Baseball 2004 preview
Predictions
By Times staff writers
Published April 4, 2004
Marc Topkin, 42, is our lead writer covering the Devil Rays. He has covered baseball since 1987 and joined the Times in 1983.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Red Sox; Central: White Sox; West: Angels.
WILD CARD: Yankees.
DIVISION SERIES: Yankees over Angels; Red Sox over White Sox.
ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Marlins; Central: Cubs; West: Padres.
WILD CARD: Astros.
DIVISION SERIES: Astros over Padres; Cubs over Marlins.
NLCS: Cubs over Astros.
WORLD SERIES: Cubs over Red Sox.
Tom Jones, 39, began covering the Devil Rays and major league baseball for the Times in 2003. He is in his third stint with the paper, contributing as a correspondent from 1986-91, covering the Lightning from 1996-2000 and returning in 2003 for baseball.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Yankees; Central: Twins; West: Angels.
WILD CARD: Red Sox.
DIVISION SERIES: Red Sox over Angels; Yankees over Twins.
ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Phillies; Central: Cubs; West: Dodgers.
WILD CARD: Astros.
DIVISION SERIES: Cubs over Dodgers; Phillies over Astros.
NLCS: Cubs over Phillies.
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox over Cubs.
Gary Shelton, 52, is a Times sports columnist. He joined the paper in 1990.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Yankees; Central: Royals; West: Angels.
WILD CARD: Red Sox.
DIVISION SERIES: Yankees over Royals; Red Sox over Angels.
ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Phillies; Central: Cubs; West: Giants.
WILD CARD: Marlins.
DIVISIONS: Phillies over Giants; Cubs over Marlins.
NLCS: Cubs over Phillies.
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox over Cubs.
John Romano, 41, is a Times sports columnist. He previously covered the Devil Rays and major league baseball from 1997-2001. He joined the Times in 1985.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Red Sox; Central: Twins; West: Athletics.
WILD CARD: Yankees.
DIVISION SERIES: Red Sox over Twins; Athletics over Yankees.
ALCS: Red Sox over Athletics.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DIVISIONS: East: Phillies; Central: Cubs; West: Giants.
WILD CARD: Astros.
DIVISION SERIES: Astros over Phillies; Cubs over Giants.
NLCS: Astros over Cubs.
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox over Astros.
[Last modified April 4, 2004, 01:05:44]
Arena League
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