Eric Karabell, who is most well-known for his work as one of ESPN's main fantasy football gurus, also hosts a fantastic podcast called Baseball Today, which I'm sure some of you are familiar with. The majority of the time he's speaking with Keith Law, and it created an extremely knowledgeable dynamic. Unfortunately yesterday's show was the last, and the show is to be replaced by a podcast led by Buster Olney titled Baseball Tonight, which I can only assume will take far less of a SABR approach. And that sucks.

Anyway, being that yesterday was the last show, he asked Mark Simon, whom he was recording the podcast with, who he thought would win the World Series in 2013. Simon said Washington over the Yankees in 6 games. When it was flipped back to Eric, he said he thinks this year is Texas's year, and that they will triumph over the Nationals.

Obviously these projections are premature, but that is pretty cool, in my opinion.

I'm really grasping for straws for thread material, but being that BBTiA has been on a hiatus for quite a while, a little injection of positivity never hurt anyone, right?

Interesting. I'd say Karabell is half right in his prediction.

I'm more astonished by Simon's pick of the Yankee's in the World Series. Seriously?

If we can tread water til the AS break, the AL is going to be wide open again.

Any idea when Joey and the guys will get around to posting? Just curious.

We need Philly to tank again and put Cliffton Lee on the blocks.

Tulsa-- no idea, but Joey is busy with a new job.

Joey is busy with #secrets.

Where is Erik going? I always liked him.

And I'll echo what Rich P said re: Simon's pick of NYY.

I wouldn't bet much on the Rangers to win it all right now, but I have to say the possibility of the Yankees doing it looks at most half as likely as the Rangers. Both teams have a bunch of question marks. The average age of the Rangers' question marks is about 22. The average age of the Yankees' question marks is 57.

Now if the winner of the WS could only be either the Rangers or the Yankees, I'd take the Rangers all day.

Honestly, I don't see why Texas' odds would be that much better than New York's right now. If we're stacking rotations, NYY aren't chopped liver with CC, Kuroda, the potential of Pineda, And Pettite and Phillip Hughes. I won't bet against Granderson and Cano to have monster years, or for Teixeira to be solid, Youkilis to prove he can still play, etc.

Yes, they do have several question marks. But so do we. Things could go very right for the Yankees, or could go very wrong. In that sense, I think the Rangers are their parallel.

The Yankees will always be contenders because their level of talent is prodigious... and, it's that way because they pay for it. However, often that talent rests on the money it makes and the effort just isn't there. Now, it's getting old. They still know how to play and they still have the prodigious talent... but their age is beginning to cripple them.

Will Pettitte be able to repeat his early 2012? He was a little iffy down the stretch. Will Tex be able to put another year on his bones without his BAvg taking yet another dip? Can Granderson fend off Pa Time? He's getting a bit up there...

The key, though, is will Jeter be able to play on his ankle? His range has been minimal the last few years, anyway, but he still makes the plays he gets to. BUT, what will weakness in his ankle do to his stride when he's swinging a bat? If Jeter fails and they don't have someone standing by to pick him up, the Yankees finish in 5th in the ALEast - WITH Cano and CC.

Pineda may not ever recover and Hughes... ? Not sure if he'll figure it out, either. Their rotation could be a massive implosion looking for a manager to take down.

I think if Eduardo Nunez was their everyday SS, he'd be worth more wins than Derek Jeter. Nunez might be a below average glove, but he still gets to a ton of more balls than Jeter does. Jeter plays terrible SS defense.

Anyway, on the whole I like the Rangers more than the Yankees. But I think the argument stands up.

Prognositication is the only career where a person can have less of a success rate than a major league hitter, and still be highly regarded. With that said I'm going to have to agree with Henchman that the Rangers need only be in striking distance at the all-star break.

The all-star break is when the Rangers should finally be back at full strength (barring any injuries before then) with the returns of Lewis, Soria and Feliz. Even more important than that is that by that time Profar and Olt (who both will probably be called up no later than May) will have their sea legs about them, and established a routine in the majors making them even more comfortable for the stretch run. Even if Cruz is suspended around the all-star break it will be much less of a blow at that time than one at the beginning of the season. Plus, throw in the possibility of monster trade at the break if the Rangers are close, and the first half will definitely be the most difficult for the Rangers to navigate. They just need only keep it close, and I think the pitching staff will be more than capable of doing that for them.

I'm thinking of wearing pinstripes and hanging outside Yankee stadium to see if they offer me a contract. I'm in the age group of who they seem to be signing.

I think this is the year it all falls apart for the Yankees. The only way their business model works is if you continue to feed the monster. But young Steinbrenner is not his father. Arte Moreno is the big fan boy owner in MLB.

I don't know what to expect from the Rangers this year. The starting pitching should be fine and JD can build a bull pen on the fly. Weathering the loss of Hamilton, Napoli &, I suppose, Cruz, will bedifficult. I think if Moreland continues to develop the lineup might surprise.

A lot of people have been saying the Yankees are about to fall off. I feel just the opposite. They might be on some rough times until some of their expensive contracts expire, but by them making a point to stay under the $189 million cap, it means they are thinking the right way.

A-Rod has, what, five years left and $150 million due to him? By the time his contract runs up, and I believe he's the last of the oldies under contract, they will have their next wave of talent coming up through the minor leagues, and they'll have plenty of money to spend.

Who cares about the Yankees?! This is a Rangers forum! I come to read about the Rangers.

Eric,

Then you like the Yankee young players a lot more than I do. Nunez can't play the infield at the major league level. He's got a bat but isworse than Jeter in the field which is saying quite a bit. Their "Killer B's" (Brackman, Betances, Bsnuelos) have all washed out. They have decided to strip their bench,which was always their hallmark, of key contributors.

They are banking heavily on two old pitchers in Kuroda & Pettitte. Pettitte is like Nolan was at the end of his career.....unable to stay healthy. But first and foremost, the Yankees have lost their key attribute....the ability to buy their way out of any mistake. They are choking the on fieldproduct by spending $40 million to man 3rd base on two washed up players.

That's the type of team that if they get behind in the standings at the All Star break, may pack itin and finish 4th. They'll eventually get their cap problems solved, but not this year. All you need to know is that they're starting the year with a Cervelli/Austin Romine combo at catcher. That makes Matt Treanor look good.

That makes Matt Treanor look good.

Misty May-Treanor DOES look pretty good.