ZB's Top 10:To all teams not on my list; I am sorry. These are just my best predictions that I can give. I hope that I get proven wrong if you were left off the list, so you can say that you told me so
Outsider Looking In:
- The Mets should be very good and should challenge for the NL East. I just aint sold on them yet, but maybe they will have a chip on their shoulder and really have a great year. Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Tori Hunter, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Billy Wagner, and Jose Valverde is too much to ignore, though, so I had to put them in somehow.
10.
The Los Angeles Angels are a very interesting team. They seem to have some good pitching, good hitting, and good defense. They just don't have a huge power bat, other than Vlad, and he isn't a great home run hitter. I think that if they stay healthy, and maybe get a good bat, we should see them in the post season after winning the AL West.
9.
- Cleveland could be a very good team, or just a good one. They didn't make any moves, nor did they change much up. They have a good rotation, and a solid lineup, with awesome defense, but nothing really stands out. I for one, just can't count them out, though. They will be in it all the way till the end riding the arms of C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona. They will also ride the bats of Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Victor Martinez, and Jhonny Peralta.
8.
- Florida is a VERY young team without much veteran leadership. They traded stars - Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to DET for a ton of prospects. They look for some young guys to step in and make an instant impact. Their SP rotation is finally healthy this year, and they seem to have upgraded their bullpen. They have a good lineup full of young rising stars. They surprised a lot of people last year, and look to do the same this year. I for one, am a believer. Looking at their rock solid roster, I can see some studs in the making.
7.
- Atlanta is a very young team with some veteran leadership. They lost their setup man in Mike Gonzalez, but look to be able to replace him possibly with Peter Moylan or Oscar Villarreal. Atlanta has a nice 1-2 combo in Tim Hudson and John Smoltz. They have a very solid lineup that is young, with some veteran leadership. I really can't see the Braves out of the playoffs this year, but you can bet that they get challenged by the likes of the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Florida Marlins.
6.
- The reigning AL East Champs are back with a vengeance. They really faltered down the stretch of the season after leading the Red Sox by more then 10 games near or at the beginning of the last month of the season. They only ended up winning by a tie breaker that went to the Yankees. The Yankees look better than last year, in a way, but in another way, they do not. What is missing from this team? 2 things... Carlos Pena! He wanted the test the market, and the Yankees didn't want to pay as much as the Red Sox were willing to pay. The Yankees are now looking at a still potent, and very dangerous lineup, but not as good as last years. The other thing that the Yankees are still missing is a good lead off hitter. Aging OF - Johnny Damon didn't get the job done last year, but came into Spring Training with more muscle and less weight, and seemed more conditioned. If that young rotation can stay healthy, the Yankees are in for another great season.
5.
- The reigning NL Champs are back, and as good or better than last year's edition. Some say they are still the class of the NL, others (like I), say that the Diamondbacks have surpassed them, but NOT BY MUCH! I look for the NL West to have at the very least 3 contenders, and possibly all 5. I could see the Dodgers and Diamondbacks really battling each other for the division, and Colorado, San Fran, and San Diego challenging. The Dodgers didn't add much, expect replacement players in case of injury. If this young Dodgers team can stay healthy and consistent, I think that the Dodgers will again challenge for the NL Crown.
4.
- Arizona definitely has the pitching to win it all this year. They added Erik Bedard, Joe Nathan, and Takauki Sasaki. They also added impact players in Brian Roberts and Lastings Milledge. They have some bats, maybe not the most dangerous lineup, but a very good one. This team should be one to watch in 2008.
3.
- Minnesota, fresh off of a World Series have the lineup and pitching. Their bullpen is good, and their defense is great. All around, they are possibly the best team. They aren't the absolute best in any certain area, though. They added Joe Crede to be their 3B, and we all know what he can do when healthy, defensively, and offensively. It could be a huge risk, but also a huge reward. There are however, 2 major impact players that are missing from last year's team in Tori Hunter, and Joe Nathan.
2.
- Detroit has possibly a better lineup than Boston, and that is tough to say. They have Granderson, Polanco, Maggs, Miggy, Dukes, Guillen, etc... Their only question mark is at closer, and the rest of the bullpen. Their GM was very aggressive this off season going after Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, and Johan Santana, as well as hitting the FA market hard.
1.
- Boston has it all. Their lineup is stacked, with potential all stars at every position. They have 2 aces in Beckett, and Kazmir, though Kaz has disappointed BOS fans in his BOS career, thus far. Boston has an elite bullpen, and an aggressive GM who will make the right moves to win now. Boston added big bat, Carlos Pena, and reliable reliever, Brian Fuentes. Look for Boston to have the best record in all of baseball this year.
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Subject: The SBH2 Times 
Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:40 am
