Spring is in the air, and that means that for the annual swing-and-miss baseball predictions (pun unintended, but looks good there). Run down through the divisions, regular season awards, made-up awards, then postseason predictions.
National League:
West:
To be honest, I have no idea about this division whatsoever. Why should I care about the opposite league on the opposite coast. I'm picking the Giants because they have Tim Lincecum.
2. Colorado
3. Los Angeles
4. Arizona
5. Padres.
Central:
Yeah, I did pick Pittsburgh to come out as the wild card last year, but that mistake won't happen again. I also picked the Cubs to win the division. I'm picking the modest Reds because...well I've learned that nothing good ever happens for the Cubs.
2. St Louis
3. Milwaukee
4. Chicago
5. Pittsburgh, not last!
6. Houston
East:
This division has had the National League representative come out of it twice in the last two years, and both times it was the Phillies. They've only gotten better by adding Roy Halladay, so there is no reason they can't make it again, winning the division by at least 5 games.
2. Florida
3. Atlanta
4. Washington gets over the fifth place hump
5. The Mets: Take That
Colorado, Saint Louis, and Florida grind it out for the Wild Card, but Hanley Ramirez is to much, and puts the Marlins in the postseason.
American League:
West:
The Mariners have quietly been getting better, and the addition of Cliff Lee could put them over the top. However, the Angels, like always will have a strangle hold on the division. Angels by 3 games.
2. Seattle
3. Texas
4. Oakland
Central:
I really hope Kansas City manages to finally do something, because I'm sick of hearing how bad they are, plus Zach Greinke is too good to be on a terrible team for his entire career. Minnesota wins the division.
2. Detroit
3. Chicago (OZZY)
4. Kansas City (see, they managed to not be last)
5. Cleveland
And now to the creme de la creme, the best division in baseball, the UEFA Champions League of baseball (I went there), the only division anyone reading this cares about: the East:
The Red Sox added a lot of unsung talent this offseason, look for Marco Scutaro and Adrian Beltre to thrive. The Yankees didn't do much, but hey, as World Series Champs, if it ain't broke, don't fix it (that sentence did break the Guinness world record for most commas). Toronto lost Roy Halladay, Toronto lost any unrealistic chance. Baltimore is Baltimore. And a lot of people like the Rays because of Longoria and Price. Here's the deal: Longoria, fine, but a young pitcher on a mediocre team, in a division with the best two teams in baseball, the best division overall, spells trouble. I realistically see both the Red Sox and the Yankees winning 100 games this season, but in the end the Sox pitching, defense, and writer's bias gets it done.
2. New York
3. Tampa Bay
4. Toronto
5. Baltimore
Wild Card: Like I said, the Yankees could still win 100
Regular Season Awards:
Skipping ROY because I can't think of any rookies.
MOY:
AL: Francona
NL: Dusty Baker, CIN
Cy Young
NL: Roy Halladay
AL: Cliff Lee
(no coincidence)
MVP:
NL: Hanley Ramirez
AL: Mauer repeats
The Made-Up Awards
Best Name: Elvis Andrus
Most Injury Prone: Rafael Furcal; Yeah! He is still playing!
Surprise Player: Marco Scutaro
Most Likely to Leave Red Sox due to Mother buying a shirt: Jacoby Ellsbury (I'll do everything in my power)
Post Season:
National League Division Series:
(E)PHI vs. (C) CIN: Philly is way too good, easy 3 game sweep
(W)SF vs. (WC)FLA: It isn't hard to make it out of the West, it isn't good; The East is. FLA in 5
American League Division Series:
(E)BOS vs. (W)LAA: Yeah, it is happening again. Sox return to sweeping the Angels
(C)MIN vs. (WC)NYY: The Yankees are too good, and the Central isn't (kinda like the NL West) Yankees sweep as well.
Both LCS' are division foes:
National League Championship Series:
(E)PHI vs. (WC)FLA: The NL East sends a team from their league to the World Series, it's just a different team this time. The illustrious reign is over, Florida in 7.
American League Championship Series:
(E)BOS vs. (WC)NYY: One of the greatest playoff series of all time. Bottom of the ninth, Game 7, 5-5 tie, runner on second: Scutaro knocks in the game winning run! Yeah I'm riding the back of Scutaro. Wanna fight?
