Preview/Prediction

This is the division that many regard as the most competitive in baseball.  I would say it is in a tie for first with the NL Central, but that's just me.  The AL east is a powerhouse, just as it is most years.  Some of the less relevant teams for the 21st century AL East have made moves during the offseason, and it should make for an interesting division race.

This past calendar year has been nothing but heartbreak after heartbreak for New England sports fans.

(All 29 other sports regions/cities roll their eyes collectively).

We're no Seattle or Cleveland, but these have been somewhat trying times for fans that have high standards for success.

As 2011 Spring Training games get underway, we will see many position battles take place in the next month which will determine which players will fill out Opening Day lineups. Although a great deal of activity and injuries can take place in the next few weeks, which will ultimately determine who starts versus who is benched or sent to the minor leagues for more development, this is a slideshow of each Major League team's optimal batting lineup as well as the position each start will likely field.  

With the recent misfortune of the St. Louis Cardinals losing ace right-hander and 20-game winner Adam Wainwright, most of the "experts" are predicting a more open National League Central race for 2011. 

Funny, but I don't remember the Cardinals taking the Central last year with Wainwright. 

Pretty simple. If I was betting on the season's final standings, this is where my chips would fall. I'm going to pass on predicting all the playoff stuff, but stick to the regular season, with my award favorites as well.

In the AL East...

Boston: 99-63

New York: 90-72

Baltimore: 83-79

Toronto: 77- 85

Tampa Bay: 70-92

Late February. Optimism fills the air in Major League Baseball.

The reason?

Baseball is back.

Granted, it is only a lowly beginning. Late February is the time for spring training games in Arizona and Florida. The exhibition games, though it is good to see that baseball has returned, are just that: exhibition games.

Spring Training starts up in less than a week and the upcoming baseball season should be a great one. The NL MVP is most prestigious individual award in National League.

The National League MVP is awarded annually to the player who has the most value to his respected team. Recent winners of the NL MVP include names such as Joey Votto, Albert Pujols, and other greats.

In follow-up of my AL list I have decided to make an NL version of the preseason prediction.

When you think of the Detroit Tigers over the last few years, who are the players that come to mind?

Magglio Ordonez or Ivan Rodriguez? Carlos Guillen, Brandon Inge and Johnny Damon?

It always seems like the Tigers are the oldest team in the league. This season, however, that could not be farther from the truth.

On their 40-man roster, Detroit has only nine players over the age of 31.

When early predictions start coming out, and people express their inevitable outrage over certain winners and losers, some teams seem to get loads of support, and it's difficult to understand why. 

This is a closer look at those teams, pointing out exactly how groundless the adoration and lofty expectations truly are. Be realistic. You'll sound smarter. 

Begin Slideshow

Panda is coming off a year in which he took a considerable step backwards. Through his first two seasons in the big leagues he had consistently performed offensively: