NL West

Tim Lincecum has already etched his name in Giants history. His is the stuff of legend, and he's only in his fifth major league season.

The Giants right-hander won back-to-back National League Cy Young awards in his first two seasons, becoming the only pitcher in major league history to accomplish that feat.

He led all of baseball in strikeouts in each of his first three full big-league seasons.

It's time to bring Showtime back to Los Angeles.

With everyone on the planet speculating about who could possibly step up and become the next owner of one of the most storied franchises in all of professional sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers, there is one name that is not only intriguing, but would ignite a passion not seen in Dodger Stadium since Kirk Gibson hit one of the most magical home runs in World Series history: Earvin Magic Johnson.

The season is only 10 percent over, give or take depending on the the number of games each team has played. Hardly a milestone moment that allows early returns to hold any significance.

But it does offer a little more of a view than preseason predictions, does it not? Predictions that I did not make.

Thus, in election night coverage style, I will look at the early returns and make projections. These are the teams I forecast as winning the races for the eight playoff spots in order of record:

Following commissioner Bud Selig’s decision on Wednesday to take over the Los Angeles Dodgers from embattled owner Frank McCourt, the Associated Press is reporting that a baseball executive familiar with the situation says that McCourt plans to sue Major League Baseball in hopes of retaining control of the club.

In a move which took the baseball world by storm, Bud Selig announced Wednesday that Major League Baseball will assume control of both the financial and day-to-day operations of one of the league's most storied franchises—the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner—amid rumors of his potential interest in taking over ownership of the Dodgers given the current squabble between L.A. owner Frank McCourt and Major League Baseball—reiterated on Thursday that he’s not interested in leaving Boston.

Jorge De La Rosa picked up right where Tim Lincecum and Jonathan Sanchez left off.

Once considered one of the most stable sports franchises in America, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now being run by Major League Baseball, due to the financial problems of owner Frank McCourt.

Earlier in the afternoon, MLB commissioner Bud Selig released this statement:

Think things have been rough for the Los Angeles Dodgers given the public split between owner Frank McCourt and his wife? It’s about to get rougher.

Apparently, MLB commissioner Bud Selig has reached his boiling point with Los Angeles Dodgers' owner Frank McCourt.

In a statement just released by Major League Baseball, Selig will appoint a representative to oversee the day-to-day business operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Here is the official statement from MLB on behalf of Selig: