No, really, look here. The A.L Central, thought to be the best and deepest division in the game, features the last two representatives in the World Series, the Tigers and Chisox, plus one of the most talented teams, the Indians. The West, as always could be a crapshoot. Maybe the Angels click and win the division, or maybe it all connects for Oakland or Texas. Here's what I think will go down. A.L. East
Yanks taking a tight division. Just nudging out the Red Sox late in September. A-Rod bounces back and has a huge MVP type season, though he gets stiffled by the writers for being so, "good looking and talented". A-Rod finishes a close 2nd, and the 2nd best player on the AL Central winner wins the award(congrats to Gary Sheffield).
Carl Pavano, goes on a crazy tear after getting dumped by his model girlfriend and wins Comeback Player of the Year, winning 16 games, with an ERA in the high 3's. Clemens comes back to the Yanks, but misses considerable time after pulling a hammy yelling at Mike Piazza in a late June contest. Melky Cabrera spends a lot of time in the outfield and shines brigthly, though you'd like a little more pop in that bat, as Abreu and Damon both spend some time on the DL, and Matsui plays DH once a week. Mussina and Pettiite has solid years and Phil Hughes arrives in August, but doesn't contribute as much as one would have thought, as Kei Igawa picks it up when he's challenged for the #5 spot. Wanger spends a lot of time on the DL this year, as does Giambi. Jeter has a fantastic season, but once again, doesn't even get a whiff of the MVP. Robby Cano has a solid season, but doesn't even lead the team in batting. He does however develop a little more pop. Big Papi has a huge year and Manny being Manny has his worst year in the past decade, and asked to be traded by the All-Star break. He goes nowhere, except the DL with some leg ailment. 
Matsuzaka has a good year, 15 wins, mid 3's era, but gets hit hard in the summer, after guys are seeing him a 2nd time. He'll make adjustments though and pick it up in September. Schilling cries about his contract all summer on his blog http://38pitches.com/, yet pitches well, to a tune of 16 wins and high 3's ERA, plus a ton of K's. Beckett gets his hard early, but has a solid 2nd half. He finally figures out that you do a lot better when the ball stays in the park. Jon Lester comes back from his cancer scare and has a very solid 2nd half. JD Drew spends a lot of time on the DL, but comes back just in time to help save off the Blue Jays in September. Toronto, no slouch though, wins about 85 games, though they would have won more if Frank Thomas and AJ Burnett didn't spend so much time on the DL. Alex Rios picks up where he left off early last year and has a breakout year, hitting 28 hr's and knocking in 100 runs. Vernon Wells doesn't lead this team in RBI. After getting that ridiculous contract, he becomes the third best hitter on this team. Tampa finishes 4th with big years from Carl Crawford, Delmon Young and Scott Kazmir. Elijah Dukes has a fantastic start to the season, however he gets sent back to the minors once he begins struggling, smoking the ganja and decides to go ape-shit on a second basemen, ala his dad, Albert (don't call me Joey) Belle. 
Baltimore is even worst than last year, despite Eric Bedard and Danny(don't call me Rick Vaughn) Cabrera coming into their own under Leo Mazzone. Miguel Tejada, is traded to Anaheim just hours before the trade deadline. Nick Markakis does his best Dale Murphy impression, and carries the team along with Ramon Hernandez and Melmo. Peter Angelos says, "At least we're not the Nationals, boy do they suck! Does anyone have Cal Ripken's number?"A.L. Central
Detroit takes the division, behind a monster season from Sheffield, and a breakout year from Jeremy Bonderman, your A.L. Cy Young winner with 22 wins, over 200 K's and 3.05 era. Joel Zumaya, who I see taking the closing duties just after Todd Jones blows something out around All-Star Break. He's banned from playing Guitar Hero the day Jones goes down.
Also, the team gets career years out of the underappreciated, Carlos Pena and Placido Polanco. Craig Monroe stops swinging for the fences, and cuts down his K's, while hitting 35 HR and knocking in over 100 RBI. The pitching holds up, despite lots of innings the year before. Verlander doesn't make it to September though. He's got elbow problems around All-Star break and makes a comeback in mid August before shutting it down for the season. Cleveland comes up with big years from 30-30 man, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez. Josh Barfield makes a splendid adjustment to the A.L., and also swipes 25 bags. 
