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penfield"When the number of factors coming into play in a phenomenological complex is too large scientific method in most cases fails. One need only think of the weather, in which case the prediction even for a few days ahead is impossible."
- Albert Einstein (Physicist and Madcap Genius)
Prediction/
Key Question
AL EAST
Tampa Bay Rays
A lot of guys actually underperformed offensively last year. Can Evan Longoria match his solid rookie campaign?
New York Yankees
80 percent of A-Rod should be good enough to fill out the lineup. But will a suspect defense be able to support their $100M pitching staff?
Boston Red Sox
Lots of depth on the pitching staff, not so much in the lineup. How much do their aging batsmen (Papi, Lowell, Drew) have in the tank?
Baltimore Orioles
The offense and the defense should actually be pretty good. The pitching staff just needs to throw strikes. Can they?
Toronto Blue Jays
Probably a lost season, with young hitters maturing and young pitchers recovering on the DL. Can Roy Halladay pitch three times a week?
AL CENTRAL
Cleveland Indians
The lineup should score runs, but the pitching staff looks light without Sabathia. Can Fausto Carmona bounce back enough to negate Clif Lee's inevitable regression?
Minnesota Twins
There's a lot of replacement-level talent here surrounding four or five elite players. Will Mauer and Baker -- two of those elite -- get back from the DL in time to save their season?
Chicago White Sox
The aging offense is bound to fade. Can Ozzie Guillen once again perform alchemy with a no-name pitching staff?
Detroit Tigers This past offseason, the team traded some offense for a little more defense. Can Justin Verlander right his own ship and lead a patchwork pitching staff?
Kansas City Royals
Their offseason improvements were mostly cosmetic. Will they have enough men on base for the free-swinging muscle in the lineup?
AL WEST
Los Angeles Angels
The pitching staff is held together with band-aids and scotch tape. When the starters are on the field, they should be fine, but can a slap-hitting offense carry the team when they're not?
Texas Rangers
Scoring runs will never be a problem in Arlington, but preventing runs is still an issue. Will the young arms graduate to the majors ahead of schedule?
Seattle Mariners
Pitching and defense should be fine, but questionable roster construction yields a lineup without many attractive options. Will Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien perform when they're eventually recalled to the majors?
Oakland Athletics
The offense is better, but now the defense is worse. How much can you really expect from such a young pitching staff? (Ask the 2008 Yankees.)
NL EAST
New York Mets
More depth in the lineup and the bullpen than last year, but their window is slowly closing. Will the back of the rotation give them anything at all?
Florida Marlins A strong young rotation is backed by the majors' best player. But who else in the lineup can hit 30 homers? Anyone?
Atlanta Braves
The totally renovated pitching staff will have to carry the load on a roster with little margin for error. Can Jeff Francouer save his career?
Philadelphia Phillies
Didn't improve anywhere on the diamond and regression is likely for some key members of the championship squad. Will Cole Hamels' arm hold up for another long year?
Washington Nationals
Remarkably similar in design to their Beltway neighbors, except with a much lower ceiling. How will Manny Acta divide up the playing time at OF/1B?
NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Still have more depth and talent than anyone else in the division. Between injuries and plain old performance, will they get enough innings and production from their outfield?
Cincinnati Reds
They have a couple strong young pieces in the rotation and a couple strong young pieces in the lineup. Can Dusty Baker work his magic with the team's proletariat without wearing out his elites?
St. Louis Cardinals
One great hitter, a halfway decent pitching staff and a good defense can carry a team a long way. (See: late-90s and early-aughts San Francisco Giants.) Will their defense be "good" enough?
Milwaukee Brewers
Gallardo is good, but he can't replace two departed ace pitchers. Can the offense pick up the slack by hitting better on the road and against righties?
Houston Astros The good players are very, very good, but the bad players are truly rotten. Do they start selling off pieces at the break?
Pittsburgh Pirates Like the Astros, except they don't have any really good players. Will the kids provide any optimism when they're called up in the second half?
NL WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers
This team is younger than you think. What will break down first: Manny's will or his body?
Colorado Rockies
As usual, it all comes down to pitching, but this time they're looking to high-ceiling youngsters instead of high-priced veterans. Is this Ubaldo Jimenez's breakout year?
Arizona Diamondbacks
The pitching staff should be great, but the offense is unproven. Will the young hitters actually start hitting?
San Francisco Giants
The pitching staff should be great, but the offense could be historically bad. Will anyone step up at the plate?
San Diego Padres
They looked overmatched last year and spun their wheels this offseason. Where will Peavy be in August?
WORLD SERIES PREDICTION: Tampa Bay Rays over Los Angeles Dodgers
Predilections
From most-favorite to least-favorite
Oakland Athletics
Pittsburgh Pirates
Milwaukee Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers
Philadelphia Phillies
Kansas City Royals
Cleveland Indians
Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs
San Diego Padres
St. Louis Cardinals
Atlanta Braves
Los Angeles Dodgers
Cincinnati Reds
Baltimore Orioles
Florida Marlins
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks
Toronto Blue Jays
New York Mets
Houston Astros
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
New York Yankees
Los Angeles Angels
Chicago White Sox
- Albert Einstein (Physicist and Madcap Genius)
Prediction/
Key Question
AL EAST
Tampa Bay Rays
A lot of guys actually underperformed offensively last year. Can Evan Longoria match his solid rookie campaign?
