Max Power's Sports Stash

Spring is truly here! The reason we know for sure? It's opening day of the Major League Baseball season! Few things remind sports fans that spring is upon us like the NCAA Final Four, The Masters and opening day of the baseball season.

To get into the spirit of things I have assembled my predictions for the upcoming season. We'll revisit these again in late October and see how I did.

Max Power's
2007 MLB Predictions

AL East
New York   94-68
Boston   86-76
Toronto   84-78
Baltimore   76-86
Tampa Bay   73-89

- An improved bottom half of the division means less wins for NY, Boston and Toronto. In the end, the Yankee offense will overcome their shaky starting pitching to post another divisional title.

AL Central
Minnesota   95 - 67
Cleveland  88 - 74
Detroit   83 - 79
Chicago   82-80
Kansas City   74-88

-  Lesser known names lead the Twins offense while the best pitcher in baseball anchors their staff. Cleveland will surprise behind great young talent. The defending AL champs come back to earth as Jeremy Bonderman alone is not enough to carry them.

AL West
Los Angeles   86 - 70
Oakland  80 - 82
Seattle   78-84
Texas   74-88

-  The Angels have the best pitching staff in the West and a potent lineup anchored by Vlad Guerrero. Too many questions & holes for Oakland, Seattle and Texas.

NL EAST
Philadelphia   87-75
New York   86-76
Florida   84-80
Atlanta   80-84
Washington   60-102

-  The Phillies have one of the most underrated and improving offenses in baseball and will be too much for the Mets who will win games because of their offense. Unfortunately, the Mets pitchers are suspect to say the least. The Marlins are one of those teams that seems to find a way to win every year. This year should be no different as they'll contend for the division. Atlanta will go under .500 for the first time in a long, long while and Washington will just be plain awful.

NL CENTRAL
St. Louis   90-71
Chicago   83-81
Houston   80-82
Milwaukee   78-84
Cincinnati   75-87
Pittsburgh   64-98

-  The Cardinals will benefit from a full season of Albert Pujols who may hit 60 homersif he can play 155 games. The Cubs will be most improved with the addition of 2 former Yankees, Alfonso Soriano and Lou Pinella.

NL West
Los Angeles   86-76
Arizona   81-81
San Diego   77-85
San Fransisco   76-86
Colorado   74-88

-  There is no reason the Dodgers shouldn't win the weakest division in baseball this year. The Diamondbacks will hang in there with their young, but talented, lineup while Randy Johnson wins 16 games back in his former desert home.

American League Champs: Minnesota Twins

National League Champs: St. Louis Cardinals

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, NYY

NL MVP: Albert Pujols, STL

AL CY Young: Johan Santanna, MIN

NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb, ARZ

World Series Champs: Minnesota Twins