Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

Visiting the New York Auto Show, I couldn't help but notice the Official Hybrid Automobile of the Yankees. A Toyota Prius properly pinstriped and sporting several interlocking NY's. And I'm pretty sure it gets somewhere between Mariano Rivera (42) and Andy Pettitte (46) miles a gallon -- as long as you keep it under Phil Hughes (65) miles an hour.

From all I've read and seen this spring, the Tigers seem the clear choice to dominate baseball in 2013. A nearly unstoppable middle of the lineup, strong starting pitching led by the game's best Justin Verlander, and a manager in Jim Leyland who gets the most out of his players make for a convincing argument. With the first pitch of the regular season coming up Sunday night, here are my picks and predictions (divisions, going left to right): AL East: TOR/TAM/NYY/BAL/BOS AL Central: DET/KC/CLE/CWS/MIN AL West: LAA/TEX/SEA/OAK/HOU AL Wild Cards: TAM/TEX ALCS: DET over LAA NL East: ATL/WAS/PHL/MIA/NYM NL Central: STL/CIN/CHC/PIT/MIL NL West: SF/LAD/COL/ARZ/SD NL Wild Cards: WAS/CIN NLCS: SF over ATL World Series: DET over SF in 6 Now, be sure to add yours as a comment. And we can all reconvene right around Halloween to see who was on target and who missed by a mile. Play ball!

Thanks again to Bob-on-the-spot Levy, here's a look at two of the new for 2013 Yankees: Kevin Youkilis and Vernon Wells -- who will likely have a lower regular season number than 56. Both know the AL East well and will be important fill-ins as the Yankees head north without A-Rod, Granderson, Teixeria and Jeter (as well as free agent defectors Russell Martin and Raul Ibanez) to open the season Monday against the Red Sox. Do you want to share your pre-season predictions? Just leave a comment... I'll post mine tomorrow. Besides enjoying baseball as much as anyone I know, Bob is a longtime broadcaster and classic rock expert who now runs one of the 'web's most original online stations: TheRadioStation.org

Just a few minutes before gametime at Roger Dean Stadium with the Braves visiting the Marlins. Third baseman Juan Francisco (#25), outfielder BJ Upton (8) and Jason Heyward (25) are clearly in view. A couple of catchers are working with pitchers. The Braves should be a strong contender -- thanks to the potentially great young outfielder of the Upton Brothers and Heyward, plus 1st baseman Freeman and power-hitting 2nd baseman Dan Uggla.

Bob Levy continued his tour of Florida's west coast yesterday in Dunedin. He got a good look at Dom Brown, who may finally be putting it all together after several brief and unsuccessful major league trials. Still just 25, the likely replacement for Hunter Pence in the Phillies' outfield has had a great spring -- belting 7 homers and batting an impressive .354. He finally looks like the untouchable prospect he was three years ago. And while exhibition games are not always an accurate barometer, Brown appears ready to live up to his potential. Playing with the again-healthy Ryan Howard and Chase Utley and solid veteran Michael Young, the Phillies could have a impressive middle of the batting order in 2013.

Special thanks to good friend and frequent road trip partner Bob Levy, who is spending a few days on the west coast of Florida. He captured some familiar (and still healthy) Yankees rounding into shape on the next-to-last weekend of exhibition games. Above, the one and only Mariano Rivera. Now, a look at the other member of the Yankees 40-Plus Club, Andy Pettitte. Bob's son Brian took the one below from the left field berm at Lakeland's Joker Marchant Stadium.

Unconventional pitching was the ticket back to the majors for RA Dickey, whose adoption and mastery of the knuckleball earned him the NL Cy Young Award in 2012. Now, another pitcher who'd never had much success in the majors is breaking from the norm. Say hello to Greg Burke, who has adopted a near-underhanded delivery this spring in Mets camp. Standing on the mound, he doesn't look much different -- until he goes into his motion. He bends down and continues to bend until his back is at nearly a 90 angle to his legs. This just about hides the ball from righthanded batters. It then seems to explode out of nowhere as it approaches in (due to the visual illusion it seems to arrive instantly). In training camp marred by injury and underachievement of several teammates, Burke's unorthodox style and effective work has made him a strong candidate for a bullpen spot.

