Thank you to all of you who took part in our second annual NCAA bracket contest, and congrats to the winner!

The Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team on Monday night won the school’s third NCAA national title and its first since 1986. The Cardinals beat the Michigan Wolverines 82-76. Coach Rick Pitino capped off a big week as he is becoming the first college basketball coach to win a national title at two different schools (Pitino won at state rival Kentucky in 1996). The big week for Coach Pitino included being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame recently, having a horse he owns win a big race ahead of the Kentucky Derby, and Pitino’s son, Richard, was just named the University of Minnesota’s new head basketball coach.

Luke Hancock scored 22 points and had eight rebounds off the bench in the championship game and was named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. He is the first bench player to ever win the award. The Cardinals overcame a horrific injury to sophomore guard Kevin Ware in the Elite Eight round and the Cardinals seemed to have been playing with an extra bit of motivation after the injury. It was nice to see Ware with his teammates cutting down the nets during the championship celebration.

The Cardinals entered the tournament as the #1 overall seed and finished the year with a record of 35-5. The Louisville women’s basketball team also has a chance at a national title, as they will play the UConn Huskies in the Women’s NCAA Championship game on Tuesday night.

Louisville will look to defend their title next year but senior guard Peyton Siva will be lost to graduation and leading scorer Russ Smith and leading rebounder Gorgui Dieng could be leaving early for the NBA. As for the Michigan Wolverines, NCAA player of the year Trey Burke will likely leave early for the NBA, and Tim Hardaway Jr, Glenn Robinson III, and Mitch McGary could all also leave early as well.

While we still don’t know which players are coming back or not for most schools yet, looking ahead to next year, here’s my WAY TOO EARLY top 10 for next season:

1. Kentucky Wildcats

2. Michigan St Spartans

3. Marquette Golden Eagles

4. North Carolina Tar Heels

5. Duke Blue Devils

6. Louisville Cardinals

7. Ohio St Buckeyes

8. UConn Huskies

9. Arizona Wildcats

10. Colorado Buffaloes

Dear Snoop,

I just watched the video for your new song “No Guns Allowed,” featuring Drake and your daughter, Cori B, and I felt compelled to write you a letter to tell you how proud I am of your Reincarnated movement. I am the national executive director at the League of Young Voters, an organization that has led anti-violence campaigns in low-income, urban communities for 10 years. At a time when it seems that our culture of violence is leading America toward self-destruction, you have stepped up to say that enough is a enough when it comes to gun violence. You’re right — our daughters and sons are losing their minds.

Every hour, four people in the United States are killed by firearms. While that’s a heartbreaking statistic, I am so inspired that you are using your platform to speak up about the nation’s violence issue. I want you to know that the League of Young Voters is committed to spreading your anti-violence messages to prevent future tragedies.

After watching your film, Reincarnated, I realized that this couldn’t have been an easy decision to use your art in this way. Not only has your brand become synonymous with the take-no-nonsense aggression of gangsta rap, but you also know that the harsh realities of Southern California street culture won’t simply disappear because you have adopted a more peaceful attitude. When I was a hip-hop journalist on the West Coast from 2001-2006, I knew that violence could break out anywhere and at any moment. It takes real courage to be a leader for peace when others are still actively promoting destruction.

I ultimately left Los Angeles because I felt a calling to work in my home community of Milwaukee. Most people don’t know it, but Milwaukee is one of the youngest, poorest and most segregated cities in the country. I have lost family members, students and mentees to guns. When I lived in LA, I often grimly joked with people that Milwaukee was just like Compton, because of the all-too-familiar hopelessness I felt when interacting with youth from South Los Angeles.

When I moved back home, we started an organization called the Campaign Against Violence, which eventually became the Wisconsin League of Young Voters, to inspire young people to live less violent lives while simultaneously tackling the structural causes of poverty. By providing good jobs and increasing access to technology and art, I have seen firsthand that young people can transcend street life and transform their communities. That’s why I believe that your song “No Guns Allowed” can be a catalyst for a positive movement for change. Over the years, the League has fought for responsible gun laws and policy changes at the local and national level, but we also believe that we have to reincarnate a spirit of love and community in our neighborhoods. Your leadership, from the Snoop Dogg Youth Football League to your new music, is an example for all of us.

Given your street cred, and your efforts to mentor young musicians long before you ever adopted the new moniker, Snoop Lion, I believe that your “No Guns Allowed” campaign can inspire people from all backgrounds to think proactively about transforming their own communities. I know that the new generation of rappers, who grew up on classic gangsta hits such as “Murder Was the Case,” have to be looking at your movement with curiosity. Hopefully, they will be inspired by “No Guns Allowed” to step up.

While policy-makers and mainstream media will be busy discussing the finer points of America’s gun laws over the next month, your message serves as a voice of reason for all of us working to make the United States a safe place. I hope that the nation’s leaders, including Congress and President Barack Obama, stand with you in this critical moment. While America needs responsible gun ownership laws, you and I both know that our communities won’t become less violent until more of us step up to inspire positivity. I applaud you for your courage. Please continue to be brave and bold.

Your leadership on this issue has motivated me, along with the League of Young Voters team, to work even harder to promote peace in our neighborhoods. We are committed to helping make the “No Guns Allowed” message a movement and we’re starting by asking our friends, colleagues, supporters and celebrities like yourself to take a pledge to end violence by texting PEACE to 69866.

Our reinvigorated campaign to decrease gun violence in our cities is just beginning. You can count on the League to support your peaceful movement by spreading the word to young people at our 2013 Put the Guns Down events and creative calls to action. For more information on the League of Young Voters, you can check us out at YoungVoter.org.

