F*** the predictions

...but this is mine:

Leafs 6th in the East
(clearly crazy, from the point of view of one team and one team only)

Why?

The Monster mashes Vesa
The 'D' D's up
Kaberle resurgence
The PK not nearly as bad
Stronger force
Kessel, Stalberg and Bozak encourage
Veteran surge combo
Home record shoots up
Others in the East not as good
Surprises
The drought has to end eventually
Habs/Leafs Thursday: Leafs in OT

If this unique tonic for improvement is actually produced, as I believe it will, the playoffs are a reasonable achievement. A new found sense of optimism, objective and direction will contribute to making the Leafs a difficult foe in the season ahead, and a team that's tough to beat should be good enough to qualify for April play.

BTW - Roy Halladay is still a pitching god. Nice touch with the Big Slapi beaning. Oh, nice to see those educated fans in Bootown give the Doc some props for surgically dismantling their zeros...or not. The Sox are garbage right now. Too garbage. They'll get bounced by the Angels in the DS. The Tigers will get smashed too. Yanks will beat the Angels.. maybe even win the WS. Sorry, but it's probably going to happen.

As for the Jays... I want JPR's head on a stake less than 24 hours after game 162. I'll bet he volunteers anyway, so let's get it over with. Look, JP's reverence of the Red Sox has infected this organization too much, and it's an attitude that must be wiped out. The team needs a new president, new GM, a new head coach and new players. It's just too bad one of those new players will end up replacing a guy most of us wish would stay: Roy Boy. He's a goner. The only request I make as a Canadian baseball fan is that someone other than JPR makes the deal. And if we get our much anticipated wish in the next week or so, Doc's departure will include dignity for both he and us.

Oh, and Jim Balsillie.. thanks for not appealing the Baum bombshell. It was fun, but it's over now. Okay, it wasn't fun, but it's finally over.
Thank God.