Just as quickly as the Marlins tore down last year's club that was expected but failed to contend, one piece of their future is emerging. Christian Yelich, who has never played above Class A ball, has been one of the most impressive players in the Grapefruit League. A first round draft choice in 2010, he's smacked five home runs this pre-season and is hitting over .380. On a club with few established stars beyond Giancarlo Stanton, this impressive young center fielder seems capable of something the Marlins lack -- exciting South Florida fans. And a quick follow-up: Yelich was ranked #13 on MLB Network's Top 50 Prospects pre-season special.

Juan Pierre enters 2013 with 591 career steals. He was in mid-season form when he swiped this bag on March 13th against the Braves. What's his over/under for this year as he leads off for the Marlins?

It's always been easier to land an autograph in Spring Training. The lower-key atmosphere and smaller ballparks make it easier for fans to interact with their favorite stars. With a few minutes before the first pitch at last week's Mets/Tigers game in Port St. Lucie, these young fans passed their sharpies and baseballs to Jim Leyland just outside the Detroit dugout. Whose was your first autograph? Do you still have it? Is there a cool story behind it? (Mine was Dick Stuart, then-playing for the Phillies. And unfortunately, I don't have it.) Share your story by commenting .

Miguel Cabrera (on the right) was back with the Tigers when I saw them in Florida against the Mets. With Venezuela eliminated early from the World Baseball Classic, Cabrera was back with his Detroit teammates. Above: here he greets second-year Met (and fellow Venezuelan) Jordany Valdespin... Below: that sweet and powerful swing that helped him lead the AL in batting, homers and RBIs in 2012.

Just 5'10, Jackie Bradley Junior looks like a big cog of the Red Sox future. He's hit over .500 during the first weeks of spring training, including a very impressive leadoff homer Monday against the Marlins. The former University of South Carolina star advanced quickly through Boston's farm system in 2012, finishing his first full year of minor league ball at Portland of the Eastern League. Bloggers and reporters are already speculating if the injury to David Ortiz might leave an opening day roster spot open for him. And with the often-injured Jacoby Ellsbury heading into his "walk" year, Bradley could easily be a starter for the Fenway club in 2014.

I have to credit my pal Dennis for this photo. We added last night's Marlins/Braves game at Jupiter to our schedule. While there wasn't much action in Atlanta's 2-1 victory -- although the Braves had to be a bit concerned when starting pitcher Kris Medlen was hit on the arm by a batted ball --  this view looking of the sunset was spectacular. Dennis suggested just as the sky and light converged that it might make a good shot. You bet it did! The combination of Roger Dean Stadium's low stands, palm trees in the background and "the icing on top" of the pink Florida clouds is a unique image you can't duplicate in the majors during the regular season.

Before Monday's game at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

As a fan and tourist, I find Spring Training incredibly reinvigorating. The strong sun, the warm weather, the easy pace of the games, they all seem like the first rehearsal for spring and summer. It doesn't even matter which teams are playing -- which for explains why my first game of the year matches the Red Sox against the Marlins. There are old friends in new places (above: Juan Pierre, back for a second tour of duty with the Marlins) and familiar names already in game face (below: Boston's Jon Lester) And even a new contender in the over-the-top ballpark treats department: say hello to the Miami Dog (a spicy footlong nestled up against pulled pork on one side and a Cuban corn salsa on the other). Happy New Year, indeed!

