Well, the season is 9 days away (starting the night of April 2 at US Cellular Field, home of the World Champion Chicago White Sox, with the Sox vs. the Indians) so I figure what the hey, let's get that 2006 prediction ball rolling down the alley of prognostication, and see who knocks down all the pins OF THE FUTURE.....
AL East Yankees Blue Jays Red Sox Devil Rays Orioles
Yankees feast on every #3-5 pitcher in baseball to rack up 95 or so wins. Blue Jays surprise and the Red Sox deal with a rotation of very old guys (Wakefield, Schilling, Wells) and the inevitable breakdowns thereof. Devil Rays surprise by staying around for a while, but fall off in the second half. The Orioles hope to get through the year without having anyone suspended.
AL Central White Sox Indians (Wild Card) Twins Tigers Royals This division will be tight this year. The Sox have an even stronger pitching staff and if Jim Thome is healthy they have a very potent 3-4-5 combo in Konerko, Thome, Dye. The Indians worry me with some of their pitching losses, but their young players should keep getting better this year. Twins will be dangerous with their pitching, but when the big bat you pick up for an anemic offense is Rondell White it doesn't bode well. Tigers continue to improve. Royals play 162 games and likely don't lose all of them.
AL West A's Angels Rangers Mariners If Frank Thomas somehow plays over 100 games this year the A's will be a force to be reckoned with. Even without him the A's still have too much pitching not to take this division. The Angels needed to pick up a bat behind Vlad, and didn't. They still have a strong team though. The Rangers made a nice pickup in Millwood and I see them contending late and possibly overtaking LAA. Of course if they somehow can get Roger Clemens to join them all bets are off. The Mariners just seem stuck in place as they slowly assemble the entire 2002 Charlotte Knights roster (Jeremy Reed, Mike Morse, Joe Borchard).
NL East Braves Mets (Wild Card) Phillies Nationals Marlins This division is a 3-horse race. Logic would tell me to pick the Mets, but since the Braves last lost this divison sometime during the Dead Ball era I am not going to pick against them. I see the Mets getting the Wild Card. I love Ryan Howard and am looking forward to seeing his development this year, but I think the Phillies need a bit more pitching. Though I am rooting for them now that they have Aaron "Crash" Rowand. The other teams are there.
NL Central Cardinals Brewers Astros Pirates Cubs Reds The Cards always find a way to win 95-100 games. No reason they won't this year. The Brewers are going to be a solid team and fight for the Wild Card all year long as their young players continue to develop. It all hangs on the health of Ben Sheets for them. The Astros need Clemens to come back or they will be hanging out with the Bucs and Cubs in the low-middle. The Pirates are starting a nice ascension but I don't see them contending this year. The Cubs will draw lots of fans who drink lots of beer. The Reds are so pitching-strapped that I believe they offered Oil Can Boyd a 3/30mil deal this spring.
NL West Dodgers Padres Giants Rockies D-backs I'll be honest, this division really just baffles me. It all goes on too late at night for my taste. I think the Dodgers will win. Though they have Grady Little so who knows? I like the Padres so I guess 2nd for them. The Giants are wholly dependent on Barry Bonds and I don't see him playing a full season. There are 2 other teams who I honestly know jack about. The D-backs now have Orlando Hernandez so I guess if they make the playoffs that will help them.
Playoffs: Division Series White Sox over A's Indians over Yankees Mets over Cardinals Braves over Dodgers
LCS White Sox over Indians Mets over Braves
World Series White Sox over Mets 4-2.
Awards AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez NL MVP: Albert Pujols AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay NL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez AL ROY: Francisco Liriano NL ROY: Matt Murton
Predictions from the man who gave you this gem (The W) last year:
AL Central 1. MIN 2. CLE 3. CHI 4. DET 5. KC I don't think any of the bottom four have a real chance.
Yikes - in my defense, I got seven out of eight playoff teams right.
AL East Yankees Blue Jays WC Red Sox Orioles Devil Rays
Every year I wonder how the Yankees are going to win with such decrepit pitching, but after picking up Aaron Small off the scrap heap to help them win 95 games, I won't count on the collapse of their pitching anytime soon. Toronto has the top two starters in the division with Burnett and Halladay so they'll challenge the Yankees. The Orioles will be surprisingly good - no way they finish behind Tampa Bay.
