Preview/Prediction

If you're a fan of the New York Yankees, the 2010-11 off-season must have felt like one, long nightmare.

First, the dreaded Boston Red Sox landed stud first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in a trade with the San Diego Padres. Then, just a couple days later, the Red Sox swooped in, seemingly out of nowhere, and signed outfielder Carl Crawford, a player the Yanks were reportedly courting.

With the Atlanta Braves opening the season in less than 48 hours, excitement is swirling around the team as they try to build on last season’s playoff appearance via the Wild Card. Though the Philadelphia Phillies (and their Big Four starting rotation) are the heavy NL favorites, the Braves have improved from last season and could challenge them for the division title.

The Opening Day Roster has been set, with Matt Young, Christhian Martinez and Brandon Hicks getting the final three roster spots.

After an up-and-down winter and an encouraging spring, the Washington Nationals start their 2011 campaign Thursday with a matinee matchup with the Atlanta Braves.

While every Nationals fan is salivating over what 2012 and 2013 may bring, 2011 will be an interesting and important year for the organization going forward. Let this season forever be known as "The Foundation."

The Philadelphia Phillies enter the 2011 season as the class of the National League East by a large margin. The Phillies continue to upgrade their team while their divisional opponents struggle to keep up.

With opening day mere days away, I've made my picks for whom I believe will be taking home hardware this November.

Some of these picks are early favorites, and some I'm sure will raise some eyebrows. I didn't simply pick the very best players in each league, instead opting for some dark horses I expect to emerge and make their mark in 2011.

Please leave me some feedback. Congratulations on surviving the Winter everybody; time to play ball.

CLEVELAND INDIANS 

Last Year: 69-93, Fourth in AL Central 

Manager: Manny Acta

PROJECTED LINEUP 

C- Carlos Santana (S)

1B- Matt LaPorta (R)

2B- Orlando Cabrera (R)

3B- Jack Hannahan (L)

SS- Asdrubal Cabrera (S)

LF- Michael Brantley (S)

CF- Grady Sizemore (L) (Will start season on DL) 

RF- Shin-Soo Choo (L)

DH- Travis Hafner (L)

For whatever reason, year after year, the Twins get overlooked, yet they always seems to sit atop the AL Central standings by season's end.

Last year they won 94 games, despite the opening day starters missing more than 300 games.  Justin Morneau missed the second-half of the season due to a concussion.

Speaking of Morneau, he plans on starting opening day, but that remains to be seen.

The Royals have been nothing short of a laughingstock for the last two decades.

They have not posed a threat to the AL Central since the days of George Brett, but after reading an article by Tim Keown in ESPN The Magazine, something struck me.

Could this new up-and-coming group of Royal studs be the next "Core Four?"

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS 

Last Year: 90-72, 1st in NL West

Manager: Bruce Bochy 

PROJECTED LINEUP

C- Buster Posey (R)

1B- Aubrey Huff (L)

2B- Freddy Sanchez (R) 

3B- Pablo Sandobal (S) 

SS- Miguel Tejada (R)

LF- Pat Burrell (R)

CF- Andres Torres (S)

RF- Cody Ross (R) (Will start season on DL)

It's going to be extremely difficult for the Royals to compete this season. 

They lost 95 games last year, and lost the likes of Zack Greinke, Yuniesky Betancourt, and Jose Guillen, to boot.

2012 is the target date; several baseball experts have proclaimed that the Royals' farm system is baseball's best in a decade.

It's been 25 years since Kansas City last made the postseason, and they've had just one winning season in the past 16 years. 

The future is bright, and patience is a virtue.