My Baseball Picks for '08

Baseball has always been my game. I grew up playing it, and my father used to take me to games at Montreal's Jarry Parc, where I got to see the likes of Roberto Clemente and Willie Mays (not to mention Le Grande Orange, Rusty Staub) up close and personal.

Forty years on, I've seen my team get moved to Washington, D.C., and the game hijacked by steroid-abusing Michelin men and Big-Market billionaires, so I'm not the rabid fan I once was. However, I still get a thrill when opening day rolls around. Especially when the Braves lose in dramatic fashion as they did on Sunday versus the Nationals. And then lose again the following night vs. the Pirates.

Now that the Expos are no more, I haven't transferred my loyalty to the Nats. My default favorite team is probably the Cubs, and whoever happens to be playing Atlanta.

Here are my picks for 2008:

NL EAST:
New York Mets
Philadelphia
Washington
Atlanta
Florida

NL CENTRAL:
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee
Houston
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
St. Louis

NL WEST:
Arizona
San Diego
Colorado
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco

AL EAST:
Boston
Toronto
New York
Tampa Bay
Baltimore

AL CENTRAL:
Detroit
Cleveland
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota
Kansas City

AL WEST:
Seattle
L.A. Angels
Oakland
Texas

NL MVP: Johan Santana, NY Mets
AL MVP: Manny Ramirez, Boston

NL Cy Young: Johan Santana, NY Mets
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit

NL Manager of the Year: Joe Torre, L.A. Dodgers
AL Manager of the Year: Mike Scioscia, LA Angels

NL Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome (a/k/a "Fuck-You Do-Me"), Chicago Cubs
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay

World Series:
Cubs beat Cleveland in 7