2008 MLB Predicted Standings: American League

It's never too early to make some baseball predictions. Obviously, there are still some things yet to be resolved for the 2008 season, notably where Johan Santana will play. At this point, it's looking like it'll be either Minnesota or Boston. Quite frankly, Santana won't change much of those teams' 2008 outlooks very much.

So here we go:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
As usual, it will come down to the Red Sox and Yankees. Oh, the Blue Jays and will be competitive, and might even win a playoff spot if they played in the National League. If Toronto can keep its pitchers healthy, they might have the staff (Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Dustin MacGowan, et. al.) to sneak into second place. The Rays also have lots of young talent, especially on offense. And the Orioles... have nice uniforms? Sorry, Baltimore. It's "Wait 'til next year... or the year after that, or that, or that" at Camden Yards this season. Again.

But the Red Sox are the clear favorite here.

Even as it comes off the emotional high of its second World Series in four seasons, Boston looks loaded for 2008 - with or without Santana. Their rotation features Cy Young runner-up Josh Beckett, the veritable Curt Schilling, a more seasoned Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester and the ancient Tim Wakefield. Add in a lineup featuring Big Papi, Manny Ramirez, Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jason Varitek and wunderkind centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, and the Red Sox will finish on top again. They're still the best team in baseball, period.

PREDICTION: It's the RED SOX over the Yankees by at least six games, followed by the Blue Jays, Rays and Orioles, in that order. As a consolation prize, the Yankees grab the Wild Card. The Jays are competitive for the Wild Card until the end, and Tampa Bay finishes with a team-record 75 or so wins. The Orioles trade Erik Bedard at the trading deadline.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
This one could be very exciting. Cleveland, a very good young team, won the division and came within one game of the World Series in '07. Detroit's big trades have been well-publicized: they've added quirky lefty Dontrelle Willis, coming off a poor 2007 season, and big boppers Miguel Cabrera and Edgar Renteria to an already potent lineup. Minnesota, with its addition of Delmon Young to a talented young corps including Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and - there he is again - Santana, will be competitive. Kansas City made lots of improvement in 2007, though looks to still be a few years off. And on the South Side of Chicago, the White Sox added some interesting pieces in Orlando Cabrera and Nick Swisher... but parted with veteran starter Jon Garland and just don't look very formidable.

This is, however, the American League Central, and it's the best division in baseball, top to bottom. That being said, there are two real threats to the crown here: the Indians and Tigers, oh my!

The Indians had great pitching in 2007, with Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia, Fausto Carmona and Paul Byrd leading a talented starting staff. Their bullpen also performed well, notably thanks to the two Rafals: Perez and Betancourt. Joe Borowski led the league in saves, though he did have an ERA over 5.00. The Indians are also solidly built on offense, beginning with leadoff/centerfield sensation Grady Sizemore, as well as Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and the big bopper, DH Travis Hafner. But how will Asdrubal Cabrera perform over a full season? Can Sabathia, Carmona and Byrd put up numbers anywhere near what they posted in '07? How will this young team respond after coming close - oh so close - to the Fall Classic? Will they take that next step or fall backwards, like they did in 2006 after a surprising 93-win season the year before?

The Tigers will have the best offense in the majors, with Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Pudge Rodriguez, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen (now at first base) and newcomers Jacque Jones, Cabrera and Renteria. Their real questions surround their pitching. With Joel Zumaya out for perhaps the entire season, can their bullpen improve on a subpar 2007? Can Kenny Rogers hold up? Will the D-Train rebound as it motors into Comerica Park? Will the brilliant Justin Verlander, who has performed well but thrown a lot of innings during his first two major league seasons, continue to perform at a high level?

In the end, the safe bet is the Tigers - though not by much. I'm not convinced that Detroit's rotation will be anything spectacular (their bullpen certainly doesn't look intimidating), nor am I convinced that Cleveland's staff can replicate its numbers from this past season. It'll be close, but look for a great race to culminate in October baseball in the Motor City once more.

PREDICTION: It's the TIGERS slipping past the Indians in the final week of the season, followed by the Twins in third and the White Sox and Royals battling it out for fourth. The Indians narrowly lose out on the Wild Card to the Yankees. Each team in this division will have at least 77 wins.

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
If anyone picks a team other than the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (or whatever the heck they're called), they're insane. Stranger things have happened, but the Angels are far and away the best team in this division - by a long shot.

While Seattle finished in a surprising second last season, they just don't have the pitching to make the leap into first. Oakland traded away its ace Dan Haren and productive outfielder Nick Swisher, with Joe Blanton and closer Huston Street possibly on the way out, as well. And Texas is... well, Texas. They're always rebuilding, and it's close to impossible to be competitive in their ballpark, especially when your ace is Kevin "Chan Ho Park II" Millwood.

LA of Anaheim should win this one in a walk. In the final season of his five-year, $75 million deal, Vladimir Guerrero finally has some protection in the lineup (at least on paper) in the form of Torii Hunter. Hunter's signing doesn't improve them much on defense, as he displaces the athletic Gary Matthews, Jr. (Hunter is better, but Matthews, Jr. is terrific in his own right). He should, however, improve them on offense, and should contribute between 25-30 home runs, with 90-100 RBI. If he does that, Arte Moreno will be pleased.

The Angels' real strength, however, is not on offense, but in their pitching staff. Ace John Lackey was a Cy Young finalist in 2007, and he returns with Jered Weaver, Kelvim Escobar, Ervin "Magic" Santana (not really... maybe this season he'll finally figure things out), as well as new addition Jon Garland, who should benefit from pitching in spacious Angels Stadium. Add an excellent bullpen, headlined by hard-throwing closer Francisco Rodriguez, and you're looking at your 2008 division champs... just like they were in 2007, 2005 and 2004.

PREDICTION: It's the ANGELS by a mile over everyone else. For organizational purposes, let's say that young talent and Billy Beane's brains power the Athletics into a surprising second, followed by the unimpressive Mariners (John McLaren and Bill Bavasi will be gone after this season) and, bringing up the rear as usual, the Rangers.