MLB.com recently published a pair of articles. One talked about how the Red Sox are dominating the AL's All Star voting and the other talked about how the Cubs are dominating the NL's. They each included a list that showed who the current leaders are. Looking at them inspired me to think.

It's a sad but true fact that the most popular teams will put some undeserving representatives on the All Star team as long as the fans elect the starting lineup. I don't take the All Star Game seriously enough to be enraged by it, but I have to laugh at the fact that Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis are dominating the votes at their positions. Youkilis is good, but not "almost twice as many votes as Justin Morneau" good. Jason Varitek, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz are all leading at their positions as well, though those aren't quite as laughable.

I'd like to blame ESPN and their endless hype of all things Boston, but there is a precedent for this type of thing. Back in 1957 the fans in Cincinnati stuffed the ballot box and got seven Reds starters elected to the All Star team. That's right, small-market Cincinnati. Commisioner Ford Frick actually had to void two of the selections in the interest of fairness. After all, I think we'd all agree that Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were better choices than Gus Bell and Wally Post. I have a feeling that these 2008 Red Sox are leading by bigger margins than those 1957 Reds were elected by, but I'll cut Boston some slack since they just won the World Series. When Boston fails to win the Series and still dominates the voting I'll shoot them and ESPN a few dirty looks.

Even though I'm a Cub fan I think it's ridiculous that Mark DeRosa and Ryan Theriot are among the top five vote-getters at their positions. You could argue that both are having pretty good years, but there are plenty of players at their positions doing just as well or better that aren't being recognized. Does it make any sense that Theriot has more votes than last year's MVP, who also happens to be doing better than him this year? How about DeRosa being ahead of Dan Uggla? The only reason so many Cubs are up there is because their team is in first place, they have a national following and it's the hundredth year since their last World Series title. I'm happy for my guys, but it just doesn't look right to see them there.

The biggest mystery to me though, concerns a team that doesn't seem to be getting any special amount of hype. The NL's leader at first base is Lance Berkman of the Astros. No surprise there, as he's having an outstanding year. The second-place vote-getter at shortstop is the Astros' Miguel Tejada. Again, no surprise there. In second place at second base is the Astros' Kaz Matsui. Now there's a head-scratcher. Matsui's never been a star, nor is he having a year that's anything special. Fourth place at third base is Ty Wigginton, also of the Astros. Huh? A guy with two homers and eight RBI? Fifth place at catcher...J.R. Towles? Don't be ashamed if you've never heard of him. He's a second-year catcher with four home runs, 13 RBI...and a .143 batting average. Ouch! The Astros' three outfielders (Carlos Lee, Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn) are all in the top fifteen. Astro fans are obviously doing a lot of voting this year. What's the deal? Do they have more fans than I realized or is there some sort of voting campaign going on?

There's still plenty of time for these rankings to change, but based on these initial showings it looks like we'll have the usual AL lineup dominated by Yankees and Red Sox and a somewhat more honest NL lineup. Like I said before, I don't take the All Star Game that seriously, but you notice some funny things when you watch the vote totals.

A new baseball season is just around the corner, and right now every team has the chance to make this year something special. At least, that's what they want you to believe. Is there reason for you to have hope? Sorry, but no. This just isn't going to be your year. Whichever team you root for, here's why it ends for them after Game #162.

AL West:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They have too many mediocre players in their lineup. With injuries to their two best starters this early in the season there's no way they're going to be able to get the momentum going that they need to make the Playoffs.

Oakland Athletics. They had a losing record last year and then gave away most of their good players. What are they going to do, improve?

Seattle Mariners. Last year's 88 wins were an illusion. They actually allowed more runs than they scored. You can get lucky like that once, but it's hard to do it two years in a row. The rain outside Safeco this year will match the tears inside.

Texas Rangers. They have below-average hitting and below-average pitching. Put it together and you get a below-average team. When September rolls around the Cowboys will be the only team in town anyone is talking about.

AL Central:

Chicago White Sox. OK, so they improved their bullpen. It doesn't change the fact that their roster is full of guys who are living off their past reputations. It's going to be another long year on the South Side.

Cleveland Indians. After coming within one game of the World Series last year they basically stood pat during the offseason. That's a good way to fall behind other teams. Don't be scratching your head in October wondering why the exact same guys as last year didn't make the Playoffs.

