2008 - JUST A REGULAR SEASON?

The final regular season game was played at Cellular Field last night on a extra allocated day due to a previous postponement. The Chicago White Sox rode on the back of an Alexei Ramirez grand slam to gain an 8-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers to force a one-off game against the Minnesota Twins for a place in the post-season as remarkably, the two teams ended up tied on wins and losses over a 162 game season.
We say goodbye to Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium this year as New York goes though a bit of a baseball makeover but the seasons of these two forces were to end in tears as both fancied teams are forced to watch October baseball on TV.
Lets have a look at how all of the thirty Major League teams performed over a long and gruelling season:

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

1ST - TAMPA BAY RAYS (97-65) CHAMPIONS

The team with the lowest payroll in the division and the worst team in baseball last season - What a turn around this has been for the Rays this year!
It is difficult to come up with any star player for the Rays because they are a great team and not just a great set of individuals like some of the bigger name clubs knocking about in the majors.
The main reason that the Rays have done so well is not really to do with their offensive stats (although they have been solid) but the massive improvement in their pitching. A starting rotation of Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, James Shields, Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson is a very credible one as their is not a single one of them with a 2008 losing record. Their good health has been a godsend for the Rays.
The bullpen of the Rays has improved beyond recognition on last season and has meant that they have been able to keep hold of slender leads which has been so vital this season.
MY MVP - James Shields 14-8 (3.56, 160 Strikeouts) STARTING PITCHER
MY GRADE - A - Make absolutely the most of the tools at their disposal and have a shot of continuing their surprise run. The season has been an absolute joy for any neutral fan and the team have been an absolute dream from a punting perspective with the value that has been available on them all year.

2ND - BOSTON RED SOX (95-67) WILD CARD RACE WINNER

The 2007 World Series Champions came into this season full of expectation and expected to win the division yet again. The fact that the Red Sox wee tested is not really surprising but what is surprising is that it was the Rays who were the big threat to Boston and not the money men of the Yankees.
The Red Sox have had a good offensive season which is perhaps a little surprising considering that 'Big Papi' David Ortiz was missing for a long time through injury and that they traded Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers mid-season.
Dustin Pedroia has been the real constant for the Red Sox with his fantastic ability to get base hits under any circumstance. The little guy has been terrific and really seems to rile up opposition players with his abrasive nature.
With Curt Schilling pretty much finished with injury there needed to be big seasons from their big name pitchers. 'Dice K' Matsuzaka has stepped up superbly with a record of 18-3 and delivered a genuine ace earned run average of 2.90. The inspirational Jon Lester who not so long ago was diagnosed with cancer continued his incredible ascent by turning in a 16-6, 3.21 season which included a wonderful no-hitter.
Fenway Park has been an absolute fortress for the Sox and their home form has been crucial for them on this run.
MY MVP - Dustin Pedroia (.326 Batting Average, 17 Home Runs, 83 Runs Batted In, 20 Stolen Bases) SECOND BASEMAN
GRADE - C - The job is half done for the Red Sox. With the players at their disposal a play off position is a fairly standard expectation. They could do with one more quality starting pitcher to fill the line up and they could be an extremely dominant force. Can they win the whole thing? Of course they can but they are hardly a good value option.

3RD - NEW YORK YANKEES (89-73)

The scene was set. Yankee Stadium was to see its last baseball this season and how fitting for the most successful team in MLB history would it be that the historic stadium were to play host to post-season baseball for a fourteenth successive season.
That was the script but it seems that the high earners of New York failed to read their lines and whilst they did have a winning season, the Yankees had the misfortune of being in the most competitive division in baseball.
For a large part of the season, the bats of Jason Giambi, Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon were not at their strongest and it was clear that these guys had seen better days whilst Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano bordered on pathetic at times. Derek Jeter continued to work the bases but he lost his base stealing confidence and some of his power hitting ability.
The offensive stats were still pretty good on the whole and much of that is due to the controversial figure of 'A-Rod' Alex Rodriguez who managed to hit thirty five home runs this year despite missing twenty four games of the season.
The major problems that dogged the Yanks were in terms of pitching. They had three pretty reliable pitchers to count on before the season began in Chien Ming Wang, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte. The remainder of the workload would originally need to be shared out between Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. As it turned out Kennedy and Hughes were given a rough ride, Joba had various injury issues and is still being jumped between the bullpen and the rotation and a mid-season injury to Wang compounded this meaning that the likes of Darell Rasner and Sidney Ponson have been used when it seems that they are simply not players that are likely to see you through to post-season.
The bullpen has been really shaky on the whole except for the one true constant in Mariano Rivera who continues to close out games with consummate ease going into his forties..
The injury to excellent catcher Jorge Posada who has always been a constant with the bat was a big blow for the majority of the season and this coupled with the aforementioned ace pitcher Wang's injury mid-season probably were the final nails in the coffin for any harboured hopes of the play offs.
MY MVP - Alex Rodriguez (.302, 35 HR, 103 RBI, 18 SB) THIRD BASEMAN
GRADE - D - A very difficult season to judge considering the bad luck that the team had with injuries but on the same point it is very difficult to feel sorry for a team that has a payroll in excess of four times that of the team that eventually won the division. If they get rid of some of the dead wood on their payroll and get active in the free agent market they could strengthen their chances for 2009. There is talk of them going back to basics by adopting a more home-grown approach but I expect them to bounce back strongly next season either way.

