This guy must smoke crack!

Let me start by saying that the nl east is at least a 2 team race and possibly 3 if the Braves can put a good season together, so any of those teams could end up on top, but the chances are, that the Mets will end up at least in the top 2, and this is coming from a Phillies fan.  That being said, he said many other absolutely stupid things in this article, the most rediculous of which was him calling Pat Burrell a serious mvp candidate.... WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!  He had a decent second half of the year, but you have to be 6 to be naive enough to think he can put together an mvp season.

"The Phillies, should be a solid race.  I still think the Mets will come out on top.  Pitching and defensively, the mets are a stronger team than last year.  And going into the last month, the mets won about 25% of their games (the worst teams don't even do that) and the Phillies ended up winning something like 80% of their last months games (the best teams can't keep up close to that pace).  Meaning it was a one month fluke in both directions, and given that the mets have improved their team in several areas over last year, I see them sailing through September into a divisional title"

I absolutely agree with what you said here, and I commend you on your research and attention to fine details. I agree with most of the rest of your commentary as well, though Tom Glavine is a terrific pitcher if he's on a good offensive staff, since he's an innings eater, and still has a few more years left.

Why might the White Sox be a surprise team?  I can see their sluggers (Dye, Konerko, Thome, Crede, Pierzynski) have bounce back years after all having lackluster or injury-prone seasons in 2007.  They improved their bullpen with Linebrink and Dotel (say what you will about those two being overpaid, but they are a vast improvement on what they had for a bullpen last year).  I think Swisher and Cabrera will be sparkplugs and will improve team OPB.  I think Alexei Ramirez will do very well at 2nd base, once he is given the opportunity to shine.  I think Jerry Owens will develop into a solid leadoff hitter stealing 40+ bases (depending on health).  I know their success or failure ultimately lies with their starting pitching, and that could be their undoing.  They have a lot of question marks, and maybe they won't be a surprise (I tend to think they will surprise a lot of people), but I gave my reasons why they may be the surprise team of the A.L. this season.  I could be wrong on some (or all) these points, but at least I'm giving you reasons why I think they will be the A.L. surprise team this year.

You picked them last, which is fine.  I'm not going to knock you for your predictions, because that's all they are, predictions.  You have yet to give a reason why they will be the worst in the A.L. Central.  You specifically said "Everyone says this team is worst in the division, because it's TRUE", but you have failed to say why it is true.  Please enlighten me why this is true.  Just because a team finishes 72-90 one year doesn't mean they can't back back the next year.  So, please, go ahead, enlighten me why it's true the White Sox are the worst team in the A.L. Central.  I'm not saying it's impossible for you to, but you haven't given any evidence why they are the worst in the A.L. Central.

So the Mets lose 12 of 17 to end the season and hand the title to the Phils. That's right handed it to them they did not win it, it was given to them. What did the Mets do in the off season? Lets see sign only the best pitcher in the game!

Church or Green in right hmmm let me think is that an upgrade? I believe it is and anyone who disagrees with that love to hear why? Infact Tuba all you do is ask a retorical question and state it's not - love to hear why you don't think so.....Is it because Green is older, slower, and has less power. Oh I get it you'd rather the older, slower, less power look since that is all that the Braves can muster these days outside of Larry. Who by the way never gets hurt. Go ahead name that guy you have at catcher post his numbers last year. What's sad is you even bring up our catcher....Do you really think we are looking for our number 8 hitter to produce power? The Mets and Braves play in the NL if you forgot.

So all the mets have done is get younger, better defensively and add the best pitcher in baseball from last year when they lead the NL east the entire summer and you think there is a chance that we don't finish in the top one/two. If we don't finish 1st its a disaster.

P.S. it was awesome watching WVU whoop Georgia two years ago in the Bowl - IN GEORGIA!

This writer has to be on something. The NL East is a 2 team division between the Mets and Phillies. The Marlins have offense, but suck in the pitching/defense department, Nationals don't have much of anything, and the Braves are just bait to get beat up on by these powered up lineups. Smoltz, Glavine have to go the distance otherwise their bullpen is way too shaky. It will be a 2 team race for first and  3 team musical chairs game for last place.