Detroit Tigers. Yeah, they've got a great lineup, but you know they aren't going anywhere with that underachieving pitching staff of theirs. Enjoy the slugfests Tiger fans, because they're all you're going to get.

Kansas City Royals. They're the Kansas City Royals, also known as "That Team That Never Makes the Playoffs".

Minnesota Twins. Other than Francisco Liriano they have a weak starting rotation, and their lineup isn't good enough to pick up the slack. Get ready for the Lousiest Show on Turf.

AL East:

Baltimore Orioles. Peter Angelos is still the owner. That's all you need to know.

Boston Red Sox. Yeah, they won the World Series last year, but the Patriots' Super Bowl loss is a clear sign that New England's deal with the devil has expired. Members of "Red Sox Nation" can only hope that the drought doesn't reach 86 years again.

New York Yankees. Their old guys are too old and their young guys are too young. This is a rebuilding year in the Bronx.

Tampa Bay Rays. I'm pretty sure the only reason the Rays were created was because the owner of last place in the AL East was tired of renting it out and wanted a buyer. Sorry, but the Rays are comfortable right where they are.

Toronto Blue Jays. They were one of the worst run-producing teams in the league last year, and they've done little to improve in that area. Their pitching staff was great last year, but they aren't good enough to lead the team to the Playoffs single-handedly. It's safe to say that baseball won't be making anyone in Canada forget that it isn't hockey season this summer.

NL West:

Arizona Diamondbacks. See my comments on the Mariners. There won't be much charming about these snakes.

Colorado Rockies. They have a talented roster, but their lack of depth is going to hurt them in the strong NL West. It's back to mediocrity in the mountains.

Los Angeles Dodgers. They have too many overrated players on their roster. Overrated players make overrated teams. Teams as overrated as the Dodgers don't make the Playoffs.

San Diego Padres. Their center fielder is 37-year-old Jim Edmonds and they actually have Mark Prior on their roster. Those are two recipes for disaster right there. Kiss this season goodbye.

San Francisco Giants. Their lineup last year consisted of Barry Bonds and little else. Now they don't even have him. When your best hitter is Aaron Rowand you have problems. Show me someone who honestly thinks the Giants will contend and I'll show you a delusional fan.

NL Central:

Chicago Cubs. They made the Playoffs last year. The last time the Cubs made the postseason two years in a row was 1908, when they won their third straight pennant and second straight World Series. Sorry, but two years in a row just doesn't happen in Wrigleyville.

Cincinnati Reds. When Dusty Baker isn't wearing out his pitchers he's encouraging his hitters to be too aggressive. The only way the Reds contend is if their youngsters develop, and that's not happening under Dusty. Does Vegas have the odds on how long it'll be before Scott Hatteberg gets released for being too patient at the plate?

Houston Astros. They've invested a lot in their lineup and bullpen, but the only reliable starting pitcher they have is Roy Oswalt. Sorry, but that's not the model for a contending team. Craig Biggio knew just when to retire.

Milwaukee Brewers. They have a lot of power, but their depth and starting pitching leaves a lot to be desired. Besides, their closer is Eric Gagne. He used to be good, but based on those 18.7 innings he pitched for the Red Sox last year he's clearly not good anymore. With all the games Gagne blows for them the Brewers will be eliminated by the All Star Break.

Pittsburgh Pirates. It'll be a while before the new management can undo the damage done by the previous regime. The Pirates have some promising young talent, but haven't we been saying that for years? This season will be just as undistinguished as any of the last ten Pirate seasons.

St. Louis Cardinals. Adam Wainwright is their only good starter who isn't rehabbing, and fewer than a handful of their hitters scare opposing pitchers. The Redbirds had a good run earlier this decade, but their time has passed.

NL East:

Atlanta Braves. The Braves stopped making the Playoffs when Leo Mazzone left. Until they bring him back they're doomed to hover around .500.

Florida Marlins. They traded the last two stars remaining from the 2003 World Series team. It's time for the Marlins to start rebuilding, not trying to win. The Fish are going to be fried in this year's NL East race.

