Ed. Note: Before the 2007 season, we ran the Hope and Faith series to explore each team's shot at winning it all. Obviously, there can be only one, but here's the argument as to how the Red Sox could do it that we published back in February.

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What happened last year was anything but ordinary. Come to think of it, winning the division is the only thing that's been a constant in Atlanta in the new century. There was a full five years, and one strike-shortened year before the Bronx returned to glory. From 1991 through 1999, Atlanta won a World Series, five National League pennants, and eight division titles.

The last time Bud Selig was in Pittsburgh, he used the words hope and faith and nearly got laughed out of the Steel City.

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Will talks with Jamey about the Rangers' chances on Baseball Prospectus Radio. Click to download the mp3.

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The 2006 Padres finished the season with 88 wins-including a gaudy 13-5 record against their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers-and this was in a season where Vinny Castilla accumulated ample playing time for a few months, staff ace Jake Peavy was off his rhythm for the first half, and former star outfielder Brian Giles lost his ability to hit for any semblance of power. This is a team that has won the division the past two seasons, even when most analysts did not think that would be the case either year, and this version is more than likely the most talented of the bunch. There are plenty of reasons to harbor hope and faith for the 2007 edition of the Padres.

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Faith and hope?

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Is there a fan base in America to whom the concept of Hope and Faith would seem more far-fetched than it would to supporters of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays? In Pittsburgh and Kansas City, fans at least have memories of the days when the victory champagne flowed freely. Texas, Seattle and the north side of Chicago have at least had opportunities to make noise in the playoffs, even if those opportunities were squandered. In contrast, Tampa Bay's nine years in baseball have been an exercise in frustration and incompetence, without even a modest run of success to relieve the monotony.

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Making the case for the Twins, who have won four of the last five AL Central titles, winning the World Series, wouldn't seem that difficult. They return the AL's MVP and Cy Young Award winners, its batting titlist and its best closer. That's a good start to any championship chase.

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I am not a devoted Phillies fan, but in the years before I became publicly associated with the Yankees I did expend a decent amount of hope on them-hope that they'd be entertaining. At times, they were the only baseball I could get.

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