MLB is preparing for opening day as teams are making final roster moves, stadiums are getting fresh coats of paint and baseball fans everywhere welcome another official end to winter and hope eternal for Spring.

The Flagrant Fan will become the Fearless Flagrant Fan and begin four days of predictions. I'll start with the National League East and work my way around the six divisions. So here goes and the nice thing about archives is that at the end of the season, we'll all be able to see how I did:

The toughest division to pick is the National League East. Here is a division of parity with what seems to be mediocre teams. Although the Phillies picked up Thome and have a decent three men in their rotation (Padilla, Millwood and Wolf) they will need help from a Mercado or others. They have a solid lineup except for a true leadoff hitter (Rollins still glories for those 12 homers a year). But the Phillies do look stronger than Atlanta and I will pick them to dethrone the longtime division champs. Here's how I see the teams leaders:

Homeruns: Thome
RBI and Average: Burrell
Surprise of the year: Ricky Ledee
Wins: Millwood with 18
Saves: Mesa with 35

The Braves basically kissed their stay at the top with the passing of Tom Glavine. It was the competition that pushed the Braves pitchers to the top and no pitchers pushed each other like Maddux and Glavine. The Braves staff is just not the same and Maddux has looked mortal in the last year and a half. The Braves lineup looks really ordinary. I still see the Braves strong enough for second place but only with a record a bit above .500.

Homeruns and RBI: Castilla (surprise!)
Average: Andruw Jones
Surprise of the year: Vinnie Castilla
Wins: Maddux with 17
Saves: Smoltz with 50 The Braves would be considerably stronger if Smoltz went back to starting.

The Expos will finish slightly over .500 but will suffer from the no-home field effects. Frank Robinson will have the team ready to play but they just lack the talent to make it beyond third place.

Homeruns RBI and Average: Vlad Guerrero
Surprise of the year: Tomo Ohka
Wins: Tie - Ohka and Vazquez with 16
Saves: Joey Eischen with 19

The Mets will fire everyone after coming in fourth. The Mets just don't have any luck with chemistry and they always seem to put awkward teams together. Glavine will falter away from Atlanta, Piazza continues his average slide (just like Johnny Bench!) and Mo just ain't No Mo. Will the real Robbie Alomar please stand up?

Homeruns: Cliff Floyd
Average: Roberto Alomar
RBI: Piazza
Surprise player of the year: Ty Wigginton
Wins: Al Leiter with 17
Saves: Benitez with 30

Alas, the Marlins could finish last again, but if the stars aligned just right, they could go all the way. They are that kind of odd team. They have great arms and a few good players but they have to gel and they have to have a strong start and put a lot of early wins together.

Homeruns: Juan Encarnacion with 38
RBI: Encarnacion with 110
Average: Ivan Rodriguez
Surprise player of the year: Derrek Lee and Encarnacion
Wins: Josh Beckett with 15
Saves: who knows...Spooneybarger with 20?

Here are some intangibles that could affect the outcome:
Will Larry Bowa keep his team playing for him?
Will Mike Hampton find himself again after his Colorado meltdown?
Will the Mets settle down now that Valentine is out of the way?
Can the Marlins overcome the brutal surroundings in which they play to win?
Will Roberto Alomar and Jeremy Burnitz restore their careers?
Will Maddux have any more great years in him? I bet he does.
Will Andruw Jones finally put together his Triple Crown type talents?
Is Mike Piazza still capable of .330, 35, 110?

That's the great thing about the game. We'll all find out starting Monday.