Opening Day '09

We are 13 hours from opening day. Major League Baseball has socked tax payers for new palaces in New York to go along with new faces to a tag of ½ billion dollars. It would not be farfetched to pick a Mets-Yankees World Series but that will not happen. Underdog teams have entered the Series since the end of Yankees play-off run. Going to show money doesn't solve all problems. Tell that to the US government. I hate to say it but there will be some really bad teams this year. I pick Baltimore, Seattle, Washington and San Diego to have 60 on less wins. Washington will have three players with 120 strikeouts this year. No teams but the Yankees, Mets and Braves have pushed themselves over the hump from '08 playoff drought.

I see the 2009 NL West ending like this: Dodgers, Backs, Giants, Rockies and Padres. 

NL Central: Cubs (Charity Pick), Cards (If Carpenter and Pujols stay-off the DL), Reds, Astros (score all the runs you can with that pitching), Brewers and Pirates.

NL East: Braves, Mets, Phillies, Marlins and Senators.

The American League will have two ties this year: Boston and Tampa Bay along with Cleveland and Minnesota.

AL West: Athletics, Angles, Mariners and Rangers.

AL Central: Twins-Indians tied, Tigers, White Sox (old) and Royals.

AL East: Yankees (don't worry CC can't pitch in big games), Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles.

Those are my picks for the 2009 season. The Reds really blew it this off season. They are short one 40HR 120RBI guy to move Phillips out of the 4 hole. Phillips would be a great 2-3 guy but not clean-up. But, I will say this you have to play the young guys sometime to see if they belong in a major league uniform. It appears Owens and Bailey will pitch in the rotation with the possibility Arroyo heading to the DL. Bailey has been lights out during the spring. Let's see if he can carry that over into the regular now and not wait until August. Owens can always play the outfield. Maybe he's the 40-120 guy.

Happy Opening Day and Value Meals for everyone, see link: http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/reds/2009/04/05/ddn040509spredsnew.html