Welcome back to campus. Did anyone see this one coming? The NCAA tournament, I mean. When 11th-seeded Old Dominion upset sixth-seeded Notre Dame back on March 18, we all got only a mere taste of the shocking defeats to come, which included, but were certainly not limited to 12th-seeded Cornell topping Temple (and 12th-seeded Cornell topping Wisconsin in the subsequent clash, for that matter), 13th-seeded Murray State squeaking one out against fourth-seeded Vanderbilt, and 14th-seeded Ohio embarrassing an ignominious third-seeded Georgetown side that looked like neutered Hoyas all night long.

And Nova?!?! What happened there? I think most of us were under the impression that the Wildcats, after nearly evaporating from the tournament at the hands of 15th-seeded Robert Morris (no, not the former Colts linebacker), would firmly grab hold of the steering wheel spinning violently out of control and stay the course to the Final Four in their next game against 10th-seeded St. Mary's. But who were we kidding?

This is why they call it madness, and of course, no hand ever came to aid the Wildcat's wheel and they were punished by the Gaels and sent packing back to Radnor Township. Also, KANSAS?!?! For all you folks out there who thought there would never be a famous name other than Kurt Warner that we could all associate with Northern Iowa, well, we all were either horrified or stupefied (but mostly just horrified at the sound of our brackets busting before our eyes) when we were introduced to Ali Farokhmanesh and his desperate, ill-advised, I-can't-believe-he's-taking-that-...-OH-MY-GOD-NO-WAY-DID-THAT-JUST-HAPPEN! three-point shot that stunned the first-seeded Jayhawks and put the Panthers in the Sweet Sixteen. Oh yeah, and Butler was one miracle half-court shot away from winning the tournament. Yeah. BUTLER.

But at least this year I know for a fact that none of us got them all right, and what's even more comforting is that nobody, not even Raven-Symoné, could have predicted the overwhelming amount of unexpected outcomes that this year's tournament yielded. That being said, it's baseball season, and there are more forecasts to be made. I give you, without further adieu, the top ten storylines in baseball for 2010 (please note that these predictions were made prior to opening day):

10. Murderers' Row on the Mound in Beantown

Last Sunday, Josh Beckett took the mound for the Red Sox against CC Sabathia of the Yankees. It was an ideal way to open up the season for most fans, especially in this region of the country, though I've never been a fan of the two heated rivals playing each other so early in the season (it's always the same scenario for the Bombers in April and May: Go to Fenway and lose...a lot. Even though that wasn't the case this time). Regardless, Beckett will anchor baseball's strongest rotation whose holes need no plugging, because...well...there are no holes. The 2003 World Series MVP will be followed by Cy Young favorite Jon Lester, the newly-signed former Angels ace John Lackey, Asian sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka, and either Clay Buchholz or evergreen knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Hitting never felt like such a chore.

9. N.L. Best

After finally finding a manager that fits, Jim Tracy, the Rockies look poised for their best season yet. Tracy, of course, revitalized a paltry, decrepit Colorado club early last year when he was hired to replace the axed Clint Hurdle last May, and all signs should point to a first place finish. That is, if they can get past the Giants...and the Dodgers...and the Diamondbacks...and the Padres (okay, maybe not the Padres), who all have postseason aspirations as well. It may not be the best division in baseball, but in 2010 it may in fact prove to be the most exciting, and the most gut-wrenching.

8. Ron Washington's Leash

How short will it get? A few weeks ago, it was reported that the Rangers manager tested positive for cocaine last season, and the skipper has since confirmed its truth. Texas' front office has given Washington a "zero tolerance" policy that he must obey for the rest of his time in Arlington, or else he'll be gone. But if the Rangers don't make the playoffs this year, he's likely to be gone anyway.

7. The Luck of the Mets

Queens' overpaid band of black, orange, and blues capped off the first 30 percent of their current decade of disgrace with back-to-back years of missing the playoffs after losing on the last game of the regular season, and a humiliating fourth-place finish in the N.L. East last year to christen the overly-extensive confines of Citi Field (how many home runs did David Wright have last year? Three?). If the Metropolitans don't get it together this season, a roster shakeup will surely be in the cards...and perhaps even GM Omar Minaya's head on a plate...manager Jerry Manuel's, too, for that matter.

6. Rookie Watch

Twenty-year-old (yes, I'm almost three years older than this kid) Braves outfielder Jason Heyward seems to be the unanimous favorite to take home the silverware as the N.L.'s top freshman, as does Orioles southpaw Brian Matusz for the A.L. Keep your eye on Cincinnati's Cuban import Aroldis Chapman though, and his blistering left-handed fastball. And how could we forget Nationals' flamethrower Stephen Strasburg? The wild card? Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton who will start this season in Double-A. Think of him as Miguel Cabrera Part II.

5. Phils Gain Elite Status

Having been to the last two World Series and won one of them, it's safe to say that Philadelphia has become baseball's third-greatest superpower, joining the Red Sox and the Yankees. They may have lost ace Cliff Lee, who couldn't have been more dominant after coming over from Cleveland in a trade last year, but Roy Halladay isn't too shabby a replacement. Just imagine if that Ryan Howard for Albert Pujols straight-up swap goes through.

4. High hopes in the Twin Cities

Closer Joe Nathan may be out for this year, but Joe Mauer made certain that for the next eight years the reigning American League MVP will reside behind the plate at the brand new Target Field in downtown Minneapolis when he inked an eight-year deal with the Twins worth $184 million. And believe it or not, he's worth every penny. The Yankees, Red Sox, and everyone else who was looking to upgrade at catcher next offseason will be bummed that one of baseball's best hitters has been locked up for nearly a decade, but loyalty will always defeat greed. Unless you don't want to be loyal. But that just isn't the Mauer way. Thanks for keeping baseball pure, Joe.

3. Higher Hopes in the Emerald City

He may not know it yet, but Don Wakamastu might be the manager under the most pressure of any team this season. The Mariners have revamped their entire squad, highlighted by the acquisitions of the speedy Chone Figgins, the durable Eric Byrnes, and the flawless left arm of Cliff Lee to complement another Cy Young candidate in Felix Hernandez. And get this: Ken Griffey, Jr. is on the team again this season! The unbearable stenches of Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre that had forever lingered within the confines of Safeco Field have been quashed, as GM Jack Zduriencik finally lit a match and disposed of each disappointment. Now, it'll be up to the players to put together the club's best season since 2001 when Seattle won a record 116 games.

2. The Awards

A.L. MVP: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees. N.L. MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. A.L. Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners. N.L. Cy Young: Matt Cain, San Francisco Giants.

1. The Yankees Will Win the World Series

Here's how it will finish: A.L.: Yankees, Twins, Mariners, Red Sox (Wild Card); ALDS: Yankees over Mariners (3-1), Red Sox over Twins (3-2); ALCS: Yankees over Red Sox (4-2). N.L.: Phillies, Cardinals, Rockies, Braves (Wild Card) NLDS: Phillies over Cardinals (3-0), Braves over Rockies (3-1); NLCS: Phillies over Braves (4-0); World Series: Yankees over Phillies (4-2)...again. Now that A-Rod has finally won a title, anything is possible. The next dynasty beckons...