I'm fresh off a week in Vero Beach, Florida, running the rule over Major League Baseball teams in spring training. In between piña coladas and catching some sweet ocean surf, I watched the Dodgers play a couple of games at their spring home. The Mets were just down the road in Port Saint Lucie, and I got to see them first-hand, too. The other teams were too far to drive to, but I diligently grabbed a pad of paper, a good pen and a bottle of Tuborg and parked myself in front of the television, ready to predict this year's Major League Baseball shakedown:

Barry Bonds will pass Babe Ruth on the home run list, but will not eclipse Hank Aaron. It seems that everyone is weighing in on Bonds after two San Francisco journalists published a detailed account of how, when and why the slugger allegedly took steroids during the remarkable sunset of his career. Some suggest that Bonds should be banned from the game for life and his records erased from the books. Others contend that Major League Baseball didn't prohibit steroids until recently, and that the problem is so widespread, it's unfair to single Bonds out as a cheater.

I'm more inclined to agree with the former argument, but Bonds isn't the only one to blame. The league's position on the problem has been disgraceful, and they are to blame for inviting players to turn themselves into grotesque freaks in order to hit a baseball with superhuman power. It's blatantly selfish on the part of Major League Baseball, and sets the worst example possible for children in any sport.

Bonds' lame defense of "I didn't know what I was taking" is probably untrue itself, but even still, players in other sports are responsible for what they consume. The irony is that his prickly personality and arrogance have overshadowed his achievements. Even with whatever he's been taking, his body is now 41 years old and won't stay healthy enough for him to hit the 47 home runs needed to match Hank Aaron.

The Boston Red Sox will beat the New York Yankees to the AL East title. For years, the Red Sox have been knocking on the Yankees' door and this is finally their time to take the next step. The Yankees are a shadow of the 1990s team that dominated the league, and even though they remain the biggest spenders in the league, I think the Red Sox are due. However, I'm backing the Yankees to beat the Red Sox in the playoffs, because I think the Yankees are due in that department.

The Chicago White Sox will repeat as World Series Champions. I would love to pick someone other than the unfashionable White Sox, but they are frighteningly good. Even in a very strong American League, they stand head and shoulders above the other teams, without completely breaking the bank to do so. If there success continues, however, they might find themselves having to sell players to keep salaries under control. It won't matter who Chicago meets in the World Series; they have more than enough to see off any potential National League challenger.

Now you know what's going to happen, but it will still be an exciting season. James Plankton has been wrong before and James Plankton will be wrong again... but don't bet on it.