With much appreciation and love,

Rob “Biko” Baker
National Executive Director
League of Young Voters

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• A commission put together by the NRA released their own suggestions this week on school safety. The biggest idea that they proposed was arming adults in schools and having those adults go through a 40-60 hour training program and screening with a background check. They also commented that a lot of school’s visitor policies simply are not enforced strongly enough and doors that are not properly secured. Since the Sandy Hook massacre, the American public has heard proposals on school safety from both sides but still nothing has been done in Congress. (CNN)

• President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that they will all be giving back 5 percent of their salary this year. The move is meant to draw attention to federal employees who are going to see their pay go down from being furloughed in the coming weeks. That is a direct result of the automatic spending cuts that recently went into effect because of Congress’ inaction on the sequester. (MSNBC)

• Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford on Tuesday, won a Republican run-off election for South Carolina’s 1st congressional district. He will now face Democratic nominee Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert, in a general election on May 7th. As governor, Sanford went missing and was then to be found having an extra-marital affair in South America. The special election is because earlier this year Rep. Tim Scott was appointed to replace Republican Jim DeMint in the Senate. (Washington Post)

• The state of Connecticut this week passed sweeping new gun laws that require background checks for nearly all private gun sales and bans the sale of magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The law also expands the state’s assault weapons ban to include new models and  includes new registration requirements for those who already own high-capacity magazines. It also creates the nation’s first dangerous weapon offender registry and the bill also allocates at least $15 million for school safety and mental health monitoring programs. (NPR)

• Finally, North Korea continues to threaten the U.S. this week. They are now warning us of nuclear war and a U.S. official is saying they’ve moved missile and launch components to the east coast of North Korea in the last few days. This signals that North Korea may be launching a missile soon. It would likely be a test missile, but the U.S is taking no chances and are watching the situation closely. The U.S. announced this week that it was sending ballistic missile defenses to Guam, which is home to U.S. naval and air bases. North Korea has cited Guam as a possible targets for missile attacks. While North Korea’s military capability is not fully known, most believe they do not have the ability to launch any missiles that could even come close to hitting the U.S. mainland. (CNN)

Spring is here – which means America’s favorite pastime is back for another season. The 2013 baseball season started last night but is followed up today by almost a full slate of baseball.

The 2012 season ended with the two teams that I predicted before the season playing each other in the World Series. The San Fransisco Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers in the Series to claim their second World Series title in the past three seasons.

Here is my preview and predictions for the National League in 2013 including the World Series. Click HERE for our previous story previewing the American League.

NL East: (Teams in order of predicted finish)

The Nationals took the division last year and are the heavy favorites to do so again this year. But could there be a team that will challenge them for the division or at least a run at a wildcard playoff spot?

1. Washington Nationals – On paper, the Nationals do not look to have a single team weakness. They boast one of the best pitching rotations in baseball. Stephen Strasburg should be a CY Young candidate for years to come. Gio Gonzalez is as good as a #2 man as you’ll find and Jordan Zimmerman and Ross Detwiler could be in for breakout years. When you’re asking Dan Haren to only be your #5 pitcher, that’s a very good thing. Their bullpen is stacked too, they added Closer Rafael Soriano and still have Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard both late inning stars who can close games if needed as well. Bryce Harper could be in for an MVP type of season in the OF, where the Nats also added Denard Span a true center fielder that they needed. At 3B, Ryan Zimmerman is one of the best hitting at his position and SS Ian Desmond looks to build off his all-star season from last year. 1B Adam LaRoche had a career year last year, and if the Nats can get solid production from him and a full year from OF Jayson Werth, they will be in great position to easily win the division. At Catcher, Kurt Suzuki will split time at least for the beginning of the year while Wilson Ramos works his way back into shape coming off of injury. Looking at their team, I don’t think the Nationals have a single glaring weakness in the field, in their rotation, or in their lineup. They are as complete as a team as there is in baseball this year, and while you can never predict injuries or how a team performs in the playoffs, but the Nationals should be a lock to make the playoffs and really compete for a World Series title this year. This is Manager Davey Johnson’s last run, and I expect him to go out with a bang.

2. Atlanta Braves – If any team has a chance at catching the Nats in the division and maybe the whole NL itself, it’s the Braves. The Braves made a giant splash this off-season by acquiring brothers Justin and B.J. Upton, who along with rising star Jason Heyward, make up the best outfield in all of baseball. At 1B, Freddie Freeman is really coming into his own. At only age 23, his best hitting is yet to come. Dan Uggla is a solid hitter at 2B and Andrelton Simmons could be in for a break out year at SS. The braves will use a platoon at 3B and Gerald Laird will catch until former all-star Brian McCann is healthy. McCann’s best days are behind him but the Braves do need him to contribute. If the Braves have a question mark, it’s their starting rotation. Now that’s not to say their pitching isn’t good – because there are some intriguing pieces. Veteran Tim Hudson is solid, but in the twilight of his career. Kris Medlen had a great end of the year run, but can he do it for a full season? Mike Minor and Paul Maholm are average end-of-the-rotation guys. Rookie Julio Teheran is an intriguing rookie of the year candidate, he is currently their fifth starter but moving him to the bullpen still could happen this season as well. Closer Craig Kimbrel is the best in the game right now and a guy you don’t want to face at the end of the game. The Braves should easily be a wildcard team at the very least and who knows maybe more if their rotation pitches well this year.

3. Philadelphia Phillies-  The Phillies finished third last year and look to be headed that way again this year. Their lineup is aging fast but there should still be enough pieces there to keep them out of the cellar of the East. 1B Ryan Howard looks like he’s close to being back to his old self and the Phils will need a big season out of him. OF Dom Brown has had a really nice spring training, but he has yet to live up to his much talked about potential. 2B Chase Utley needs to stay healthy but that’s no certainty, given his knee issues. The Phils brought in 3B Michael Young and OFs Ben Revere and Delmon Young this year. Revere’s speed is nice, but Young is old, injured, and a terrible fielder. The Phillies should also be one of the worse fielding teams this year, which won’t help the cause either. I think this is the year the Phillies’ pitching finally breaks. Cole Hamels is still an ace quality pitcher and Cliff Lee should have better numbers than he did last year, but beyond that it’s worrisome. Roy Halladay is the pitcher he once was and almost looks broken and John Lannan and Kyle Kendrick are average (at best) end-of-the-rotation guys. Closer Jonathan Papelbon and set-up man Mike Adams are a solid combo. The Phils have a slim outside shot at a wildcard playoff spot but unless they fix their glaring roster issues by the trade deadline, I don’t see it happening. This team should continue to go downhill fast.