4TH - TORONTO BLUE JAYS (86-76)

In terms of their pitching rotation, the Blue Jays have one of the best in the business. With two genuine aces in Roy 'Doc' Halladay and AJ Burnett alongside youngsters Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum they have a great base for getting a winning record.
The Jays really lack in power throughout their offense. Only Vernon Wells managed to get over the twenty home runs figure and I think this is a big indicator of why they didn't manage to fight for post-season. They can win even without offense a lot on pitching alone but this won't happen every day.
A pretty unreliable bullpen has not really helped the Blue Jays cause and often creates extra pressure for the starters to have very long nights.
MY MVP - Roy Halladay 20-11 (2.78, 206 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - C - A very solid and creditable performance in a difficult division. If the Jays can buy or trade themselves some offense for next season, we could see another solid season. It is tough to ever see them breaking through though because of their like of financial clout compared with the big boys unless you get a wonderful ethic like the Rays do.

5TH - BALTIMORE ORIOLES (68-93)

Up until the last twelve games of the regular season, I think you could call this a successful season for the Orioles. The O's were considered to be candidates for the worst team in baseball and any hopes of competing were laughed off by critics.
With a very poor pitching rotation it is difficult to imagine them going too far. Jeremy Guthrie has pitched superbly throughout the season and ended with a record close to the .500 mark at 10-12 but there wasn't anything else of substance as pretty much everyone else was regularly pounded.
What the O's do have is a very reasonable standard of offense. Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora supply the big power whilst Nick Markakis and Brian Roberts are able to find the base with regularity.
A good quality closer and all-star in George Sherrill has ended the season a little under-worked because of the terrible end to the season. Baltimore lost eleven of the final twelve games and although they had no chance of post-season this did damage the credibility of a hard fought season.
MY MVP - Aubrey Huff (.304, 32 HR, 108 RBI, 4 SB) DESIGNATED HITTER
GRADE - D - Were on for a more creditable C grade until the bad finish and it has to be said that Baltimore have a very mediocre team. If the team can manage to get some sort of rotation sorted for next season then they could improve on a .422 record but I wouldn't count on it because they would probably have to sacrifice some offense or youth for it.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

TIE 1ST (TBC) - CHICAGO WHITE SOX (88-74)

Not much was expected of the White Sox this season really on the whole because although the offense looked fairly decent, the pitching staff really lacks that ace pitcher that every team yearns for.
In Carlos Quentin, the White Sox have found themselves an absolutely fantastic team man. Quentin has a strong arm in the field and more importantly has brutally explosive power with the bat in his hand. It is no coincidence that the Twins have gained ground on the Sox since his Quentin's omission through injury.
Despite the lack of an ace for the Sox, they do have some decent rotation men in their side in the likes on Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, Javier Vasquez, John Danks and the injured Jose Contreras. It is kind of like having five number 2/3 pitchers which isn't bad really but just means that you have nobody that can pencil you in for almost guaranteed wins.
The White Sox are the kings of the home run and in the aforementioned Quentin, Jermain Dye, Nick Swisher, Paul Konerko and veteran Jim Thome they have plenty that can hit deep. Ken Griffey Jr was signed mid-season and has the most home-runs of active players over a career if we discount Barry Bonds.
Carlos Guillen has managed his side very well on the whole and should be commended.
MY MVP - Carlos Quentin (.288, 36 HR, 100 RBI, 7 SB) LEFT FIELDER
GRADE - B - Hard fought from start to finish and just a shame that the run is likely to run out of steam. Even if they beat the Twins and get to play the Rays in the play offs it is tough to see their jaded unit advancing. Nonetheless a very good season for the South Siders of Chicago.

