2008 Woodie Awards
2006 MLB Preview
With one week of MLB action under our belt, here is a preview of what lies ahead in 2006
Jason Fidler
Issue date: 4/11/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 3 next >
"What a time to be a baseball fan."
Although it may sound like an old-worn out cliché, those words have seldom rang truer. The "steroid era", which will be known for its, literally, larger than life stars such as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and the soon-to-be retired Barry Bonds, has passed. Out of its ashes rises a new league, a league filled with young, pure athletes such as Albert Pujols and Mark Teixeira, a league in which recent history has the "Evil Empire" winning just as many World Series as the Kansas City Royals.
In many respects, this upcoming season will not look anything like last year's. Many teams look entirely different (the Red Sox, Blue Jays), and other teams do not even know what they will look like (the Bagwell and Clemens fiasco currently taking place in Houston).
Yet at the same time, certain traditions will hold as strong as turkey on Thanksgiving. The Yankees and Red Sox will continue to have a stranglehold on the A.L East, despite the emergence of the Blue Jays. The White Sox and Indians should yet again duke it out in a mid-west battle. The Cardinals will win, and all of the N.L west will lose. Here are more specific predictions for both of the leagues:
American League
The acquisition of Johnny Damon over the off-season not only dropped a bomb on Red Sox nation, but also guaranteed that the Yankees will have the most powerful offensive lineup in the league. However, their quickly-aging rotation and bullpen leave many questions.
As always, the Red Sox prove to be a perfect contrast in many ways. While they may have lost a little offensive production by losing Damon, it was quickly filled by new outfielder Coco Crisp. If all goes accordingly, the Sox will have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. The team looks different, yes, but it is for the better.
Much has been said about the great off-season the Toronto Blue Jays had, adding to almost all aspects of their game. However, it won't be enough to leapfrog the A.L. East's two stalwarts.
Although it may sound like an old-worn out cliché, those words have seldom rang truer. The "steroid era", which will be known for its, literally, larger than life stars such as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and the soon-to-be retired Barry Bonds, has passed. Out of its ashes rises a new league, a league filled with young, pure athletes such as Albert Pujols and Mark Teixeira, a league in which recent history has the "Evil Empire" winning just as many World Series as the Kansas City Royals.
In many respects, this upcoming season will not look anything like last year's. Many teams look entirely different (the Red Sox, Blue Jays), and other teams do not even know what they will look like (the Bagwell and Clemens fiasco currently taking place in Houston).
Yet at the same time, certain traditions will hold as strong as turkey on Thanksgiving. The Yankees and Red Sox will continue to have a stranglehold on the A.L East, despite the emergence of the Blue Jays. The White Sox and Indians should yet again duke it out in a mid-west battle. The Cardinals will win, and all of the N.L west will lose. Here are more specific predictions for both of the leagues:
American League
The acquisition of Johnny Damon over the off-season not only dropped a bomb on Red Sox nation, but also guaranteed that the Yankees will have the most powerful offensive lineup in the league. However, their quickly-aging rotation and bullpen leave many questions.
As always, the Red Sox prove to be a perfect contrast in many ways. While they may have lost a little offensive production by losing Damon, it was quickly filled by new outfielder Coco Crisp. If all goes accordingly, the Sox will have one of the best pitching staffs in the league. The team looks different, yes, but it is for the better.
Much has been said about the great off-season the Toronto Blue Jays had, adding to almost all aspects of their game. However, it won't be enough to leapfrog the A.L. East's two stalwarts.