FrontRowSportsReport.com: Sports Blog

The 2008 MLB season is upon us so what better time then to lay out our predictions for this baseball season - which promises to be one for the ages. So, below are our entire predictions for the 2008 MLB season, including final standings, who makes the playoffs and who will be the 2008 MLB World Series champions.

2008 MLB Regular Season Predictions 

American League East

1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals

American League West

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland A’s

National League East

1. New York Mets
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Washington Nationals
5. Florida Marlins

National League Central

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Houston Astros
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Colorado Rockies
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

2008 MLB Post-season Predictions

American League Wild Card: New York Yankees
National League Wild Card:  Atlanta Braves

American League Champion: Detroit Tigers

National League Champion: New York Mets

World Series Champion: Detroit Tigers

Philadelphia Phillies newest closer Brad Lidge hurt his knee yesterday during batting practice and will now undergo arthroscopic surgery - Lidge is expected to miss 3-6 weeks.

Lidge, who was traded to the Phillies in the offseason, caught his spike in the mound when he made his first pitch during batting practice. Lidge injured the same knee he had surgery on back in October.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said that Tom Gordon will close if Lidge is not ready for their opening day game against the Washington Nationals on March 31st.

Lidge was optimistic about his injury and his recovery time. “Right now, if we had to do this during the season, then obviously you’re missing a big chunk of the season,” Lidge said. “I definitely need a few bullpen sessions, but I feel like my arm is ahead of schedule so after a week I should be able to throw again.”

The Philadelphia Phillies have signed free-agent third baseman Pedro Feliz to a two-year deal - pending a physical. The deal was reported by ESPN.com last night.

Feliz, who previously played with the San Francisco Giants, batted .253 with 20 home runs and 72 RBI’s last season. Feliz was unlucky with the Giants as he usually batted behind Barry Bonds and will probably bat lower in the order for the Phillies.

Phillies manager Charlie Manual is a big fan of Feliz who feels that he will be not only a offensive upgrade but a defensive upgrade as well. “We got better,” Manuel said. “He’s a good defensive player. He’s got power. He’ll hit probably sixth, seventh, somewhere in there. I think putting him down in our lineup will help him. He was called on to hit in the middle of the lineup in San Francisco. A couple years ago, he might’ve been pressing to do too much because they had Barry Bonds there.”

The Phillies had used at third a trio of players last season - Greg Dobbs, Wes Helms and Abraham Nunez all split time on the hot corner - combined the three players batted .255 with 11 home runs and 76 RBI’s.

Former Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Mike Lieberthal announced his retirement yesterday after 14 years in the big leagues.

“I’m done,” Lieberthal said. “I decided a couple weeks after the season ended. If Dodgers had picked up my option, I probably would have played one more year. But I didn’t want to go anywhere else.” Last year Lieberthal played in only 38 games as backup to starting catcher Russell Martin. The Dodgers declined the option on Lieberthal and signed Gary Bennett.

Lieberthal, who is 36, played 13 seasons with the Phillies and 1 with the Dodgers. Over his 14 years Lieberthal was a career .274 hitter, knocked out 150 homers and played in 2 All-Star games.