T 1ST - MINNESOTA TWINS (88-74)

Like the White Sox, very little was expected of the Twins before the season began and you can see why.
With a couple of excellent hitters in Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer spearheading the offense you could always see them putting up some runs but the loss of Johan Santana who is an out and out ace was feared to have completely destroyed their chances of success.
The pitching staff is not the most experienced around and you could say it lacks star appeal but youngster Scott Baker has been nothing sort of magnificent as a starter and came through in an unexpected manner.
Like the Sox, the twins have five names that can perform but are not ace's. The aforementioned Baker, Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano, Nick Blackburn and Glen Perkins make up a reliable but unspectacular rotation.
Perhaps the biggest key of all for the Twins is the closer Joe Nathan, he is truly lights out.
MY MVP - Joe Nathan 1-2 (1.34, 39 Saves, 74 SO) CLOSER
GRADE - B -Nothing fancy about the Twins really but they know how to get the job done. They have more chance of beating the Rays than the White Sox purely based on fatigue factor but it will be a tough ask. The regular season has been terrific even if they fall to the Sox. Now they need to keep their squad together for next season.

3RD - CLEVELAND INDIANS (81-81)

This was touted as being a big year for the Indians yet the reality was nothing of the sort. After winning the division last season and knocking the Yankees out of the play-offs anything but a season extending into October should be viewed as failure.
When the club traded CC Sabathia to the Brewers for a package of prospects, it seemed that the club decided quite early in the piece that they were best to look to the future. In the case of Sabathia, I agree with that they did because he was due to leave at the end of the season anyway.
Cliff Lee having an incredible season was a real high point for the Tribe. To go 22-3 in a team that finished with only a .500 record is nothing short of remarkable, and even more so when you think that he was sent to Triple A during the 2007 season.
Grady Sizemore had a pretty good season on the whole leading off a reasonable if unspectacular offensive line-up, his big hitting, base stealing and out fielding was of a very good standard throughout.
There needs to be improvement next season.
MY MVP - Cliff Lee 22-3 (2.54, 170 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - D - The Indians should have had more than enough to see off the Twins and the White Sox quite frankly and if Cliff Lee was not on his own performing in the rotation then perhaps that could have occurred. To be fair to the pitchers, a little more was probably expected of the offensive line-up.
Who knows if the club had a fit and healthy Travis Hafner what might have happened, after all he hit forty two home runs last season.

4TH - KANSAS CITY ROYALS (75-87)

Expectations were unsurprisingly low for Kansas as they had made four consecutive fifth (last) placed finishes in AL Central, they had a new manager and new slugger in big hitting Jose Guillen.
Guillen was a joke to begin with, he came into spring training out of shape and unprepared for the season ahead and promptly hit less then .200 for the first month or so. He has picked things up quite a bit and got over the twenty home runs mark.
Gil Meche and Zack Greinke have pitched superbly throughout the season and combined for a total of twenty seven wins which is a nice return.
The big revelation of the season has been Mexican closer Joakim Soria who has made a remarkable forty two saves for a team with a record sub .500.
Soria is only a youngster and has a great career ahead and the Royals should look to keep him unless they get a ridiculously good trade proposal.
MY MVP - Joakim Soria 2-3 (1.60, 42 SV, 66 SO) CLOSER
GRADE - C - On the surface of it, it probably doesn't seem like a great season because of the losing record, but for a team undergoing changes like Kansas were, the terrible start that they had and their recent history of bad seasons, this was just the progression that was needed. They will look to build on this into 2009.

5TH - DETROIT TIGERS (74-88)

There was some pretty big expectations around the Tigers for the 2008 season, so much so that a famous daily betting newspaper tipped them up for winning the World Series. How wrong they all were!
It is probably poor pitching that had ultimately put paid to any hopes that the side had of getting past the regular season. Justin Verlander in particular was very disappointing with his 11-17 record despite being the staff ace.
The Yankees know that they have the wrong Cabrera! Miguel Cabrera got the AL home run title by topping the league with 37 homers over the course of the season. With bats like this in the side you do wonder how bad the pitching has been at times to lose them matches.
Armando Galarraga has been the one bright spot in the pitching this year as he pitched to a 13-7 (3.73) record in an otherwise forgettable season.
MY MVP - Miguel Cabrera (.292, 37 HR, 127 RBI, 1 SB) FIRST BASEMAN
GRADE - E - High expectations and low returns. They couldn't even muster a .500 average. Disaster!

