As I approach 2 years in the working world, I've been looking back at what I learned in school that has been essential in the working world and what I could have done without.

I spent much of my college career complaining about simultaneously not learning enough of C++ or design patterns, since both were being taught in the same class. I haven't had much occasion to use any C++ knowledge, although it's still something that I think would be useful to know. Design patterns are another story altogether.

Patterns are something that no sophomore CS major could ever appreciate. Most people get into CS because, like me, they wrote their own simple computer games when they were younger. Even though they're starting to teach programming in high school now, most students haven't written a sizable number of small programs or been a part of a large team working on one huge application. These are the two situations where design patterns become not just meaningless book filler by the Gang of Four but natural side-effects of programming. For all the patterns I didn't learn in school, I've used one without even knowing it at work.

This is something that's almost impossible to convey to second-year college students, as its one of those things that can only be truly appreciated with experience. Now if only I had paid more attention, I might even remember what the Factory Method pattern is for...

And we finally come to the end of the baseball preview posts. After this it'll be back to me making fun of NASCAR and that song that rips off Tainted Love.

Los Angeles Dodgers: I really think the Dodgers will underachieve again this year, but this division is just horrid and there isn't much competition if they do. Nomar is already hurt, but they're a fairly deep team with the best starting rotation in the division, which doesn't say much.

San Francisco Giants: This is just a ridiculously old team, with 3 players over 40 and 6 others over 35. Jason Schmidt and Matt Morris should be good anchors for the rotation, but it remains to be seen whether their position players will break down as the season goes on.

San Diego Padres: They somehow finished in 1st place last year, but their one quality young starting pitcher is hurt and the Padres won't be able to count on 39 year old Woody Williams to be the staff ace. They should have a solid offense, so there's a chance they could leapfrog the Giants if Barry Bonds' head explodes.

Arizona Diamonbacks: With slightly better pitching the D-Backs could contend in this division, but they're still building for the future right now.

Colorado Rockies: Remember when their fearsome lineup was always a threat to lead the league in runs, even in road games? Now they can barely score runs at home, and their roster is Todd Helton And Not Much Else. I'm not sure what direction this team is going in, but it involves Jose Mesa.

Why does the NL Central have to have so many teams? 6? That just makes it even less likely that the Brewers will ever make the playoffs.

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals ran away with the division last year despite a number of injuries, and this year should be no different. The Sidney Ponson pickup was a bizarre move, considering he is the 5th highest paid player on the team despite being the 5th starter, but most pitchers improve when going from the AL to the NL to this could prove to be a savvy move.

Houston Astros: I really want to pick the Astros to fall out of the race this year, but I still don't see it. They have experience, that have a few quality starters and a good bullpen, and they have a capable offense. They may even challenge the Cards a bit.

Milwaukee Brewers: Sorry, Lucas. The Brewers may be entertaining for the first time in a long time, but their bullpen contains Dan Kolb and their infield is still very young. Give them a couple of years.

Chicago Cubs: Prior and Wood will be healthy enough to get the Cubs to about 4th place, and that's it. It may be time for the Cubs to cut their losses and try to get a quality arm or two in return for these guys.

Cincinnati Reds: According to the ESPN.com roster, the Reds don't have a left fielder on the team. This could prove problematic, especially when facing lefthanded pull hitters.

Pittsburgh Pirates: They aren't the Royals, but the Pirates have just about as good a chance of winning the division. I'm not even sure what direction this team is going in, although they do have some quality young pitching arms.

NL East

Atlanta Braves: Make no mistake, this will be a bad division this year. The Braves lost Leo Mazzone and as usual have a bunch of rookies nobody has ever heard of, but the competition isn't exactly fierce. When you've won the division 14 times in a row, it's that much harder for someone to knock you out.

New York Mets: Every offseason the Mets spend a wheelbarrow full of money, and every year they underachieve. I find it hard to believe that this year, when they rely on the old (Tom Glavine), infirm (Pedro Martinez) and just plain bad (Steve Trachsel) to anchor the starting rotation.

Washington Nationals: If they can keep Soriano in line and playing the outfield, the Nationals just may have a shot to contend. Their pitching staff will be respectable, but they're missing that big bat in the middle of the lineup.