4. New York Mets–  The Mets, given their recent financial situation, are starting to put themselves in a nice position with a solid young core and cutting payroll. While it is still too early to spell success for the Mets, they could surprise some people this season. The Mets lineup has some issues but it also has some nice pieces. Their outfield is one of the worst in baseball, but 3B David Wright should still continue to be an elite hitter and leader for this team. 1B Ike Davis is underrated and if he can become more consistent, he could be in for a big season. 2nd Daniel Murphy, if he can stay healthy, is also another solid piece. At catcher, John Buck will play until the Mets are comfortable with bringing up elite catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud. Once d’Arnaud takes over the postion, it will be his loss and he could be a Rookie of the Year candidate. The rotation is solid but it was just recently announced that veteran Johan Santana will be out for the year and his career could be over as well. Jonathon Niese is only 26 and entering the prime of his career. It could be scary if he puts it all together for a full season. Zack Wheeler should start off the seasons in the minors, but he was once the SF Giants’ top pitching prospect and could contribute by mid-season. Matt Harvey pitched well last season and is still only 24. The Mets won’t make a playoff spot this year, but the future looks bright and they could do much better than some people think.

5. Miami Marlins – All I can say is that it’s going to be pretty ugly for the Marlins this year, but that’s by choice. After a disappointing season last year, ownership decided to dump a majority of their star players and contracts. OF Mike Stanton is still around, but I’m sure once Miami gets the right offer, he’ll be traded too. Stanton is a star but when he’s all you really need to worry about in the lineup, the numbers will suffer. 1B Logan Morrison is solid but he’s still recovering from a torn patella and should be out at least a few months. Ricky Nolasco is their number one starter, and that should really tell you all you need to know about their pitching.  It’s so bad in Miami that 20-year-old pitching prospect Jose Fernandez should start the year off in the majors. Fernandez could have a bright future, if they’re smart with him, but bringing him up this soon could be disastrous. He was the # 14 overall pick in 2011,  but he has never pitched above High-A ball yet. The Marlins are asking him to jump up two levels of baseball in one spring, which is not a good idea at all, if you ask me. Quite frankly, the city, its citizens, and Marlins fans deserve better ownership who are dedicated to making good product on the field, especially since they built the new stadium last year.

NL Central:

The Reds look strong to repeat as Central champs but they will pushed by teams below them. The Central should be much closer than it was last year, as the gap between the teams is closing a bit in the division.

1. Cincinnati Reds – Cincinnati should be really strong again this year, so strong that it could be the highest scoring team in baseball this season. 1B Joey Votto is one of the best hitters in all of baseball and should be in for an MVP level season. Votto was hurt a bit last year and now that he’s healthy – watch out. RF Jay Bruce, at age 26, is really starting to come into his own as a hitter.  2B Brandon Phillips is all-star caliber at his position, both hitting and in the field. 3B Todd Frazier could be in for a breakout year.  The Reds brought in OF Shin-Soo Choo, who’s bat is a great addition to the lineup, but needs to prove he can play center field every day. At C, the Reds are still hoping Devin Mesoraco turns into the complete package like many thought he would. Minor league SS prospect Billy Hamilton should be called up at some point this year, and he would immediately be the fastest player in baseball – his speed is scary. The Reds have the division’s best pitching staff as well. Mat Latos and Johnny Cueto pitched like aces last year and should again this season. Homer Bailey also pitched really well and he could be in for a career year. Bronson Arroyo and Mike Leake are quality pitchers to have as #4 & #5 guys. They need to stay healthy though as there’s not much depth beyond them. Aroldis Chapman is back as closer which is the right move, as he is elite at the position. Expect the Reds to win the division and compete for a spot in the World Series.

2. Pittsburgh Pirates– No you aren’t reading this wrong – this is the year that the Pirates finally get over the hump and have their first winning season since 1992. It all starts with OF Andrew McCutchen, who I believe has an MVP in his near future. When the Pirates become a winning team again, it will be in part because of a monster season from McCutchen. 3B Pedro Alvarez and 1B Garret Jones are solid middle-of-the-order guys. The Pirates brought in C Russell Martin, who is an upgrade at the position. LF Sterling Marte is a young player with a lot of promise who could be in for a nice season. 2B Neil Walker is one of the best at his position in the national league. OF Travis Snider came over in a trade from Toronto last year and in his first full season, is looking to finally live up to his hitting potential. Pirates’ pitching isn’t great but it isn’t terrible either. AJ Burnett and Wandy Rodriguez are solid enough but are on the downslide of their careers. Pitching prospect Gerrit Cole will likely get called up for a playoff push at some point this season and he could be something really special. Jason Grilli is the new Pirates closer and I don’t think they will skip a beat with him. I believe in manager Clint Hurdle and think that the Pirates finally take the next step as an organization this year. They’ve been a team on the brink for two seasons now and it would not shock me if they’re in the hunt for a wild card playoff spot this season.

3. St. Louis Cardinals –  The Cardinals have the lineup to be really strong again this year, but they also have injury issues that could keep them from living up to their potential as a team. Carlos Belteran and Matt Holiday are as good as any corner outfielders you’re going to find. C Yadier Molina blossomed offensively last year and should continue his offense surge. 1B Allen Craig has been a solid surprise for the Cards since being called up from the minors. However, 3B David Freese starts the season out on the disabled list and SS Rafael Furcal is out for the year. Promising OF prospect Oscar Taveras should be called up at some point this season. The usually strong Cardinals pitching looks a little weaker this season. Ace Adam Wainwright should be in for another all-star caliber season and a healthy Jaime Garcia is a very solid #2 pitcher. After that though, there are some question marks. Jake Westbrook is not a good #3 option and I’m not sold on Lance Lynn building off of a strong rookie season. Highly-touted pitching prospect Shelby Miller will be the fifth starter. He has Rookie of the Year type stuff but if he’s off, I could see him being sent back down to the minors. Chris Carpenter is likely out for the season with a shoulder injury. Closer Jason Motte will start the season off on the DL and hopefully the injury doesn’t linger all year long. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Cards in the playoffs again, but I predict that this season they take a step back.

