Preview/Prediction

Milwaukee Brewers 2008 Review:

As a Milwaukee Brewer fan, you have to look at 2008 as a great year for your franchise.

The Brewers managed to make the playoffs for the first time since 1982, thanks in large part to the left arm of C.C. Sabathia. Sure, you had to give up your most prized prospect in Matt LaPorta, but this franchise has been dying for a taste of the postseason and they finally got it in 2008.

*From Protect the Plate

After failing to post a winning record in 14 seasons, the Milwaukee Brewers have put together back-to-back seasons above .500. The team won the Wild Card after tallying 90 victories last season, making its first postseason appearance since 1982.

Who's going to be an all-star this year?

Just making some early All-Star predictions. 

Remember, the rules call for each team to consist of 32 players, and at least one from each of the teams in the league.

AL:

C:  Joe Mauer, Twins;  Best catcher in the AL, he'll make it. 

1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers; Barely better than Papi, but either might be used.

2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sucks;  Did I type Red Sucks?  Oops!  Best 2nd Baseman in the league.

It's the middle of March, and spring training games are getting more competitive. Pitchers are pitching more innings, and players are starting to get back into the swing of playing Major League Baseball everyday.

It's been a long time since I've been able to truly raise my expectations for the Texas Rangers. In fact, it's been exactly 10 years. Maybe I'm just tired of writing about a rebuilding program, but frankly the Rangers were in such bad shape it made an excruciating rebuilding program necessary.

This spring has been different, though, for one simple reason. They're ready.

Despite an offseason full of free agent splashes, the Yankees could be in for another April belly flop. 

Sure, the additions of Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, and A.J. Burnett automatically make the Yankees an improved team, but there are substantial questions as the calendar flips.

A distracted Alex Rodriguez is one thing, but putting him on the shelf for the season’s first six to nine weeks is quite another. General manager Brian Cashman is sticking with farmhand Cody Ransom for, if nothing else, the lack of available free agent third basemen.

Ahhh yes, once again, hope springs eternal for the Chicago Cubs. The 2009 version of the team, seems to have an even better chance of capturing the ever-elusive World Series title, even better than last year's 97-win team.

The offseason was a very busy one for the Cubs. Jim Hendry has had his hands full. Making trades, and signing free agents. Gone are Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa, Henry Blanco, Jim Edmonds, Jason Marquis, and others. 

After watching the Seattle Mariners on "30 Clubs in 30 Days," I picked up a few tidbits of information that I wanted to pass along regarding the Mariners' offseason and the high hopes the team has for 2009.

This is an article I wrote for RBI Magazine, which can be found here.

Key Additions

SS Adam Everett, C Gerald Laird, RHP Edwin Jackson, RHP Brandon Lyon, C Matt Treanor, RHP Juan Rincon

Key Subtractions

OF Matt Joyce, LHP Kenny Rogers, SS Edgar Renteria, RP Kyle Farnsworth, CL Todd Jones

The NEW York Yankees—out with the old and in with the new. With the recent acquisitions of "big name" players such as A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, and Mark Teixeira, the Yankees are beginning to show that they, as a team, are once again a "big name" team.

The Yankees, coming off a most disappointing season, are setting their sights on that precious World Series Championship, of which they have not had the honor of winning since 2000, when they defeated the Mets in the Subway Series.