Hope springs eternal. It’s finally here, folks; it’s baseball season. Summer is around the corner, and we’ll all soon be sitting in the sun at our favorite ballparks inhaling hot dogs and ice cold beer.

Everyone is doing prediction content, we know that. But our official 2022 prognostications will be coming via the reminiscing route.

Who doesn’t love a good baseball name from from the 90’s or early aughts? So that’s how we’re giving our picks, via our favorite throwback name from each team.

AL East

1. Toronto Blue Jays – Gregg Zaun, C
2. Boston Red Sox – Trot Nixon, RF
3. Tampa Bay Rays – Miguel Cairo, 2B
4. New York Yankees – Scott Brosius, 3B
5. Baltimore Orioles – Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B

AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox – José Valentín, 3B
2. Minnesota Twins – Matt Lawton, CF
3. Cleveland Guardians – Carlos Baerga, 2B
4. Detroit Tigers – José Macías, 3B
5. Kansas City Royals – Mark Grudzielanek, 2B

AL West

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – Scott Spiezio, 1B
2. Houston Astros – Julio Lugo, SS
3. Seattle Mariners – Mike Cameron, CF
4. Texas Rangers – Royce Clayton, SS
5. Oakland A’s – Matt Stairs, DH

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies – Mickey Morandini, 2B
2. Atlanta Braves – Ryan Klesko, RF
3. New York Mets – Benny Agbayani, LF
4. Miami Marlins – Hee-Seop Choi, 1B
5. Washington Nationals – José Vidro, 2B

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals – Fernando Vina, 2B
2. Milwaukee Brewers – Jeromy Burnitz, RF
3. Chicago Cubs – Ron Coomer, 3B
4. Cincinnati Reds – Pokey Reese, 2B
5. Pittsburgh Pirates – Tony Womack, SS

NL West

1. Colorado Rockies – Dante Bichette, RF
2. San Francisco Giants – Benito Santiago, C
3. Los Angeles Dodgers – César Izturis, SS
4. San Diego Padres – Mark Kotsay, CF
5. Arizona Diamondbacks – Lyle Overbay, 1B

God, that was amazing…I think I need a cigarette. So many great names, so much boring baseball to have on in the background until October. Let’s go.