AL Central Indians White Sox Twins Tigers Royals
The Indians came thisclose to making the playoffs last year, and I think this is the year they break through. I also figure the White Sox are in for a letdown, but that's just a hunch.
AL West Athletics Rangers Angels Mariners
The Atletics have too much pitching to lose to the rest of this division and the Rangers have enough hitting to edge out the offenively anemic Angels.
NL East Braves Mets WC Phillies Nationals Marlins
The Braves always win this division. Picking anyone but the Braves to win the East is silly. The Mets will get the wild card and neither of the other three will contend.
NL Central Cardinals Astros Brewers Pirates Cubs Reds
With Pujols and Carpenter, it's St. Louis' division to lose. The Astros and the Brew Crew will be second and third, and I think the Brewers have a chance to nab second. The Cubs will have Prior and Wood on the DL again to start the year so their season is over.
NL West Padres Dodgers Diamondbacks Giants Rockies
What a horrible division this was last year. I'll take the Padres because Jake Peavy is awesome and no one else has an ace like him. The D'backs are really young, but they've got a lot of talent. I think they'll surprise. With a healthy and productive Bonds and Jason Schmidt, the Giants would be my favorite, but I just don't expect that to happen. The Rockies will play lots of 13-11 games that no one cares about.
LDS: Cleveland over New York Oakland over Toronto
Saint Louis over New York Atlanta over San Diego
LCS: Cleveland over Oakland
Saint Louis over Atlanta
WS: Saint Louis over Cleveland, 4-1
MVP: AL - Mark Teixeira NL - Albert Pujols
CY YOUNG: AL - Roy Halladay NL - Roy Oswalt
ROY AL - Francisco Liriano NL - Jeremy Hermida
He's got that hand-waving deal. He can become INVISIBLE! This means MONEY, Dawg! - AWARulz on Cena.
AL East 1. New York Yankees 2. Toronto Bluejays 3. Boston Redsox 4. Baltimore Orioles 5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
What else can I say about the Yankees lineup? Bluejays shoudl finish in second but I'll disagree with spf that the Bluejays will surprise people by finishing in second since everyone thinks they are going to finish in second, it won't be a surprise. I don't see how Tampa is going to finish ahead of Baltimore. Baltimore finished ahead of them last year and they should be even better without all the Sosa and Palmeiro garbage. They don't have the pitching to finish in the top 3 though.
AL Central 1. Cleveland Indians 2. Chicago Whitesox 3. Minnesota Twins 4. Detroit Tigers 5. Kansas City Royals
You would think that the World Series team adding better pitching and Thome would equal a repeat but I don't think it's going to happen. All the Sox last year had their best season possible, I doubt they overachieve like that again.
AL West 1. Oakland Athletics 2. Texas Rangers (Wild Card) 3. Anaheim Angels 4. Seattle Mariners
I don't know how the Angels keep winning I don't think they really look that great on paper, I think this year the magic of Vlad finally wears off and the A's and Rangers catch up.
NL East 1. New York Mets 2. Atlanta Braves (Wild Card) 3. Philadelphia Phillies 4. Florida Marlins 5. Washington Nationals
Yeah, I picked the Mets. I know the Braves always win, but the Mets, or anybody else in the NL East for that matter, have never had a roster as good as the Mets do this season.
NL Central 1. Milwaukee Brewers 2. St. Louis Cardinals 3. Chicago Cubs 4. Houston Astros 5. Pittsburgh Pirates 6. Cincinnati Reds
This division is weird because I think it's the most balanced and competitive but I also don't REALLY like any of these teams. I'm not convinced the young Brewers will be as good this year as people think but I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good. I'm not convinced the Cubs pitching will be healthy and I'm not convinced that anybody on the Astros besides Oswalt will have a great season. I actually liked the Pirates offseason the moves the most out of everyone *shrugs*
NL West 1. Los Angeles Dodgers 2 San Diego Padres 3. San Francisco Giants 4. Colorado Rockies 5. Arizona Diamondbacks
I don't think we need to waste time talking about this.
