2010 MLB predictions

Outside of the Cardinals winning the NL Central, how will baseball's other five divisions pan out?

NL East
Phillies

They won the division by six games last year, and added some guy named Roy Halladay this offseason. Scary good team.

NL West
Rockies

Winners of the Wild Card last year, they have a ton of young talent such as Troy Tulowitzki, Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart. Their rotation features Ubaldo Jimenez, Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook and Jorge De La Rosa. Closer Huston Street blew just two saves last year and had a .91 WHIP (though he will open the season on the DL). The Dodgers have Vicente Padilla and Ramon Ortiz at the back end of their rotation.

NL Wild Card
Braves

NL playoffs
Phillies over Rockies
Braves over Cardinals

Phillies over Braves (I really hope I'm wrong. I'm sick of the Phillies.)

AL Central
White Sox

Joe Nathan's injury kills the Twins. Buehrle and Peavy provide a nice 1-2 punch for the Sox, and they have a strong bullpen.

AL East
Yankees

Added Granderson and return virtually the same rotation as last year's team that won 103 games.

AL West
Mariners

Though I don't trust the back end of their rotation, Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee are at the front. And the top of their lineup with Ichiro and newly added Chone Figgins should produce some run-scoring opportunities for the guys in the middle of the order. The Angels and Rangers won't let them run away with it, though.

AL Wild Card
Red Sox

AL playoffs
Yankees over White Sox
Red Sox over Mariners

Red Sox over Yankees

World Series
Phillies over Red Sox

MLB predictions

NL Central
Cubs

The Cubs core returns from '08, and they should hold off the Cardinals and Brewers.

NL East
Phillies

The Mets spent the offseason fixing their primary problem in '08--the bullpen--by acquiring J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. But their rotation is a question mark, and the Phillies' is not.

NL West
Diamondbacks

Webb and Haren return, and their young hitters will continue to come into their own. I came this close to picking the Rockies based solely on the fact that they acquired Jason Marquis, who has made the playoffs every year of his nine-year career. I also think the Giants could be a surprise team.

NL Wild Card
Cardinals

NL playoffs
Cubs over Diamondbacks
Cardinals over Phillies

Cubs over Cardinals

AL Central
Indians

A strong offense, a new closer (Kerry Wood), and a rotation led by Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona. The Twins have a healthy Francisco Liriano and should compete, and the Tigers, with all that talent, can't be terrible two years in a row, right? This division should be up for grabs.

AL East
Yankees

What can I say? They have a $207 million payroll. The Red Sox and Rays are certainly no slouches either.

AL West
Mariners

The Angels are getting old, and it's time for a new champion out West.

AL Wild Card
Red Sox

AL playoffs
Yankees over Mariners
Red Sox over Indians

Red Sox over Yankees

World Series
Cubs over Red Sox