MLB Predictions

Tomorrow's the big day (at least technically; 28 teams open up their seasons on Monday), the 162-game marathon that is baseball's regular season begins with the Cardinals and the Mets on ESPN2. I'll be there in HD.

To accompany the start of the start of the season, here are my predictions for the season. By the way, Sports Illustrated has its money on a Dodgers vs. Angels freeway World Series. I hope they're correct.

Regular Season (League finish in parentheses)
NL West
1. Dodgers (2)
2. Diamondbacks (6)
3. Padres (9)
4. Rockies (11)
5. Giants (13)

NL Central
1. Astros (3)
2. Brewers (WC, 4)
3. Cardinals (7)
4. Cubs (8)
5. Pirates (14)
6. Reds (15)

NL East
1. Mets (1)
2. Phillies (5)
3. Braves (10)
4. Marlins (12)
5. Nationals (16)

AL West
1. Angels (2)
2. Athletics (8)
3. Rangers (9)
4. Mariners (12)

AL Central
1. Indians (3)
2. White Sox (WC, 4)
3. Tigers (7)
4. Twins (10)
5. Royals (13)

AL East
1. Red Sox (1)
2. Blue Jays (5)
3. Yankees (6)
4. Devil Rays (11)
5. Orioles (14)

Postseason
NLDS
Mets def. Brewers 3-1
Dodgers def. Astros 3-2
NLCS
Dodgers def. Mets 4-2
ALDS
Red Sox def. White Sox 3-0
Angels def. Indians 3-2
ALCS
Red Sox def. Angels 4-3
World Series
Red Sox def Dodgers 4-2

Season Awards
National League
MVP
1. Jose Reyes
2. Albert Pujols
3. David Wright
4. Ryan Howard
5. Lance Berkman
6. Roy Oswalt
7. Prince Fielder
8. Derek Lowe
9. Brandon Webb
10. Alfonso Soriano

Rookie of the Year
1. Chris Young-Diamondbacks
2. Troy Tulowitzki-Rockies
3. Andy La Roche-Dodgers

Cy Young
1. Roy Oswalt
2. Brandon Webb
3. Jave Peavy

American League
MVP
1. Grady Sizemore
2. Manny Ramirez
3. Travis Hafner
4. Johan Santana
5. Vlad Guerrero
6. John Lackey
7. Alex Rodriguez
8. Roy Halladay
9. Derek Jeter
10. Felix Rodriguez

Rookie of the Year
1. Daisuke Matsuzaka
2. Delmon Young
3. Alex Gordon

Cy Young
1. Johan Santana
2. John Lackey
3. Roy Halladay

Bold Predictions
1. Santana, Lackey and Oswalt will each win 20 games or more.
2. Chien-Ming Wang will be terrible for the Yankees, but Phillip Hughes will make everyone forget him anyway.
3. Impact September call-ups (if not earlier): Yovanni Gallardo (Brewers), Andy La Roche (Dodgers), Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), Jon Meloan (Dodgers), Homer Bailey (Reds) and Ian Stewart (Rockies).
4. Chris Carpenter, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds will keep the Cardinals out of the postseason (but Adam Wainwright will be solid).
5. Pitching will undo the Cubs.
6. Pitching will lift the powerless Dodgers.
7. Alex Gordon will be incredible for the Royals.
8. No one will win more than 95 games this season.
9. The Nationals will lose 110 games.
10. A Dodger will hit for the cycle.

Jeremy's Book Club

Oprah is ripping me off.

I'm watching Oprah announce her next book club selection: you guessed it, the best book of all time, "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy.

Only one person listened to me when I offered up my unsolicited literary opinion. Now that Oprah's gotten behind me, I really think my suggestion will take wing. Thanks Oprah.

A lot of McCarthy fans (and yes, there is a Web site; and yes, I am a member) are a little displeased with her selection, fearing that it will take away something from the massive accomplishment that this book is. I am pleased. Not only will McCarthy get paid for the exposure, but he has also agreed to give his first-ever television interview. This is the guy who has agreed -- to my knowledge -- to only two interviews ever: one a couple years ago with Vanity Fair and one just preceding the publication of "All the Pretty Horses" with the New York Times.

Some have said Oprah's housewife book brigade will miss the point of the book. This kind of literary elitism is atrocious. I would, however, be surprised if half as many people who buy the book will actually finish it, as it's probably the most bleak and unflinching book many will ever read (until you read the rest of McCarthy).

For those who do finish, the experience is highly rewarding. I re-read the book over spring break and was shocked at how much of the incredible imagery I missed during the first go-round. This is definitely a book I will re-read throughout my life. After the first reading, I went on a bit of a Cormac bender. In the past six months since I bought "The Road" on a whim, I read all of McCarthy's other books and even a play. McCarthy started his career in the Southern gothic tradition and then moved largely to the West. The West, in my opinion, is where he thrives. If you read "The Road" read it slowly (and with the lights on).

McCarthy to Me
1. The Road
2. Blood Meridian: Or Evening Redness in the West
3. The Crossing
4. Outer Dark
5. All the Pretty Horses
6. Cities of the Plain
7. Child of God
8. Suttree
9. No Country for Old Men
10. The Orchard Keeper

As The Stomach Turns

Gross
But what a great headline.