Of the early ballots, these two were the clear-cut favorites -- Tampa's Laddering was on EVERY early ballot, while NYM's Snaking was on fully 75 percent of them.

Don't just vote -- be sure to participate!

Incidentally, I don't think either one happens. NYM is good for 90 wins, and in the AL East, TB is headed to 100 losses.

While I chose both, I think the Mets slipping down the snakes is much, much more likely.

TB sure is laden with young talent and new brass that's shinier than the old brass. But I'm not convinced that screams out ladder in 2007. Eventually, maybe, but not just yet. 65 wins.

The Mets certainly seem ripe for a fall, what with that wobbly rotation. But a 10-minute Rick Peterson adjustment will see Oliver Perez channel his 2004 self and voila (not Viola) 88 wins and snake averted.

Not that it matters all THAT much, but 99 votes into this poll, the results are 27-26-24-22. I don't think I've ever seen a poll on this site split so evenly four ways. A propos of well, nothing, that is all.

All you people (and that includes me!) voting for Tampa Bay ought to know that right now Greg Norton is probably ahead of Jonny Gomes on the depth chart to be the DH. A platoon may be possible.

Norton had a fine season last year, for the first time in an undistingyuished career, while Gomes' season went downhill after a fast start, largely because of a shoulder injury.

Could it be based on how they've hit this spring?

Player    	G   AB   R   H 2B 3B HR  RBI  TB BB SO SB CS  OBP  SLG   AVG
J Gomes 	22  52 	11  14 	5  0  4  10   31  4 20  1  0  .339 .596 .269 
G Norton 	18  50   5  11  3  0  0   3   14  5  7  0  0  .286 .280 .220

Guess not.

Oh right. It's the Devil Rays. Run by morons...

Come on, Magpie.  Norton has the better name...