AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Mariners
AL Wild Card: Tigers
AL Divisional Playoffs: Red Sox over Tigers (four), Indians over Mariners (five)
AL Championship Series: Indians over Red Sox (seven)
NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: Brewers
NL Divisional Playoffs: Mets over Brewers (three), Cubs over Diamondbacks (four)
NL Championship: Cubs over Mets (six)
World Series: Cubs over Indians (five, in Wrigley Field, of course)
AL Cy Young: C.C. Sabathia, Indians
AL MVP: Ichiro, Mariners
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria, Rays
AL Manager of the Year: John McLaren, Mariners
NL Cy Young: Kerry Wood, Cubs
NL MVP: Jose Reyes, Mets
NL Rookie of the Year: Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella, Cubs
Prediction No. 1: Another American League Cy Young Award and a trip to the World Series will not be enough for lefty C.C. Sabathia to hang around Cleveland in 2009. He will leave town as the most successful left-hander in team history -- and sign a six-year contract with San Francisco.
Prediction No. 2: Kerry Wood will save 50 games out of the bullpen for the Cubs, hence the Cy Young Award pick listed above and, in part, the World Series championship nod. Carlos Zambrano will also help a bit with 18 wins during the regular season and four more during the playoffs, and right fielder Kosuke Fukudome will lead the team with 38 home runs -- but finish second in the NL ROY award voting.
Prediction No. 3: Ichiro will surpass his own single-season hits record and lead the Mariners to within one win of the American League Championship Series. Lefty Erik Bedard will struggle early but finish with 18 wins. Mike Hargrove will remain in Richfield, Ohio, with his wife, Sharon, and will not express any interest in a return to Seattle or any other MLB dugout.
Prediction No. 4: Miguel Cabrera will thrive in Detroit but face early scrutiny, not because of any problems adjusting to AL pitching but because of a perceived lack of power. Because of the larger dimensions at Comerica Park, Cabrera will hit only 28 home runs but will finish the regular season with 60 doubles.
Prediction No. 5: Board favorite Kansas City will win 82 games and finish third in the American League Central. And Frank White will remain in purgatory, burdened behind Trey Hillman.