BOLD Predictions for the MLB Season

Note: this also appears on www.790thezone.com as my weekly article.
The Braves lost last night on Opening Night, part of Opening Week, after last Wednesday’s Opening Morning as the game was played in Japan. Today is Opening Day, but games played tonight won’t be Opening Night, because that was last night. If a game is played tonight, it will still be Opening Day-only played at night. Confusing? Well that’s Major League Baseball for you.
With that said, I have decided to throw a few BOLD PREDICTIONS your way for this baseball season. (What qualifies me to do that you ask? Well tune in to Ed Voyles Honda Extra Innings brought to you by IBM, AT&T and Taco Bell this Thursday and you’ll hear Paul Mac, Bobby and ME talking Braves. We will be there for you after every Braves Weeknight home game.)
Prediction-Tim Hudson will win 19 games and CARRY the Braves to the division crown, but the Cy Young will go to 18-game winner Johan Santana of the Mets because of the New York media.
Speaking of Johan Santana, Prediction-he will adjust well to the Senior Circuit, posting a very low ERA, but it won’t be as low as his old team’s new ACE Francisco Liriano, who will return to the majors and pick up where he left off in 2006.
Prediction-Mark Teixeira and Chipper Jones will out homer Big Papi and ManRam of the Boston Red Sox. I didn’t say out-RBI them, just out homer them.
Prediction-Ichiro will collect 250 hits this season and will lead Seattle to the AL West title over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, located in Orange County, California, left of the Mississippi, member of the Continental United States, Northwestern Hemisphere on Earth part of the Milky Way, Universe. Ichiro also takes home the MVP honors for the American League.
Prediction-Cleveland wins the AL Wild Card, then goes to the World Series. And Grady Sizemore gets 18 pairs of panties throw at him over the course of the season. He is so dreamy.
Prediction-The Phillies will miss Aaron Rowand more than they think and they might slip to 4th in the NL East after the Nationals. Seriously Philly fans, you CAN’T win with only two starting pitchers. And Brad Lidge, you should try to get over this mental thing ASAP, because those phans, will let you hear it!
Prediction-The Cubs win the NL Central after Eric Gagne breaks down and kills the Brewers season.
Prediction-Andruw Jones hits .222, but drives in 120 and mashes 30 home runs as the Dodgers capture the NL Wild Card. (I think the Diamondbacks behind Webb, Haren and Randy Johnson get it done in the Wild, Wild West.)
My Favorite Prediction-Jeff Francoeur hits 40 home runs and as he crosses the plate after each one, he glares at the GM box and possibly screams, “PAY ME!” Shaq did this a few years back to Dr. Buss of the Lakers. I would LOVE it if Francoeur did this.
Finally, I think the Braves beat the Indians in 6 games to take home a World Series Title. After the season, the Braves go into full rebuilding mode, but hey, a title is a title.