Preview/Prediction

On April 11th the Boston Red Sox will visit Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium to take on the ever-flailing Royals, and Jason Varitek will turn 38.

Whether Varitek will catch that day remains to be seen. In 2010, Varitek will mainly make spot starts while sharing the job with the more offensively capable, 31-year-old Victor Martinez.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Seattle Mariners head to Opening Day with high expectations.

Last season, the Mariners had the biggest turnaround in the MLB, turning its awful 101-loss campaign in 2008 into a successful 85-77.

This slideshow includes my predictions for the division standings, wild card berths, playoff predictions(including how many games), and who I think will win the World Series. It also includes who I think will win all the major baseball awards such as MVP and Cy Young. Feel free to comment on what you think.

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After three injury-filled seasons, it finally appeared Rickie Weeks was heading for a breakout season in 2009. That ended on a check-swing in St. Louis that saw Weeks tear a tendon in his left wrist.

He was out the rest of the season after playing in just 37 games.

However, it was the best 37 game stretch of his career, and it gave the organization and fans a taste of what Weeks can do when healthy.

Here we are.

Just one week until the Atlanta Braves open the season against the Chicago Cubs at Turner Field.

Most of the roster has already shaken itself out.

You're looking at an outfield of Cabrera/Diaz, McLouth, and Heyward, and an infield that boasts Jones, Escobar, Prado, and Glaus with Brian McCann behind the dish.

The rotation has been set since Vazquez was dealt, with Jurrjens, Hudson, Hanson, Lowe, and Kawakami leading the charge.

Baseball season begins April 4, so it’s time to predict the outcomes for every team in the AL. Look for your favorite squads and compare your picks to mine.

I’ve ranked the teams based on their predicted finish for the 2010 season. I’ve also ranked each squad’s batting and pitching on a letter scale, with a short explanation following.

Begin Slideshow

Baseball season begins April 4, so it’s time to predict the outcomes for every team in the NL. Look for your favorite squads and compare your picks to mine.

I’ve ranked the teams based on their predicted finish for the 2010 season. I’ve also ranked each squad’s batting and pitching on a letter scale, with a short explanation following.

Begin Slideshow

The National League East is a beast unlike any other to Mets fans such as myself. As a kid growing up, it was the Atlanta Braves who were the team to beat, thanks to a ridiculous stretch of division titles that started in 1991 and ended with the Mets finally knocking them off the throne in 2006.

The 2010 Major League Baseball season is almost here. That means it is time for predictions to run rampant. Without further ado, here is one prediction for the American League East.

New York Yankees

“Pitching wins championships.”

If the Giants are to win the National League West title—which I believe they will—it’ll have to be on the basis of its pitching staff because its offense certainly doesn’t look like it’s capable of scoring a bevy of runs. The offense finished 25th in MLB last season in batting average (.257), 26th in MLB in runs scored (657), and dead last in OPS (.699). This is not an offensive juggernaut.

But as bad as the offense was, the pitching staff was just that good; actually, it was even better.