I have predicted the standings in every division and now it is time for the fun stuff. Who will win the wild cards spots? Who will win the World Series? Who will win all of the awards. Buckle up, here we go.
American League
Playoff teams: Red Sox, White Sox, Angels, and Yankees (wild card)
ALDS
Red Sox over Angels, Yankees over White Sox
ALCS
Red Sox over Yankees
National League
Playoff teams: Mets, Cubs, Dodgers, and Phillies (wild card)
NLDS
Mets over Dodgers, Cubs over Phillies
NLCS
Mets over Cubs
World Series
Red Sox over Mets
Awards
MVP - Manny Ramirez (NL), Grady Sizemore (AL)
CY Young - Johan Santana (NL), Jon Lester (AL)
Rookie of the Year - Cameron Maybin (NL), David Price (AL)
Manager of the Year - Jerry Manuel (NL), Ron Gardenhire (AL)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
AL Predicted Standings
Today we look at the American League...
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox - After years of relying on Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, pitching will be the key to the Red Sox return to the top of the AL East. The bullpen should be the best in the business with Takashi Saito, Justin Masterson, Ramon Ramirez, Hideki Okajima, and Manny Delcarmen getting the ball to Jonathan Papelbon. Watch out for an in-season call up from flamethrower Daniel Bard to make the bullpen even better. Jason Bay proved to be an admirable replacement for Manny and the offense should just keep on churning out runs with a healthy David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedoria.
2. New York Yankees - The starting rotation has been overhauled with the additions of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. Getting Chien-Ming Wang back from injury should also be a big boost. Joba Chamberlain showed flashes of being a dominant starter last year and would really provide the team with a big boost should he fulfill his promise. The only question around the pitching staff is who is going to pitch the 7th and 8th innings in order to get the ball to Mariano Rivera. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez should provide the best 1-2 punch in baseball.
3. Tampa Bay Rays - The Rays came out of nowhere last year to win the AL. They didn't have a 15 game winner or a .300 hitter, but they managed to win 97 games. Pat Burrell should provide a big boost to the offense as well as getting Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria for a full season. Can all these young guys improve or even match last year's success? It is going to be tough and they will probably come just short of the wild card.
4. Toronto Blue Jays - Surprisingly, the Blue Jays led the Majors in ERA with a 3.49 mark. It will be almost impossible to repeat that and the offense will have to improve to pass the top 3 in the division. A healthy Vernon Wells will go a long way in helping the Jays get to the playoffs.
5. Baltimore Orioles - The O's play in the best division in baseball and are going to really struggle to get out of the cellar. The appear to have some really special long term position players with Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Matt Weiters. The offense should be solid once again, but the pitching is going to be the concern. The starting rotation right doesn't include anyone that will be mistaken for a #1 pitcher and probably not even a #2.
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox - Starting pitching will be the reason the White Sox win the division again. Young pitchers John Danks and Gavin Floyd broke out last year and give them good depth to go along with veterans Mark Buerhle and Jose Contreras. The lineup is getting older, but the emergence of Alexi Ramirez and Carlos Quentin give the lineup the ability to score runs at any time. Even with the loss of Javier Vasquez and Nick Swisher, the White Sox should again get to the postseason.
2. Minnesota Twins - The Twins could easily finish first depending on the health of Joe Mauer. The emergence of Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, and Nick Blackburn give the Twins rotation something to add to stud Francisco Liriano. Joe Nathan gives them an elite closer to pair with their rotation. The lineup should be better with the return of Michael Cuddeyer. Justin Morneau could again challenge for the MVP award, but he will need Mauer in the lineup to give him enough RBI opportunities.
3. Cleveland Indians - The Tribe are a sleeper pick to win the division by some experts, but that is only if you believe Travis Hafner will return to form. Don't count me in that category. The lineup is solid, but the pitching staff has questions at the #3, #4, and #5 starters. It will be almost impossible for Cliff Lee to go 22-3 again. Kerry Wood should help the bullpen out, but there just isn't enough pitching to get them to the top of the division.