New York Mets. Have you seen their current list of injuries? By the time everyone's healthy they'll be out of the race. They proved last year that September isn't their month, so don't expect any late-season heroics.

Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies didn't win the division last year, the Mets just choked it away. Don't believe me? Any Mets fan will tell you the same thing. Since the Phillies aren't capable of making the Playoffs on their own they'll have to watch as someone else takes the division this year.

Washington Nationals. They've collected so many problematic players it'll be a miracle if they avoid 100 losses. They're continuing the tradition of incompetence started by their ancestors, the Expos.

To sum things up, don't get too excited about October. Your guys will only be there if they buy tickets. But hey, keep your head up. There's always next year.

A new baseball season is just around the corner, and right now every team has the chance to make this year something special. Some teams don't look poised to make much noise, but there are surprises every season. Is there reason for you to have hope? I say there is. Whichever team you root for, here's why you'll be seeing your guys play in October.

AL West:

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. After making the Playoffs last year they added a big bat in Torii Hunter and bolstered one of the AL's best rotations with Jon Garland. It's pretty hard to imagine them not repeating the feat this year.

Oakland Athletics. OK, so Billy Beane gutted the team during the offseason. If you've ever read Moneyball though, you know never to underestimate that guy. He can unearth hidden gems like nobody's business. Some of these no-names are going to surprise everyone and lead the A's to glory.

Seattle Mariners. They found ways to win last year, there's plenty of talent on their roster, and they just added Erik Bedard. With another ace developing in Felix Hernandez, this team is much to be feared.

Texas Rangers. True, their pitching staff is full of guys who looked bad last year, but many of them have shown that they were capable of better in the past. When they all bounce back this year the Rangers will leave their division rivals in the dust.

AL Central:

Chicago White Sox. The last three times the Red Sox won the World Series the White Sox won the pennant the next year. Since the BoSox won the World Series last year it looks like the ChiSox have this year's pennant wrapped up.

Cleveland Indians. They came within one game of the World Series last year, and most of the same players are returning. You know they've gotten hungrier, and this time they won't accept anything less than an American League pennant.

Detroit Tigers. They were in the Playoff hunt most of last season but tailed off at the end. This offseason they've added a proven veteran in Edgar Renteria and two young stars in Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis. How can the rest of the American League not be trembling?

Kansas City Royals. After three straight 100-loss seasons they only lost 93 last year. Clearly they're on the rise. With several promising youngsters and some solid veterans in the mix, this is the year the Royals finally break through.

Minnesota Twins. OK, so they traded Matt Garza and Johan Santana. The good news is they got some young guys in those deals who are going to surprise everyone with breakout years. Those Twins executives are a crafty bunch, and they know what it takes to get their team into the Playoffs.

AL East:

Baltimore Orioles. Their roster hasn't looked very good since they traded Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada, but now that those guys are gone the rest of the team will be inspired to pick up the slack. No more relying on the stars, it's time for everyone to step up. This kick in the pants is going to give them the boost they need to make it an Oriole October.

Boston Red Sox. They're the defending champions. Why wouldn't you expect them to make the Playoffs this year? Besides, Boston's teams are invincible (at least that's what their fans always tell me).

New York Yankees. They're the Yankees. The idea of these guys missing the Playoffs is like the idea of Amanda Overmyer winning "American Idol". It's simply unthinkable.

Tampa Bay Rays. With a talented young pitching staff, a solid lineup and freedom from that "Devil" in their old name, the Rays are ready to sneak up on everyone. Their youthful energy will be enough to carry them past the aging teams in their division.

Toronto Blue Jays. Two words: David Eckstein. The Blue Jays finished 13 games out of first last year, but everyone's favorite scrapper easily adds that many wins to a team's record just by being on the roster. Don't believe me? Ask Tim McCarver.

NL West:

Arizona Diamondbacks. They had the National League's best record last year with a bunch of unknown youngsters. Those youngsters are all a year older, Randy Johnson is returning from injury and they've added Dan Haren to their rotation. There's going to be some fun in the desert this year.

Colorado Rockies. They shocked the world by winning the pennant last year, they've brought back most of their key players, and they now have an extra year of experience under their belts. In the words of Freddie Prinze: "Looking good!"

Los Angeles Dodgers. They're solid all around and they've added Joe Torre as manager. With all that Yankee mystique at the helm how can they lose?