C.C. Sabathia has a stellar year leading the team in most pitching categories, but Jake Westbrook and Cliff Lee are inconsistent for too much of the year. The bullpen struggles, as it did last year, and blows too many leads late in games. In July, they ask Atlanta for Bob Wickman back. Eventually, they try calling Rod Beck out of retirement. Minnesota, behind Santana (after almost getting traded and getting a big contract extension) Garza, and Bonser, and despite regression from Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, wins about 80 games, and just bests Chicago for 3rd. Torii Hunter gets traded at the deadline, and hurts himself dancing in the dougout. Chicago, is the big bust in the division, finishing fourth, as Jermaine Dye doesn't repeat his 2006 performance, and the pitchers just don't have the juice to contend with Detroit. Daren Erstad has a good comeback year, but spends the end of the year on the DL, along with Jim Thome and Mark Buerhle. 
Bobby Jenks loses his closing duties after blowing 2 consecutive saves in July and an expletive laden tirade from Ozzie Guillen ensues. KC has a decent year, despite not having any pitching or hitting. But the future looks bright with Alex Gordon, David DeJesus, and Zach Greinke all having solid years. Somehow, the Reggie Sanders trade, will yield them a solid set-up man for Octavio Dotel, who also has a solid comeback year. A.L. West
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California, win a tough division, taking it in the final week of the season. Garret Anderson, has a big year, though he misses considerable time with injuries through the summer. However, he comes back strong in September and October.
Big Vlad, Tejada and Anderson, carry the team through the late months, getting some help from breakout star, Howie Kendrick. Juan Rivera, Chone Figgins and Casey Cotchman, who has a breakout year at First for them, all come back from injuries/illness and contribute big-time. Brandon Wood comes up in August and goes on a crazy tear, begging the question, can the rookie of the year only have played a third of the season? No, Alex Gordon from KC still wins it. Oakland and Texas beat up on the each other all season long, and both fall short of Anaheim. Texas has a big year from Kevin Millwood. Akinora Otsuka, Mark Texeira and Michael Young, though barely anyone else contributes. 
Who'd of thunk they would miss Mark DeRosa and Sarge Jr. Eric Gagne pitches about 25 innings before blowing out his elbow, shoulder and hip all at once and never pitching in the majors again. Oakland has a solid year from Danny Haren, who leads the team in Wins, innings pitched, and K's. Huston Street, finally is healthy the entire year and is one of the most dominant closers in the game. Mike Piazza, lets the mullet do his talking, hitting 30+ HR and making everyone ask, "Frank who?". Rich Harden despite having a Cy Young type first half, does his best Carla Pavano impression, and misses most of the 2nd half with a pulled oblique, time is also missed by Eric Chavez, after doing his best porn star impression, and Bobby Crosby, who apparently hurts himself getting out of bed in the morning. 
Seattle seriously considers trading Ichiro at the deadline, but balks when Boston won't pick up a chunk of Manny being Manny's salary. Felix Hernandez has a breakout year, but manages to only win 15 games after getting no run support. Richie Sexson strikes out a lot, though gets moved at the trading deadline. Adrian Beltre, has a solid year, hitting 30 hr, but manages only 85 RBI as no one except Ichiro can ever get on base. Jeff Weaver and Miguel Batista contribute a lot more than you would think, but seriously beg the question, "really, this was the best we could do?"OK, that's it man. In the words of the legendary, Mel Allen, How About That.
A bit of sad news to report, today is the first day of the last year for Astroland, the Coney Island amusement park and home of the landmark Cyclone roller coaster. I guess those lame commercials they've been running for years, haven't helped business enough.
Soon, there will be large-scale redevelopment and the "2,640 feet of rattling, wheezing terror in lumber and steel" will be left standing. However, the starter rides that lead you there, like the Tilt-a-Whirl, bumper cars and even, everyone's favorite, Shoot The Freak, will be goners. Go pay tribute, before they are distant memories of times past. The development plans include drawings of high-tech arcades, a glass-enclosed water park, an indoor ski hill, giant Ferris wheel, along with hotels, restaurants and waterfront condos. Listening Pile:
Simon & Garfunkel's, "Mrs. Robinson". Thinking about Coney Island, and times past, made me want to throw on this song. Truly the best song ever mentioning the Yankee clipper. Truly a classic gem.
Also, came across this the other day. The Setting Suns, which is a side project featuring Adam Franklin of Swervedriver and Sam Fogarino of Interpol. Pretty good stuff. Sorta loopy and hazy tunes, with Adam's signature vocals and echoey guitars on one song, and gently piano keys on the other. Let us not forget Sam's drumming.
He's totally one of the most underrated skins pounders out there. Just listen to the first half of "Turn On The Bright Lights." Can't wait to hear more of this stuff.
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