Hooters Baseball preview

The following was written in January for Hooters Magazine, to appear in the April/May issue. It was also written before the A-Rod steroids story broke. Pick up a copy at ANY Hooters location!

When the Phillies captured the 2008 World Series Championship, most baseball fans were happy that a relatively boring season was finally over. The playoffs had the potential to be quite memorable, but along the way the Cubs and Dodgers lost in the National League playoffs and the Red Sox and Angels failed to reach the World Series, thus setting up a Philadelphia/Tampa Bay World Series. The New York teams didn’t enjoy missing the playoffs and the Los Angeles teams have worked hard this off-season to try and advance farther. Record-setting contracts and several all-stars switching uniforms have ensured that this season will end with one of the best postseasons ever.

BIGGEST OFF-SEASON ACQUISITION: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees.
The answer here is two-fold: not only did Sabathia sign the largest ever contract for a pitcher, but the man himself is likely to push 300 lbs by the end of his record-setting 7 year/$161M deal. Sabathia paced the Brewers to a Wild Card finish and was the most dominant pitcher in the National League after coming over in a trade from Cleveland. His arrival to the Yankees will provide them with a true “ace” to throw out in game one of a playoff series, though Sabathia’s playoff record is less than stellar. He must become a playoff pitcher to justify his contract. RUNNER UP: Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets. K-Rod will give the Mets the lights-out closer it lacked down the stretch last year after Billy Wagner went down with an injury.

AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
Picking A-Rod to win the MVP award isn’t original or sexy, but it IS a solid pick that is likely to prove correct. Rodriguez is getting used to playing in the Bronx and despite people saying that he isn’t clutch in the postseason, he still puts up 40+ home runs with 110+ RBI every year. And the last time I checked, the MVP is given based on regular season stats. With all of the new pieces the Yankees have added to its roster this off-season, A-Rod should see his power numbers jump even higher. Mark Teixeira should give him some cover in the lineup and the pitching staff should give the squad more wins, which certainly will help A-Rod’s case.

NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP: Ryan Howard, Phillies
For years MVP voters could just pencil in Albert Pujols and not have to really worry about the award. The new name that voters can start to rely on is Ryan Howard. The Philadelphia first baseman won the award in 2006, just one year after capturing the Rookie of the Year award. In 2007 his 47 home runs were not enough to repeat and in 2008, he finished second to Pujols. The 2007 and 2008 years though did find Howard reaching the postseason, and Howard enjoyed some postseason success last season as he homered thrice in the World Series win over Tampa Bay. Look for Howard to reach 50+ home runs and 140+ RBIs as he wins his second MVP award.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG: Josh Beckett, Red Sox
As much as the New York Yankees would like to think that the best pitcher in the American League resides in the Big Apple, the game’s best pitcher can be found delivering fastballs in Fenway Park. Beckett has come up time after time in postseason play and it seems only right that he should win his first Cy Young after being denied in 2007, despite winning 20 games. Beckett has two major advantages in the race as his offense always seems to supply him with runs and his bullpen might be the best in baseball. Beckett is just 11 wins from 100 for his career he should be well on his way to 200 by the end of the year. Look for 200+ strikeouts in 200+ innings pitched.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CY YOUNG: Cole Hamels, Phillies
No pitcher in Major League Baseball has more momentum entering the 2009 season than the Phillies Lefty ace Cole Hamels. The 25-year-old Hamels ended the 2008 campaign with a 4-0 post-season record, including the NLCS MVP award and the World Series MVP award along with a title. Hamels recorded two complete game shutouts last season and when his changeup is on, he is hard to beat. His 518 strikeouts in less than three full seasons show he has great stuff, but he needs to improve on his 14-10 2008 record to take this award. The only negative going against Hamels is the small home stadium he pitches in, but that should also mean more run support from his teammates.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WORLD SERIES REPRESENTATIVE: Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox whiffed on its biggest off-season target in first baseman Mark Teixeira, so the team decided to feather lift instead of full on restructure. Former Cy Young winner John Smoltz was given a one-year, incentive-laden deal to switch leagues. Brad Penny was also signed to give the rotation some depth. Rocco Baldelli will also add some pop off the bench. Jason Bay will continue to put up solid numbers and David Ortiz will give reigning MVP Dustin Pedroia some cover in the lineup. Let’s not forget the best big-game pitcher in baseball Josh Beckett still dons red socks too!

