yankees will face off for the title. Now it's not because I want to see the Yankees lose (OK, maybe it is), but the A's gave them all they could handle last year, and they're even better this year. Oakland in six to the World Series. Over in the NL, the Mets get the Giants or Reds in the LCS, and they win to go to the Series.

Now I know you all know where this is headed, and I'm going to pick the Mets to win it all. But here is the serious logic behind my pick. In past years, I have gradually upped my expectations every year. In '98, I just wanted to make the playoffs, and we blew it. In '99, I wanted them to win the division, they got the wild-card. Last year, I wanted them to win the NL pennant, and they did; however, as the wild-card again. This year, it only seems fair to up the ante again and say that I am rooting for a World Championship. Even with a number 8 hitter who can't outhit most 9 hitters on their worst day (and yes, I do mean PITCHERS), they can do it.

Now as to the labor deal. Time will tell whether there will be one in time to halt baseball's slouching toward Gomorrah, the point is they NEED to do it. The sport will not survive another work stoppage, therefore, both sides need to get to the table ASAP, do away with the rhetoric and make a deal. Both sides will probably have to give up something; that's the way the world works. That is what is necessary. Now, get out there and DO IT!!!