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

1ST - LOS ANGELES ANGELS (100-62) CHAMPIONS

The team with the best record in baseball. It seems absolutely ages ago that the Angels sealed the AL West division and that does sum up just how dominant they have been. Texas in second finished twenty one games back on them and were never in the hunt really.
The Angels have excellent pitching throughout their squad. A rotation of John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders and Jon Garland is brilliant and 'K-Rod' Francisco Rodriguez has been metronomic as the closer securing a record 62 saves this season.
Offensively the Angels certainly do not lack as they have Vladimir Guerrero and Mark Teixeira who are both powerful hitters that can regularly score home runs. In terms of getting base hits and knocking runners in Tori Hunter and Garrett Anderson have been fine too.
The Angels did fall away a little at the end of the season but when you consider how easy they had things, perhaps it is wise of them to lower the intensity a little ahead of the crucial phase of the season.
They are the most complete team in the majors for me and this has been evident during the season.
MY MVP - Francisco Rodriguez 2-3 (2..24, 62 SV, 77 SO) CLOSER
GRADE - A - The best team in baseball so far have done everything asked of them to date. Not a single facet of their game has been poor. Roll on the play offs. The Red Sox will be a formidable opponent for them.

2ND - TEXAS RANGERS (79-83)

One word. Runs. At Texas it has been a pretty crazy season, it is like the Wild West with all the run fests that have occurred this season and this says a bit about both the teams offense and pitching. The offense have been terrific and the pitching has been woeful.
Admittedly at Arlington it is a little ball park and therefore home runs are pretty easy to come by on the whole but you can still get some reward for retaining some element of control and only really Vicente Padilla and Sidney Ponson managed to get a decent set of performances going this season, and the later was gotten rid of and eventually wound up at the Yankees.
In terms of hitting, the big story has been Josh Hamilton. Hamilton was a former drug addict and his career was in serious tatters but with the help of some good people in baseball has turned his life around and the Texas Rangers are reaping the benefits of that with his terrific hitting performances now he is in good health.
If the Rangers can get some sort of pitching staff together then they could be a real force because offensively they scored more runs (901) than any other team in the regular season which proves what damage that they can do.
MY MVP - Josh Hamilton (.304, 32 HR, 130 RBI, 9 SB) CENTRE FIELDER
GRADE - C - A good season for a team expected to struggle. Texas took part in some memorable slug fests over the course of the season and whilst it may not be for the purists, fans love a high scoring and exciting contest and it got delivered by the bucket load this season.

3RD - OAKLAND ATHLETICS (75-86)

The A's did their usual trick and dampened expectations by getting rid of key players. They traded off starters Rich Harden and Joe Blanton mid-season whilst they still had a chance in the Wild-card to prove yet again that the club seems to be lacking in ambition.
Similar scenarios have occurred in previous seasons with Barry Zito and Dan Haren, past staff aces being sold on. Harden is a brilliant pitcher and a genuine ace so A's fans must be tearing their hair out.
The club really lacks power in the line-up. Only Jack Cust has been able to pass the twenty home runs mark and that tells its own story.
Bobby Crosby is a player that you'd generally expect to perform and he has had an abysmal season with the bat and it got a lot worse in the second half of the season, symptomatic of the side as a whole.
MY MVP - Jack Cust (.231, 33 HR, 77 RBI) LEFT FIELDER
GRADE - D - A season that promised so much ended up in a tame damp squib. This lack of ambition which seems to run through the bodies of the people in charge of Oakland need to realise that mediocre never won anything.

4TH - SEATTLE MARINERS (61-101)

Annus horriblis. And what a horrible year it has been for the Mariners. With the capture of brilliant pitcher Erik Bedard there were high hopes for the Mariners going into the season but Bedard spent most of the year on the sidelines and that pretty much summed life at Seattle up.
An atrocious start to the season pretty much put paid to the teams hopes because the Angels became runaway winners of the division. This terrible start can be partly attributed to the woeful hitting form of Richie Sexson whose average however around the .200 mark and was put out of his misery by being released in July.
Ichiro Suzuki had yet another solid year by once again passing the two hundred hit milestone but it was very much a lone hand a lot of the time and whilst it was admirable, often it was monster hits the Mariners needed to get into games.
This has been a regrettable and forgettable year.
MY MVP - Ichiro Suzuki (.310, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 43 SB) CENTRE FIELDER
GRADE - F - Failure on all scores. There is little positivity regarding this season and with the news that Bedard may miss the start of 09, perhaps the future is bleak too.