NATIONAL LEAGUE WORLD SERIES REPRESENTATIVE: Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were the best team in the National League all of last season, only to come undone in the playoffs. The team ran in to a red-hot Dodgers team and Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden and the rest of the Cubs were once again forced to “wait ‘til next year!” This year is finally the year for the Cubs. Harden needs to stay healthy (a problem over the course of his career), but the team has resigned Ryan Dempster and has cleared enough salary to make a run at acquiring Jake Peavy from the San Diego Padres. If the former Cy Young Award winner Peavy comes aboard, this rotation is the best in baseball. The team only needs a closer, but a by-committee approach will suffice for now.

THE NEXT RAYS aka THE SLEEPER PICK: Cincinnati Reds.
Entering last season, the Tampa Bay Rays were an afterthought in the minds of many baseball pundits trying to predict who would make the World Series. This season’s Rays could be the Cincinnati Reds. The team has added Willy Taveras, the speedy outfielder, and reliever Arthur Rhodes to a team that started hot last year but faded down the stretch. First baseman Joey Votto, OF Jay Bruce, and pitchers Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey provide a solid base and Taveras could set the table for this lineup, which can rake at the bandbox ball park the Reds call home. Juan Pierre helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series by setting the table and Taveras could do the same.

BIGGEST FREE AGENT BUST-TO-BE: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees
This was a tossup between Teixeira and fellow Yankee newcomer AJ Burnett, but Teixeira gets it because of his salary. Teixeira said before last season that he doesn’t use spring training but rather the first few weeks of the season to get into baseball shape. If he tries that with the New York media he will be in for a rude awakening. Having played for the Rangers, Braves, and the last half of last year with the Angels, Teixeira has made the postseason just once in his career. If he is a part of just one postseason run with the Yankees, he will certainly hear be hearing boos. And at his salary, he will be one of the guys that the finger is pointed at for any of the team’s shortcomings.

SEASON MOST LIKELY TO BE DERAILED BY SUPERNATURAL FORCES: Yankees

This will be the first season for the Yankee in the new Yankee Stadium. I realize that the old stadium didn’t have the luxury boxes that the new one will have, but it did have the history and the ghosts that helped the Yankees win all of those World Series titles. DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, and Ruth once manned the outfield that Johnny Damon patrolled last year. The Iron Horse, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson and Yogi all enjoyed magical moments there. Now the team moves to new digs and the ghosts might be unhappy. Don’t be surprised if Sabathia gets shelved with the stomach flu, Burnett gets hurt yet again and A-Rod goes into a slump. The ghosts are pissed!

The biggest question mark entering the 2009 season is Jeff Francoeur.
The homegrown rightfielder homered in his first game and graced the cover of Sports Illustrated just a few short weeks after making his major league debut. However the once future face of the Atlanta franchise has been floated in trade scenarios and seems to have given way to Brian McCann as Turner Field fan favorite. Frenchy’s 2008 season was one to forget as he hit .239, with 11 home runs and a .359 slugging percentage and also spent some time in the minors. Francoeur must get it back on track as he is seeking a long-term Grady Sizemore-like contract, but the Braves brass has been hesitant to offer him a big payday after he turned down a deal several seasons ago that would have locked him up for the near future. Will Francoeur hit 30 home runs with a .290 average like scouts believed he could coming out of high school, or will Frenchy continue to struggle and force the Braves to trade him for bullpen help?

PREDICTIONS:
AL EAST Boston Red Sox
AL CENTRAL Chicago White Sox
AL WEST Oakland A’s
AL WILD CARD LA Angels of Anaheim

NL EAST Philadelphia Phillies
NL CENTRAL Chicago Cubs
NL WEST Los Angeles Dodgers
NL WILDCARD NY Mets over Cincinnati in a one game playoff

Playoffs-1st Round
Red Sox over Angels
White Sox over A’s
Cubs over Mets
Phillies over Dodgers

LCS
Red Sox over White Sox
Cubs over Phillies

World Series
Red Sox over Cubs in 6 games