4. Milwaukee Brewers –  The Brewers were the highest scoring team in the national league last year,and while they’ll be good, I don’t think they’ll be that good this year. OF Ryan Braun is a guy who does it all statistically, he’s an MVP level player every season. However, there was off-season steroid chatter about him again and the MLB seems to be on a witch-hunt – which means we could see a Braun steroid suspension sometime this year, which would be devastating for the team. 1B Mat Gamel is out for the year with an injury and OF Cory Hart is out at least until May with a knee injury. Outfielders Norichika Aoki and Carlos Gomez played really well last season, but I don’t see both repeating that again this year (same goes for catcher Jonathan Lucroy). 2B Rickie Weeks should have a better season this year, though he’s getting older. 3B Aramis Ramirez is getting older too but is the best hitting option in the line-up aside from Braun. Pitcher Yovani Gallardo needs to be the true ace on the staff, which I’m not sure he can do for a full season. Marco Estrada could be the Brewers breakout pitcher this season. Also, signing Kyle Lohse late in spring training was solid but the end of the rotation is suspect at best. Closer John Axford had a terrible year last season and is looking to bounce back. The Brewers have the potential to make a run at a playoff spot but they’ve got too much working against them this year.

5. Chicago Cubs – Chicago didn’t make any major splashes this off-season and that hurts their chances to compete in the division. At 23, SS Starlin Castro is the best young player at his position in the League. He’s not a great fielder but boy, can he hit! 1B Anthony Rizzo should be in for a big year in his first full season at the Major League level. OF Alfonso Soriano, at 37, is old but should still be a solid source of home runs and RBIs, though his best is far behind him. The rest of the offense is average at best. Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija is one of the best athletes in baseball and is the the ace of the team looking to build off his breakout season from last year. Edwin Jackson was a solid off-season pick up, though they may have overpaid for his services. Matt Garza has the stuff to be a top rotation guy when he’s healthy but he’s had injury issues since he came to Chicago and will start the season off on the DL,  likely not pitching until sometime in may. Scott Baker is out until at least late May as well. The Cubs’ rotation could be solid if these two come back healthy, but by then, half the season could be over. While there are some really nice pieces to like in Chicago, they’re still a year or two away from competing for a playoff spot.

NL West:

The Giants have won two of the last three World Series and are looking to establish themselves as a true baseball dynasty. However, the Dodgers spent a lot of money to try to make sure that doesn’t happen. The NL West should be an exciting division this year with two teams who are capable of winning the World Series.

1. San Fransisco Giants – I can’t pick against the Giants until they prove me wrong because all they do is win. The reigning World Series champs really didn’t make any off-season moves and bring back almost everyone from last year’s team. Reigning MVP C Buster Posey is back and should put up similar numbers again this year. 3B Pablo Sandoval is great when healthy. Veteran OFs Hunter Pence and Angel Pagan and SS Marco Scutaro will once again be counted on to produce. 1B Brandon Belt is the biggest question mark. The Giants finally believe he’s ready to have a breakout season, and the Giants will need it if they want to win again this year. The Giants pitching is (once again) top notch. Matt Cain, Madison Bumgardner and Ryan Vogelsong are as good as top three as any and all are possible CY Young candidates. Former Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum had a bad year last season and hasn’t looked good this spring either. There is some concern Lincecum may have worn himself out already and may never be the same pitcher again, but it’s still a bit too early to say that’s 100 percent true yet. Barry Zito is a solid veteran #5 pitcher, even if he is still overpaid. Sergio Romo is an elite closer and the rest of the Giants bullpen is solid as well. The Giants should be in the playoffs once again and should compete for another World Series title. Until they prove otherwise, it’s not safe to bet against them.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers – If you can say one thing about the Dodgers, it’s that they are definitely all-in this season. Their payroll sits at $217 million and they expect to see results immediately. OF Matt Kemp, if healthy, is the best CF in baseball and an MVP candidate. Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, and Carl Crawford were added during the season last year and all are coming out of down years. Ramirez starts off the season injured but the Dodgers will need Gonzalez to hit for power and for Crawford to stay healthy in order to be half the player he once was. It’s a big gamble hoping that those three can play like their old selves again, but if they do, the Dodgers could be the best team in baseball. Cuban OF Yasiel Puig is an intriguing prospect if he gets called up and can find playing time. Clayton Kershaw and the signing of P Zack Greinke, gives the Dodgers one of the best 1-2 pitching punches in baseball. Both could win CY Young awards. The Dodgers are very deep at starting pitching with Beckett and Billingsley to go along with South Korean free agent Hyun-Jin Ryu. Closer Bradon League is solid yet unspectacular but set-up man Kelly Jansen throws pretty hard and could replace him if he struggles. The the very least, the Dodgers should be a wildcard team. However, I’m not sold on this roster of all-stars to gel together/stay healthy and make a World Series run this year, but it is still a possibility.

3. Arizona Diamondbacks – If there is surprise team in the division, it could be the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dbacks lost a few players in the off-season but in return, brought in players that fit their system and manager better. 3B Martin Prado can play almost every position on the field and is a solid hitter as well. 1B Paul Goldschmidt is probably the best 1B you haven’t heard of and has tremendous power. 2nd Aaron Hill is quietly one of the best hitters at his position. Jason Kubel and Cody Ross are solid in the outfield. C Jesus Montero is an above-average hitter at his position. Rookie OF Adam Eaton is out until may but is a Rookie of the Year candidate once he returns. The Dbacks don’t have any great pitchers, but they’ve got a lot of good ones and depth. Ian Kennedy struggled a bit last year but is still their #1 guy. Wade Miley looks to build of a surprisingly good season. Brandon McCarthey was a great pick up this off-season. Trevor Cahill is solid and Daniel Hudson should be as well, when he returns from injury. They also have two talented prospects Archie Bradley and Tyler Skaggs, who you could see this year too. The Dbacks could have one of the better rotations in baseball by year’s end. J.J. Putz is the second best closer in the division. The Dbacks are not a playoff team this year, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they wind up being in discussion for longer than most people think this season.

4. San Diego Padres–  The Padres are in the middle of rebuilding, but there is still enough on the team that should prevent them from finishing in last place. 3B Chase Hedley had a monster year last year, but he’s starting off the year injured and could be traded if he comes back healthy. 2B Jedd Gyorko could be a Rookie of the Year candidate. OF Carlos Quentin brings strong middle of the line uphitting and veteran leadership. Padres are hoping for strong second year seasons from 1B Yonder Alonso and C Yasmani Grandal, but Grandal will miss 50 games due to a steroids suspension. They are hoping that both youngsters can eventually be players the team can build around. OF Cameron Maybin has been a disappointment but it’s not too late for him to live up to expectations. SD’s pitching is a bit shaky. Edinson Volquez is the team’s ace and when he’s on, he’s really good. However, when he’s bad, he’s terrible. If he can ever find consistency, watch out. Clayton Richard and Jason Marquis are decent end-of-the-rotation guys for any other team but here they are at the front of the line. At least San Diego is a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Houston Street is a very solid closer for the Padres. Bud Black is one of the most underrated managers in baseball, and while the Padres may not be ready to compete for a playoff spot, they’re closer than most realize. These Padres are no pushovers.

