The Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox won the last two World Series. I know, it still looks strange in print. But it's true. You can look it up. So why shouldn't Cubs fans think it's their turn this year? Or Indians fans? Or Phillies fans? Or even Brewers fans? Why wouldn't hope spring eternal across this great land as another baseball season gets under way?

You've got to love the early days of the new season. Day games, great pitching match-ups, and the feeling that any team could come away with the trophy this year.

Unfortunately, this isn't true. It's not the NFL, where parity reigns. Pittsburgh and Kansas City are a combined 0-6 already and will probably be out of it by the All-Star break. Truthfully, there are 9 teams that have a serious chance to win the World Series this year. Nine. That's all. It would be a surprise of cataclysmic proportions if any of the other 21 were to pull it off.

The nine teams in question are the A's, Angels, Braves, Cardinals, Indians, Mets, Red Sox, White Sox, and Yankees. Now I'm not talking about playoff chances, mind you. Someone from the NL West is required by law to make the playoffs-even if every team barely plays .500 ball again this year. And the Astros, Blue Jays, or Twins could sneak into the postseason. But win it all? No way. Only the Gang of Nine has a legitimate chance.

We'll get to my predictions in a little bit, but as with any baseball season, just as important as the outcomes are the big stories of the year, such as:

Barry Bonds

Let's start with Barry's run at history/infamy. The big story here won't be whether or not Bonds passes Ruth this season (he only needs 7 more home runs). It will be how everyone responds to the event. San Diego fans responded to Barry's appearance with incessant booing and the throwing of a plastic syringe at Bonds. If folks in sunny and warm San Diego are this riled up, I'm pretty sure it won't get any easier for Barry in other parts of the country.

Unbelievably, there are people defending Barry Bonds to this day. There are people who think that Bud Selig's investigation is targeted solely at Bonds. And you know what? It is. Because of all of the cheaters that played in the Steroid Era, Bonds is the most despicable. Why? Because he had the most talent and would probably have been on the threshold of history without cheating.

So cheer if you want to. Defend Barry if you want to. But count me out.

Red Sox Fans

Day 1: Everyone breathes a sigh of relief as Curt Schilling pitches a gem on his reconstructed ankle. But every Red Sox fan wants Keith Foulke thrown off the Tobin Bridge and Jonathan Papelbon installed as the closer. Day 2: The sky is falling. Tim Wakefield has a bad outing and the Sox offense is anemic. Day 3: All is right with the world. Manager Terry Francona is brilliant. Order the World Series rings now. Josh Beckett pitches lights out and Papelbon gets the save.

Yes, Red Sox fans-everyone else across the country thinks we're insane. And maybe we are. Whoever said that the baseball season was a marathon and not a sprint has never talked to a Red Sox fan. We live and die every day with the team. You'd never know we won the World Series two years ago.

Such is life, though. Let's enjoy the ride this year, fellow Sox fans. If the pitching holds up it will mean another trip to the postseason. Everyone else, enjoy watching us. I know we make you laugh.

Jimmy Rollins

I realize his 38 game hitting streak came to an end yesterday afternoon, but this guy is fun to watch. He went to the All-Star Game as a rookie in 2001. His hitting streak last season brought him national attention. And he seems to like the spotlight.

This streak is over-but maybe he'll start another one. Maybe even today.

The New York Yankees

Love them or hate them, the Yankees are once again the team everyone has their eye on as another season opens. With the highest payroll in the league and some of the most talented players in the game on the roster, George Steinbrenner is hoping this will be the year that the World Series drought ends. (That's right, the Yankees have not won the World Series since 2000. Oh, the pain in Gotham.)

This year the Yankees lured Johnny Damon from the Red Sox to bat at the top of the order. Their 1 through 9 batters could take on the NL All-Star team in July. But it's the pitching that is once again the question mark. Can 42-year-old Randy Johnson lead the charge? What about 37-year-old Mike Mussina? Yes, the Yankees starters are old. But they're still good. They'll be in the hunt all season. And Yankee lovers and haters will be watching.

Roger Clemens

Yes, Roger is a big story again. He's not retiring-everyone knows that, right? And the national tour of potential suitors will continue throughout this month (Clemens cannot sign with any team until after May 1.)

Clemens has one more season in him. This will more than likely be his last. And he'll get to start a month later, which might help his 43-year-old body stay healthy through October this year. He'll either re-sign with Houston, or grab another pile of cash from the Red Sox or the Yankees. You can count out the Rangers. Would you pitch for Texas after watching them over the first four games? I wouldn't.

I'm rooting for one more year. And I'm still rooting for him to come back and finish his storied career with the Red Sox. I thought it might happen last year (Roger & Me). Perhaps I was just one year too early on that prediction.

Speaking of predictions...let's get back to them. The Yankees will win the AL East (again), the Indians the Central, and the Angles the West. The White Sox will be the AL Wild Card team. In the NL, the Braves will win their 400th consecutive NL East crown, the Cardinals will win the Central, and the Dodgers will win the West with an 80-82 record. The Mets will win the Wild Card.

After knocking off the Mets in the NLCS, the Cardinals will beat the Angels in the World Series to give St. Louis its first title since 1982.

Play ball!

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