NLCS: Phillies over Giants ALCS: White Sox over Red Sox World Series: Phillies over White Sox
AL MVP: Carl Crawford AL Cy: Jon Lester AL ROY: Kila Ka'aihue NL MVP: Albert Pujols NL Cy: Roy Halladay NL ROY: Brett Wallace
"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." --- Bart Giamatti, on baseball
AL East: Red Sox Yankees (wc) Rays Orioles Blue Jays
NL West Giants Rockies Dodgers D'backs Padres
NL Central Reds Cardinals Brewers Cubs Pirates Astros
NL East Phillies Braves (wc) Marlins Nationals Mets
NLDS: Reds over Braves, Phillies over Giants ALDS: Yankees over Rangers, Red Sox over Twins NLCS: Phillies over Reds ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees World Series: Phillies over Red Sox
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez AL Cy: Justin Verlander NL MVP: Albert Pujols NL Cy: Roy Halladay
I have no clue on the ROYs, but I can guarantee they will not be Kila or Brett Wallace.
(edited by BoromirMark on 29.3.11 1400)
Michigan against the SEC: 20-6-1 (7-4 in bowl games)
That Vernon Wells trade is going to haunt my Angels for a long time to come.
AL Central Twins Indians Tigers White Sox Royals
The Twins win in the second half, because it's kinda what they do at this point. The Indians shock everyone by making a run, but missing the postseason by THAT much.
AL East: Red Sox Yankees (Wild Card) Rays Orioles Blue Jays
And thus order is restored and the AL East once again becomes the Yankees, the Red Sox, and Everybody Else.
NL West Giants Padres Rockies D-Backs Dodgers
The Padres make a go of it and fall short. The Dodgers are already well on their way to last place, with the distraction of a divorce and Andre Ethier coming out and saying he's not coming back next year. The season hasn't even started yet, you bastards! At least give me AN ILLUSION of hope! I hate the Dodgers so...SO much...
NL Central Brewers Reds Cardinals Pirates Cubs Astros
That Adam Wainwright injury is going to murder the Cards more than the Pujols drama ever could. The Brewers are quietly set up to have a great year with Grienke and Prince Fielder (in a contract year) leading the way.
NL East Braves Phillies (Wild Card) Nationals Marlins Mets
The Phils are just getting decimated by injuries. They're going to make a late run, but it'll be too late to win the division. I'm also going out on a limb and speculating that one of the Big 4 will hit a season-ending injury before June.
NLDS: Giants over Braves, Phillies over Brewers ALDS: Yankees over Twins (Stop me if you've heard that one before), Red Sox over Rangers NLCS: Phillies over Giants ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees World Series: Red Sox over Phillies
AL MVP: Carl Crawford AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia NL MVP: Prince Fielder NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
AL East Red Sox: Though I do see more flaws in the rotation than they are getting credit for. Yankees wc Rays Orioles Blue Jays
AL Central Twins: They might be 40 games out at the All Star Break, but they'll win the division somehow. Tigers White Sox Royals Indians
AL West Athletics Angels Rangers: Can't see it back to back years Mariners
NL East Phillies Braves wc Marlins Nationals Metropolitans
NL Central Reds Cardinals Cubs Brewers Astros Pirates: Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home.
NL West Rockies Giants Padres Dodgers Diamondbacks
playoffs Red Sox over Athletics Yankees over Twins (this is a recording) Reds over Braves Rockies shock Phillies Reds over Rockies Red Sox over Yankees Red Sox over Reds
[quote It's FalseAL Central Twins Indians Tigers White Sox Royals
The Twins win in the second half, because it's kinda what they do at this point. The Indians shock everyone by making a run, but missing the postseason by THAT much.
I hope you are right about my beloved Indians but I just can't see it.
Originally posted by spfNL Central: Cubs (3) Brewers Reds Cards Astros Pirates
I like the Cubs this year. I think a reined-in Zambrano could have a monster year for them.
That makes one of us.
Oh yeah, you're just trying to maintain the Billy Goat jinx, aren't you :-)
I certainly wouldn't be upset if it worked out that way
Seriously though, I like a few things this year for them:
1. Matt Garza. Going from the AL East to the NL Central should line him up for a monster year.
2. Carlos Zambrano. I think he knows this is his last chance. The way he closed out last year has me thinking that he may finally have figured it out.
3. Carlos Pena. He might hit 55 HR in Wrigley if there's a couple of windy days.
4. The bullpen. I feel like with Marmol, Wood, and Marshall that the Cubs can effectively make most games 6 innings long for their opposition. I love a team with a solid bullpen, and I think the Cubs have one this year.
5. Andrew Cashner. I think he could be a major stud for them this year, and a strong ROY candidate.
6. Aramis Ramirez. A healthy Ramirez gives this team a big offensive boost.
Now if they make the playoffs, and you see me calling them the next World Series winners, then you can question my motives ;)
Can't believe anyone would have The Nats anywhere but last place. Besides for Werth and Zimmerman their offense is pretty bad and their rotation besides for Jordan Zimmermann is hideous and their defense is as putrid as it gets. Meanwhile The Mets managed to win 79 games last year even though wthey gave away 1600+ at bats to offensive stinkholes(Francouer, Cora, Barajas, Blanco, Jacobs, Tejada, Carter, Feliciano) that put up a obp of .300 and all those guys are gone.They also gave away starts to Main and Perez. Sandy had little money to play with and still brought in good role players(Hairston, Harris, Capunao, Young, Paulino, Carasco) and could have a elite line up if Beltran stays healthy. I think their rotation is underrated and the bullpen is intringing and likely the best Mets bullpen since '06. I'm predicting 83 win for The Mets.
I am relieved to see everyone picked the Astros to finish fifth or sixth in their division (as a Pirates fan I'm hoping for sixth). Steve Berthiaume is picking the Astros to win the division and it might be the most insane prediction I've ever read.
Originally posted by graves9Can't believe anyone would have The Nats anywhere but last place.
What you have to understand is that everybody hates the Yankees and Mets. Unfortunately the Yankees are often too good to criticize so they take it out on the Mets instead. You'll rarely find an unbiased and fair take on the Mets.
Originally posted by It's FalseThe Dodgers are already well on their way to last place, with the distraction of a divorce and Andre Ethier coming out and saying he's not coming back next year. The season hasn't even started yet, you bastards! At least give me AN ILLUSION of hope! I hate the Dodgers so...SO much...
I bet the Honky Tonk Man has hope for the Dodgers this season...
The problem with selling the team is the fact that the new owner is likely not to be from Wisconsin and the team is locked into its lease at Miller Park. The hot commodities for prospective buyers right now are teams that are in large markets(i.e.