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

1ST - PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (92-70) CHAMPIONS

The Phillies have rode on the back of a brutal offense this season and it has paid off. Ryan Howard has pummelled his way close to fifty homers, and Chase Utley, Jayson Werth and Pat Burrell have provided excellent support. Most opposition pitchers must have had a least a little feeling of dread as they took to the mound armed with the knowledge that the hitters can catch fire and put up huge numbers.
Cole Hamels has fought a bit of a lone battle where the pitching is concerned but his wins have been valuable to the cause in a season where all of the plaudits have gone to the hitters.
I have to hold my hands up really and admit that I thought that the Mets had a little too much for the Phillies and that history would not repeat itself. It seems to me that the Phillies have shown themselves to be a hungrier and more determined unit and deserve their place in the play offs.
What makes Philadelphia a real pain for most teams is their excellent away record of 44-37(second best in MLB) teams cannot get cheap wins over them and it puts everyone a little on the back foot.
MY MVP - Ryan Howard (.251, 48 HR, 146 RBI, 1 SB) FIRST BASEMAN
GRADE - B - The work is not yet done for the Phills but having won a competitive division in good style and proving several times that they can batter teams and win close contests, they will be a real threat to go even further. What has been a concern at times is the pitching rotation which can get pounded itself at times. Their series against the Brewers should be an enjoyable contest.

2ND - NEW YORK METS (89-73)

Who says lightening cannot strike twice? Well it did for the Mets and will leave the fans devastated yet again as their team managed to turn a seemingly simple qualification for the play offs into a pathetic late season capitulation. What a frustrating team they are.
Although Shea Stadium was a bit of an abomination and needed tearing down, it did hold some good memories for the Mets over the years and deserved a good send off, what it got was a tame defeat to Florida to signal the end of the Mets season which flickered throughout.
With David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes amongst their ranks, the Mets have one of the best offenses in the game and when you couple this with the fact that they have Johan Santana heading a pretty decent rotation, the Mets should have been nailed on for post-season.
Possibly the decisive factor in an inconsistent season was the bullpen. So many times they managed to turn winning positions into losing ones through toothless relief pitching and an inability to hit in a clutch at the end. Billy Wagner was hardly a model of consistency but you always knew he'd get more saves than blown saves and his experience could have been vital towards the end.
It is tough to describe how much the Mets have frustrated me this season.
MY MVP - Johan Santana 16-7 (2.53, 206 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - D - Would have been a C if they were able to cling on to the Wildcard spot but in true fashion, they weren't. The Mets have heaps of quality but it seems that either determination or mental strength is lacking them and frankly neither is positive but I hope it is the latter because if they aren't trying hard enough, it would be a crime.

3RD - FLORIDA MARLINS (84-77)

Little was expected of the Fish this year so they have been a really refreshing part of the season. With a mainly young team spurred on by brilliant shortstop Hanley Ramirez, Florida have an offense that can be blistering at its best.
Ramirez himself, Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla and Mike Jacobs made up an infield in which each scored over 25 home runs, which is pretty remarkable.
The rotation was pretty patchy up until Josh Johnson came back from injury and rookie Chris Volstad came into the picture and then it improved markedly.
The Marlins could well have been more of a force this year if they had that elusive ace pitcher. Ricky Nolasco, Scott Olsen, Anibal Sanchez and the aforementioned Volstad and Johnson make up a very solid line up where each pitcher will give you a chance of winning but no lights-out man like a Santana or a Sabathia.
A highly competitive team at all times and a joy to watch, the Marlins were once again the team that put the final nail in the coffin of the New York Mets having done so on the final day of both 2007 and 2008 seasons. This just shows their desire to win, the fact that they give it all when it counts for nothing but pride. Pride seems to be everything to them.
MY MVP - Hanley Ramirez (.301, 33 HR, 67 RBI, 35 SB) SHORTSTOP
GRADE - B - They did it all with a smile on their face. The Marlins fought until the very end and really were not that far off post-season. They have the same win-loss record as the LA Dodgers so just goes to show how different the required standards can be division on division, season on season.
The resurrection of Jorge Cantu has been a great success story which sums up the team pretty well.