Hats off to Mariano Rivera for as classy a press conference to announce one's retirement as I have ever seen. While it's no surprise that the all-time leader in saves plans to call it a career this fall, the words he shared Saturday morning said so much about the man. Not so much that he wants his final season a World Series champion -- who wouldn't? Take note of the grace and modesty in these thoughts: Why 2013 will be his swan song: "The tank is almost empty. The little gas that I have left is everything for this year. And after that, I empty everything. There’s nothing left." His self-assessment: "I don’t feel I’m the greatest of all-time. The reason I say that is because I’m a team player. If it wasn’t for my teammates, I would never had the opportunities. But I would love to be remembered as a player who was always there for others. Trying to make them better." On what he hopes to do after retiring: "I love to work with the minor-leaguers...

Now in his sixth decade in the majors, Cookie Rojas has been a player, coach, manager and, currently a broadcaster calling the action on the Marlins Spanish TV broadcasts. He was in New York back in January to be honored for another aspect of his baseball life, the charitable work he does as a board member of the Baseball Assistance Team.

Phillies hosting the Orioles in Clearwater on March 8th, 2011. Ryan Howard connects. You can hear it, and then your eyes move left to watch it soar toward the tiki hut. After circling the bases, teammate Raul Ibanez waits to share a high-five. Not quite as intense as during the regular season. But it's still a home run.

After playing alongside Roberto Clemente for a decade, Willie Stargell took over as the emotional leader of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the '70s. His clutch home runs and inspirational presence helped make the 1970s the most productive decade in the club's history, capped by the "We Are Family" World Series of 1979 -- when the Bucs bounced back to win the championship after trailing three games to one. His ticket to Cooperstown: 475 career home runs, giving out Stargell's stars to adorn worthy players' caps, and a some prodigious blasts outside Pittsburgh. He belted the first home run in the first game ever at Shea Stadium, and hit the longest homers ever measured at three ballparks -- Dodgers Stadium, Olympic Stadium and Veterans Stadium. Stargell was also quotable. Try this one from early in his career, as he spoke about a fellow Hall of Famer: "Trying to hit Sandy Koufax was like trying to drink coffee with a fork." Willie, whose number-8 ...

As with many spring training ballparks, the Dodgers' Camelback Ranch features seating on a hill gently rising beyond the outfield fence. A little more casual, and maybe better if you have fidgety kids who need to move around a bit. The Cactus (and Grapefruit) League counterpart to bleachers looks so inviting -- especially as a wave of snow rolls across the midwest this week heading towards the east coast.

Growing up in the 1960s, we watched a remarkable collection of pitchers: Whitey Ford at the beginning of the decade, before the National League's legendary arms took over: Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Jim Bunning, Don Drysdale and, of course Sandy Koufax . Number 32 in Dodger Blue. He became virtually unhittable as the years rolled on -- from 1961 to '66, no pitcher dominated as he did. Five consecutive ERA titles, none higher than 2.54. Four strikeout titles in six years -- and over his last four he AVERAGED. Forced to retire at age 30 by an arthritic elbow, he remains a blaze of intimidation to fans and batters of his time. Guess who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated exactly 50 years ago today? The pride of Lafayette High School in Brooklyn, New York. Was Koufax the best pitcher you ever saw? If not, who was better and why? Comment here and offer your input on who was the most dominant pitcher you've ever seen.

Jack Morris, on hand for January's BAT Dinner in New York, has come closer and closer to reaching the Baseball Hall of Fame. This year, he pulled 67% of the voters, his best showing yet. Hopefully, this puts him in line for induction in 2014 -- which will be his final year on the ballot. Jack's credentials seem impressive enough: 254 career victories, over 2400 strikeouts and most notably, pitching on four World Series champions (1984 Tigers, '91 Twins and the '92-'93 Blue Jays). That signature moment came in 1991, when he threw 10 innings of shutout ball in the 7th and final game of the World Series -- earning him MVP honors. Some critics are not impressed with his ERA or one of his other stats, but isn't the Hall based on perception as to who's considered the ace, the pitcher your club didn't want to face -- a player who comes up big in the biggest moments? Do you think Morris belongs in Cooperstown? Should he have already been voted in? Leave a comm...