Predictions

by stusviews on Apr 1, 2007 9:17 PM EDT Comment 30 comments

Feel free to post your own here:

AL East:

Yankees
Red Sox (wild card)
Blue Jays
Orioles
Devil Rays

Boring. The way the division has gone 7 of the last nine years. While I am a bit nervous about the Yankee rotation, I like the bullpen as the best since the Nelson/Stanton peak and the lineup as a potentially great one. Boston may be the second best team in the league, particualrly if Dice K lives up to the hype. Toronto will regress and Baltimore and Tampa will improve but not by enough to pass Toronto.

AL Central

Cleveland
Detroit
Minnesota
Chicago
Kansas City

With Sizemore, Hafner, Martinez, the Cleveland lineup rivals NY and Boston. The injury to Lee is worrisome but the bullpen is improved as should be their luck. Detroit will fight Boston/NY for the wild card but the Rogers injury kills them. Minnesota is committing hari kiri (sp?) starting Silva, Ponson, and Ortiz over the kids.

AL West

LA
Texas
Oakland
Seattle

When was the last time this division was so weak. I pick the Angels by default but dread them in a division series in October. The Rangers will surprise but the post-Showalter benefit goes only so far. This is the weakest A's team of the Beane era.

NL East

Atlanta
Mets (wild card)
Phillies
Marlins
Nationals

Non-east coasters will hate this but I wouldn't be surprised by Boston-Yankee and Braves-Mets championship series. Hudson is back and Chuck James will be a solid third starter behind a strong lineup. The Mets need another starter or two or three but their hitters are the best in the NL. Philly's rotation strikes me as a mile wide and an inch deep. The Nationals have the potential to be historically bad.

NL Central

Milwaukee
St. Louis
Pittsburgh
Chicago
Houston
Cincinnati

Is it possible for an entire division to finish at 81-81 (ok except Cincinnati). This division is a crapshoot so might as well pick a team that hasn't sniffed the postseason in a generation. The Brewers kids grow up and the pitchers are solid. The Cards just got too lucky last October. Pittsburgh will surprise

NL West

Los Angeles
San Diego
Arizona
Colorado
San Francisco

The Dodgers just have too much talent to make up for their stupid offseason signings (Garciaparra and Gonzales, not Schmidt). San Diego will fight for the division and the wild card but their lineup has too many holes. I like Arizona a lot but too many kids have to do well. It could happen.

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Pittsburgh in second?

Pass the dutchy to the left hand side, mon.

River Ave. Blues
Yankees and their minor leagues. My last blogging stop, I promise.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Apr 1, 2007 10:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It could happen,

and monkeys might fly out of my butt! Shyeah, right! (Cue the Wayne's World music)

The Bucs are absolutely hopeless. I should know; I'm a closet Bucs fan. That organization has run that team into the ground year after year after year. Trading for LaRoche isn't going to end that team's misery.

by Willton on Apr 1, 2007 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

AL East

I think Boston wins the division by 3-5 games, Yanks take the wild card because the AL Central teams will beat the crap out of each other all season.

The National League....honestly, I could give a shit about AAAA baseball so there is no need to predict anything.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 2, 2007 7:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now there's a daring prediction!

I'll put a case of brew, your choice, that the Yankees take the division by at least 5 games.

We're reaching the point where you can either be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick.

by jscape2000 on Apr 2, 2007 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The National League

AAAA, huh? Gee, I guess they should incorporate the DH; then they'll be a "real" league, right?

by Willton on Apr 2, 2007 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You missed my point

It has nothing to do with the DH, I was referring more to the quality, or lack thereof, of the teams in the NL. The Mets are the best team in the NL and they aren't among the top half dozen teams in baseball.

That being said, I actually prefer the DH. Watching pitchers try to hit is like watching women's basketball.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shows how much you know

The Mets aren't the best team in their division, much less the best in the NL. The best team is likely to be the Diamondbacks or the Phillies. That said, the Phillies are probably the 6th best team in baseball.

The NL may not have the best teams in the league, but they at least don't have the worst teams in the league. The AL is night and day: you have your top teams like Boston, New York, Minnesota, Cleveland and LA, but then you have a lot of bottom feeders: Tampa, Baltimore, Seattle, Kansas City and Chicago (yes, I said Chicago, as in the White Sox). The NL is more tightly packed in the middle, with the exceptions of Washington and Pittsburgh. The NL may not have the best teams in baseball, but they certainly don't have the worst.