New York Yankees
80 percent of A-Rod should be good enough to fill out the lineup. But will a suspect defense be able to support their $100M pitching staff?
Boston Red Sox
Lots of depth on the pitching staff, not so much in the lineup. How much do their aging batsmen (Papi, Lowell, Drew) have in the tank?
Baltimore Orioles
The offense and the defense should actually be pretty good. The pitching staff just needs to throw strikes. Can they?
Toronto Blue Jays
Probably a lost season, with young hitters maturing and young pitchers recovering on the DL. Can Roy Halladay pitch three times a week?
AL CENTRAL
Cleveland Indians
The lineup should score runs, but the pitching staff looks light without Sabathia. Can Fausto Carmona bounce back enough to negate Clif Lee's inevitable regression?
Minnesota Twins
There's a lot of replacement-level talent here surrounding four or five elite players. Will Mauer and Baker -- two of those elite -- get back from the DL in time to save their season?
Chicago White Sox
The aging offense is bound to fade. Can Ozzie Guillen once again perform alchemy with a no-name pitching staff?
Detroit Tigers This past offseason, the team traded some offense for a little more defense. Can Justin Verlander right his own ship and lead a patchwork pitching staff?
Kansas City Royals
Their offseason improvements were mostly cosmetic. Will they have enough men on base for the free-swinging muscle in the lineup?
AL WEST
Los Angeles Angels
The pitching staff is held together with band-aids and scotch tape. When the starters are on the field, they should be fine, but can a slap-hitting offense carry the team when they're not?
Texas Rangers
Scoring runs will never be a problem in Arlington, but preventing runs is still an issue. Will the young arms graduate to the majors ahead of schedule?
Seattle Mariners
Pitching and defense should be fine, but questionable roster construction yields a lineup without many attractive options. Will Jeff Clement and Wladimir Balentien perform when they're eventually recalled to the majors?
Oakland Athletics
The offense is better, but now the defense is worse. How much can you really expect from such a young pitching staff? (Ask the 2008 Yankees.)
NL EAST
New York Mets
More depth in the lineup and the bullpen than last year, but their window is slowly closing. Will the back of the rotation give them anything at all?
Florida Marlins A strong young rotation is backed by the majors' best player. But who else in the lineup can hit 30 homers? Anyone?
Atlanta Braves
The totally renovated pitching staff will have to carry the load on a roster with little margin for error. Can Jeff Francouer save his career?
Philadelphia Phillies
Didn't improve anywhere on the diamond and regression is likely for some key members of the championship squad. Will Cole Hamels' arm hold up for another long year?
Washington Nationals
Remarkably similar in design to their Beltway neighbors, except with a much lower ceiling. How will Manny Acta divide up the playing time at OF/1B?
NL CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Still have more depth and talent than anyone else in the division. Between injuries and plain old performance, will they get enough innings and production from their outfield?
Cincinnati Reds
They have a couple strong young pieces in the rotation and a couple strong young pieces in the lineup. Can Dusty Baker work his magic with the team's proletariat without wearing out his elites?
St. Louis Cardinals
One great hitter, a halfway decent pitching staff and a good defense can carry a team a long way. (See: late-90s and early-aughts San Francisco Giants.) Will their defense be "good" enough?
Milwaukee Brewers
Gallardo is good, but he can't replace two departed ace pitchers. Can the offense pick up the slack by hitting better on the road and against righties?
Houston Astros The good players are very, very good, but the bad players are truly rotten. Do they start selling off pieces at the break?
Pittsburgh Pirates Like the Astros, except they don't have any really good players. Will the kids provide any optimism when they're called up in the second half?
NL WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers
This team is younger than you think. What will break down first: Manny's will or his body?
Colorado Rockies
As usual, it all comes down to pitching, but this time they're looking to high-ceiling youngsters instead of high-priced veterans. Is this Ubaldo Jimenez's breakout year?
Arizona Diamondbacks
The pitching staff should be great, but the offense is unproven. Will the young hitters actually start hitting?
San Francisco Giants
The pitching staff should be great, but the offense could be historically bad. Will anyone step up at the plate?
San Diego Padres
They looked overmatched last year and spun their wheels this offseason. Where will Peavy be in August?
WORLD SERIES PREDICTION: Tampa Bay Rays over Los Angeles Dodgers
Predilections
From most-favorite to least-favorite
Oakland Athletics
Pittsburgh Pirates
Milwaukee Brewers
Tampa Bay Rays
Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers
Philadelphia Phillies
Kansas City Royals
Cleveland Indians
Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs
San Diego Padres
St. Louis Cardinals
Atlanta Braves
Los Angeles Dodgers
Cincinnati Reds
Baltimore Orioles
Florida Marlins
Colorado Rockies
Arizona Diamondbacks
Toronto Blue Jays
New York Mets
Houston Astros
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
New York Yankees
Los Angeles Angels
Chicago White Sox
