playoff picture becomes clearer, the NHL gears up for their second season, and March Madness sweeps the nation for two and a half weeks. It would easy to write about the diaper dandies, bubble bursters, and prime-time players. But this week, I'm choosing to stay away from the over exposure of the immortal Dick Vitale (Anyone else find it ironic that a creep like Vitale is the number one spokesman for Hooters?) and the madness. In the meantime let's talk about the national pastime.Yes, folks, the 2009 baseball season is nearly among us and what better to get ready for than to make another slew of bold predictions?
Despite a woeful off-season filled with steroid-abusers, a lack luster World Baseball Classic, and obnoxious Phillies fans still hung over from October I still have very high hopes for the season. One thing Major League Baseball has done well in recent years is develop young, marketable talent (i.e. Tim Lincecum, SF, Dustin Pedroia & Kevin Youkilis, BOS, Hanley Ramirez, FLA, Josh Hamilton, TEX, and the entire Tampa Bay team). These players are guys who play the game right and can be respected by the youth of America.
Thanks to the collective-bargaining agreement, there is finally parody in this league (minus Kansas City, and Washington). That's definitely something that has been missing, and with it now present adds a whole new factor to watching the games. Come August and September there could be, potentially, 15 teams fighting for eight playoff spots--think NFL without the bone-crushing hits.
But Without further ado, here is how the season will transpire in the American League.
AL East:
1. Tam
pa Bay Rays- The biggest problem with the '08 Rays? Inexperience. Well, these young guns have a trip to the World Series under their belt. Expect the great to get greater (i.e. B.J. Upton, Evan Longoria). The addition of DH Pat Burrell will lengthen an already stellar lineup. The Rays are down-right scary in the starting rotation (James Shields, Scott Kazmir, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine, and 2007 No. 1 pick David Price). Where is the break for opposing lineups? Potential wins: 96-1002. Boston Red Sox*- The Sox have depth at pitching with the economic additions of Brad Penny, John Smoltz, and Takashi Saito. Look for Josh Beckett to rebound from a mediocre season and Jon Lester to have an all-star caliber season. Questions about DH David Ortiz's health are valid, but offensively this team is loaded with professional hitters. They get on base, and move runners along--something Sox of teams old did not always do. Potential wins: 93-97
3. New York Yankees- Their second straight year missing the playoffs. Why? They have become an aging soap opera. The Texiera signing will make losing A-Rod less painful, but I'm not expecting too much from the tabloid queen when he returns. Sabathia is a horse, but in the playoffs he's a less-than-stellar 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA with 22 earned runs and 22 walks. A.J. Burnett seems only to be great when no one is watching. If a pitcher is great in Canada and no one knows it, is he still great? I don't think so. Potential wins: 89-92
4. Toronto Blue Jays- They have some good core players on both sides of the ball (i.e. Halladay, Ryan, Wells, Rios) but can't seem to field a solid team year in and year out. They are going to be beat up by the three teams mentioned above, but against the rest of the league they will compete. Potential wins: 80-85
5. Baltimore Orioles- Oh, how this once well-respected franchise has fallen. Offensively, they have a good core of young players lead by 2b Brian Roberts and 3b Melvin Mora. Look for great seasons from OF Nick Markakis and Luke Scott. But expect their pitching to get pounded, because all-around it's pretty thin. They will regret putting all their eggs in the Texiera basket and not going for a front-of-line starter. Potential wins: 66-70
AL Central:
1. Minnesota Twi