San Diego Padres. They have a great pitching staff and play in one of the best pitcher's parks. Their mediocre offense is good enough for them to win behind these hurlers, so it looks like there's a Petco postseason in store.

San Francisco Giants. They have one of baseball's most promising starting rotations. This is the year they pull a 1991 Braves on us.

NL Central:

Chicago Cubs. It's been almost 100 years since these guys won the World Series. I'd say the law of averages is on their side. Besides, they made the Playoffs last year, so we know they've got some talent.

Cincinnati Reds. Dusty Baker always does well in his first year managing a team. He took the Giants to 103 wins and the Cubs to Game 7 of the NLCS. It's his first year in Cincinnati, so you can count on this team making the Playoffs in the weak NL Central.

Houston Astros. They've got a solid bullpen, a good lineup, and one of the game's best aces in Roy Oswalt. The rest of their starting pitchers struggled last year, but they'll get it together this year and the Astros will reclaim their division-winning ways.

Milwaukee Brewers. With all those big bats in their lineup scoring runs won't be a problem. With a healthy Ben Sheets and a determination not to let the division title slip away like last year, the Brew Crew is going to cruise past the competition.

Pittsburgh Pirates. OK, so it's been a long time since they've had a winning season. Still, they play in baseball's weakest division, they have plenty of youth on their roster, and there's been an overhaul in the front office. The Pirates are clearly no longer satisfied with losing, and new manager John Russell says he's looking to start winning now. A post-Bonds Playoff appearance? This is the year.

St. Louis Cardinals. Their starting rotation is full of guys who'll be great once they complete their rehabs and they finally got rid of that crybaby Scott Rolen. The Cardinals are the most classy organization in sports, so you know they'll find a way to get to the postseason.

NL East:

Atlanta Braves. They've brought back Tom Glavine to an already-strong pitching staff and they don't have any truly weak hitters in their lineup. It's starting to look a lot like the 90's again in Atlanta.

Florida Marlins. Did anyone see it coming in 2003? Did anyone (other than team president David Samson) think that youthful but unproven Marlins team was going to win 91 games? The Marlins are in the business of shocking people. They've been laying low the last few seasons just so no one will be gunning for them this year when they do it all over again.

New York Mets. They missed the Playoffs by one game last year. This offseason they acquired one of the best pitchers in baseball. As the only National League team that matters to ESPN, this Mets squad is back with a vengeance.

Philadelphia Phillies. They have a power-laden lineup playing in a great hitter's park. Their pitching is good enough not to allow the opposing team to outscore the offense, so it looks like the Phils are going to repeat as NL East Champions.

Washington Nationals. Most people didn't realize it, but they actually had a .500 record after June last year. With all that momentum going into this season and Manny Acta's new-school management techniques, this is the year the Nationals finally claim some Playoff territory.

To sum things up, it's in the bag. When baseball's postseason arrives your team will be there, ready to inspire millions with their heroics. Sit back, enjoy the season, and don't forget to buy the champagne in September.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays have announced that the awkward nickname they had for their first ten years of existence is gone. From now on they'll be known as simply the Tampa Bay Rays (no relation, I assume, to Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray). Apparently this news has been around for a few days, but somehow I missed it. Like their expansion predecessors, the Houston Colt .45's, the Rays recognized that baseball nicknames with two words and more than two syllables just don't work (a message the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim still haven't gotten).

It is now certain that the name "Devil Rays" will never be associated with winning. In their 10-year history the Devil Rays never lost fewer than 91 games, and there was even talk of contracting them at one point. Only once did they only avoid last place (2004). They came into the Majors at the same time as the Arizona Diamondbacks, who've made four postseason appearances and even won a World Series during that same span. There's no doubt that the Devil Rays were the poor cousin in the 1998 expansion.

Perhaps this name change represents a new start of sorts for the franchise. If the Rays become a good team someday (which I'm sure will happen eventually), the Devil Ray era will be seen as the "dark days." There might be some fans who affectionately remember those Devil Ray teams and take pride in the fact that they stuck it out during the lean years. There haven't been many highlights, but the diehards will have plenty of memories. They'll remember the attempt to build a team of sluggers in 2000 that looked hopeful at first but didn't quite work out. They'll remember June 2004 when they had a winning record and were one of the hottest teams in baseball before they came back down to earth and settled for what was then a franchise record 70 wins. They'll remember Rocco Baldelli wearing a jersey with his first name on the back. There wasn't much to cheer about, but it will always be a unique chapter in team history.