5. Colorado Rockies – Colorado’s offense isn’t what it once was, which is the reason why the Rockies will struggle. And you can’t out-pitch teams in the high altitude of Denver. SS Troy Tulowitzki is one of the best in all of baseball, if he can stay healthy. OF Carlos Gonzalez is an absolute hitting machine in Denver, but he struggles when he’s on the road. Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton are aging and not the hitters they once were. C Wilin Rosario and OF Dexter Fowler had nice seasons hitting last year and should continue to progress this year. Much is expected of 2B Josh Rutledge in his first full season in the majors. And then there’s the Rockies pitching (or lack thereof). Their best pitcher with the most potential is Jhoulys Chacin, and he only pitched 69 innings last year. Jorge de la Rosa and Juan Nicasio, the #2 and #3 rotation guys also have been hurt throughout their careers. End of rotations starters Jeff Francis and Jon Garland are way past their prime. Rafael Betancourt, however, is a solid closer. The Rockies still have some nice pieces on offense and may score some runs at times this year, but you can’t win without pitching in the NL West. The Rockies will continue to struggle until Colorado figures out a way to put together even just an average pitching staff in the high altitude of Denver.

Playoff Prediction:

Division winners:  Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, San Fransisco Giants

Wild cards: Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers

National League Championship Prediction: Washington Nationals over the Cincinnati Reds

World Series Prediction: Washington Nationals over Los Angeles Angels

Awards Predictions:
NL MVP: Joey Votto – Reds
Runner -Up: Bryce Harper - Nationals
Dark Horse: Andrew McCutchen – Pirates

NL CY Young:  Steven Strasburg – Nationals
Runner-Up: Clayton Kershaw – Dodgers
Dark Horse : Mat Latos – Reds

NL Rookie of the Year: Julio Teheran – Braves
Runner Up: Jedd Gyorko – Padres
Dark Horse: C Travis D’Arnaud – Mets

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• President Obama appointed the first female director  of the Secret Service this week. Julia Pierson was sworn in, becoming the first female director in the 148-year history of the Secret Service. Since 2008, she  has been the chief of staff to the director of the Secret Service. She previously served as a special agent in the Miami field office and then a special agent in charge of protective operations. (CNN)

• The Supreme Court heard arguments for and against same-sex marriage this week. The arguments this week involved a Defense of Marriage Act case and a separate case challenging California’s ban on gay marriage (Prop 8). This is the first time the Supreme Court has addressed this issue. While 9 states currently recognize gay marriage, but  30 states have constitutional amendments explicitly  banning marriage between anyone besides a man and a woman. The court is expected to rule on the two cases around the end of June. (Chicago Tribune)

• Also this week, President Obama signed an executive order that will address election voting issues. The order will set up a bipartisan commission that will address issues that includes long lines at the polls, voter registration, and voting access. The top lawyer for Obama’s re-election campaign, Bob Bauer, will co-chair the commission with the top lawyer for Mitt Romney’s campaign, Ben Ginsburg. They will have six months to submit a report to President Obama about ways to improve the voting experience. (Washington Times)

• Finally, things are continuing to heat up in the Korean Peninsula as North Korea said this week that they are readying rockets to be on standby for firing at U.S. targets, which according to their state media, includes the U.S. mainland and military bases in the Pacific and in South Korea. Kim Jong Un said he “has judged the time has come to settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists in view of the prevailing situation.” Analysts believe that North Korea does not have the technology to launch missiles that could reach the majority of U.S. targets, however a U.S official said, “North Korea is not a paper tiger, so it wouldn’t be smart to dismiss its provocative behavior as pure bluster.” However, Pentagon spokesman George Little said Thursday that it was important to remain calm and urged North Korea to “dial the temperature down.” (CNN)

Spring is here – which means America’s favorite pastime is back for another season. The 2013 baseball season begins Sunday, March 31st with the Texas Rangers taking on the Houston Astros at 8 p.m. EST on ESPN. That is followed up by almost a full slate of baseball on Monday.

The 2012 season ended with the two teams that I predicted before the season playing each other in the World Series. The San Fransisco Giants defeated the Detroit Tigers in the Series to claim their second World Series title in the past three seasons.

Here is my preview and predictions for the American League in 2013. Check back on Monday for our National League preview and predictions.

AL East : (Teams in order of predicted finish) The AL East is the hardest division in baseball this year to figure out. You could make a case for each team to win the division and their might not be much of a win difference between first place and last place this year.

1. Toronto Blue Jays -  I love the moves Toronto made this off-season trying to take advantage of a weakened division to make their first trip back to the playoffs since winning the World Series in 1993.  The Jays added started pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle from the Marlins and last year’s NL Cy Young winner knuckleballer R.A. Dickey from the Mets. Johnson, when healthy has shown he can be one of the best pitcher in the league. Buehrle is a solid veteran presence who pitches deep into games, and when Dickey’s knuckler is on, he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. Add those guys to Brandon Morrow & J.A. Happ and the Jays should have the best rotation in the division and maybe all of the American League. They also have 3-4 other talented players in the bullpen & minors who can also be starters if injuries occur. Toronto’s outfield (Rasmus, Cabrera, Bautista) aren’t the greatest fielders but they can definitely hit. Cabrera missed a portion of last season due to testing positive for PEDs and there were off-season reports about his connection to a steroid lab.  SS Jose Reyes came over in the trade with the Marlins as well and the lead-off man is one of the best hitters in baseball.  1B Edwin Encarnacion is a power hitter and 3B Brett Lawrie is a star in the making.  If the Jays have a weakness it’s in their bullpen. However, closer Casey Janssen is solid and former closer Sergio Santos is healthy again and should help out. However the bullpen might not have to do too much if the starters do their job.The Jays not only look like they have the most talented and complete roster in the division but they also have the most depth should injuries occur. Toronto should not only make the playoffs but could challenge for a World Series title as well this year.

2. Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays are team that relies on their pitching and solid defense first. Last year’s AL Cy Young winner David Price leads the rotation. Price is one of the elite pitchers in the game but there are some nice young arms backing him up. P Matt Moore has a great future ahead of him, Jeremy Hellickson is looking to build off a strong 2012, and Alex Cobb could be in for a breakout season after pitching well the end of last season. The Rays bullpen is also solid. Closer Fernando Rodney had a historic season last year (0.60 era), and while he won’t be anywhere near that dominant again this year, he should have another strong season closing games. 3B Evan Longoria leads the Rays offense and i think he could be in for an MVP-type season. Ben Zobrist can not only hit, but he can play multiple positions out in the field. CF Desmond Jennings takes over for B.J Upton who left in free agency. Jennings is a speedster and better fielder than Upton, though not as strong offensively. Jennings is still waiting to have his breakout season.  The biggest question mark for the Rays this season is if/when we will see OF Wil Myers who is one of the best young prospects in all of baseball. The Rays got him in an off-season trade with the Kansas City Royals for starting pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis. A mid to late season call up from the minors for Myers could be what takes the Rays to the next level and propels them to post-season success this year. Rays manager Joe Maddon is one of the best managers in all of baseball and always gets the most out of his team. The Rays should once again be in contention for a playoff spot whether it’s as division champions or a wild card. The best is still ahead for this organization and i definitely see them winning a World Series within the next few seasons.

3. Boston Red Sox – Boston absolutely self-destructed last season, and while this season should be an improvement, they would need a lot to go right to make a return to the playoffs. CF Jacob Ellsbury and 2B Dustin Pedroia are both capable of MVP-type seasons. But Ellsbury must stay healthy and Pedroia must bounce back from a down year, which given his age & position isn’t a certainty. The Sox added Mike Napoli at 1B and while Napoli can hit, he has injury issues as well. DH David Ortiz will start the season off on the disabled list with problems with his heels. The Sox vastly overpaid OF Shane Victorino in the off-season with a 3 year 39$ contract. Given how Victorino’s career looked over playing for the Dodgers last year, that could be one of the worse signings of the off-season. OF prospect Jackie Bradley, Jr looks promising but it still too early to count on him, if he even makes the big league squad  to start the season. Boston’s pitching shouldn’t be as bad as they were last year. The Sox need Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz to pitch as well as they did a few seasons ago. John Lackey is also looking for a bounce back year. Ryan Dempster struggled when he was traded to the American league mid-season playing for the Texas Rangers but maybe he’ll adjust & perform better in his first full season in the AL.  The Sox could make a run at a wildcard spo if they get some solid bounce back seasons from most of the players listed above. But that’s a lot of ifs.

4. Baltimore Orioles – Lots of things went right for the Orioles last season. They were one of the best stories in baseball and manag to make it back to the playoffs in spite of a negative run differential. They also won a lot of one run games last season and it just seemed like everything went the Orioles way. The O’s is their hitters and they all are healthy. C Matt Wieters has MVP potential, OF Adam Jones is one of the best in the game, and OF Nick Markakis should be in for a strong season. 1B Chris Davis could be in for a breakout season and 3B Manny Machado who will be playing his first full major league season, has a very bright future. The O’s big question mark is their pitching. Wei-Yen Chen pitched the most inning for the O’s last year but suffered from fatigue down the stretch. Jason Hammel pitched well until he got injured last year and SP Chris Tillman is dealing with an injury issue this spring.  The O’s two top pitching prospects, Dylan Bundy and Kevin Gausman, who could arrive at some point this season. Closer Jim Johnson, who is vastly underrated, leads one of the better bullpens in the league. The Orioles worked their magic last season, and while there is a lot of young talent on this team to compete for a playoff spot, i think the stats catch up to them and they take a step back this season. However the future continues to look bright in Baltimore.

5. New York Yankees– The season hasn’t even started yet and there is already a lot of bad news and things to worry about in New York. A-Rod is expected to miss at least the first half of the season coming off of hip surgery. He was also involved in the off-season steroid probe by the MLB. Derek Jeter will start the season off on the DL  with an ankle issue. 1B Mark Teixeira has a tear in his wrist and will miss a substantial amount of time. And OF Curtis Granderson will miss about 6 weeks with a broken arm. So frankly the Yankees are an old team with injury issues. 2B Robinson Cano is one of the best in the game, but he was also part of the off-season steroid chatter. OF Brett Gardner could be in for a solid bounce back year. Old veterans Ichiro and Kevin Youkalis will be counted on this season for better or worse. The strength of the Yankees is still their rotation. SP CC Sabathia is still very good although he’s starting to get old. Kuroda is 38 however and Pettitte is 40. Closer Mariano Rivera is back for his final major league season, but coming off a torn ACL  and at age 43, he may not be the Mo everyone remembers. I think the writing is on the wall before the season even starts and this old Yankees team is going to finish at the bottom of the division. But then again it’s the Yankees we’re talking about and anything is possible.

AL Central: While Detroit looks to be the best team in the division by far, it is very possible a wildcard playoff team could come out of the AL Central. The Tigers should easily walk away with the division, but there could also be a surprise team hidden in the division.

1. Detroit Tigers – The Tigers have one of the best lineups in baseball especially in the middle of the order. Reigning MVP and triple crown winner 3B Miguel Cabrera is one of the most dominant and consistent hitters in the game. He is joined by 1B Prince Fielder and DH/C Victor Martinez who is back after missing last year with an injury and makes this year’s Tigers lineup more powerful. OF Tori Hunter was a solid off-season addition and he forms a solid core with OFs Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks both of whom had breakout seasons last year. C Alex Avila and SS Jhonny Peralta are above average hitters at their position. Detroit is a great hitting team but they probably have one of the worst defenses in baseball, so there is a trade-off. The Tigers also have one of the best pitching rotations in baseball. Justin Verlander is the best pitcher in baseball, Max Scherzer is capable of being an all-star,  and Doug Fister is one of the most solid third starters in baseball. Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello fill out the rotation. Detroit’s biggest question mark is at the closer position. After cutting ties with Jose Valverde at the end of the season, the Tigers don’t have a clear cut choice to replace him. Rookie Bruce Rondon has a strong fastball but has suffered with command issues through spring training. Phil Coke could also be used in the closer role as well.  Detroit could even turn to a committee when closing games. If Detroit wants to take the next step and win a World Series with the talented roster they have, they will need to iron out their issue at the closer position.  Detroit should win the division with out much of an issue and should be ready to make another run at the World Series where they’d like to make up for last year’s disappointing showing.

