Getting Ready for Spring Training

Once football season ends for me and the Bears dissapoint me for another year, I start turning my attention to MLB and the begining of Spring Training. I always look forward to the begining of Spring Training not just for the chance to see what the Chicago Cubs can do this year, but how all the teams shape up this year. We have had quite the off season with the moves of Roy Halladay to the Phils and Cliff Lee to the Mariners, but we have also had alot of money pushed towards free agents like Matt Holiday, Jason Bay, and John Lackey just to name a few. With some players having new addresses this year its going to be interesting to see how the divisions are going to stack up. Well I know its early but here are my early favorites for every division in the AL and NL and my playoff picks version 1.0.

AL East Winner- New York Yankees
Sometimes you don't have to go out in the offseason and spend tons of money to bring in new people. Just spend money on the people that got you there last year. Thats what the Yankee's have done. With this division, no one went out this year to really improve there team and the Yankees show no signs of slowing down this year and I think with there rotation staying intact and the lineup that they have they should put up another 100-win season.

AL Central Winner- Kansas City Royals
This is kind of the pick to throw against the wall and see if it sticks. The ownership in KC has really started to understand that sometimes you will have to go out and spend a little money to bring in free agents. With the additions of Scott Posednik and Josh Fields to the line up that they already had they should be much improved over last year. The Division winners from last year, the Twins stood pat in the offseason and didn't add one bat or one pitcher to there team and this may hurt them this year. Also don't rule out the additions of acouple more pieces to make them a little bit better.

AL West Winner- Seattle Mariners
With LA Angels losing alot of talent in the offseason and the Rangers not having the finacial flexibility to add a big piece to the team, I think the Mariners will run away with this division just due to the starting rotation that boasts King Felix and Cliff Lee.

AL Wild Card- Texas Rangers
With the addition of Vlad to an already potent line up that has Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton they will be banging home runs out of the ball park at record pace. Also there starting rotation is another year older and with the expirence that they gained last year will make them much wiser this year.

NL East Winner- Philadelphia Phillies
One name is really all that is needed to sum up why they will win this division: Roy Halladay. One of the most dominant pitchers that we have seen in the last 3 to 4 years added to the young talent of Cole Hamels will make this team be very difficult to deal with in the post season.

NL Central Winner- Chicago Cubs
Yes I know this is my "INNER HOMER" coming out in me but really I think last year was kind of a freak year for them cause they were dealing with so many injuries that they couldn't put out the lineup that they invisioned. With Milton Bradley gone, this makes the locker room so much easier to deal with for Pinella.

NL West Winner- San Fransisco Giants
Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain are probably the two best pitchers in the NL behind the Roy Halladay. With the additions that they made in getting Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff to there lineup this team will not have the same fate as last year and miss out on the playoffs.

NL Wildcard Winner- New York Mets
With the addition of a power bat like Jason Bay and the come back of injured players like Jose Reyes in this lineup will push the Phillies for the East but I think they will come out and smoke everybody in the wild card.

With the season coming around the corner and more moves to be made, Version 2.0 of Eric's Picks of the Divisions will be coming soon to a computer screen near you.