Wild Card New York Yankees over Texas Rangers Oakland Athletics over Cleveland Indians New York Mets over Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta Braves over Milwaukee Brewers
LCS Oakland Athletics over New York Yankees New York Mets over Atlanta Braves
World Series Oakland Athletics over the New York Mets in 7.
AL ROY - Kenji Jojima NL ROY - Jeremy Hermida Yeah, pretty common picks, I don't really know much about the rookies to make my own guess.
AL Cy Young - Rich Harden NL Cy Young - Jake Peavy
AL East 1. Boston 2. NYY (WC) 3. Toronto 4. TB 5. Baltimore
AL Central 1. Chicago 2. Minnesota 3. Cleveland 4. Detroit 5. KC
AL West 1. Anaheim-by-way-of-LA-take-right-on-Rodeo 2. Oakland 3. Texas 4. Seattle
ALDS Chicago over NY Boston over Anaheim
ALCS Boston over Chicago
NL East 1. Atlanta 2. Philly 3. NYM 4. DC 5. Florida
NL Central 1. St Louis 2. Chicago (WC) 3. Houston 4. Cincy 5. Milwaukee 6. Pittsburgh
NL West 1. LA 2. SD 3. SF 4. Arizona 5. Colorado
NLDS Chicago over Atlanta LA over St Louis
NLCS LA over Chicago
World Series: Boston over LA
"Speaking of Thomases, I loved your recent Atrocious GM Summit column, although I think that you flatter Isiah Thomas far too much by suggesting that he is merely one of a number of atrocious GMs. The truth is that Rob Babcock and Billy King are Einstein next to him. The mess he is creating right now in New York will be studied by business school students 50 years from now alongside Enron and pets.com."
AL East 1. New York 2. Boston (WC) 3. Toronto 4. Baltimore 5. Tampa
AL Central 1. Chicago 2. Cleveland 3. Minnesota 4. Detroit 5. Kansas City
AL West 1. Texas 2. California 3. Oakland 4. Seattle
NL East 1. Atlanta 2. Philadelphia 3. New York 4. DC 5. Florida
NL Central 1. St Louis 2. Houston (WC) 3. Chicago 4. Cincinatti 5. Milwaukee 6. Pittsburgh
NL West 1. Los Angeles 2. San Diego 3. Arizona 4. San Francisco 5. Colorado
ALDS New York over Texas Chicago over Boston
NLDS St Louis over Atlanta LA over Houston
ALCS New York over Chicago
NLCS St Louis over LA
World Series: New York over St Louis
I cannot fathom the state of the Yankees roster that would make me NOT pick them to win it all. I picked them every year Donnie Baseball started at first, so why stop now?
"Johnny Damon playing for the Yankees is like peanut butter selling out jelly in favor of mayonnaise." - StingArmy
World Series: My heart says Toronto over the Cardinals
"He looks like a perverted roofer who knocks off early on warm spring days to drink beer and ogle teenage girls at the river, but wrestles like a man who actually cares about his job." ---DVDVR's Raven Mack on "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good
...
What does it take to impress you? Three straight 100-win seasons, including a pennant and a seven-game loss in the NLCS, isn't enough to make you think they're better than the *Brewers*? Wow.
AL East: Yankees AL Central: Cleveland AL West: Oakland AL Wild Card: Chicago
I like Cleveland and think they can only get better after their run last year. I won't pick against the Yankees in the regular season until someone else in that division proves they can win it.
NL East: Braves NL Central: St. Louis NL West: LA, I guess NL Wild Card: New York Mets
Atlanta is the Yankees of the NL; they're unbeatable in the regular season as far as I'm concerned until someone dethrones them. St. Louis remains the class of the National League. The NL West couldn't matter less (though hopefully they avoid having "Will their division champ be over .500" as a major storyline in September). And the Mets just have so much potential talent there...it has to all come together at some point, right?
World Series: St. Louis over Cleveland in a one-sided series.
I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good
...
What does it take to impress you? Three straight 100-win seasons, including a pennant and a seven-game loss in the NLCS, isn't enough to make you think they're better than the *Brewers*? Wow.