2. Kansas City Royals –  Kansas City went all in for this season and i think it’ll pay off in a big way. They have a pretty young but solid core and that starts with 3B Mike Moustakas and OF Alex Gordon.  Both Gordon and Moustakas have all-star potential and Gordon is a golden glover in the field. 1B Eric Hosmer hasn’t lived up to his potential yet, but he could be an all-star if he ever puts it together for a full season. DH Billy Butler is a veteran who can absolutely hammer the ball. C Salvador Perez has looked good in limited action and will look to build off that in a full-time role now. The Royals look like they could be in for a breakout season offensively, though a lot of their players may not be known to most in the baseball world. KC gave up two of their best young prospects to Tampa Bay in return for veteran starting pitchers James Sheilds (who will lead the rotation) and Wade Davis. Luke Guthrie, Ervin Santana, and Luis Mendoza fill out a deep rotation. Veteran Bruce Chen and former star prospect Luke Luke Hochevar will pitch out of the bullpen but can start if needed. The Royals are still waiting on Hochevar to live up to his star potential. Closer Greg Holland is also an important part to this very solid KC bullpen. The Royals haven’t been to the playoffs since 1985, but i think the drought ends this year as they will not only challenge for but win a wildcard spot.

3. Cleveland Indians – The Indians made a lot of noise this off-season. New manager Terry Francona has a lot of nice new pieces to work with as they try to build something special in Cleveland. The Indians added some nice bats in Nick Swisher at 1b and Mark Reynolds at DH. They also added speedy OFs Michael Bourn and Drew Stubbs, both of whom can also hit a bit as well.  SS Asdrubal Cabrera is one of the best in all of baseball at his position. C Carlos Santana has the potential to be an all-star and 2B Jason Kipnis is top-10 offensively at his position. The Indians weakness is still their starting pitching as they don’t have a legit #1 starter. A lot is expected out of Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson, but both have yet to put it all together in Cleveland, but if they ever do though watch out. The Indians also got top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer from Arizona in the off-season and Bauer has the potential to compete for rookie of the year if given the opportunity. Scott Kazmir a former all-star starter who has been out of the majors for a few years has looked like his old self at times this spring and has been named the the 5th starter. Kazmir is only 29 so maybe this could be a career revival. Closer Chris Perez is a former all-star and relief pitcher Vinnie Pestano is also solid in the bullpen. While i think the future is bright in Cleveland, i think they’re still a year or two away. But it wouldn’t surprise me if the Indians made a run at a wildcard spot this year either.

4. Chicago White Sox – The Sox have the potential to challenge for a playoff spot, but they’ve also have the potential for a big letdown season.  OF Alex Rios had a great year last season, but he usually follows that up with a down year. DH Adam Dunn bounced back in a big way last year and while the guy can hit homers and score runs, he also strikes out way too much. Veteran 1B Paul Konerko had a down year last year and at 37 he could very well continue to decline further. The White Sox will need someone to take the next step offensively out of the group of 2B Gordon Beckham, C Tyler Flowers, & OFs  Alejandro De Aza and Dayan Viciedo if they want to contend for a playoff spot. The Sox have a future CY Young winner in starting pitcher Chris Sale. Sale tired a bit at the end of his first full season but should be great for years to come if he stays healthy. Jake Peavy isn’t the pitcher he once was but is still a high quality #2 starter. Jose Quintana also looks to build off a breakout season last year.  John Danks missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and will start this season on the DL as he tries to work his way back. Closer Addison Reed is only in his second full season but he looks solid in the role so far. The Sox led Detroit in the division last year before fading down the stretch. I think the White Sox overachieved last year and i expect them to come back down to earth a bit this season.

5. Minnesota Twins – The Twins weren’t very good last year, and barring a surprise should finish at the bottom of the division again this year. Thing’s aren’t all terrible however. OF Josh Willingham was one of the few bright spots last season and he should continue to swing a great back. C Joe Mauer has been plagued with injury issues the past two seasons, but he still has the ability to be elite if he can stay healthy. 1B Justin Morneau no longer has it in him to an elite player, but he’s still a solid enough starter. DH Ryan Doumit can also play catcher if Mauer is continued to be plagued by injury. 3B Trevor Plouffe had a surprise season last year, but it’s yet to be seen if he can do it again. The rest of the roster is below average, but that’s not even their biggest problem. The Twins starting pitching is simply horrendous and could be the worst in the American League. Vance Worley, who came over from the Phillies in the off-season is their best pitcher. Worley shouldn’t even be a team’s second best pitcher, let alone the ace of a pitching staff. Mike Pelfrey is only 29 and was decent at times  in his career for the Mets, but he is coming off Tommy John surgery so there is a big risk associated with him. Closer Glen Perkins isn’t terrible but he likely won’t get many save opportunities this year. There’s no easy way to put it, but the Twins have a long way (and probably many losing seasons) to go before they’ll truly be competitive again.

AL West: The A’s were the surprise winners of the West last season, but can they do it again especially with all the moves the Angels made and the talent that still exists down in Texas? There’s a lot of talented teams in this league and the West welcomes the Houston Astros this year who have made the switch from the national league.

1. Los Angeles Angels-  The Angels made a big splash in the free agent market last year, which resulted in them missing the playoffs. They made another big splash this off-season by signing OF Josh Hamilton to an already potent line-up. Adding Hamilton makes the Angels one of the best lineups in all of baseball and their clear strength to returning to the playoffs. OF Mike Trout would have won the MVP last year as a rookie if it wasn’t for Cabrera’s triple crown. Trout could be even better this year and should be in the MVP running once more. 1B Albert Pujols is getting older, but he can still hit and is protected in the line-up by other great hitters. DH Mark Trumbo and 2B Howie Kendrick are two others that make the Angels line-up so strong. Their outfield (Hamilton,Trout,Bourjos ) is one of the best in all of baseball. The Angels do have some question in regards to their starting pitching. Jered Weaver is an Ace but C.J. Wilson hasn’t been nearly as good as he was in Texas. They need him to return to form and newcomer Tommy Hanson to pitch like he did before his injury in Atlanta. Hanson was once a top prospect in Atlanta before his shoulder gave him issues. Joe Blanton and Jason Vargas round out the rotation. The Angels don’t have a lot of pitching depth so they’ll need their pitchers to stay healthy.  Ernesto Frieri will start the season as closer but Ryan Madson could challenge him when he returns from injury. I think the Angels even with average pitching, will hit their way to a division title this season and should be considered contenders to make and win the World Series.

