On his blog for the New York Times, Yankees beat reporter Tyler Kepner makes a bold prediction that figures to rub a lot of fans the wrong way. While Kepner predicts a “resurgence in ‘09 and ‘10″ for the Bombers, he views the Red Sox as the favorites to win the AL East, and predicts that the Angels will grab the Wild Card. Kepner picks the Mariners to win the AL West, and the Indians to win the AL Central, leaving both the Yankees and the Tigers on the outside looking in.

As much as I delight in this sort of prediction as a Mets fan, I would be remiss if I didn’t call into question Kepner’s sanity. The idea that neither New York or Detroit will appear in the American League postseason is just bonkers. I could see one of those juggernauts falling short, but certainly not both, and if any team is blocking the way it clearly isn’t the Angels. In fact, if the Wild Card doesn’t come out of the East or Central divisions, I’ll eat my keyboard.

To his credit, Kepner points out that his history of predictions includes picking against the Red Sox in the World Series last year and, worse still, predicting a third place finish for the BoSox prior to the season. He also picked the White Sox to win the AL Central. Which just goes to show, just because someone writes about sports doesn’t mean they know what they’re talking about (Yes, I’m looking in the mirror right now).

For what it’s worth, Tyler cites the Yanks’ young rotation in defense of his pick. He still views the Bombers as “a very good team, a 90-win team at least,” but feels “they’ll narrowly miss the playoffs.”

I just see 2008 as a transition year – some starters too old, some starters too young, the competition in the A.L. a bit too strong.

Tyler’s outlook for life in the new Yankee Stadium is significantly brighter:

Remember, the Red Sox took a step back, to third place, in 2006 before winning the World Series last season. They didn’t fire anybody. They stuck with their plan, spent big money in a few spots, and won.

Brian Cashman has the Yankees primed to be a power for years to come. Someday soon, Austin Jackson and Brett Gardner could add a speed element to the lineup’s brute power. And the Yankees have a long-term catching solution in Jesus Montero.

The organization’s pitching depth is impressive, and with $75 million in expiring contracts this winter, the Yankees could sign a young ace like C.C. Sabathia for a bunch of years. Put him with Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain and Chien-Ming Wang, and that’s a dynamic rotation.

Joe Girardi, by all early indicators, seems like he’ll make well-informed, rational decisions. He looks like the right manager going forward. The new stadium will sparkle in 2009. So will the team.

I agree with Kepner that ‘08 could be a season of transition for the Yankees; in fact, that much is obvious. However, my prediction is that the Yanks will jockey for the Wild Card with Cleveland, who have their own rotation issues beyond Sabathia and Fausto Carmona (who incidentally SI’s Tom Verducci highlighted in early February as one of seven pitchers who could be injury risks this season due to overwork in ‘07).

For some reason, I just don’t see anyone giving the Tigers any trouble in the AL Central. Their rotation is solid, their lineup is uncanny, and their defense is strong up the middle. They aren’t the only team that will struggle in the bullpen in 2008, but they are one of the few teams with the requisite depth to address that issue via trade (although Marcus Thames-for-Jorge Sosa is not the answer…).

Final answer: The Indians will make it interesting, however, much like the Tigers following their resurgence in ‘06, this Cinderella’s sophomore season will fall a bit flat. The Yankees have qualified for the postseason in each of the last 13 seasons, and I see no reason to believe 2008 will be any different.