4TH - ATLANTA BRAVES (72-90)

The Braves started life pretty well this season but faded fast as injuries started to grip the squad a little.
It must be difficult for the fans to take right now as Braves failure is a very recent thing as Bobby Cox's side were always a shoe-in for the play offs year on year. Times are changing, ask the Yankees..
With Chipper Jones and Brian McCann in their side, the Braves will always have the ability to score runs but over past years scoring was never an issue because they had such a brilliant pitching rotation that they only needed a couple of runs to win a game.
Jair Jurrjens has had a fine pitching season and should have a fine career ahead of him but he really is the only bright spot in a poor rotation. Injuries to Tom Glavine, Tim Hudson and John Smoltz were destructive to the hopes of Atlanta and signalled a long term downturn.
The bullpen had to make do for most of the year without two top relievers, the closer Rafael Soriano and main setup man Peter Moylan.
Hard to entirely blame injuries but it did do a lot of damage to the season.
A bright spot offensively was the emergence of Martin Prado. Prado is terrific at getting base hits, giving him a high batting average and serving his chances of first team regularity next season no harm at all.
MY MVP - Chipper Jones (.364, 22 HR, 75 RBI, 4 SB) THIRD BASEMAN
GRADE - D - A bad season yes, but extremely hard to judge it because of the injuries that have crucified the pitching line up for much of the year. Expect much more next year from the Braves. Albeit minus Mark Kotsay and Mark Teixeira.

5TH - WASHINGTON NATIONALS (59-102)

The worst record in baseball and probably the worst squad of players in the majors.
The Nationals have been woefully short of power in their lineup particularly after trading Ryan Church amongst others in a deal which saw Lastings Milledge arrive from the Mets.
What I will say in favour of Washington is that they always give it their all when they play and do leave it all on the park. They are a bit of a nightmare from a betting point of view and are usually to be avoided. Betting against them has proved profitable if you did so every single match this season but game by game they can be an annoyance because they tend to perform sporadically.
MY MVP - Ryan Zimmerman (.283, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 1 SB) THIRD BASEMAN
GRADE - D - Short on quality but they give it a go. Nothing that they do or have done should worry any of the big boys.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

1ST - CHICAGO CUBS (97-64) CHAMPIONS

Will the one hundred years of hurt finally be dispelled this year with World Series victory this year? Who knows, but one thing is for sure, they have a great chance.
With every facet of the game covered, the Cubs are the NL equivalent to the LA Angels in terms of being a complete unit.
The pitching rotation of the Cubs is fantastic. Three pitchers that could be aces elsewhere in Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden (albeit only since mid-season following his trade from the A's) mean that runs can be hard to come by for opposition lineups. Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis are both very solid additions to those big names.
Kerry Wood is very experienced and is handling his role as closer very well and this is another key to success in being able to hold tight leads.
If we turn our attention to the offensive side of things there are home run hitters galore. Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez, Mark DeRosa and Jim Edmonds are all big fly merchants whereas the likes of Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukodome will be looking to get on base.
Rightfully own the best record in the National League.
MY MVP - Ryan Dempster 17-6 (2.96, 187 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - A - Have passed all tests put in front of them so far with flying colours. Now it is time to see if the Cubs really have what it takes to show the mental strength to win this thing because we all know they are capable. Capable never won anything and neither did a lineup on paper, the Cubs will be looking to prove a point.

2ND - MILWAUKEE BREWERS (90-72) WILD CARD RACE WINNER

The success thus far of this season has been a long time coming. It is not since 1982 that a Brewers team has made it to the play-offs and this is probably as good a team as they have had in that time.
CC Sabathia has driven this team along since his arrival from the Indians and his enthusiasm has been infectious. The Brewers seemed destined to sit out October until a bit of a slip from the Mets gave them an opening and CC pitched three consecutive times on short rest showing his commitment to the cause and desire for success.
The offense of the team is pretty good on the whole with Prince Fielder, Mike Cameron and Ryan Braun being the main power merchants. The likes of JJ Hardy and Corey Hart are more focused on getting onto base but can hit for power too.
Ben Sheets had pitched brilliantly for much of the season but it seems that he has played his last for the Brewers now having broken down on his last two starts and being up for free agency next season. He will be missed in the play offs.
The Brewers deserve their play off spot but I cannot see them adding a higher honour.
MY MVP - Ryan Braun (.285, 37 HR, 106 RBI, 14 SB) LEFT FIELDER
GRADE - B - The Brewers have gambled on success by giving up prospects for Sabathia who is certain to leave after this season and they will hope it pays off. To date it has and they have done well. How could anyone deny them success after having to wait so long just for a play off spot.