2. Texas Rangers  – Yes the Rangers lost Mike Napoli and Josh Hamilton this off-season, but there is still a lot to like in Texas and the Rangers should remain in contention this year. The Rangers have a solid outfield with  Nelson Cruz and David Murphy manning the corners. 2B Ian Kinsler and SS Elvis Andrus are one of the best combos in baseball and 3B Adrian Beltre is one of the best at his position as well. Texas also brought in veteran Lance Berkman to DH this year and it could turn out being a solid move if they get even just a little production out of him. Texas has one of the best prospects in all of baseball infielder Jurickson Profar. Profar will start the season in the minor leagues but is too good to stay down there for long & is a rookie of the year candidate. The Rangers also have a very solid rotation. Yu Darvish should build on what was a great rookie season, he’s a strikeout machine. Matt Harrison and Derrick Holland are solid starters. Colby Lewis’s return from injury will be key for the pitching staff. Lewis is expected to return near the middle of the season and if he can come back healthy, Texas will benefit greatly from it. The Rangers lost closer Neftali Feliz to injury late last year and will miss most of the season. However Joe Nathan is a more than capable closer himself. Former Royals all-star closer Joakim Soria missed all of last season with tommy john surgery but signed with the Rangers this year and could be a great addition if he comes back strong from injury. The Rangers won’t likely win the division this year, but they should find themselves fighting for a wildcard playoff spot.

3. Oakland A’s – It’s hard to pick a team that won the division last year and has a lot of the same key players back to miss the playoffs but i think the A’s take a step back this season. Last year was a great story, but i think they played a bit over their heads. The A’s outfield is fun thing to watch. Cuban OF Yoenis Cespedes had a great rookie season and looks to be the real deal. OFs Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick are solid but Reddick’s home run surge came out of now where last year and i think he takes a bit of a small step back this season. DH Seth Smith and 1B Brandon Moss are solid. 2B Scott Sizemore returns after missing all of last season. An intriguing prospect is SS Hiroyuki Nakajima. Nakajima came over from this season from Japan, where he was an all star, but has struggled so far in spring training. Oakland once again has some good young pitching. Brett Anderson could be great if he could stay healthy. Jarrod Parker has shown flashes of brilliance and could be in for a break out year. Tommy Milone was the only starter to stay healthy all of last season. Veteran Bartolo Colon must serve 5 more games of his suspension for steroids before he rejoins the team. Closer Grant Balfour is coming off knee surgery but should anchor a strong A’s bullpen. Would it surprise me if the A’s made the playoffs again? No, but i don’t think they will. They still have ability to and they have the roster to competitive all season long. 

4. Seattle Mariners – No team can be happier than the Mariners about the Astros joining the division. Thanks to the Astros, the Mariners are no lock a lock to finish at the bottom of the division. The star of the Mariners is King Felix Hernandez who signed a seven-year extension with the Mariners worth $175 million which makes him the highest paid pitcher in baseball history. He deserves it too as King Felix is one of the best pitchers in the game today. Joe Saunders is their #2 pitcher and that’s where the issues start. Saunders is a nice end of rotation pitcher, not front line. Hisashi Iwakuma was a star in Japan but merely effective last year in his first season in America. Taijuan Walker is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball and he could get his call up to the majors this season. Tom Wilhelmsen is a nice closer, but may not see many save chances this year. On the offensive end, the Mariners brought in DH Kendrys Morales and OF Michael Morse to try to boost their low scoring offense that resides in a pitcher friendly ballpark. Kyle Seager is solid at third base as well. The big question is C Jesus Montero. The Mariners gave up a lot to the Yankees to get Montero, who they believed could be an every day all-star catcher. Montero needs to learn to hit right handed pitchers if he ever wants to start to living up to his potential. Montero could be one of the best offensive catchers in all of baseball if he ever puts it all together.  There are some nice promising parts in Seattle, but the Mariners still look to be a few years away from being able to compete with three teams ahead of them in the division.

5. Houston Astros – There is literally not much to say about the Houston Astros. The organization knows they are going to be really bad this year, it’s actually part of their total rebuilding plan. This roster is full of cast-offs from other teams but there are some decent parts of note. DH Brett Wallace was once a big time prospect but he fell apart. Fernando Martinez  was once the Mets #1 prospect, but has continuously battled knee issues. Still Wallace is only 26 and Martinez 24, maybe they can regain some of their old promise? 2B Jose Altuve looks like the real deal and he’s the type of guy the Astros could build around. C Jason Castro and OF Chris Carter could have solid seasons as well. Bud Norris is Houston’s best pitcher, but he could likely be traded for more prospects this season.  The Astros shouldn’t suffer too much longer however. They’ve got a strong minor league system and they’ll have cap room to spend in the next couple of years. Everyone involved knew this would be a long rebuilding process, but the organization can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. It just won’t happen this year.  If the Astros somehow don’t have one of the worst records in baseball this season, it should be considered a great accomplishment.

Playoff Prediction:

Division Winners:  Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, & Los Angeles Angels

Wild Cards: Kansas City Royals & Tampa Rays

American League Championship Prediction: Los Angeles Angels over Detroit Tigers.  This could go either way but i see the Angels edging out the Tigers in a close series. However it’d be no shock to me to see Detroit representing the the American League for a second straight year in the World Series.

Awards Predictions:
AL MVP: Mike Trout – Angels
Runner Up: Evan Longoria - Rays
Dark Horse: Eric Hosmer– Royals

AL CY Young:  Justin Verlander – Tigers
Runner Up: Yu Darvish – Rangers
Dark Horse : Chris Sale – White Sox

AL Rookie of the Year: Wil Myers – Rays
Runner Up:  Jurickson Profar– Rangers
Dark Horse: Trevor Bauer – Indians

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