I didn't say the Cardinals were never good. It's predictions for THIS season not a review of what has happened the past 3 seasons. It is possible for a team to get worse from season to season you know.
I'm also not convinced the Cardinals are that good
...
What does it take to impress you? Three straight 100-win seasons, including a pennant and a seven-game loss in the NLCS, isn't enough to make you think they're better than the *Brewers*? Wow.
I didn't say the Cardinals were never good. It's predictions for THIS season not a review of what has happened the past 3 seasons. It is possible for a team to get worse from season to season you know.
Which then begs the question, "Does losing Mark Grudzielanek and Reggie Sanders make them that much worse?" Rolen healthy. Pujols and Molina another year more mature. Several score youngsters vieing for the sixth and seventh spots in the starting rotation. Yes, there's age in the outfield, and the bullpen is unproven, but this is NOT that different from the team that just hit the century mark in back-to-back seasons...what's NOT to like?
They did also lose Larry Walker. You're looking at an aging and more consistently nicked up Edmonds in center, So Taguchi in left, and Larry Bigbie in right. That's not exactly Sanders/Edmonds/Walker, and I would imagine that they're not going to contribute anywhere near the level that Walker and Sanders did, leaving the bulk of the offensive responsibility on the shoulders (pardon the pun) of Rolen and Pujols. Pujols should be fine, but who knows if Rolen's shoulder will hold up over the season. They certainly didn't improve any over the offseason.
Originally posted by WhitebaconThey did also lose Larry Walker. You're looking at an aging and more consistently nicked up Edmonds in center, So Taguchi in left, and Larry Bigbie in right. That's not exactly Sanders/Edmonds/Walker, and I would imagine that they're not going to contribute anywhere near the level that Walker and Sanders did, leaving the bulk of the offensive responsibility on the shoulders (pardon the pun) of Rolen and Pujols. Pujols should be fine, but who knows if Rolen's shoulder will hold up over the season. They certainly didn't improve any over the offseason.
Wait, in what way did you see Walker contributing last season? I must have missed his huge impact on the team down the stretch.
I actually like the pitching situation a little better than last year. Granted I'm biased based on location, but still. To suggest this isn't still the best team in their division at a minimum seems a hard sell.
Yeah, you're right Larry Walker wasn't that great last season and yet he still had WAY better numbers than Larry Bigbie. Edmonds is a year older. Mulder is overrated, Marquis doesn't impress me either. Sure Pujols is great, and Rolen could come back, and Carpenter is going to be good, although i don't think we should expect 21 - 5 and ERA under 3 until he does it for more than one season. So sure they got two great hitters and a great pitcher, but if that's all you need to win the Central then the Cubs could win just as easily with Zambrano, Lee, and Ramirez.
If I look at the offseaon moves the Cards got worse, the Astros got slightly worse, the Brewers didn't really do much so they probably got better because of being a year older, the Cubs got better and the Pirates got better. So I don't see any reason why the division won't be closer than last year.
They've already started to drop going from 105 wins to 100 last year so they could easily continue to drop, and I don't know how winning 100 games last year, 105 games in 2004, and 85 in 2003 equals to 3 straight seasons of 100 wins. The Cards weren't even the best team in the division last year, the Astros were. Yes the Cards had more wins, but the Astros tanked the first two months, if it wasn't for that the Astros probably win the division and they did beat them head to head to go to the World Series.
So no, I'm not that impressed with the Cardinals this season.
Sweet lord, I hope you mean Rockies pinstripes, or else a Seattle uniform change.
"He looks like a perverted roofer who knocks off early on warm spring days to drink beer and ogle teenage girls at the river, but wrestles like a man who actually cares about his job." ---DVDVR's Raven Mack on "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
So what's up with everyone picking their own teams?
The Cards weren't even the best team in the division last year, the Astros were. Yes the Cards had more wins, but the Astros tanked the first two months, if it wasn't for that the Astros probably win the division and they did beat them head to head to go to the World Series.
Why does Houston get a pass for being one of the worst teams in baseball for two whole months? And Houston did beat them in the playoffs, but anything can happen in a short series. The Cards won 11 out of 16 in the regular season. I'd say over the course of 162+ St Louis was clearly the better team.