I wish the Rays the best of luck. I hope they find more success than the Devil Rays ever did. I hope someday they challenge the Yankees and Red Sox for the division title rather than attempting to play spoiler late in the season. I hope they can develop a strong local fanbase who'll appreciate a winning team. Most of all though, I hope the Devil Rays aren't forgotten. They may not have won much, but they represent a decade's worth of growing pains. Hopefully the franchise will have something to show for it in the not-too-distant future.

2007 has been a frustrating year for fans of NL Central teams. The Astros just fired their manager and general manager in the middle of a disappointing season, and they're on the verge of just their second finish below .500 in the last 16 years. The Pirates are pretty much a lock for their 15th straight losing season and the Reds have continued their disappointing decade. The Brewers started off hot and looked headed for their first postseason since 1982, but they've been treading water for the past two months and now find themselves in third place. Then there are the Cubs and Cardinals, the two most popular teams in the division who happen to have a long-standing rivalry.

A year after winning the World Series the Cardinals haven't looked like a defending champion. Their record is right at .500, their starting pitching has been mediocre, and their offense and defense haven't been anything special. By looking at those facts alone you might assume that they've been a huge disappointment. The only problem with that assessment is that they've been one of the hottest teams in baseball lately and are now the favorites to win the division in the minds of many. It's incredible to think that just two months ago they were 10½ games out of first and had the worst pitching in the league. They're now only two games behind the first-place Cubs.

Speaking of my Cubs, their season has been a bit frustrating too. They ushered in what they hoped was the start of a new era when they hired Lou Piniella as manager before the season. There was lots of the usual optimism in Cubville, but I myself was still skeptical. When the Cubs found themselves in a hole after the first two months of the season they got hot (possibly sparked by a Piniella tirade against an umpire over a call in a game I was fortunate enough to attend) and worked their way into first place. It was enough to make me a believer in this team, but thanks to some inconsistent play in August they haven't been able to pull away from the pack. While I'm certainly not conceding the division to any other team, it's enough to drive a fan crazy.

I hate the Cardinals in more than just the typical "I'm a Cubs fan so I have to" way. They're like the New York Yankees of the National League. They've won more World Series than any other NL team and are tied with the Giants for the number of World Series appearances. As such they get treated like one of those hallowed franchises that can do no wrong because they're just dripping with history, tradition and class. I hate pretty much any franchise like that, partially because it's obnoxious and partially because the fans seem to get arrogant when the media always has their team's back.

Most baseball fans know that the Cubs haven't won the World Series in almost 100 years. They've had so many struggles that it's become part of their image. The Cubs are the lovable losers to many outsiders, but they're a frustrating team to root for if you're a fan. If the Cardinals come from behind to take the division from the Cubs, who still have it within their sights, it'll probably become another famous moment in this relatively one-sided rivalry. People will say that these teams were just following the usual script. In the cosmic order of things the classy Cardinals are supposed to win and the Cubs, while fun to pull for, ultimately exist only to come up short. While this idea is nothing more than a piece of baseball folklore, the Cubs haven't done much to disprove it over the years.

I still have faith in my team. I know that they have what it takes to win the division, but I also know that nothing is guaranteed. You have to earn every win and you can't get cocky. I never wrote off the Cardinals even when they were way behind and my fears are now being realized. If the Cubs can hold on to first place for one more month I'll finally be able to breathe easy. Being a fan is so stressful sometimes.

Please Cubs, for the sake of your fans all over the country, don't let the Cardinals beat you out this year. Win the NL Central, and feel free to win the World Series while you're at it. The Cardinals have had bragging rights in this rivalry for a long time. Don't give them another year to hold over our heads. Spare us all from having to hear about the great story of Rick Ankiel, the hustle of David Eckstein and the genius of Tony LaRussa when October rolls around. The number of years in our drought is almost in triple digits. Don't let a potential dream season turn into another "what could have been."