3RD - HOUSTON ASTROS (86-75)

4TH - ST LOUIS CARDINALS (86-76)

Nothing really substantial was expected of the Cards and although 4th Position seems very mediocre, their winning record speaks for itself.
The Cards have got good run scoring ability driven on by powerhouse Albert Pujols and surprising youngster Ryan Ludwick who can both hit deep with regularity. Pujols is probably the best hitter in the National League.
Chris Carpenter has been a key figure to be missing from the rotation and he is a genuine ace when fit and healthy. I think that the Cards would definitely have won the Wildcard race were he available as they would only have needed four more wins to match the Brewers.
Plenty of positives to take from the season and Kyle Lohse is certainly one as he was only in on a short term deal of convenience but has now signed a long-term deal on the back of his consistent pitching throughout 2008.
Close, but no cigar.
MY MVP - Albert Pujols (.357, 37 HR, 116 RBI, 7 SB) FIRST BASEMAN
GRADE - C - A hard working season and certainly a satisfying one because it lays down some good building blocks for the future. If I were a Cards fan, I'd be proud of the season the team have had.

5TH - CINCINNATI REDS (74-88)

A thoroughly mediocre season in every sense. Getting rid of Griffey and Dunn pretty much showed the lack of ambition the club had mid-season and that they had given up on getting anywhere. Perhaps it will prove wise long term. Time will tell.
Edinson Volquez has a brilliant young pitcher and should be around for a long time yet but whether it will be with the Reds it is difficult to say. The club has a big eye on the future but how patient can people be with them.
This season was the eighth straight losing season for Cincinnati and I suppose that is why they have opted to clear the decks and opt for youth.
MY MVP - Edinson Volquez 17-6 (3.21, 206 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - D - A losing season but the Reds seemed to give up on post-season very early and concentrate on youth so it is tough to judge really. Look out next season to see if their plan succeeds.

6TH - PITTSBURGH PIRATES (67-95)

Another team with an eye on the future.
The Pirates decided to make trades seeing the exit of Jason Bay and Xavier Nady which pretty much blunted their offense mid-season which pretty much took away their ability to win more than just the odd game because their rotation was not up to scratch.
Paul Maholm pitched consistently for the Pirates and can be considered one of few bright spots in a bit of a nothing season. He maintained his consistency despite having a lack of support at times and erratic colleagues.
It is expected that the Pirates will bear fruit in 2009. It will be interesting to see.
MY MVP - Paul Maholm 9-9 (3.71, 139 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - D - A minor improvement on last season but still left a lot to be desired. If more ambition is not shown then fans will start to turn off.

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

1ST - LOS ANGELES DODGERS (84-78) CHAMPIONS

Is it all about Manny? Who knows but Manny Ramirez has certainly been inspirational in his short time at Dodger Stadium and it is such talismanic figures that can be a real driving force for you as you roll into post-season.
The Dodgers have pitched solidly throughout the season with the standout being Derek Lowe but it is offensively where they were struggling until recently and much of that is down to the aforementioned Manny, and Casey Blake who came in from the Indians.
The NL West has been a terrible division and some would see it as slightly unfair that teams like the Mets and Cardinals are sitting out October whilst a fairly ordinary Dodgers side contest for higher honours but that is simply the nature of the beast.
It is hard to see the Dodgers winning the whole thing really as they haven't shown any sign of being good enough this season. If they beat the Cubs and get to contest the NLCS then it will have been a successful season for Joe Torre's men.
MY MVP - Derek Lowe 14-11 (3.24, 147 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - C - Best of a bad lot in NL West but they do have a winning record and did pick up their performances towards the end of the season.

2ND - ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (82-80)

A pick for the NL crown for many after their brilliant start but it all went horribly wrong for the D-Backs. Not even bringing in powerhouse Adam Dunn could revive the hopes of Arizona this season as they seemed to have completely lost momentum at the wrong time.
When you have two brilliant starters like Brandon Webb and Dan Haren in your ranks you should have a winning record as a bare minimum and it seems that bare minimum is just what was got here. Even the 'Big Unit' Randy Johnson had a winning season and this didn't push the D-Backs to post-season.
A fairly average offense seemed to lack power within its ranks so the NL West side traded with the Reds and brought in Dunn - perhaps this was as a direct counter to the Dodgers decision to bring in Manny Ramirez but it is clear to see who came off best there.
To turn a 20-8 electrifying start into barely a wining record is pretty criminal and therefore this will be viewed as a gravely disappointing season.
MY MVP - Brandon Webb 22-7 (3.30, 183 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - D - A good start is just a start, in order to compete for higher honours a team needs to show consistency when it matters, not when the pressure is off.

