National League: Lucky #13?

Braveheart wins Best Picture at the Academy Awards, hosted by Whoopi Goldberg.

Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls set an NBA record with 70 wins in a single season.

Sublime's Bradley Nowell dies from a drug overdose and Tupac is gunned down.

I get my driver's licence and fill the red Beretta with $1.00 gallons of gasoline.

The year was 1996. It was a leap year in Philadelphia, marking the last time the National League won the All-Star game. The Senior Circuit will be looking for it's first win in 13 years this evening when they take on the American League in the 80th annual All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

2009 MLB Award Forecast

Even though I'm notoriously sucky at predictions this early in the year -- or at any time for that matter -- I'm gonna go ahead and whip out the crystal ball to see which players will be rewarded for their outstanding play at the end of the 2009 baseball season. Here goes nothing.

American League

MVP: Alex Rodriguez (Yankees)
This one was tough. Even though Alex Rodriguez's achy hip will keep him out of commission for the first six-or-so weeks of the season, expect him to come back with monster numbers from mid-May on. Look for A-Rod to bring .280 batting average, 28 home runs, and 85 RBI to the table while helping the Yankees win the tough AL East down the stretch.

Runner Up: Miguel Cabrera (Tigers)
The 2009 AL MVP award is absolutely in Cabrera's reach, especially with A-Rod sitting out the first month of the season. He set career highs with 37 homers and 127 RBI last year after a tough transition to a new team and league. I think he'll be a lot more comfortable with his surroundings this season, and his numbers will show it: I'm gonna go with 45 dingers and 140 RBI for the 26-year-old first baseman.

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