here come the astros

not really. this is going to be a long year for the home team. since it seems manny is going to sign with the dodgers, he's the last big piece to fall. and i watched an astros spring training game yesterday versus the braves and it was the greatest hour of the year thus far. so with all that being said, it's time for the 2009 baseball predictions. let's go:

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

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

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

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

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

West
1. Anaheim Angels
2. Oakland Atheletics
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners

*denotes wild card selection

so that's it. yes, the reds will surprise some people this year. yes, the yankees will surprise everyone and finish third. c.c. is not big time. burnett will get hurt and a-roid is in for a long year. also, the twins will continue to mystify everyone and continue winning the central, while in the national league west, manny isn't enough to get the dodgers past the diamondbacks. i think those young kids are finally going to put it together this year. and the home team, well, fourth place isn't that bad when you look at the pitching staff. the only way the astros move up this year and finish second or third is if mike hampton and russ ortiz both become comeback players of the year, kaz matsui is actually healthy and michael bourn can get on base. otherwise, look for bogusevic, sutton and johnson to get a call-up later in the year.

162 games. i'm ready.