Every '08 season in MLB history, the Cubs win a ring. (Seriously -- they last won one in 1908.) So let's say Cubbies in '08: Again!

The calendar at the eamus catuli rooftop would have to be reworked to handle three digits on the world series end, so the Cubs hafta win this year.

For those that aren't familiar with what I'm talking about - check out this.

Maybe the Cubs can sneak in on a Wild Card but the Brew Crew are your division champions on the strength of a dominating return to the NL by Eric Gagne.

In a poll where a comparable question would be like asking "whose foot fungus smells the best?", I'm going with the Reds to stink the least, getting in on an overachieving pitching staff, and in spite of their eventual pythag record.

I'm putting my money on a big crash by the Cubs in the second half, leading to Sweet Lou pulling out some all-time hissy fits before he gets the axe. They lead until mid-August, and are overtaken by both the Reds and the Brewers.

It's the Cubs.  They were better than the Brewers last year, and they are somewhat improved.  The Brewers could win if the young players develop on average a little better than expected, with Gallardo being the key item I guess.

I'm a big TLR fan so I'm going to go with the team that has the best manager and player in baseball. A return to the NL is just what the doctor ordered for Clement. If Wainwright Piniero Reyes Looper and Clement can hold down the fort until Mulder and Carpenter come back, there's potential here because of the division's mediocrity. A lineup with the names Pujols Glaus Gonzalez Ankiel Duncan Rasmus has serious offensive potential.

PIT, like SFG in the previous poll, has NO votes, even pity votes, so unless timpinder accidentally votes Pirates, I am left with this question -- is there any division in which every team will get at least one (genuine) vote?

I can't believe someone would vote for the Astros.

Then again, I can't understand why so many people make the NL central out to be the current black hole of MLB talent. I like the Cubs and Brewers as much as the Mets and Braves or the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. All six are very talented teams. So what about Philadelphia and Colorado? I point you to the sleeping tiger that is Cincinnati.

Granted, few divisions have as poor a collection of three teams as Houston, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. But other divisions don't have six teams.

PIT, like SFG in the previous poll, has NO votes, even pity votes, so unless timpinder accidentally votes Pirates, I am left with this question -- is there any division in which every team will get at least one (genuine) vote?

I think the AL West is the only division that might happen.  And someone will have to really like Josh Hamilton, Chris Shelton, and Jason Jennings (or else just think that any team with a guy named Fukumori is going to do well just because they have a guy with a cool sounding name).

Oh, and someone else will have to believe in the magic Beanes of Billy.

So, really, nope, I don't think we'll have any divisions that have all teams receive a vote.  At a minimum, I see Baltimore, Kansas City, Oakland, and Florida being added to the list of teams that get no votes.

CJF, you got your hands on my draft of the upcoming (3/18) Rangers preview? No, seriously, I think TEX will be quite good -- and I do totally buy into Hamilton, for one (I don't think Shelton makes the team and Jennings is maybe a good #4) -- but not nearly a division-contending team. I haven't worked out a formal projection yet, but would guess it'll be 82-86 wins

The Cubs were a year away last year.  This time, if they can avoid extended periods of injury time, they'll pull through and Pinella will win Manager of the Year.

As much as I like the Brewer's lineup(I think Hall is gonna hit 35 HR's, Weeks is gonna put it together this year), I'm going with the Cubs because they've got the thumpers in Soriano, Ramirez and Lee. But more importantly, they've got 3 outstanding pitchers in Lilly, Zambrano and Hill. Their 4, 5 guys who ever they may be are pretty decent too(I'm not counting Marquis... I hope he gets released or something). And they've got Marmol in the pen, a guy who's gonna have a meteoric rise as a closer like Putz and B.J Ryan have had recently.

My money's on Piniella's Cubbies!

Just a thought, but for "The Contest" 2008 (the annual humilate ourselves with bad picks contest), the results of these polls should be entered to see if the wisdom of crowds will hold up. Division picks ordered by first place votes, and the rest of the questions would have to be polled too, but there's still a month until the spring.

I think the Box has about a 75/25 ratio of wheat to chaff when it comes to voting and it gets much worse when it comes down to the Jays.

I mean, this group of people actually picked the Jays to go to the WS last year.

Anyways, I picked the Cubbies.  Anyone who picked Houston or Pitt should just have their voting privledges suspended and accounts banned.

Hey, I'll happily pick the Jays again this year.  If I think the Jays could win the Series again, why not pick them? I'm not betting money on this site, I'm a Jays fan, and as such, I can be wildly optimistic in my internet offerings. The main problem with picking the Jays is that it means you have to talk yourself into Boston/NY having at least one bad year between them.

Ah, the rationalizations...this year, the Yankees are either too old (as always, lots of aging superstars) or too young (pitching?). And Boston will go down after Ortiz gets injured, Lowell returns to earth, and Manny declines further. Leaving the door wide open for the Jays and their surefire recovery from injuries and infallible young pitching! So easy to do.

The Cubs as slight favourites sounds about right in this division of bad teams that get to play one another. No team in the Central had a winning record against another division last year, and only the Cubs and Brewers managed to beat .500 against the AL teams. I don't think it's overly homeristic to say the Jays would be clear favourites against this group of franchises.  The NL West won every playoff game last year (aside from the WS) for a reason. Well two reasons, being better, and good luck.

"Anyways, I picked the Cubbies.  Anyone who picked Houston or Pitt should just have their voting privledges suspended and accounts banned."

Whew.... I picked the Brewer's so I guess I get to stay for awhile.... and no I didn't pick the Jay's last year either ;)

Before you get too comfortable, the real question is: Are you part of the wheat, or are you the chaff?

And would you mind being ground up into flour, or would you prefer to be set free in the wind?

I'll be the dust in the wind :)