American League Staff Picks

Maxx Wolfson, Staff Writer

American League East Champs: As much as it hurts me to say this, the Yankees will not only repeat as AL East champs but also World Series champs. Adding Mike Mussina in off-season will only bolster an already solid staff. Mussina goes from the workhorse on the Orioles to becoming the third best starter on the Yankees. Scary.

American League West Champs: Oh, my beloved Halos. You come so close every year only to blow it during the last week of the season. To bad this season my Angels won't even be close to the Oakland A's, who will run away with the West. Don't be fooled by Oakland's slow start. Their bats are just warming up.

American League Central Champs: On the first day of spring football practice Mackovic gave me some words of advice, "the Indians will win the AL Central." Coach, it sounds good to me. The Tribe lost Manny, but countered by signing Juan Gonzalez. Departed football coach Dick Tomey knew tons about baseball, now I'm counting on Mackovic to be the same way.

American League Wild Card Champ: Remember the days when Canada sat on top of the baseball world when Toronto won the World Series? That sucked right? Canadians don't play baseball. Well this season they do. Look for the Jays to set the baseball world aflame once again by not only winning the Wild Card but also setting the all-time record for homers in a season.

American League MVP: It must be something in the water up North because the MVP's in both the AL and NL play ball in Canada. Vlad Guerrero in the NL and Carlos Delgado in the AL. Delgado, who flirted with the Triple Crown last season, will edge a Red Sox pitcher, no not Hideo "no-hitter" Nomo, but rather Pedro Martinez in the voting to become the greatest player in North America.

Jeff Lund, Staff Writer

American League East Champs: The Yankees have proven they know how to win. While at times during the regular season, they might seem inconsistent and therefore beatable, there is little doubt about their knack for winning. But this will be the year the Red Sox say, 'Nomo,' and end the Yankee reign at the top of the AL east.

American League West Champs: The D-Backs tried to buy a championship last season with the acquisition of proven veterans. The Rangers will experience the same frustration. Too much money, too few wins. Seattle will again prove there is life after that Griffey Jr. guy, and will hold off an Oakland team that has been slow out of the gate.

American League Central Champs: Normally this would be Indian territory, but the Tribes' stomping ground cracked last year at the hands of the youthful White Sox. This year will be no different. Sox and Tribe go down to the wire, with Detroit a step behind. White Sox fans are hoping Frank Thomas is being paid enough money to play in the playoffs.

Wild Card Champs: Oakland will challenge Seattle every game this season, but never be able to get over the hump, and will have to settle for the Wild Card race. The Blue Jays had a great season last year, and with Guerrero leading the way, the Jays will threaten. However, J. Giambi will swat the Jays back across the border. Sound like a good race, eh?

American League MVP: It would be easy to pick a number of players from the Red Sox. You have Martinez throwing heat from the dirt pile and Manny Ramirez will make some noise with his new team. But look for Ryan Rupe from Tampa Bay to rebound from his terrible first start and lower his 19.64 ERA to MVP form.

David Stevenson, Staff Writer

AL West- Oakland lost pitcher Kevin Appier and outfielder Ben Grieve. However the pitching staff still has the depth and they did pick up Johnny Damon to lead off. Opposing rightfielders need to beware of the hard-core fans throwing quarters. But wearing white shoes with their home white jerseys is bad. Who's in charge out there?

AL Central- Chicago now has the pitching with ace David Wells. Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. makes up losing Charles Johnson. They're young but now have the much-needed experience to hold off the offensive-minded Indians. Outfielder Magglio Ordonez will again drive in 125 runs to drown out the crying Frank Thomas about money.

AL East- New York. Dynasty. With Chuck Knoblauch back in the field and a starting rotation with Roger Clemens, Andy Pettite, El Duque (Orlando Hernandez) and Mike Mussina, the World Series will be at Yankee Stadium in October again. Just hand them the trophy in May to make it 28 franchise championships.

AL Wildcard- Seattle has the pitching to get by Texas. They now have turned to Japan for help. Closer Kazuhiro Saski and right fielder Ichiro Suzuki replace the departed stars of Randy Johnson and Junior Griffey. Look for the humidity and deep fences for power teams like Cleveland and Texas to perish in "Swampco Park."

AL MVP- New York's Derek Jeter is the torch carrier for the Yanks. Hitting .339, he was last year's All Star Game and World Series MVP. It's his year now, as he is the heart and soul of the Bronx Bombers. What I wouldn't give to be 26, a bachelor playing baseball and living in the Big Apple.

Dan Komyati, Staff Writer

American League East Champs: As good as it feels for me to say this, the Yankees will once again dominate the American League East. Adding Mike Mussina and his Cy Young talent to the best rotation in baseball must seem unfair. And if the bench seems short now, remember that these are the Yankees and they will fill any holes with late summer acquisitions. Man, being from the days of Claudell Washington and Bobby Meacham, I can't help but laugh at everyone crying about just how good these Yankees are.

American League West Champs: After reading Jason Giambi's interview in this months Maxim, I can't help but pull for the carefree, beer-chuggin', old-school A's. That loaded lineup is backed by a stable of young arms in the rotation, and while always confident, this team is looser than Allen Iverson's game shorts.

American League Central Champs: No reason not to like the White Sox again. Their lineup hits for average and power, and adding my hero - and Tucson bar junkie - David Wells, should put them over the top. But remember this is a Chicago baseball team we're talking about, which means choke, choke, choke come playoff time. Speaking of Chicago, go Bulls...NO!

Wild Card Champs: There should be a number of teams there in the end - Cleveland and Seattle to name a few. But I'm giving the nod to Carlos Delgado and the Blue Jays. If their talented rotation steps up this year, they have the bats to make a serious run.

American League MVP: How about Magglio Ordonez on the White Sox. He should end up as the best hitter on the second best team in the league. If Pedro pitched every other day, he would be in this category. And besides that, I hate him. If you're a betting man, though, go with favorite Carlos Delgado and his 60+ homers - especially if the Jays make it to the postseason.

Connor Doyle, Staff Writer

American League East Champs: The day of reckoning has come - it's time for the Jays to regain their rightful spot atop the American League East. Anyone who's still sleeping on this offense hasn't been following their baseball. Shannon Stewart is the best leadoff hitter in baseball, and Carlos Delgado is the...well, I'll get to that one later. Death to the Yankees!

American League West Champs: Who cares about this conference? If the A's don't win it, they should be rounded up and shot. I love this team, especially their young pitching - look for both Tim Hudson and Barry Zito to catch a little more than a whiff of the Cy Young award. It will be wonderful to mock the Rangers, the worst team too much money can buy.

American League Central Champs: This is a tough one, but it really doesn't matter, since second-place in this division will equal a wild-card. However, I think the White Sox will be able to squeak this one out with the astute guidance of Jerry Manuel, the spookiest manager in the league with that "no emotion" thing he's got going. Plus, you've got to love the swings of Magglio Ordo–ez and Frank Thomas.

Wild Card Champs: Indians, unless they win the Central. The Indians still have one of the most potent offenses in the league, and it looks like their young pitchers in Bartolo Colon and Jared Wright are finally going to turn the corner. A lot of their season will rest on the bum elbow of Chuck Finley, and the leadoff hitting of Kenny Lofton, whose numbers have been declining over the past couple of years.

American League MVP: Delgado - this guy's amazing. He's gone from being strikeout prone to having one of the best batting eyes in the AL, and he hits everything hard. Expect Delgado to take another Triple Crown run deep into the season and help the Jays break their own team home-run record that they set last season.