MLB: E’s picks for 2006

**E’s picks for 2006**

NL East

1. Atlanta

(They win for the umpteenth year, this time w/o Rockin’ Leo)

2. NY Mets

(Because Tommy Glavine has a great year at 40. Whelan is happy for a while, until Cards take out the Mets in the Division Series)

3. Philadelphia

(Aaron Rowand a steal for Thome)

4. Washington

(Soriano is more liability than asset in LF and Fick can’t make up for that)

5. Florida

(Not enough experience to go with Willis and Cabrera)

NL Central

1. St. Louis

(Unstoppable, they take it all this year)

2. Houston

(Will Clemens return? Berkman, Preston Wilson good adds)

3. Chicago

(If Prior and Woods stay off the DL)

4. Pittsburgh

(Jim Tracey leads B.C. boy Jason Bay plus Sean Casey, Burnitz … too bad the Pirates traded Aramis Ramirez last year otherwise they might nip at Houston’s heels)

5. Milwaukee

(Corey Koskie to the rescue…nah!!)

6. Cincinnati

(Gave up good hitting for average pitching)

NL West (aka the worst division in MLB)

1. San Francisco

(Bonds is bum; should quit before he does dishonor to Hank and The Babe)

2. San Diego

(Gibson makes a comeback from glory days at Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills and nearly sends Pads to the playoffs; then gets traded to the Tigers in the off season, refuses to go citing previous experience at the River Rouge Ford Plant and chooses to retire from playing and becomes manager of the Florida Marlins, but Marlins move to Las Vegas before spring training 07, which prompts Gibson to make a speech castigating the role of casinos in American society and announce his return to academia.)

3. Los Angeles

(No way they could finish third in any other division)

4. Arizona

(Lots of moves, I like Estrada as the catcher, but unless they hire Dr. K. D. V. to manage they’re finishing out of the money)

5. Colorado

(I like Ray King a lot and Jose Mesa, but adding these guys to the bullpen is not going to change the fortunes of the Rockies)

AL East

1. Toronto

(Because they’re on TV a lot here; I hate the Yankees and am tired of the Bosox (sorry Ken))

2. New York Yanquis

(Adding Damon makes a difference)

3. Boston

(Losing Damon hurts)

4. Baltimore

(Go Rockin Leo! Did I mention I saw Palmeiro hit #3000 last year, right after he had a “vitamin” shot)

5. Tampa Bay

(Should have hired Gibson to manage this year)

AL Central

1. Cleveland

(The Tribe takes the division; Perry buys me tickets to go to the playoffs)

2. Minnesota

(Everybody loves the Twins this year but can pitching be the difference in the AL?)

3. Chicago

(Two in a row? I don’t think so.)

4. Detroit

(No way Leyland can salvage the Tigers)

5. Kansas City

(Gardenhire will be so distracted trying to fill out a line up card with Mientkiewicz and Grudzielanek in the first two slots he can’t concentrate on managing)

AL West

1. Oakland

(I always liked those shoes)

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

(Would finish first but for that name)

3. Texas

(Millwood with hitting behind him should make a difference)

4. Seattle

(What the hell happened in Seattle the past couple of years? But I love that “Ichiro” cheer)

NL Wildcard: New York Mets
AL Wildcard: New York Yanquis

World Series: Cleveland v. St. Louis (Cards prevail)

Follow