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Well it is Opening Night in Major League Baseball, and that means spring is in the air and there is hope for 12 or so teams to make the playoffs. It is now time for the my predictions: Remember all predictions wrong or your money back.

Let`s begin where everyone else ends, the National League West:
This is really a two team division as San Francisco, San Diego and Arizona are not yet ready to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies. I think the Dodgers pick up the division and the Rockies are left to battle it out for the Wild Card. The Dodgers should return based on their strong pitching and hitting, as Mannywood comes out again.
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers by 4 games

National League Central:
This is possibly the weakest division in baseball filled with the Pirates, Reds, and Astros at the bottom with the Brewers as a possible contender. But really the Cubs cannot compete with the Cards. The St. Louis Cardinals should win this division behind Albert Pujols and a solid team behind him. Although the Cubs got rid of Milton Bradley, the bottom line is still the most sane person in the clubhouse in Wriggly Town is Lou Pinnella, until that changes, the Cubs should go nowhere.
Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals by 8 games

National League East:
Nationals, Mets and Marlins are toast, I mean really, the Nats are so bad that they should be paying YOU to watch their games. The Marlins are still gathering resources before they can buy their team for a one and done championship, and the Mets while not as banged up, they still need to be healthy, and that is a tough thing to guarantee in baseball. That leaves the reigning two time National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. The Phils should win the title, but the Braves are a good team, and want to have a special season for Bobby Cox in his last year.
Prediction: Philadelphia Philles by 3 games

National League Wild Card:
The Braves are the best of the rest, they have a dangerous pitching staff and really the only other team to contend with them are the Rockies, and it will be a great race for the final playoff spot, but....
Prediction: Atlanta Braves by 2 games (1st Wild Card Championship ever)

American League West:
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim should run away with the division.
No other reason is needed.
Prediction: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by 15 games

American League Central:
The Minnesota Twins head outdoors for the first time in nearly 30 years and still have a great team. The Indians are not there yet, and really the Chi Sox are going to be close. The Royals will need a lot of help and let`s face it the Tigers are two years away from being a contender. The Twins return to the postseason.
Prediction: Minnesota Twins by 3 games

American League East:
The Blue Jays and Orioles will battle for the basement, as the Rays will struggle to keep up with the Yankees and Red Sox. It is the same story as before. Can we just give the Yankees the East Championship now and let them start playing in September.
Prediction: New York Yankees by 6 games

American League Wild Card:
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays will battle this one out as really there will be no other big contenders in the hunt from the American league. But in the end the Sox are just better.
Prediction: Boston Red Sox by 4 games

Playoffs
American League Divisional Series
Yankees over Twins 3-1
Red Sox over Angels 3-2
National League Divisional Series
Phillies over Cardinals 3-0
Braves over Dodgers 3-2

League Championship Series
AL: Yankees over Red Sox 4-2
NL: Braves over Phillies 4-3

World Series
Yankees over Braves 4-1

That is all, it should be a fun season, but a predictable one.

Also Duke returns to the National Championship Game on Monday Night against upstart Butler in the NCAA Basketball Championships. It should be a great game. Go Duke! Tip time is 9:21 pm on CBS!