Preview/Prediction

Before we begin, a (slightly) brief introduction:

The year ended badly for Detroit Tiger baseball. There was so much hope over the course of the year that when the team began to fall apart in September, there was almost a consensus of disbelief among the fans.

After 12 straight losing seasons, optimism is high in Baltimore that 2010 could be the season the Orioles move back over the .500 mark.

However, considering that they won only 64 games a year ago, even with a plethora of young talent, there is much to be done if the O’s are really going to move to the plus side of the ledger.

This is part two of a three part series about the 2010 Orioles. In part one we looked at keys to the season.

As if the advent of the 2010 MLB season wasn’t stressful enough, the Houston Astros were dealt with a major blow today.

Lance Berkman is scheduled to have surgery on his left knee Saturday, and while his projected recovery time is said to be only two weeks, a month or longer is more likely, leaving the Houston Astros season in dyer straights.

No player on the Brewers' roster had more of a breakout season in 2009 than Casey McGehee.

He went from a completely unknown commodity in spring training to finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

McGehee finished the year with a .301 average, 16 home runs, and 66 RBI while playing in only 116 games. In fact, he only started two games in the first six weeks of the season. Prior to May 19, he had only 16 at-bats.

On May 19, McGehee started for the injured Rickie Weeks at second base, and his remarkable season began.

Yet again, the AL Central will be the most competitive division in baseball.

The White Sox, Twins, and Tigers could be the team making the playoffs here. Hell, the Indians could make a run as well.

Because of this, you aren't going to see a team win 100 games. However, you will see some great baseball. 

Chicago White Sox

Baseball is a game of numbers and here are a few that influenced the Dodgers and Hiroki Kuroda last season: 117.1 innings pitched, 20 games started, 12 HR allowed and a 40.50 postseason ERA.

Many insiders and fans alike criticize the Dodgers for the lack of offseason pick-ups after another loss to the Phillies in the NLCS.

The fact is, the Dodgers made it to the NLCS again, and believe they have what it takes to make it there and beyond this upcoming season. 

The Boston Red Sox not only ended their 86-year drought of not winning a world title last decade, but they also tacked on another one three years later.

Can they add to their trophy case in 2010? You have to think they will be one of the favorites to do so.

Boston is one of the biggest-spending teams in the leagues, and while they do have to battle through the toughest division in baseball, fans can rest assured that the Red Sox will do whatever it takes to field a winner.

Now let's see how they are going to stack up in 2010.

Every year, some unheralded rookies come out of nowhere and end up playing a big role in a team’s season. Be it due to injury, poor performance or a trade, it’s almost certain that some player who was expected to spend the year in the minors ends up helping the big league club.

Here, I have picked out 15 rookies who could potentially help the Atlanta Braves in 2010.

Before I start, let me say that Jason Heyward isn’t included in this list.

The AL East, as it always does, is looking very strong. The defending World Series Champion New York Yankees keep a good pool of talent to try and repeat, a feat nobody has accomplished since the Yankees won three in a row from 1998 to 2000.

The Oakland A's would like nothing more than to see Eric Chavez make a miraculous recovery from yet another season-ending surgery. 

However, like Chavez, the A's are being 100 percent realistic about the Gold Glover's chances at making a significant return in 2010.

Chavez, who is in the last year of that six-year, $66 million contract he signed in 2004, is at least making some strides towards a healthy return.