So here we are, the 2010 World Series, the Marlins for the first time since '03, look to stay perfect in franchise history in the Series. The Red Sox look for #3 in 7 years, and #8 overall. They sure as hell get it done, with Beckett shutting down his old team in Game 5.
World Series MVP: Marco Scutaro, of course.
Side note: AL wins All-Star Game again to claim home-field.
So there you have it, my MLB season predictions. Comments, Questions accepted. Now looking forward to the picks of my good cousin.
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baseball. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, November 27, 2009
Halladay Trade in the Making
As all 3 of us know, the Red Sox and the Yankees (who will get as much praise as a Sox fan can give them, by me saluting 99 year-old recently retired Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard, who in his first game, introduced 8 Hall-of-Famers, and Dom Dimaggio as his first introduction) are in a competition to acquire Roy Halladay from the Blue Jays.
As half of my avid two readers know (thanks to one not showing up on Thanksgiving, even though he said he would...*jackass*...and we bought you a card.) Alex Gonzalez was recently signed to a short-term deal by the very same team shopping for Halladay. Now in my non-expert, very biased opinion, this is an extension of the trade for Halladay, who I believe the Red Sox will get. (Part of this is bias, the other part is believing, even though they are Canadian, the Jays can't be stupid enough to dig that big a grave for everyone in the division by letting the Yankees have Halladay, along with Sabathia and Burnett)
Anyway, I believe the Gonzalez signing was part of the awaiting acquisition of Halladay. Earlier this season the Red Sox wanted Halladay, but were not willing to give what the Jays wanted. Obviously Buchholz is/will be involved, and others too. The Red Sox could not reach a deal with Gonzalez, and he looked good in his second stint in Boston. Maybe the Sox really didn't want to sign him, or maybe they told him to sign with Toronto, who knows? I truly believe that this was the first step in Halladay's one-way ticket to Fenway Park.
Also, To the Thanksgiving skipping jackass:
As I discussed with Uncle Richard, and you would know if you showed up, I was watching my favorite morning show, Mike and Mike, and they were discussing the NL Cy Young voting. One voter didn't vote for Carpenter at all, and gave Javier Vazquez a third place vote. This, the two Mike's said, was because the voter was making his decision based on metrics, such as WAR and VORP. So I hope your happy, jackass, because one writer in Seattle is listening to you.
As half of my avid two readers know (thanks to one not showing up on Thanksgiving, even though he said he would...*jackass*...and we bought you a card.) Alex Gonzalez was recently signed to a short-term deal by the very same team shopping for Halladay. Now in my non-expert, very biased opinion, this is an extension of the trade for Halladay, who I believe the Red Sox will get. (Part of this is bias, the other part is believing, even though they are Canadian, the Jays can't be stupid enough to dig that big a grave for everyone in the division by letting the Yankees have Halladay, along with Sabathia and Burnett)
Anyway, I believe the Gonzalez signing was part of the awaiting acquisition of Halladay. Earlier this season the Red Sox wanted Halladay, but were not willing to give what the Jays wanted. Obviously Buchholz is/will be involved, and others too. The Red Sox could not reach a deal with Gonzalez, and he looked good in his second stint in Boston. Maybe the Sox really didn't want to sign him, or maybe they told him to sign with Toronto, who knows? I truly believe that this was the first step in Halladay's one-way ticket to Fenway Park.
Also, To the Thanksgiving skipping jackass:
As I discussed with Uncle Richard, and you would know if you showed up, I was watching my favorite morning show, Mike and Mike, and they were discussing the NL Cy Young voting. One voter didn't vote for Carpenter at all, and gave Javier Vazquez a third place vote. This, the two Mike's said, was because the voter was making his decision based on metrics, such as WAR and VORP. So I hope your happy, jackass, because one writer in Seattle is listening to you.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The Most Important, Impossible Thing To Know For The MLB Second Half
I don't want to take the time to write a real blog, and it was painful to see how abysmal I was doing with my pre-season picks, so I will just leave you with the best realistic trade move there is:
The Mariners are contenders, but the only way to make it in is winning the AL West. Their hitting is fairly solid, and so is their defense (I have seen them play in person). All they have for starting pitching is Felix Hernandez. They need a second starter. Listen to me Mariners GM, who will be unnamed due to my lack of baseball knowledge outside of the AL East, FIND A WAY TO PICK UP ROY HALLADAY BECAUSE HE WON'T STAY IN THE AL EAST!