4. Detroit Tigers - The strength of the Tigers during their World Series run a couple years ago was starting pitching. What a difference a couple years make. Jeremey Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, and Joel Zumaya will start the season on the DL. The only starter left from that team will be Justin Verlander who is looking to bounce back after a sub-par 2008 season. The lineup got a surprise yesterday with the release of Gary Sheffield but they should still be able to score runs with Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez, and Miguel Cabrera.
5. Kansas City Royals - The Royals are getting better, but they still are the least talented team in the division. They do have some young talented hitters (Billy Butler, Mark Teahan, Alex Gordon) but they have yet to have a breakout season. Jose Guillen led the team with 20 HR and 97 RBI and no one else was close in either category. Zach Grienke finally is showing signs of a front line pitcher, but the rest of the staff is below average. Entering the season with Horacio Ramirez and Sidney Ponson as the #4 and #5 starters isn't a good thing.
AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels - The Angels won the West by 21 games last year and don't appear to be as strong this year as last after losing Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and John Garland. Signing Bobby Abreu should help offset the pain of losing Teixeira. The starting rotation is a little dinged up right now with the real possibility that John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Kelvim Escobar start the season on the DL. It is time for the prospects (Brandon Wood, Howie Kendrick, and Kendry Morales) to step up and produce.
2. Oakland Athletics - The lineup got a major boost with the additions of Matt Holiday, Jason Giambi, and Orlando Cabrera. The starting staff is a major concern with Justin Duchscherer injured. The A's will rely on talented yet unproven Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill to live up the hype just to stay near .500.
3. Texas Rangers - The Rangers have the best lineup in the division with Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Hank Blalock, and Chris Davis. The problem again will be pitching. The team ERA was 5.37 last year and no major upgrades were added to the staff this off-season. They have some young arms on the farm, but they don't figure to factor in this year.
4. Seattle Mariners - Ken Griffey Jr. is a Mariner again, but this version is nothing like the old version. They lost their best position player, Raul Ibanez, in free agency and will struggle to replace his numbers. They really need Erik Bedard to return to the pitcher they thought they were getting when they traded for him. Felix Hernandez is the most talented pitcher in the division, but he has yet to put together a full season of significance in his young career. They have some upside if the starters pan out, but they will most likely finish in the cellar once again.
Tomorrow I will predict the playoffs and award winners.
AL East
1. Boston Red Sox - After years of relying on Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz, pitching will be the key to the Red Sox return to the top of the AL East. The bullpen should be the best in the business with Takashi Saito, Justin Masterson, Ramon Ramirez, Hideki Okajima, and Manny Delcarmen getting the ball to Jonathan Papelbon. Watch out for an in-season call up from flamethrower Daniel Bard to make the bullpen even better. Jason Bay proved to be an admirable replacement for Manny and the offense should just keep on churning out runs with a healthy David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Dustin Pedoria.
2. New York Yankees - The starting rotation has been overhauled with the additions of CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. Getting Chien-Ming Wang back from injury should also be a big boost. Joba Chamberlain showed flashes of being a dominant starter last year and would really provide the team with a big boost should he fulfill his promise. The only question around the pitching staff is who is going to pitch the 7th and 8th innings in order to get the ball to Mariano Rivera. Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez should provide the best 1-2 punch in baseball.
3. Tampa Bay Rays - The Rays came out of nowhere last year to win the AL. They didn't have a 15 game winner or a .300 hitter, but they managed to win 97 games. Pat Burrell should provide a big boost to the offense as well as getting Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria for a full season. Can all these young guys improve or even match last year's success? It is going to be tough and they will probably come just short of the wild card.
4. Toronto Blue Jays - Surprisingly, the Blue Jays led the Majors in ERA with a 3.49 mark. It will be almost impossible to repeat that and the offense will have to improve to pass the top 3 in the division. A healthy Vernon Wells will go a long way in helping the Jays get to the playoffs.
