While there may be snow on the ground, spring is officially on its way as the 2014 Major League Baseball season kicked off with Opening Day on Monday. Want to know a little bit about each team and their chances this season? Ruttig's Rants has you covered with a rapid fire preview around both the American and National League.
American League
East
Boston Red Sox: Once lovable losers, the Red Sox are pretty much as annoyingly good as the Yankees once were. Doesn't hurt to have the biggest fanbase in baseball. Expect another playoff appearance for Boston.
Baltimore Orioles: Baltimore are still loveable losers, but they are good enough to make a run at the Wild Card.
Tampa Bay Rays: Tampa Bay will again have one of the best teams in baseball, which will annoy the rest of the league as 5,000 fans come to their games.
New York Yankees: It is Derek Jeter's last season, which annoying Yankee fans will remind you of for the rest of the year.
Toronto Blue Jays: At least we don't expect to win this year!
Central
Detroit Tigers: America's poorest city has one of the highest payrolls in baseball, figure that one out sociologists.
Cleveland Indians: No, Charlie Sheen doesn't pitch for Cleveland. That was in Major League.
Chicago White Sox: Probably looking at a down season, but still will never be as sad as the Cubs.
Kansas City Royals: Someone will try to tell you this is Kansas City's year, that someone will be wrong.
Minnesota Twins: Once one of the Central's contenders, the Twinkies may be cellar dwellers this year.
West
Seattle Mariners: Spent big on Robinson Cano and should ride the wave of the Seahawks back to relevance should their gamble pay off with the playoffs.
Houston Astros: Not losing 100 games is their World Series.
Texas Rangers: After mortgaging their future on a World Series and failing times may be tough in Arlington for the Rangers in 2014.
Oakland A's: Surprisingly good team considering their dugout gets flooded with sewage once a month.
Los Angeles Angels: If Albert Pujols can find his swing again, the Angels have enough depth to make a run at the West along with Seattle and Oakland.
National League
East
Miami Marlins: Cuban born pitcher Jose Hernandez is a must watch talent, plus you can watch all of the prospects the Jays traded for Jose Reyes and Josh Johnson develop. Fun.
Washington Nationals: Baseball's middle finger to the city of Montreal have a high payroll along with some of the best young stars in baseball and can't find a way to get over the hump. As long as they can outlast Atlanta they should make the playoffs.
Atlanta Braves: I can count the amount of times Atlanta has lost the NL East in my lifetime on one hand. That is consistent baseball.
Philadelphia Phillies: Hard to predict an aging team that crashed hard last year turns back the clock.
New York Mets: They will suck. Trust me.
Central
Pittsburgh Pirates: Finally tasted the playoffs last year after years of futility, maintaining that success is the next challenge.
St. Louis Cardinals: Every year the Cardinals are near the top of the NL Central, expect nothing less in 2014.
Milwaukee Brewers: A small market team that had their flash of success with star players that now ply their trade elsewhere. The return of PED cheat Ryan Braun from suspension could be the catalyst for a team with strong batting to overtake St. Louis and Pittsburgh in the Central.
Cincinnati Reds: Cincinnati makes the Central one of baseball's most competitive divisions, but without closer Aroldis Chapman for the time being they may start off 2014 slow. Canada's Joey Votto gives the Reds a nice bit of Maple Leaf flavour as well as Canada's best hitter plys his trade for the Reds.
West
Los Angeles Dodgers: Big payroll, big expectations. Don't expect the Dodgers to miss the playoffs.
San Diego Padres: Have super cool camo jerseys, but decidedly less super cool players to watch.
San Francisco Giants: The Dodgers biggest rivals in the NL West will be the Giants, which suits everyone well as the hate between the two teams is the best West Coast rivalry in baseball.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Remember when the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in the World Series? Yeah that was 13 years ago, bet you feel old.
Colorado Rockies: 81 home games, 81 terrible legal marijuana references from visiting play by play guys. "The altitude isn't the only thing that is high."
Predictions
AL
East: Boston
Central: Detroit
West: Seattle
Wild Cards: Tampa Bay, Oakland
Division Champion: Detroit
NL
East: Washington
Central: St. Louis
West: Los Angeles
Wild Cards: Milwaukee, San Francisco
Division Champion: Los Angeles
World Series: Dodgers over Tigers
