Every year I plan on doing a big baseball predictions blog and I always fail to do so. However this year I am. Its not going to be huge, but a quick rundown and what I think will happen.
National League – I’ll start here since this is where real baseball is played.
East:
1.) Philadelphia Phillies
2.) NY Mets
3.) Atlanta Braves
4.) Washington Nationals
5.) Florida Marlins
The popular pick seems to be my favorite the Mets however I am not sold on them. Many say they have a strong rotation solid bully and a great offense. Well, 2 games into the season Glass Pete is hurt, the offense is already proving inconsistent, the bully had a meltdown and who knows what will happen tomorrow. At best, I am hoping for a Wild Card for the Mets. Philly has a great offense that I think will be much more consistent than the Mets. There pitching is horrible but good enough to carry them through to the division title at least. The Braves have become a dark horse pick with many and I don’t see why. Glavine already got lit up. Smoltz is hurt. Hampton is going to get hurt. Their bully is suspect and while they have some good and getting better young players like Francouer, Escobar, and Johnson I just don’t think they have the juice yet to contend. The Nats are an up and coming team and are going to surprise people. If they could get some better pitching in there, they would do damage to the hopes of the contenders. The Marlins are a joke. They have some solid offensive players, however their starting pitching is worse than my old High Schools current rotation. They play suspect defense. Their bully is alright, but they will be over worked by the all-star break.
Central:
1.) Milwaukee Brewers
2.) Chicago Cubs
3.) Cincinnati Reds
4.) Houston Astros
5.) Pittsburgh Pirates
6.) St. Louis Cardinals
The Brewers have a special place in my heart as it was in Wisconsin that I got my first baseball hat (that I remember) and of course it was a Brewers dome piece with their killer “MB” baseball glove logo. If Gange keeps his gas can in the bully when he takes the bump, I think this is the year the Brew-Crew get through. The Cubs will end up celebrating 100 years of futility as well they should despite all the hype. The rest of the division is made up of teams that have no chance at all. The Cards are terrible. The ‘Stro’s have some pop and some pitching but no-wheres near enough. The Pirates can be better but not good. The Reds are getting better as well.
West:
1.) Los Angeles Dodgers
2.) Arizona Diamondbacks
3.) San diego Padres
4.) Colorodo Rockies
5.) San Fransisco Giants
This could be baseballs best division. Arizona is loaded with young talent, solid pitching, a good bullpen oh and a pitcher (Micha Owings) who could hit more home runs than anyone on the Giants. They have the roster to not only win the division but go a long way in the Playoffs as well. However, my pick is on the Dodgers this year. They have a great mix of veterans and young up and coming players. Solid pitching, a great closer and a new manager who might me exactly what that team needs. The rest of the division rounds out with the always solid Padres, but I don’t think they have enough talent to compete with the D-Backs and Dodgers this year. They were counting on Jim Edmonds for a spark and he is already been on the D.L. The Rockies can ride last years success right back to the playoffs in this brutal division, but I am not sold on their pitching. They have a solid core of very good young players who will carry that offense, but I’m not sold on the arms just yet. The Giants will probably be the worst team in the majors and will be the only break in divisional play that the N.L. West teams get. At least that jagoff Barry Bonds is gone.
As far as playoffs go, I think the Mets will score the Wild Card to get into the playoffs, however I see the Dodgers going to the Series.
American League – Where they play almost baseball.
A.L. East
1.) N.Y. Yankees
2.) Boston Red Sox
3.) Toronto Blue Jays
4.) Tampa Bay Rays
5.) Baltimore Orioles
In another tough division with the emergence of the Rays as a team to compete with and of course the Blue Jays I am picking the Yanks to reign supreme. Its hard to pick the pinstripes over the BoSox here, but I think the Yankee offense will power the team and the young pitchers will give them enough to get by. The Blue Jays will contend and add to the divisions meat grinder as will the Rays. I almost want to toss the Rays into 3rd but not just yet. The Orioles are pathetic…who cares.
A.L. Central
1.) Detroit Tigers
2.) Cleveland Indians
3.) Minnesota Twins
4.) Chicago White Sox
5.) Kansas City Royals
The Indians are the popular pick despite Detroit’s stellar offense. Cleveland has a fantastic team. They have great offensive players who can get and be even better. They have a decent starting rotation, a killer bullpen and a closer who has managed to get even tougher this off season. However I am still picking the Tigers to win. I think the offense they have as well as the manager, GM, front office and owner they have will get them through. They will be forced to find a couple of middle relievers and they will and that will seal the deal for them. The Indians will score the wild card…sorry A.L. East, only one of your teams is going this year. I’m calling the Twins 3rd. They are young and rebuilding but have a great core of talent, one of the best relievers in the game as well as one of the best if not the best manager and front office in the game. The White Sox and their bloated payroll are going to flounder and the Royals are up and coming. They have a shot to even get out of last place as far as I am concerned.
A.L. West
1.) Los Angeles Angels
2.) Seattle Mariners
3.) Texas Rangers
4.) Oakland Athletics
This is probably the most lackluster division in baseball. I think the Angels will eek out the division but Seattle will make it tough for the whole year. Texas is regressing and Oakland is in perpetual rebuilding mode…I won’t even get started on that.
For the World Series I am going to roll with a Dodgers vs. Yankees final. Not only will be it an “old time” match up, but it will feature Joe Torre and his new team against hsi old team with Joe Girardi at the helm. Tommy Lasorda will be around as well giving the Italians nice WS representation. If I am forced to pick a winner, I think I will go with the Dodgers in 7, however starting in ’09 I expect Yankee Dominance to return in full force.