5. Baltimore Orioles - The O's play in the best division in baseball and are going to really struggle to get out of the cellar. The appear to have some really special long term position players with Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Matt Weiters. The offense should be solid once again, but the pitching is going to be the concern. The starting rotation right doesn't include anyone that will be mistaken for a #1 pitcher and probably not even a #2.
AL Central
1. Chicago White Sox - Starting pitching will be the reason the White Sox win the division again. Young pitchers John Danks and Gavin Floyd broke out last year and give them good depth to go along with veterans Mark Buerhle and Jose Contreras. The lineup is getting older, but the emergence of Alexi Ramirez and Carlos Quentin give the lineup the ability to score runs at any time. Even with the loss of Javier Vasquez and Nick Swisher, the White Sox should again get to the postseason.
2. Minnesota Twins - The Twins could easily finish first depending on the health of Joe Mauer. The emergence of Kevin Slowey, Scott Baker, and Nick Blackburn give the Twins rotation something to add to stud Francisco Liriano. Joe Nathan gives them an elite closer to pair with their rotation. The lineup should be better with the return of Michael Cuddeyer. Justin Morneau could again challenge for the MVP award, but he will need Mauer in the lineup to give him enough RBI opportunities.
3. Cleveland Indians - The Tribe are a sleeper pick to win the division by some experts, but that is only if you believe Travis Hafner will return to form. Don't count me in that category. The lineup is solid, but the pitching staff has questions at the #3, #4, and #5 starters. It will be almost impossible for Cliff Lee to go 22-3 again. Kerry Wood should help the bullpen out, but there just isn't enough pitching to get them to the top of the division.
4. Detroit Tigers - The strength of the Tigers during their World Series run a couple years ago was starting pitching. What a difference a couple years make. Jeremey Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis, and Joel Zumaya will start the season on the DL. The only starter left from that team will be Justin Verlander who is looking to bounce back after a sub-par 2008 season. The lineup got a surprise yesterday with the release of Gary Sheffield but they should still be able to score runs with Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez, and Miguel Cabrera.
5. Kansas City Royals - The Royals are getting better, but they still are the least talented team in the division. They do have some young talented hitters (Billy Butler, Mark Teahan, Alex Gordon) but they have yet to have a breakout season. Jose Guillen led the team with 20 HR and 97 RBI and no one else was close in either category. Zach Grienke finally is showing signs of a front line pitcher, but the rest of the staff is below average. Entering the season with Horacio Ramirez and Sidney Ponson as the #4 and #5 starters isn't a good thing.
AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels - The Angels won the West by 21 games last year and don't appear to be as strong this year as last after losing Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and John Garland. Signing Bobby Abreu should help offset the pain of losing Teixeira. The starting rotation is a little dinged up right now with the real possibility that John Lackey, Ervin Santana, and Kelvim Escobar start the season on the DL. It is time for the prospects (Brandon Wood, Howie Kendrick, and Kendry Morales) to step up and produce.
2. Oakland Athletics - The lineup got a major boost with the additions of Matt Holiday, Jason Giambi, and Orlando Cabrera. The starting staff is a major concern with Justin Duchscherer injured. The A's will rely on talented yet unproven Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill to live up the hype just to stay near .500.
3. Texas Rangers - The Rangers have the best lineup in the division with Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Hank Blalock, and Chris Davis. The problem again will be pitching. The team ERA was 5.37 last year and no major upgrades were added to the staff this off-season. They have some young arms on the farm, but they don't figure to factor in this year.
4. Seattle Mariners - Ken Griffey Jr. is a Mariner again, but this version is nothing like the old version. They lost their best position player, Raul Ibanez, in free agency and will struggle to replace his numbers. They really need Erik Bedard to return to the pitcher they thought they were getting when they traded for him. Felix Hernandez is the most talented pitcher in the division, but he has yet to put together a full season of significance in his young career. They have some upside if the starters pan out, but they will most likely finish in the cellar once again.
Tomorrow I will predict the playoffs and award winners.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