3RD - COLORADO ROCKIES (74-88)

Last seasons World Series runners-up have had a bad season lets make no bones about that. What really set the season off on the wrong foot was some of the brutal poundings that the Rockies suffered in the first month or so of the season, coupled with an undercooked starting rotation.
Todd Helton has been the backbone of the Rockies batting lineup overs the years and the fact that he has the second best on-base percentage over his career of all active batters suggests just how much he can add to the team. Unfortunately injuries and rare poor form ruined his season.
Offensively the Rockies had a pretty good time of it in the season really so you can only imagine what could have been had Helton been fit and firing.
In Aaron Cook, Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez the Rox have three very good pitchers of reasonable age, now the key for the team is to find two more to fill the remaining slots in the rotation as some of the stand-ins have been nothing short of woeful.
Matt Holliday will be tough for the Rockies to hold onto because he can hit for power and average, steal bases and field to a high standard. He has a high price on his head and could be a great bargaining chip to bring in more squad depth. It depends on what their intentions are.
That the Rockies still had a chance until the last few weeks of the season does explain just how poor NL West really was this year. A real surprise that.
MY MVP - Matt Holliday (.321, 25 HR, 88 RBI, 28 SB) LEFT FIELDER
GRADE - D - This division could have been theirs if they didn't start so badly. Expect a bit of an overhaul before next season and if the team can remain healthy, next year really could be their year. This season needs a line drawing under it and completely forgetting.

4TH - SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (72-90)

The Giants were touted like the Orioles as potentially the worst team in the majors and frankly, given their lack of quality, they really give it a good shot this season.
Nothing really looked right about this team pre-season. A pitching rotation lacking in either experience, confidence or both and a batting line up lacking in power were hardly ideal components for a season in MLB but with plenty of effort and commitment, the Giants have competed hard.
Funny thing for me really is that although the season was pleasantly medicore on the whole, if big money pitcher Barry Zito reversed his win loss record from 10-17 to 17-10(which is not unreasonable to expect of a man of his ability and salary) that would have triggered a fourteen game swing on their overall record and pushed them close to the .500 mark. Separate to that, if the Giants had just one genuine power hitter then you could probably add another ten wins to the record. Maybe they should have had Bonds back?
My final factor in what could have made a brilliant season is that the home record of the Giants was a bit of a famine at 37-44. Any team that harbours post-season hopes should have a minimum of 48 home wins according to this years play off teams statistics. In a poor division, you just imagine what the extra factors could have done. Alas, it is a testament to the team ethics of the team that I am even discussing disappointment here when really I should be applauding!
On a final note I have to say that Tim Lincecum has been an absolute demon pitcher and is going to have a great career in the majors. The Giants have unearthed a real gem here. Lincecum is nicknamed 'The Freak' and it is highly appropriate as a winning record of 18-5 suggests and this done in a tea where runs are hard to come by. Great stuff.
MY MVP - Tim Lincecum 18-5 (2.62, 265 SO) STARTING PITCHER
GRADE - C - Pleasing on the whole but maybe with little adjustments it could have been oh so much better! Watch what they do in the off-season, it could be very interesting.

5TH - SAN DIEGO PADRES (63-99)

A truly awful season for the Padres. After going close and just missing out on the play offs to the Rockies last season it will have been a bit of a crash land back to earth for fans of the San Diego team.
If you look at the team then you will see that they have had two standouts. Jake Peavy has been his usual consistent self as a starting pitcher but suffered woeful team runs support and the other worthy man was Adrian Gonzalez who carried the team offensively for a lot of the season.
A home record of 35-46 is abysmal and quite frankly shows that even a partisan crowd could not help the Padres.
Expect big changes next season.
MY MVP - Adrian Gonzalez (.279, 36 HR, 119 RBI) FIRST BASEMAN
GRADE - F - I'll keep this one short and sweet. Pathetic at times and will need a massive overhaul.

Hope you all enjoyed the season.