Skyline Vagabond Picks

It is common knowledge that the three most important aspects of real estate is LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. When location is good, profitability is maximized. The same can be said of baseball pitchers. Success in pitchers is measured not by velocity of the pitches but by the number of outs generated. If you have watched enough baseball you've learned that a ball pitched in the middle of the strike zone is in danger of getting absolutely smashed no matter how hard it is thrown. Tom Glavine (seen above) has made a living and a HOF career of pitching to the corners.

Speaking of pitching, now that the steroid era is officially over I think MLB will retreat to a more historical version of the game that was lost during the drug years. More and more we will start to see the semblance of those 70's & 80's, Whitey Herzog type teams. I suspect the movement toward valuing defense and speed is underway. Throughout the 90's there was a blending of the two leagues in terms of style of play. It used to be that pitching and defense motivated the play in the N.L. while the sluggers were clustered in the A.L. The steroid era changed all that insomuch as every player could pop one out of the yard and each team had a player who was capable of putting up 40 dingers a year. Now that the players have more realistic levels of testosterone, other baseball skills besides power hitting will become revelant.

Now my picks for the 2009 season that begins on Sunday night. Remember, you heard it hear first.
National League

• West: San Francisco Giants
• Central: Chicago Cubs
• East: Philadelphia Phillies
• Wild Card: Atlanta Braves

American League

• West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Central: (up for grabs but I'll pick) Minnesota Twins
• East: Boston Red Sox
• Wild Card: New York Yankees

Surprise teams:

• Kansas City Royals (A.L.)
• Cincinnati Reds (N.L.)

These teams, while not winning their respective divisions, will compete most of the summer up until the trading deadline.

World Series Winner: I hate picking the Yanks or Sox because it is the trendy thing to do. Plus these teams have the cash to add pieces at the trading deadline if they need to so it becomes the logical pick. When in doubt just go with your heart, right?

• Atlanta Braves

Now it's your turn. Click the comments link below if you think you know more that me. Make your picks and take your licks.