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Here are my annual picks for this year in baseball. Please dispute, debate and criticize all, but remember to check back in October as I will be right in every pick.

American League

East:

1. New York Yankees

2. Tampa Bay Rays

3. Boston Red Sox

4. Toronto Blue Jays

5. Baltimore Orioles

Central:

1. Minnesota Twins

2. Detroit Tigers

3. Chicago White Sox

4. Kansas City Royals

5. Cleveland Indians

West:

1. L.A. Angels

2. Texas Rangers

3. Seattle Mariners

4. Oakland A’s

The Tampa Bay Rays will win the wild card in American League.

Tampa Bay will beat the Twins to go to the World Series. Key: A better bullpen as the Twins will miss Joe Nathan in playoffs.

MVP: Justin Morneau, Twins.

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Mariners.

National League

East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

2. Atlanta Braves

3. Florida Marlins

4. New York Mets

5. Washington Nationals

Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Milwaukee Brewers

3. Chicago Cubs

4. Houston Astros

5. Cincinnati Reds

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

West:

1. Colorado Rockies

2. San Francisco Giants

3. L.A. Dodgers

4. Arizona Diamondbacks

5. San Diego Padres

The Milwaukee Brewers will win the wild card in National League.

St. Louis will beat Philadelphia to go to World Series. Key: Albert Pujols.

MVP: Albert Pujols, Cardinals.

Cy Young: Roy Halladay.

St. Louis wins World Series in six over Tampa Bay.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.