Everyone Starts in First Place (AL)

With the start of the 2007 Major League Baseball (MLB) season a mere 96 hours away, every team is still currently tied for first place in their respective divisions and leagues. However, that will not be the case come Tuesday. Even though teams are not mathematically eliminated Tuesday, there is a very good possibility that some teams will not be partaking in post season play. Regardless of that, every major league club has a reason you should watch them this season, making this one of the most exciting years MLB has seen. I have broken my synopsis up by league and division and ordered it by my predicted finish and won-loss records. Today's Drivel will start with the American League

American League East

Boston Red Sox (96-66)
Matsuzaka Mania leads the Red Sox to another AL East championship

New York Yankees (92-70)
ARod and Jeter coexist leading Yankees to another playoff appearance

Toronto Blue Jays (82-80)
Roy Halladay suffers arm injury and needs Tommy John Surgery

Baltimore Orioles (75-87)
Young starting pitchers (Cabrera, Bedard, Loewen) take big step forward but bullpen collapses

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (73-89)
Lack of pitching causes clashes between offensive stars and management


American League Central

Cleveland Indians (89-73)
Revamped bullpen reverses last years misfortunes

Minnesota Twins (88-74)
2006 revisited: Ponson and Silva out Garza and Perkins in. Reversal of fortune as Twins lose division on last day in Boston

Detroit Tigers (88-74)
Tiger Lefties (Rogers, Robertson, Maroth) don't carry their weight

Chicago White Sox (77-85)
Collapses by Dye, Buehrle, Garland and the bullpen leave Ozzie offering some of the seasons best quotes

Kansas City Royals (66-96)
Young Royals (Gordon, Teahen, Shealy, Butler, and Greinke) look like the start of something good


American League West

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (84-78)
American Leagues best rotation including a healthy Bartolo Colon lead Angels back to playoffs

Texas Rangers (81-81)
Offense and bullpen keep Rangers in the hunt up until the final week

Oakland Athletics (81-81)
After 19 spectacular starts Rich Harden goes under the knife ending the A's playoff hopes

Seattle Mariners (73-89)
Mariners start off slowly leading to the shipping away of several veterans and eventual firing of Bill Bavasi

There are several milestones that will also be surpassed this season in the American League. 500 HR's will be obtained this season by Frank Thomas (487), Jim Thome (472), Manny Ramirez(470), and Alex Rodriguez (464). Mike Mussina currently sits with 239 wins and should obtain his 250th sometime in late July or early August. Yankee teammate Andy Pettite who has amassed 186 wins over his 12 major league seasons should win number 200 in early September. So as one can see, it is going to be a very interesting 6-months culminating with the Red Sox finishing off the Tribe in six games sending Sox fans into hysteria.