MLB Predictions

It's that time of season. Baseball is just around the corner. It's the time when those so called baseball know-it-alls predict to the exact detail what is going to happen. HA!

I'm pretty skeptical when I read anybody else's predictions anyways. (What? You didn't predict the Detroit Tigers to be in the World Series last year? HA! And you call yourself and expert.) I'm an not a fan of the popular opinion that accurate predictions equals baseball knowledge.

Anyways, here are my predictions. I know I have some wild picks that you disagree with. You don't have to tell me that. These are my predictions, not yours. I didn't predict team records. Just division order and awards. I also have a brief comment on each team. Without further ramble, here they are:

AL East

Yankees – With Pettite back, Pavano healthy, and possibly Clemens, they are the real deal.

Red Sox – GM Theo Epstein has a good club with solid players. Unfortunately, they have to look at the Yankees and say, “Youkilis” [you-kill-us!].

Blue Jays – If only they didn’t have to play around 20% of their games against the Yankees or Red Sox…

Orioles – They acquired some good (but pricey) bullpen help as well as a solid veteran that can play several positions in Aubrey Huff. Now, it’s time to watch them continue being the Orioles.

Devil Rays – The only thing scary about this team is flying bats from the hands of Delmon Young, oh, and they killed Steve Irwin

AL Central

Tigers - After losing the World Series, they go and pick up Gary Sheffield. Does that sentence sound as scary as it was to type?

(Wild Card)White Sox – They’ve got speed, power, average, defense, starters, relievers and they can beat you with any of them.

Indians – The tribe is young, but don’t let that fool you. Being young doesn’t mean they can’t play. These kids are talented and will beat you if underestimated.

Twins – They’ll miss Brad Radke but even with him they need a bit more pitching.

Royals – ha ha ha, this team makes me giggle.

AL West

Angels – That veteran rotation can pitch a lot of innings. Gary Matthews will be back to his regular self and not put up MVP numbers. Still, expect Vlad and Co. to be playing in October

Athletics – OK, Mr. Beane, without Zito now is the best time to prove the Anti-Moneyballers wrong.

Rangers – There is little chance for noise in Arlington. They’ll probably have to wait until “dubya” is out of office. Meanwhile, [the artist formerly known as] Slammin Sammy will at least give you a reason to watch.

Mariners – Look for the M’s to get a solid package when they trade Ichiro at the deadline this season. Still, it’ll be too late and the rain will keep pouring in Seattle.

NL East

Mets – They lost Pedro for half a season but the NL East is so weak and that lineup is so potent that it might not even matter.

Phillies – Ryan Howard now has a full season under his belt and look for him to continue to improve.

Braves – Having the best bullpen in the NL doesn’t matter if your starters get hammered.

Marlins – They’ll be wearing patches on their sleeves all year to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the club’s first World Series victory. They’ll also be wishing they had a few of those players back.

Nationals – What else do you expect when an already bottom of the division team loses its two key contributors.

NL Central

Cardinals – Rolen is unhappy, Edmonds is falling apart, and they are hoping to convert Braden Looper (the 1-2 inning wonder) to a starter. What does all that add up to? Albert Pujols (once again) has a lot of work to do by himself…but he’ll do it!

Cubs – Their spending spree bought them an above .500 record but not much more than that.

Astros – They did a great job dealing with their losses of Bagwell, Pettite, and (most likely Clemens) by getting C. Lee and J. Jennings. Still, this is more of a Lance Berkman show than GM Tim Purura would like to admit.

Reds – Great bench (probably one of the last things anybody is concerned about) and decent pen. Other than that, they’re the same old, boring Reds.

Brewers – Once again, the Brew Crew’s success will be centered around Ben Sheets

Pirates – Two things the Bucs don’t have: They don’t have a closer and they don’t have a chance of being a threat in this division.

NL West

Dodgers – Addition of Schmidt puts these guys over the top

(Wild Card) Padres – Spring training doesn’t mean much to a team that has almost all of its spots filled already: deep bench, solid off-season acquisitions...look for these guys to compete.

Giants – I mean, think about it, how could they not re-sign Bonds? He fits the team qualifications perfectly by being born in the Lyndon B. Johnson era.

Diamondbacks – Don’t expect Johnson to have the same impact on this team as he did half a decade ago.

Rockies – If I was one of those four pitchers battling for the bottom spot of the rotation, I would intentionally lose in hopes of getting a minor league deal somewhere else.

Awards

AL MVP – Jim Thome

AL Cy Young – Johan Santana

AL “Rookie” of the Year – Daisuke Matsuzaka*

NL MVP – Albert Pujols

NL Cy Young – Jason Schmidt

NL Rookie of the Year – Chris Young

Postseason Predictions soon to come...