So my March Madness picks didn't exactly work out as planned (that is, if you equate success with landing a single team in the Final Four). Oh well. I just hope you didn't put much faith in my predictive abilities. I tend to offer a slightly biased view in light of my experiences growing up around College Park, Maryland (Gary Williams' Terps were knocked out in the round of 16 by Michigan State).That is why I am here to salvage myself and offer you my unbiased picks for Major League Baseball's 2003 campaign. Remember, I have no actual baseball team to follow closely due to the one and only Bud Selig, who remains the world's most hypocritical owner/commissioner (he moved the Seattle Pilots to Milwaukee immediately after purchasing them).

This week's edition is a comprehensive breakdown of the American League for no real reason other than it starts with the letter "A." The AL East usually has the largest local contingent of followers as well as the most heated race for the title. This year might prove to be the year of the Blue Jay. Toronto is young, locked and loaded. They have a fantastic infield and great team speed. Staff ace Roy Halladay is my personal pick for the AL Cy Young award and can be counted on for at least 18 wins this season.

As for the favored Yankees, they may have pitching but no one can expect second baseman Alfonso Soriano to put up the astronomical numbers of a season ago. The key to their season will hinge on Mariano Rivera's ability to recover from a nagging groin injury and the possible emergence of DH Nick Johnson. Without some new blood, this team will make the playoffs, but nothing more.

The Red Sox continue to baffle me, as well as most of the so-called "experts." I am cheering for the young Theo Epstein to make me look foolish in applying his new theories of baseball. Unfortunately, Red Sox Nation may not be able to wait as long. Second-year manager Grady Little is definitely on the hot seat and will need to have a strong record come September in order to be saved. New GMs tend to want a man they hand-picked managing the squad.

The closest team to my hometown, the Baltimore Orioles, will continue on a path to futility. This off-season proved to be the most embarrassing in recent history, as free agent after free agent used the O's like a red-headed stepchild to earn bigger salaries with more attractive teams. I would pick them to finish last, but they are playing in the same division as perennial doormat Tampa Bay (managed by newcomer Lou Piniella).

The AL Central shouldn't even be close this year. The Minnesota Twins, who nearly became extinct a year and-a-half ago, will continue to shove their success down Bud Selig's face and win their second consecutive divisional crown. This year, in fact, I have them taking it all. Their defense is well-recognized with the likes of Jaques Jones and Torii Hunter manning the outfield and Doug Mientkiewicz holding down first. Speaking of the gold-glover, shouldn't they introduce a television show featuring professional athletes where they have to spell fellow athletes' names? Maybe we could even have a challenge between the two leagues in the tradition of Interleague play. Sorry, just thought I'd share that with all of you.

With the addition of ace Bartolo Colon, the Chicago White Sox may look improved on paper, but their bottom line will remain the same. Their bats are heavy and are sure to drive in many runs with Carlos Lee, Magglio Ordonez and Frank Thomas. Unfortuately, Jerry Manuel's crew lacks a deep pitching staff. If, and this is a big if, they manage to earn a playoff birth, the Sox are built for a deep run.

The Kansas City Royals are young and hungry, but they are not ready. This is a team on the cusp of making the jump much like the Indians of the 90s and the Twins of the past few years. Their time will come, but they need to develop their pitching a little more and keep their core intact. Mike Sweeney, Carlos Beltran and Raul Ibanez are three players that the rest of the league covets and the Royals have dangled in recent trade discussions.

The Cleveland Indians suck. They are old, don't have an established star and are utterly without hope this year. Their entire franchise rests on the young shoulders of prospect Brandon Phillips. He may be the answer, but not just yet.

The Detroit Tigers are the epitome of futility. They lack anything to bank on and can only hope that their Motown neighbors, the Red Wings, go far in the playoffs to sweeten the Tigers' stench until June.

Last but not least, the AL West should prove to be most interesting division of all. It is one that boasts the best player in baseball (Alex Rodriguez), the World Series champion and the best young talent in the game. This year I truly believe that the Texas Rangers will make a run to the top of the division. With Buck Showalter at the helm, A-Rod will further establish himself as the best player of our generation (sorry Mr. Bonds) and may even surpass 60 home runs.

Most people are believers in the Oakland Athletics, but I can't buy into an organizaton that fails to re-sign its stars and has already announced that MVP shortstop Miguel Tejada shouldn't count on being with the team next season. That said, they'll continue to make noise in a tough division and challenge the Rangers.

The World Series champions will have to have lady luck on their side to compete once again. They exhibited an innate sense of the moment last year in their epic battles throughout the playoffs and their eventual game seven victory. I have some Angels fans for friends and even they couldn't predict their incredible ride to the top. Unfortunately, though their ride was a brief one. Hopefully the door won't hit them on the way out as they return to their more comfortable level of mediocrity. I just can't see all of the same players rising to the occasion as they did last year.



And there you have it, my official guide to the American League in 2003. To recap the Blue Jays, Twins, and Rangers take their respective division crowns and the Yankees sneak in as the wildcard. The Twins, though, will win out and bring the championship trophy back to the twin cities just in time for the snow.