2011 Predictions.

Sure, it's too early to fully expect anything in the 2011 season...but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try. Let's predict some highlights first:

Both Andy Pettitte and Chipper Jones will return after claiming they'd retire after this past season; Pettite will win 9-12 games, Jones will hit 10-15 home runs, and both will still consider coming back in 2012, even though both will be 40 then.

Alex Rodriguez will pass Ken Griffey Jr. on the home run records list; in the same vein, Albert Pujols will hit at least 30-35 homers and pass names such as Piazza, Ripken Jr., Jones, and Guerrero.

4 of the 5 pitchers in the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation will win between 15-20 games. No other pitcher in the National League (aside from Tim Lincecum, Ubaldo Jimenez, Adam Wainwright and Zack Greinke) will win that many, or even come close.

Derek Jeter will get his 3,000th hit, CC Sabathia will win 18+ games, and Mark Teixeira will hit 30+ home runs...and the New York Yankees will still only make the playoffs as a wild card for the second straight year.

Dan Uggla will continue his streak of 30+ home run seasons, bringing his total to 5, and the Atlanta Braves will promptly thank him by choking down the stretch as usual.

Bryce Harper will be called up by the Washington Nationals in May or early June, and every pitcher in the National League will do their best to give him a warm welcome by striking him out frequently.

The Oakland Athletics will slip behind the Seattle Mariners for last place in the AL West division.

Barry Bonds and Pedro Martinez will both talk about a possible comeback, then realize nobody wants them to come back.

Troy Tulowitzki and Joe Mauer will both make use of their long contracts by each hitting 20+ homers with 80+ RBIs and BAs of .330 or higher.

Carlos Zambrano of the Chicago Cubs will be banned from the game for strangling an umpire, a coach, a teammate, or all of the above, when one of them calls him a "sissy" and angers him.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will have another 100+ loss season, and the Arizona Diamondbacks will join them. The Kansas City Royals will just miss this by a few games, as will the Mariners.

The Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox will play a tiebreaker game at the end of the regular season; the White Sox will just barely win. A similar situation will play out between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, with the Giants edging the Padres out.

The American League team will win the All-Star Game 6-3, returning postseason home-field advantage to them.

And now, award/playoff predictions:

AL Rookie of the Year: Jesus Montero, New York Yankees.
NL Rookie of the Year: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.

AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees.
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies.

AL MVP: Carl Crawford, Boston Red Sox.
NL MVP: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies.

AL East: Boston Red Sox.
AL Central: Chicago White Sox.
AL West: Texas Rangers.
AL Wild Card: New York Yankees.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies.
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals.
NL West: Colorado Rockies.
NL Wild Card: San Francisco Giants.

ALDS: Boston Red Sox beat Texas Rangers in 3 games, Chicago White Sox beat New York Yankees in 5 games.
NLDS: Philadelphia Philles beat Colorado Rockies in 3 games, St. Louis Cardinals beat San Francisco Giants in 4 games.

ALCS: Boston Red Sox beat Chicago White Sox in 6 games.
NLCS: Philadelphia Phillies beat St. Louis Cardinals in 4 games.

World Series: Philadelphia Phillies beat Boston Red Sox in 7 games. Chase Utley is named WS MVP.

If I'm right about a single, solitary thing in this entire post, I'll be satisfied.