Originally posted by QuezzySo sure they got two great hitters and a great pitcher, but if that's all you need to win the Central then the Cubs could win just as easily with Zambrano, Lee, and Ramirez.
Because that's not all you need and that's not all they have. They had the third highest scoring team in the NL along with the best team ERA in the NL last year. They had the best top to bottom rotation in the league, too.
I just don't see where they're going to be taking a fall this year. They lost two aging outfielders and their worst starter, but they still have the best hitter on the planet and they're essentially adding the best all-around third baseman in the league. Things don't always work out the way they're expected to, but I don't see a more complete team in the National League than the Cardinals - certainly not the Brewers making up a nineteen game differential this year.
(edited by BigSteve on 25.3.06 2151) He's got that hand-waving deal. He can become INVISIBLE! This means MONEY, Dawg! - AWARulz on Cena.
Boston: Won 95 with an arson squad bullpen last year. Bullpen can't be worse. New York(WC): Was tempted to say this was the year Rivera finally collapses and they finish 3rd, but I can't. Toronto: B.J. Ryan has attempted to close 2 big games in his career. He blew both and was beaten by left handed hitters in both instances. Plus, they finished 15 behind Boston despite dominating the season series, thus unlikely they can pick up games just based on head-to-head. Tampa Bay: If they only had pitchers not named Kazmir with that line-up, they would be dangerous. Baltimore: Maybe they can hold Anna Benson orgy night for games not involving the Red Sox and Yankees in order to bang out the joint.
AL Central
Chicago: Despite the collapse late in the regular season, they are defending champs and class of the division. Cleveland: Finish in the mid 80's in wins as I can't see Bob Wickman having consecutive good (or healthy) seasons. Detroit: Might contend until Ordonez hurts himself again. Minnesota: Will be in the race until late May/early June until it is announced they and the Marlins will be contracted per MLB's rights in the collective bargaining agreement. Kansas City: Sorry Pieman. Just remember the words of the wisest man in baseball, Tim McCarver: 'If they won the games they lost, and lost the games they won, they would have the opposite record of what they have.' And, if any team need to go back to astroturf to get a home-field advantage, it is the Royals.
AL West
Budapest or whatever the Angels are calling themselves this year: Best team in the division. Rangers: In the race late, fade late. A's: Trade Zito in July and reload. Mariners: Have a line-up not conducive to the home ballpark.
NL East
Atlanta: The 1991 season began during my Junior Year of High School. The Braves haven't lost a division since. Until I see the corpse of the Braves, I'll pick them to win the division. Philadelphia: They'll find a way to finish second yet screw up enough not to make the playoffs. Washington: They'll play hard for Robinson, be in the race through August, fade. New York Metropolitans: Worst Team Money Can Buy Vol. 2. Pedro breaks down, Glavine shows his age, the bullpen implodes, Delgado gets old overnight, Beltran becomes Ed Whitson Version 2. Marlins: Interesting collection of players that will be available in the dispersal draft after they are contracted. Might be a nice race between some bottom feeders to see who can get the first pick and a shot at Cabrera or Willis in the draft.
NL Central
St. Louis: They haven't been challenged in years. Why now? Milwaukee (WC): Got in the race last season. Young, hungry team that surprises many. Pittsburgh: Dark horse team that plays slightly below .500. Houston: They try to do the pitiful start/miraculous turn-around for the 3rd straight year, but can't pull another rabbit out of the hat. Chicago: Kerry Wood: Most overrated pitcher in baseball history. Prior might become the right-handed version of Frank Tanana due to Dusty. Maddux finally runs out of gas. Cinci: Awful pitching. Over/under on the annual Griffey injury is April 11th.
NL West
San Francisco: Hate saying it, but if Bonds plays they are the best team in the division. Plus, the division sucks. Arizona: They stayed in contention last year. San Diego: Had one great month to get in the playoffs last season. Might have to go by the 5 lousy months as the template though. Dodgers: I like Bill Mueller. Always will appreciate what Lowe did in the '04 playoffs. I think the former shortstop who is playing first base can't lose enough. Even before Game 7 in '03 I compared the current manager of the Dodgers to FogHorn Leghorn on LSD. Latter 2 outweight the first 2. Colorado: When in doubt, put the Rockies last.