Philadelphia Phillies: In any other division this team would come in last, but they'll get bailed out by...

Florida Marlins: The Marlins have had yet another fire sale, and now the south Florida fans will be treated to the likes of "Dan Uggla" and "Reggie Abercrombie". I'm not sure who they are or what positions they play, but I'm sure they're both in their low to mid 20's and belong in AAA.

The Sox are reverting back to form tonight, and I'm listening to the new Less than Jake EP, so it's the perfect time to post about the next division.

AL West

Anaheim Angels: I still refuse to stoop to the level of their ridiculous name. They may have lost one Molinda, but they still have one left, and they still have the best bullpen in the majors.

Oakland A's: This is a tough one to call, but I give the A's the slight edge over the Mariners. I just trust the A's to make a quality midseason move a little more than Seattle. They have a solid young infield, a solid outfield, and they still seem to have the nucleus of a good young pitching staff.

Seattle Mariners: The M's also have a bunch of young players, but they're mostly young guys I've never heard of. It's also never a good sign when your best starting pitcher is 43 years old and not named Roger Clemens.

Texas Rangers: Maybe it's just last year talking, but I still don't think the Rangers have the pitching to compete. And they've only gotten worse on offense, losing Soriano in favor of D'Angelo Jimenez.

Moving right along to the next division. Hopefully I'll finish with this before the All-Star Game.

AL Central

Chicago White Sox: The White Sox made some puzzling moves this offseason, trading part of their young nucleus for Grandfather Thome and his aching back, but they still have the best pitching in the division and no one else is really making a run at them yet.

Minnesota Twins: No one is paying any attention to the Twins this year, but they have easily the 2nd best pitching staff in the division and haven't lost anything offensively except Jacque Jones.

Cleveland Indians: They came so close last year, but their pitching staff is spotty at best and they didn't really do much during the offseason to make themselves better. At least they get to play the Royals about 18 times this year.

Detroit Tigers: Could there possibly be a more boring team to watch? In a cavernous stadium with a punchless lineup it will be a season of dull low-scoring games for Tigers fans.

Kansas City Royals: On the plus side, the Royals actually picked up some players I've heard of before during the offseason. On the minus side, Runelvys Hernandez weighs about 300 pounds and those players I've heard of are Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz.

Another baseball season is beginning as we speak, and hope is in the air until next week when the Royals are in last place. Last year I did remarkably well in my baseball picks (much better than, say, Lucas' football picks), so I'll take a spin through the leagues (one division per day) and see if I can correctly guess the outcome once again. The teams are in order of their predicted finish.

AL East

New York Yankees: Ah, the evil empire. They've turned into the Indianapolis Colts of baseball now that they have MLB's version of Peyton Manning patroling the hot corner and hitting home runs in meaningless situations. They have no obvious weaknesses in their lineup (their atrocious starting pitching is another story), but the Steroid Pair (Sheffield and Giambi) are creeping into their upper 30's. They'll still be good enough to hold off the divisonal competition.

Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays definitely made the most bizarre move of the offseason when they threw a giant pile of money at B.J. Ryan, but they have a solid nucleus of young players. That said, they have 2 proven starting pitchers (3 if you cound Ted Lilly, who can be counted on to beat the Red Sox at least 2 times every year) and a lineup that is still mostly unproven.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox were already having a horrible spring training before trading away a cheap, young starting pitcher with proven postseason and big-game experience for a free-swinging outfielder who would probably break the single-season strikeout record if he ever got a full-season's worth of at-bats. Yes, it will be a long season watching a bunch of infielders who can't hit.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles have journeyman pitchers out the wazoo, and now they have someone to make them all Cy Young Award winners: Leo Mazzone. That said, it should take at least a season for his magic to kick in, and don't look now but Javy Lopez is 35 years old. Not a good sign for your catcher and 2nd most dangerous offensive threat.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays: The Rays have a hell of an outfield and not much else, including a quality pitcher or an infielder anyone has ever heard of. They also have the added benefit of a rookie manager, their best player (Rocco Baldelli) starting the season on the DL, and the promise of the dreaded "closer-by-committee". Ugh.