Spring Training used to be a little more predictable. You would have a few rookies each season that would push the team to make the squad. You would have a few acquired by trade and there would be some excitement to see how they would perform for their new teams. But the majority of players on each team would simply use Spring Training to get in shape.

Now, with all the free agents and so many players scraping to hang on with minor league deals, there are more players who need to play all out to get a shot at the final roster. The new reality makes it harder to predict what will happen on each team. Here are a few predictions for the coming year. But I have to be honest that they are more my hopes than true predictions:

David Cone makes the Mets squad and goes 10-3 for his last hurrah. He's always been such a class act.

Pat Burrell should hit 45 homers and hit well over .300 with Jim Thome hitting around him.

Rickie Henderson should gracefully call it a career and take all the accolades he deserves five years from now.

Derek Jeter will have a big year. He hasn't been the same since he went over the railing in the playoffs of 2001. But even if he does have a big year, his Boss will give himself credit!

The Angels have another good year with Washburn winning 20 and America continues to marvel at what hard work and determination can do.

The Rangers will contend until the final dog days of the season. A-Rod has another huge year. Blalock will become a star.

Junior Griffey will have a big year and reestablish himself as one of the premier players of this generation.

Bonds will hit 60 more homers and the Giants will again be in the hunt as Snow resurrects his career.

Lou will get the Devil Rays to .500 and win Manager of the Year.

Roger will reach 300 wins before the All-Star break.

Hampton will put up Glavine-like numbers while the snake-bit Mets will see Glavine have Hampton-like numbers. Both Hampton and Maddox will hit over .300.

Randy Johnson will have the best and last great year of his career with another Cy Young award, 23 wins and an ERA under 2.20.

Florida Marlins young pitching finally gel and make the team competitive all year.

The A's will still be a force in the West. Chavez will break out and win the MVP award.

The Cubs will win their division. The Astros will be good, but not good enough.

Cito Gaston will be the first manager hired to replace the first fired manager. And it will be about time.

And finally, the umpires will finally get the ire of all fans around the country and call the strike zone correctly and balls six inches outside will be balls and letter high fastballs will be strikes.