[batted balls]

Max Mercy, Jr. here again, folks . . .

It's time for my fearless predictions for the brand-spanking new All-America Baseball League (and we all know ole Max doesn't fear anyone or anything despite what my doctors may say).

First off, the West is so much stronger than the East it reminds me of when my daddy took on that one-year wonder Roy Hobbs so many years ago . . . anyway, I digress. Here are Max Mercy, Jr.'s predictions for the 2006 season:

EAST
1. Ivy--The league mentors set this one up. After all, you've got to have at least one strong team in the East so why not combine all eight of the Ivy League schools into one team? Bart Giamanti will run the front office. Bob Siddon, the Ivy League's all-time winningest coach, will manage the club. The boys in the Big Apple and Bristol will love this one. This team has two Hall of Famers in Lou Gehrig and Eddie Collins. Its pitching staff is decent and its defense will be adequate.
2. Miami--"Here I Am Rock Me Like a Hurricane" Who says ole Max can't get his groove on? Ron Fraser's boys will combine sea, sun and sluggers to finish second. Danny Graves will provide them with a solid stopper.
3. Illinois--That Illini chief so many people are upset about will get his chance to dance on the mound. Tom Dedin's club has Fred Beebe and Carl Lundgren as its top two pitchers. Scott Spiezio and Lou Boudreau will lead the offensive warpath.
4. LSU--Skip Bertram may have the team of the future. Youngsters Paul Byrd and Albert Belle will hone their crafts in the minors while Todd Walker, Warren Morris and Joe Adcock hold down the big league fort.
5. Notre Dame--Pat Murphy has the perfect Irish name to lead this merry bunch. Cap Anson and Carl Yastrzemski will pound the horsehide. Ole Max and the jury are out on this pitching staff.
6. Michigan State--John Kobs may need some help from Sparty, the team mascot. Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey and Robin Roberts are solid; Don Gross, Rob Ellis and Dick Billings aren't.
7. Mississippi State--Can you spell this team's home state? Well, let ole Max remind you that spell rhymes with smell. Sure, Ron Polk has Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro is his lineup. The question is, who are the rest of these bums?
8. Minnesota--Dick Siebert will be looking for a gopher hole to hide in once the season breaks. Dave Winfield may be an MVP candidate but don't expect much else.
9. Florida State--Certain gentlemen's publications ole Max receives in the post tell him Tallahassee is the nation's top party school. Let's hope Mike Martin is able to partake of a libation or two because his team will struggle.
10. Michigan--On the surface Don Lund's crew looks solid: Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, Leon Roberts, George Sisler, Fleet Walker . . . ole Max says, "Hail to the Victims."

WEST
1. USC--Rod Dedeaux and ole Max go way back. This team is loaded. Look at its starting rotation: Prior, Seaver, Zito, Busby and Barr. Heck, lefty Bill Lee didn't even break camp with the big club. Look at the lineup: Buford, Berardino, Lynn, McGwire, Kemp, Kingman, Brideweser, Fairly, Moeller. This team's bullpen could start for some clubs in this league; its bench and minor league teams could supply front-line players for others. Take it from Max, these Trojans won't burst.
2. Arizona State--Bobby Winkles must wonder why he ever left Tempe for the bright lights of big city baseball. The Sun Devils possess three top-flight pitchers in Craig Swan, Gary Gentry and Floyd Bannister. Pat Listach and Mike Devereaux will set the table for boppers Bob Horner and Reggie Jackson. Too bad this team is in the same division as USC.
3. Texas--Cliff Gustafson's Longhorns would give Ivy U a run for its money in the East. But in the West, third is where this team will wind up. The starters are a strong bunch (Clemens, Ruffin, Schiraldi, Cook and Hughson). The lineup, however, lacks the potent power of USC and Arizona State. Team defense is also a concern.
4. Arizona--The second best team in the state is fourth best in the division. Jerry Kindall's Wildcats have Trevor Hoffman as their closer. With anchors Kenny Lofton and prospect Brian Anderson in the outfield and J.T. Snow at first, Arizona is strong defensively.
5. UCLA--Jackie Robinson may be the most exciting player in the league. Troy Glaus and Todd Zeile will hit the ball far and hard. But the pitching staff? Matt Young? Bill Bonham? Glenn Mickens? Dave Schmidt? Jim Parque? Parque? That reminds Max of the floor at the old Boston Garden. These five starters are no match for those fabulous Celtics starting five. Poor Art Reichle. He might not be able to spell UCLA by season's end.
6. Cal--Ole Max has been to Berkeley. Manager Clint Evans might want to check to see what's in the air when he sends this team onto the diamond. The pitching staff is thinner than a tie-dyed shirt. The offense may have Jeff Kent but it also has Geoff Blum. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
7. Oklahoma State--On paper Gary Ward's team should be higher in the standings. The Cowboys have Allie "Super Chief" Reynolds, Joe Horlen, Pete Incaviglia, Mickey Tettleton and Robin Ventura. Yet, trust Max on this one; these cowboys will be ridin' a lot of losing streaks.
8. San Diego State--So Tony Gwynn is going to be the league's lone player-manager?! The good news is that he can pencil himself into the lineup alongside Mark Grace and Travis Lee. The bad news is he can't pitch and neither can his teammates.
9. Cal State Fullerton--Augie Garrido has also coached at Illinois and Texas. Yet, he made his name here. Too bad he couldn't bring more talent with him. Jeff Robinson is the Titans' No. 1 pitcher? Mike Lamb is slated to bat in the No. 3 slot? By season's end, it will be the Cal State Fullerton Titanics.
10. Stanford--Yeah, Max knows Mark Marquess won back-to-back national titles. Yeah, Max knows Mike Mussina, Jim Lonborg and Jack McDowell have pretty good arms. But look at this lineup: Stanicek, Sprague, Hovley, Buechele, Bob Boone, Aldrete, Essegian, Amaro, Duffy. Marquess does have football Hall of Famer Ernie Nevers on his roster. That's great news: Somebody knows how to punt.

National Championship Series: USC over Ivy in five. You heard it here first!


This is Max Mercy, Jr. signing off . . . see you at the ballyard.