Preseason bragging has no place in Major League Baseball. It provides fodder for locker room gossip and anything that winds up in a newspaper is generally hung up on the lockers.

Those that make brash statements before a regular season pitch has been thrown may have a compelling need to be heard. Maybe it's something they need to get off their chest. Perhaps, they have an insecurity.

Whatever the case, the team the player represents better have won a title of some sort the previous season for the statement to have any clout. It's not clear what Jimmy Rollins had on his mind when he predicted in January 2007 that his Phillies were the team to beat in the National League East. Not even players on the New York Mets, who ran away with the division in '06 or the Braves, who won 14 consecutive titles from 1991-2005 (1994 strike year) bragged about their team's chances before the '07 season.

But Mr. Rollins, a quality shortstop in his own right, felt the need to tell a reporter overt lunch that the "Fightin Phils" were the team to catch. As it turned out, Rollins turned out to be prophetic as the Phils won the division by one game on the last day of the season. The Mets' demise down the stretch in which they blew a seven game lead with 17 to play helped Rollins' cause. Problem is, the Phils faced the Rockies in the NLDS and were swept in three games. Now, I wonder what Jimmy will predict in preseason '08.

Maybe he'll keep his tongue in check and let the teams' bats, defense and pitching do the talking on the field. Look at the Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks. No one bragged on either side. Yet they both made the playoffs by getting hot down the stretch and swept their first round opponents. More than likely, you won't find any bragging next year from either team.

Predictions should be left up to the baseball pundits, the ESPN types, who get paid to entertain their viewers or the call-in talk show hosts who have their own views on the races. Players need to do what they do best. Perform on the field, have fun and send their fans home happy more often than not.

Learn more about this author, David Skolnik.
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