NY Times Predicts Yanks, Tigers Will Miss Playoffs

On his blog for the New York Times, Yankees beat reporter Tyler Kepner makes a bold prediction that figures to rub a lot of fans the wrong way. While Kepner predicts a "resurgence in '09 and '10″ for the Bombers, he views the Red Sox as the favorites to win the AL East, and predicts that the Angels will grab the Wild Card. Kepner picks the Mariners to win the AL West, and the Indians to win the AL Central, leaving both the Yankees and the Tigers on the outside looking in. My take? I just don't see anyone giving the Tigers any trouble in the AL Central. Their rotation is solid, their lineup is uncanny, and their defense is strong up the middle. They aren't the only team that will struggle in the bullpen in 2008, but they are one of the few teams with the requisite depth to address that issue via trade (although Marcus Thames-for-Jorge Sosa is not the answer…). The Indians will make it interesting for the Yanks, however, much like the Tigers following their resurgence in '06, this Cinderella's sophomore season will fall a bit flat. The Yankees have qualified for the postseason in each of the last 13 seasons, and I see no reason to believe 2008 will be any different.