Smart? Yes. Possible? No shot in hell
The Mariners are contenders, but the only way to make it in is winning the AL West. Their hitting is fairly solid, and so is their defense (I have seen them play in person). All they have for starting pitching is Felix Hernandez. They need a second starter. Listen to me Mariners GM, who will be unnamed due to my lack of baseball knowledge outside of the AL East, FIND A WAY TO PICK UP ROY HALLADAY BECAUSE HE WON'T STAY IN THE AL EAST!
Smart? Yes. Possible? No shot in hell
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Change We Must Invest In
I propose a change in the All-Star voting system for Major League Baseball. Polls close tomorrow and I looked at the paper today to see the standings. The list is dominated by Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays. This is a great representation of the AL East, the problem is the fan voting.
Sure players like Youkilis, Texiara, Pedroia, Bay, and Longoria deserve to be there, but all it is is a popularity contest. You want incontrovertible truth? Each team gets one player for each position for voting (three for outfield, and pitchers are different). The Red Sox have been largely troubled at shortstop this year. Things have been turning around as Nick Green is proving to be a player you can win a World Series, and Lugo is finally rising to full potential. However, the shortstop choice for the Red Sox on the ballot is Jed Lowrie.
Jed Lowrie, who has spent most of his time on the DL, and the Minors is the Red Sox choice. These are his stats: 5 games, 18 at bats, and one hit. Two walks, and 8 strikeouts. His Batting Average stands at .056 along with his slugging, and his on base is .150. What does this add up to? Fifth place out of 14 shortstop choices for the All-Star Game. Sure he has to make up 300,000 or so votes in a little over 24 hours to make it, but he still has over 700,000. I'm furious. If this is the America that I am being forced to live in, I don't want to live anymore.
Sure fifth place means nothing, but this is a ridiculous moment in Major Leage Baseball history. I propose that we change the All-Star voting style to a choice by the Baseball Writers of America, the same people that choose the Hall of Famers and whichever players get the most votes, they go to the All-Star Game. Another idea is to eliminate it as a whole, keep the Home Run Derby (which only makes sense to take place in Yankee--I'm sorry, The New Yankee Stadium) and have four players from each league. Whichever player wins, his league gets Home Field Advantage in the World Series. Or we could be lame, eliminate everything, and just go back to Best Record. But come on, chicks always have, still do, and always will, dig the long ball
Sure players like Youkilis, Texiara, Pedroia, Bay, and Longoria deserve to be there, but all it is is a popularity contest. You want incontrovertible truth? Each team gets one player for each position for voting (three for outfield, and pitchers are different). The Red Sox have been largely troubled at shortstop this year. Things have been turning around as Nick Green is proving to be a player you can win a World Series, and Lugo is finally rising to full potential. However, the shortstop choice for the Red Sox on the ballot is Jed Lowrie.
Jed Lowrie, who has spent most of his time on the DL, and the Minors is the Red Sox choice. These are his stats: 5 games, 18 at bats, and one hit. Two walks, and 8 strikeouts. His Batting Average stands at .056 along with his slugging, and his on base is .150. What does this add up to? Fifth place out of 14 shortstop choices for the All-Star Game. Sure he has to make up 300,000 or so votes in a little over 24 hours to make it, but he still has over 700,000. I'm furious. If this is the America that I am being forced to live in, I don't want to live anymore.
Sure fifth place means nothing, but this is a ridiculous moment in Major Leage Baseball history. I propose that we change the All-Star voting style to a choice by the Baseball Writers of America, the same people that choose the Hall of Famers and whichever players get the most votes, they go to the All-Star Game. Another idea is to eliminate it as a whole, keep the Home Run Derby (which only makes sense to take place in Yankee--I'm sorry, The New Yankee Stadium) and have four players from each league. Whichever player wins, his league gets Home Field Advantage in the World Series. Or we could be lame, eliminate everything, and just go back to Best Record. But come on, chicks always have, still do, and always will, dig the long ball
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