Around the Horn

Predictions for the 2002 season

Hope you all had a great winter with the football season and my Patriots winning it all against the once heralded Rams.

Off to the spring we go and George W. Bush welcomed in the new season last week. No Taliban stops the rites of spring. The results are in from last year and I did okay. [Editor's Note: Huh?] I had the M's and the Braves. Both made the playoffs and both could have won pennants. Well, shoulda, coulda, woulda.

The National League
I have the Mets to finish atop the East and the Braves a close second. The Mets have at least five All Stars in the lineup and the Braves have three. Not fair at all for the small spenders. That's part of the reason a lot of people stay away from the game.

In the Central I like the Cards. They have a good staff and some great timely young hitters. The Cards and the Astros, with a new name for their field, should fight it out for a top spot.

In the wild West I like the Dodgers and the Giants. Both teams have good pitching and a world of overachievers. That's why the pennant won't come out of the West.

The American League
In the American League I have to stay with the M's in the West. They had the best team of all time last year and it meant nothing since they lost to the Crankees in the playoffs. Same show this year with the Angels making some noise in the division.

In the Central I'm going with the Indians, followed by the . . . well, nobody. It's the worst division in baseball.

Back East I have to go with the Bosox. Yanks can win, but the Sox are waiting for the injury bug to hurt the Yanks . . . or something to hurt them. Sox haven't won a series since the Wilson administration and will wait till a woman is president before they win another.

M's will be the champs. Have a great summer. See you at the break.

"Mans best invention: The 90 feet between the bases in baseball." I don't know who said it but how true it is.