As the steroid controversy hovers over Major League Baseball with ominous intent, few pre-season stories seemed to focus on the game itself. Undoubtedly, this will continue over the season; politicians will fight for their 15 minutes, lawyers will assemble for agonizingly long trials and more evidence to implicate both the League and the Player's Union for gross negligence will emerge. All controversy aside, though, the game itself will move forth, in what promises to be an exciting, competitive season across the country.
AL East
Though the Yankees lost out in the Carlos Beltran sweepstakes, they gained two more significant players -- starting pitchers Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano. For the defending World Champion Red Sox (still sounds strange, doesn't it?) the off-season largely centered around who left -- mainstays Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. To compensate for the pitching losses, the Sox acquired veteran David Wells, the inconsistent Matt Clement and the recovering Wade Miller. While the new rotation will be enough to ensure the Wild Card, the Yankees' greatly improved starting rotation will win them the division.
AL Central
The Minnesota Twins stand apart as the cream of the division's crop. Arguably the biggest pitching signings of the off-season didn't involve a player changing teams. By resigning top pitchers Johan Santana and Brad Radke, the Twins legitimized their rotation for the future. With every scout and writer's favorite future star, catcher Joe Mauer, the Twins should have enough offense to beat out the White Sox and Indians, who will both contend for the Wild Card but ultimately fall short.
AL West
Out west, the Los Angeles (formerly Anaheim) Angels have the best outfield in baseball -- MVP Vladimir Guerrero, a healthy Garret Anderson and newly-signed Steve Finley -- budding star Dallas McPherson, a solid starting pitching staff and the AL's best closer, Frankie Rodriguez. Consequently, they will beat out the hard-hitting but poor-pitching Rangers, the vastly improved Mariners and the rebuilding Athletics.
NL East
The NL East sets up to be the most competitive division. The Braves, Marlins, Phillies and Mets all have legitimate chances to win the pennant, and the new Washington Nationals are widely underrated. The Braves bolstered their pitching staff by signing Tim Hudson and moving John Smoltz back to the rotation. They should win the Wild Card, but their hitting remains suspect, despite a great spring from Andruw Jones and rookie OF Andy Marte's potential. The Phillies retained most of last year's roster, though they failed to make enough improvements to win the division. The Mets made the two most notable off-season moves -- signing Martinez and Beltran -- and 3B prospect David Wright has a blindingly bright future. However, they, like everyone else, will fall short of the Marlins, who finally complemented their top-notch rotation by signing a true power hitter, Carlos Delgado.
NL Central
The Cubs await their opportunity to become this year's Red Sox, snapping their 96-year long World Series drought. If pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood stay healthy and can combine for 60 starts, the Cubs will contend with defending champion St. Louis. Even if Prior and Wood can muster Cy Young-caliber seasons, though, the Cardinals improved pitching and potent offense will carry them to the division title.
NL West
While Barry Bonds's health -- both current and past -- will dominate headlines in the NL West, his San Francisco Giants should dominate the division. If not, the Padres and Dodgers will pressure the Giants, though neither team posses enough offensive firepower to take the division, and the Giants should hold strong.
Beyond
In the playoffs, look for the Angels to win through the American League, as their combination of hitting, power pitching and solid bullpen play will be too much for any team -- unless Johan Santana pulls multiple Jack Morris-esque performances. In the NL, the Braves' pitching will outperform that of the Cardinals and Marlins, and will lead them into the World Series, where Tim Hudson and John Smoltz will dominate the right-handed Angels lineup, giving the Braves the title.
Though the steroid storm threatens to undermine the game, in the end, the games themselves will lift the clouds of controversy and baseball will move forward.