NL Playoffs Milwaukee over Braves in 4: Braves win division/lose in first round. Much like sun rises in East. St. Louis over San Francisco in 5: If Bonds isn't healthy, this is 3. St. Louis over Milwaukee in 6: I want to pick the Brewers, I really do, but experience prevails. AL Playoffs Boston over Arcapulco or whatever the Angels call themselves that week in 4 New York over Chicago in 4, very tough to repeat. Boston over New York in 6. Screw objectivity.
World Series In tribute to Tony LaRussa's wonderous performance once his team loses the first game of a World Series, Boston in 4 over St. Louis. That will run the NL's steak to 12 consecutive World Series losses.
Originally posted by redsoxnationToronto: B.J. Ryan has attempted to close 2 big games in his career. He blew both and was beaten by left handed hitters in both instances. Plus, they finished 15 behind Boston despite dominating the season series, thus unlikely they can pick up games just based on head-to-head.
Yeah I agree. Toronto did make some good off-season moves, but Boston and New York are still the top-2 teams in the AL East until proven otherwise. I think many are over-rating the Blue Jays just a bit.
Originally posted by redsoxnationMinnesota: Will be in the race until late May/early June until it is announced they and the Marlins will be contracted per MLB's rights in the collective bargaining agreement.
I think if there is going to be contraction, the other team (outside of the Marlins) would be Tampa Bay. After that is done, MLB moves Colorado to the AL, goes back to 2 divisions in each league, but keeps the 4 playoff teams in each league format (2 division winners, 2 wild cards).
"Speaking of Thomases, I loved your recent Atrocious GM Summit column, although I think that you flatter Isiah Thomas far too much by suggesting that he is merely one of a number of atrocious GMs. The truth is that Rob Babcock and Billy King are Einstein next to him. The mess he is creating right now in New York will be studied by business school students 50 years from now alongside Enron and pets.com."
RSN: You don't really think any team is going to get contracted, do you? I really don't see any way this is going to happen- Florida will either get a new stadium or move- plenty of suitors out there. The "C" word seems like one big empty threat to me.
AL EAST:
1. Red Sox 2. Yankees* 3. Blue Jays 4. Orioles 5. Devil Rays
It'll be a dogfight once again between the Sox and Yankees. I like the Sox rotation better, though, so they win out. The Jays spent a lot of money, but I'm interested to see how it reflects in the standings. I just didn't see the O's upgrading overall. Maddon will inject some fun into the D-Rays game, and if they produce more Gomes' and Cantu's, they might do well for themselves.
The Sox may be better this year than last year. The Indians rebuilding is just about complete, and looks good. The Twins have some young players that need to step up, or else the Tigers may leapfrog them. Kansas City is going to struggle.
AL West:
1. A's 2. Angels 3. Rangers 4. M's
If nothing else, the A's sport the best names in the Majors (Kiko Calero, Huston Street, Nick Swisher, etc.). The Angels will battle tooth and nail to keep the top spot. Will the pitching finally come through for Texas? Seattle has some cornerstones, but little else.
There's no better team at filling holes than the Braves. The Mets will finally get production out of an expense roster. The Phils rotation will prevent them from a Wild Card spot. The Marlins will surprise. Washington will be the disappointment of the season.
The discussion herein sold me on the Cards. The Cubs will nab the Wild Card. Houston could get a boost from Clemens. Milwaukee is still a few years away. Pitt is the NL's Kansas City. So what does that make Cincy?
LA will rebound with a solid lineup. I'm afraid of the Giants relying too heavily on the aging. The defending West champs will lose out to the up-and-coming Diamondbacks. The Rockies youth movement will continue.
A.L Playoffs: Whites over Reds in 5 Yankees over A's in 6 White Sox over Yankees in 6
N.L Playoffs: Cards over Braves in 7 Cubs over Dodgers in 5 Cubs over Cards in 6
World Series: Cubs over White Sox in 7
(edited by geemoney on 26.3.06 1407) College, sports and more!: Experience It
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