ns- What is it about these Twins' teams? No matter the team they put on the field, their players always produce. Credit manager Ron Gardenhire and his crew for stressing the fundamentals. Remember Francisco Liriano 2006 rookie campaign? 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA and 144 K's in 121 innings pitched. Well, this year he's fully recovered from Tommy John Surgery. You have been warned. Potenial wins: 92-952. Chicago White Sox- A somewhat aging team, but young studs 2b Alexei Ramirez and OF Carlos Quentin are the truth. Ramirez was the 2008 runner-up for the Rookie of the Year posting 22 HRs, 77 RBI, and 13 SB-look for those numbers to rise this year. An aging Buerhle will give you his usual 12-14 wins, but SP John Danks and Gavin Floyd will look to build off their strong '08 season. Potential wins: 88-90
3. Detroit Tigers- An injury-proned team that underachieved greatly in 2008. On paper, this team makes stat heads salivate, but count on injuries from one of the following: Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Gary Sheffield, Placido Polanco, Carlos Guillen. Potential wins: 78-83
4. Cleveland Indians- This team will go as far as DH Travis Hafner will take them. In 2005 and 2006, when he placed in the top 8 in the MVP voting, the Indians were a sexy pick to come out of the AL. Without him? A middle of the pack team. He must prove himself as a premier middle-of-the-lineup threat. Potential wins: 73-87
5. Kansas City- Young. Very, very young. I love what they're trying to do (i.e. DH Billy Butler, 3b/1b Alex Gordon, 1b Ryan Shealy). Their starting pitching has potential(Gil Meche, Zach Greinke, Brian Bannister, Kyle Davies, Luke Hochevar), but they will undoubtedly take their bumps. Think Detriot Tigers pitching staff circa 2003-05. Potenial wins: 60-64
AL We
st:1. Los Angeles Angels- Unequivocally the class of the AL West. The losses of 1b Texiera and CL Francisco Rodriguez will hurt, but they have filled those holes (OF Bobby Abreu, and CL Brian Fuentes). Keep your ears open for a troubled clubhouse, however, with former starting OF Gary Matthews Jr. riding the pine. They will go far with one of the best rotations in the league. Potential wins: 89-93
2. Oakland Athletics- Made huge off-season moves by getting OF Matt Holliday, and INFs Jason Giambi, Orlando Cabrera, and Nomar Garciaparra. This team has a good mix of youth and veterans. However, with ace Justin Duchscherer hampered by arm problems, look for GM Billy Beane to make moves for pitching before the trade deadline. Fearless Prediction of the Year: Matt Holliday will not finish the year in an A's uniform. Potential wins: 82-85
3. Texas Rangers- Their offense will keep them afloat in the AL West race, but their pitching will sink them. And will the real Hank Blalock please stand up? Potential wins: 77-79
4. Seattle Mariners- Isn't Ken Griffey back on this team? I wonder how OF Ichiro Suzuki will handle not being the fan favorite anymore? This team is abysmal. Potential wins: 60-65
(*-denotes Wild Card team)
MVP: Evan Longoria, Rays
Cy Young: Jon Lester, Red Sox
Rookie of the Year: David Price, Rays
Manager of the Year: Ron Gardenhire, Twins
Playoff Picture:
Red Sox over Angels
Rays over Twins
Red Sox over Rays
Tune in later this week as I give my predictions for the National League!
3 comments:
You forget the Indians had the best 2nd half record in baseball last season, once they got healthy. They've got a shot in the central. Nice 14-win grace period you gave yourself with them, haha.
My rebuttal coming shortly. lol.
The Angels have the best rotation in the game? Try John Lackey AND Ervin Santana on the DL with arm issues and their rotation is suddenly comparable to that of Detroit or Texas. Fail.
Ok ok, it took some time to respond to these but here's my retort: Mike, yes that was a very weak prediction on the Indians, haha. I was trying to cover my ass. But I don't see Cliff Lee returning to his Cy Young form of last year, and if the offense is going to run it'll be on the back of Hafner. He needs to be the stud power hitter we've seen him be.
And as for the Boston Gangsta, be careful how you twist words. I said one of the best rotations and with Lackey and Santana on the DL EARLY in season expect the load to be carried by above average John Saunders AND Jered Weaver. Plus, the kid Moseley looked solid in the rubber match against Boston on Sunday. The real test will be how the team as a whole responds to the sudden tragic loss of 22-year-old Nick Adenhart.
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