TK's Take on the 2009 MLB Season

After seeing some predictions online and over at the proper lounge (WHICH I LOVE YOUR WORLD SERIES PICK) I would like to offer my take on the upcoming MLB season, so without further a due, here are your winner by division, your respective conference champions and your 2009 World Series Champion.

Let's start with the American League (aka the power league)

A.L. EAST
No shocker to anyone here who I'm going to pick but with the offseason the Yankees had they will regain the AL East title, yes they are my favorite team. They picked up CC Sabathia and Aj Burnett, oh yeah and a guy named Mark Teixiera, to add to a lineup that is already loaded from top to bottom, and at the same time cut payroll, yes I said cut. I hate the Red Sox, sorry had to throw it in there, and as for the Rays I do not think they will have the same success as last season's impressive run. As for the bottom two teams not much has changed for either this new millenium as both Toronto and Baltimore will both tail away during the season.

1. New York Yankees
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. Boston Red Sox
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

A.L. Central
The American League Central has always been a tricky division to pin down for me. I've always been hammered that the White Sox will win it each year but I won't single any names out....As for this year however I don't believe the White Sox have what it takes to win the division, but hey I could be wrong because I honestly don't know who stands out to me in the Central. The Indians are going to be better then last year and I think the Twins will still be up there as well, but no one really stands out to me. Everything I've been hearing on ESPN says the Royals could be a team to watch out for, but sorry that ain't going to happen, it's the ROYALS. As for Detroit, it's them and they won't do anything anyways.

1. Minnesota Twins
2. Cleveland Indians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Kansas City Royals

A.L. WEST
This is another one of those divisions that is just owned by one team, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, at least I think that's what they are called. And this year I look for that trend to continue, neither team has helped themselves this much during the offseason, except for Oakland acquiring Matt Holiday but as we all know that won't be a long last union, while Texas and Seattle just continue to sit back. Wait, Seattle signed Griffey, oh that's impressive, he's how old again?

1. Los Angels Angels
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers

A.L. Post season picks to follow... now we turn to the National League.

N.L. CENTRAL
This division has become the Cubs division the past few seasons and 2009 I expect things to stay the same. The Cubs have a lot to prove this year after last year's debacle in the playoffs against Manny and the Dodgers, but the Cubs still boast one of the NL's top pitching staff's and I think if they stay healthy watch out. The Brewers have lost too much, and the Cardinals still do have Albert Pujols so I expect them to put up a fight but not to challenge the cubs that much. As for the Pirates, yeah don't expect much, although I hear the Reds might surprise some people this year but I'm just not one of them.

1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

N.L. EAST
The national league east like the american league east is the best respective division in eachother's conference. The east boasts our defending world series champs, the Phillies, and a reloaded Mets squad that's bullpen is second to none it seems, yet K-rod, might be past his prime, but we shall see. The Braves also have made some noise this offseason and look to reclaim the top spot in the East but sadly won't have the firepower to compete with the mets and phillies. As for the Nationals and Marlins, sorry but this year it isn't going to happen.

1. New York Mets
2. Philladelphia Phillies
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

N.L. WEST
This division intriques me also, as some teams look to make a last ditch effort for glory. The Giants acquired Randy Johnson who is turning 70 this October to compliment Cain and Linecum, two young studs, not to mention Barry Zito who I think is going to have a come back year type performance. The Padres are just falling apart at the seams and Jake Peavy won't be on the team come this July as he will be wearing Cubbie blue, that's a TK guarantee. The Dodgers signed Manny again, huge surprise and the Rockies really didn't sure anything up. The Diamondbacks like last year started off on fire, but cooled down out in the desert. So as for this year I expect things to change a bit.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. San Fran Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres

So there are your division leaders so for the A.L. we have:
East-Yankees
Central-Twins
West-Angels
Wild Card, after much thought and deliberation I chose to go with the Tampa Bay Rays, the AL east is the best division in baseball and these two teams will have outstanding records with the Rays edging it out in the end to take the wild card.

Yankees vs. Angels..... Yanks in 4
Twins vs. Rays.... Rays in 5

Yanks vs. Rays.... Yanks in 6

N.L. Division Winners
Central-Cubs
East-Mets
West-Dodgers
Wild Card, easy for me the Phillies.

Cubs vs. Phillies....Cubs in 5
Mets vs. Dodgers.... Mets in 5

Mets vs. Cubs.... Mets in 7

So yes... I hear a sequel to the Subway Series in 2009... as it will be the New York Mets v. New York Yankees... with the Yankees, who had a terrific offseason, experience a terrific postseason and claim their 27th World Series Championship, because hell if that doesn't work, I don't know what will.

That is TK's Take!