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Show PAGE 14 THE THUNDERBIRD WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993 TWO Bird Experts nearly unanimous Its Atlantas turn to win it all have any proven starters.Oaldand simply lost too much they lost John Smiley and really dont die West win to again. The rest of die West (Kansas City, Texas, Seattle team last from years for waiting until after the season has begun before running its and California) probably wouldnt win a combined 200 games if diey didnt get to play each odier. Those four wish they had Colorado and Florida to kick around a litde bit prognostications, but this year were among the fearless first. One thing is almost unanimous: Atlanta will win die World Series. Some of die odier picks are not even close to unanimous. AL EAST: The Boss is Back. Is anyone old enough to remember what happened the last time been hiding in the background like Nixon (Richard, not The staff of experts weve compiled is a redoubtable one, led by SUU's own baseball audior, George took over die Yankees? Hes ready for his return. Widi George at the helm, the around things Vlasich. The associate professor of history and an expert on die Baseball Hall of Fame and Otis), sneaking getting Jim bleeds Dodger blue. Yankees will have direction, and theyll win ballgames. Who cares about the personnel? Assistant Sports Information Director Neil Gardner was kicked off four Litde League teams, Toronto will choke; Baltimore will too, and no one else in the division will win more dian 80 will wish diey were in the NL East so so he became a big fan. His endiusiasm, however, has been dampened diey games. Boston, Milwaukee and Detroit could play Florida, but, come to diink of it, diey have someone better to kick somewhat in recent years due to his love for die Yankees. around: Cleveland, at least die Indians arent an expansion team. Jay Hinton is The Thunderbird sports editor and at one BY PICK, WORLD SERIES: Yankees (The AL has the home field advantage time was a notable righdiand diis year) for Hurricane High, SUU SOME MAY CALL IT SLOW AND BORING, BUT BASEBALL REMAINS THE Pastime and this spring, as usual, Baseball Fever runs high. This newspaper is PICK blowing out his arm. Hes a Mets fan (poor LARRY BAKER fellow). Larry Baker once covered die Angels a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away N.L WEST: While die Reds, Giants, Dodgers and Astros may be somewhat improved, they wont have nearly enough horses to catch die Braves, wholl do everydiing diey can to avoid being baseballs answer to the Buffalo Bills. With an improvement on what was Already the best mound corps in the league, dieyU be unbeatable. The Rockies could humble even though his favorite team has always been die Cardinals. He rarely pays any attention to baseball in any form unless ids got a redbird flying around. the already lowly Padres. N.L EAST: I think I can actually feel justified picking my beloved Cardinals this year, aldiough Montreal will be a very strong club. The Cards, with a rebuilt Joe Magrane, the stellar Bob Tewksbury, diree other quality starters and a tough defense, wont give up a lot of runs, which is good, because they wont score a lot either. The Phillies should be fairly strong, but after that, forget it and diat includes the once mighty Pirates and Mets. THE PICKS: JIM VLASICH NL WEST: The best team in baseball overall die last two years got better when they bought Greg Maddux. Atlanta has the greatest pitching rotation sin Baltimore of 1970 or of Cleveland 1954. Cincinnati is better dian any other team in baseball but will be hurt by the Marge factor. Houston will be a real A.L. WEST: In baseballs most competitive division, look for die much threat with Swindell and Drabek. LA is a good dark horse it everyone stays healthy. Bonds wont be enough for the Giants. Colorado will finish ahead of a sinking Padre team. NL EAST: In a weak division anyone could win, but Montreal has the best talent. Philadelphia will challenge if all stay healdiy and Eykstra hires a chauffeur. St. Louis is always competitive. The Cubs will miss Dawson more dr an Maddux. The Mets made no improvements and the Pirates are on a strick budget. Florida better get use to this position. AL WEST: No dominant team but Minnesota still has die talent For Chicago, Guillen is the question. Kansas City has a rebuilt. Texas could challenge, but it wont be the Cowboys of baseball. Oakland is felling apart and California is rebuilding. Itll be a long season for Piniella in Seatde. AL EAST: If Toronto doesnt have the talent at first, die Blue Jays will buy it later. New York is up and coming, but George will take care of diat. For Cleveland, it will wait til next year. Milwaukee could surprise. Baltimore needs more pitching. Detroit is too old and Boston will extend its streaks of WORLD SERIES: Adanta finally makes it and Jane Fonda couldnt be happier. NEIL GARDNER Pick em! Braves, Sox, Expos and Yankees. That was easy, but now I guess I have to justify these picks somehow. Adanta should win in a walkover. They had the NL WEST: The first pick was a majors best staff last year, and picked up NL Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux. The Braves prime competition in the West should come from Houston and Cincinnati. San Diego wont finish third in the West again, theyre just glad Colorado is around. San Francisco? LA7 Yeah, right. These two are glad to have the Rockies around too. NL EAST: The Expos easily have the second-bes- t pitching staff in the majors, and they will score a lot of runs. Walker, Grissom and Moises Alou are just three reasons. A lot of people are picking the Mets to win this division, but there are just too many ifs widt this team. Cards? Right. Pittsburgh? Budget problems. Philly? No. The Cubbies? Sorry Cub fens. AL WEST: Chicago will live up to expectations. The Sox have a potent lineup. Pitching is the question, but the Sox do have some fine young arms. The Twins may sneak by the Sox, but improved Royals to win a dogfight with the also improved Rangers and the Twins, with the always strong As to be in diere as well. After that, the refrain next year will be heard sometime in However, diat top four is so close in potential diat anything can happen, as it usually does in this loop. AL EAST: Who can pick against die world champs, who havent hurt themselves? The Jays will fend off a strong bid, however, from the Yankees. I have die strangest feeling that next year I might be picking Cleveland, but....diats next year. The league will find that The Hawk is not dirough as Boston will surprise. The lower division is exacdy that. WORLD SERIES: Look for the Braves to beat the Jays this time. mid-Ma- JAY HINTON WEST: No question with the acquisition of Greg Maddux to an already awesome staff, die Braves will the division easily. Rob Dibble cant do it along in the pen for the Reds, but diey will still be a contender. Houston has rebuilt considerably and could catch the Braves. The Dodgers stink (except for Hershiser) and SF needs more dian Bonds and Clark to set up, maybe Matt Williams? The Padres are fizzling fest, however they will still finish better than the Rockies, but not by much. N.L EAST: The Expos will claim the tide because they are the only team not struggling. The youngsters DeShields, Grissom and Aou will lead the way. Philadelphia is getting better, but still lack solid firepower. The Pirates are fading fest, but still have a lot of pride. The Cardinals, with good pitching and defense, will finish just ahead of the Doc and the Mets. The Cubs dealt way Maddux and Dawson so well see, and the Marlins will be the cellar dwellers from day one. AL EAST: Toronto will hold off Baltimore at the end, New York will finish in the middle of e pack. Cleveland will no longer be considered the cellar dweller. Milwaukee played out of their heads last seasons, dont expect it again. Detroit is toooooo old and Boston will take a firm hold on last place. AL WEST: I m stepping out on a limb, Texas will bring Nolan Ryan a division championship, nsas ity wi ride Cone past the Twins. Oakland is no longer the powerhouse of the ivision. icago will start strong, but choke down the stretch and California and Seattle will duke it out for last place. WORLD SERIES: Braves over Jays in a seventh game,) squeaker. N-l- - 7-- 6 |