As for the DH, I don't have a problem with it being in place, but I find it very disingenuous to consider the NL to not be a real MLB league when the AL uses a fictitious position to doctor the game.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could care less

about bunched up mediocrity, which is exactly what the NL is. The AL has tbe best half a dozen or so teams in baseball.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bottom feeder

Mmm..crack is so delicious. I agree that they are not an elite team anymore but to call them a bottom feeder is downright laughable.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're talking about the Sox,

watch them lose 90 games this year.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think that is a stretch

They won't be great, but their bullpen and lineup should help them to avoid being a bottom feeder. Man, I feel ridiculous even typing that, I can't imagine what it must be like to actually think it!

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not the only one

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6052

Scroll down to where you see the White Sox ranked 27th.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

Even if they went back to four divisions and went straight to the NLCS and ALCS, I'd be fine.

And yes, I am vehemently anti-DH.

River Ave. Blues
Yankees and their minor leagues. My last blogging stop, I promise.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Apr 3, 2007 9:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

You should write "shows how much you know" then post what you just posted.

The Dbacks & the Phillies? Laughable.

The White Sox might be overrated but they'd win the NL Central by 10 to 15 games. They're no bottom feeder.

And if yesterday is any indication Seattle can play with any team in baseball every 5th day. Yikes that was scary.

The Mets' offense is so much better than anyone else's in the NL that all they need is mediocre pitching to be the best team. If one of these kids pitches to their potential and/or Pedro comes back healthy they'll run away with it in the second half by bludgeoning the league to death.

by matthaggs on Apr 3, 2007 10:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oops

damn that reply to this button.

by matthaggs on Apr 3, 2007 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Very well said

Econolodge is generally pretty solid, but every once in a while he will launch a gem like this. The Mets still are the best team in the NL, it is just that the NL lacks any real elite clubs.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You clearly aren't paying attention

The Phillies are quitely creating one of the best starting rotations in the league with Cole Hammels, Bret Myers, and Freddy Garcia leading the way. They are also returning the best offense of the 2005 NL. Utley and Howard are two of the best offensive players in the league, Rollins is an above average offensive SS, and Pat Burrell is still a big offensive threat.

Meanwhile, the D'Backs have 4 young studs playing SS, RF, CF, and 1B, not to mention solid hitters in Chad Tracy at 3B and Miguel Montero at C. Their rotation isn't in as good shape, but they still have the reigning Cy Young winner in Brandon Webb.

The Mets are relying on the old and decrepit in Glavine and El Duque in the rotation and Moises Alou and the remains of Shawn Green in the OF. And counting on Pedro returning to stardom when he finally gets back in July is folly. The Mets are still a good team, but they aren't the best in the NL.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Typo

Phillies had the best NL offense in 2006, not 2005.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree

The Mets are poised for a break down of Mo Vaugn proportions. Their corner outfielders are scary and their rotation is one long question mark.
One of my best friends from school is a Philly fan, and I agree with him that if things go right for the Phillies (everyone performs to expectation, Tom Gordon is great, and Aaron Rowand puts up a WARP closer to 6) and wrong for the Mets (meaning, neither Alou nor Greene get hurt), the Phillies could steal the division.

We're reaching the point where you can either be a truly dedicated, state-of-the-art fan or you can have a life. Take your pick.

by jscape2000 on Apr 3, 2007 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Arguing a moot point

The original point was that the best NL team (feel free to choose your own) is not as good as the top 6 or so AL teams. That is why I think of the NL as AAAA.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Again, disagree

The top 5 teams in the AL are the Yankes, BoSox, Indians, Angels and Twins, and I'll grant you that they are the best in the majors. After that you have a huge dropoff to the land of the average, occupied by the Tigers, A's and Rangers. I find that the Phils, Mets, D'Backs, Padres and Brewers are all better than those teams 3 teams.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um, you actually aren't disagreeing

I said the best NL team du jour is still worse than the top half a dozen or so AL teams. You just listed five teams that you concede are the best in the majors and they are all AL teams. That was my original point and you agree with that, your penchant for the Phillies kool aid notwithstanding.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

I put more meaning in the "half dozen" than the "or so" language.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Understood

5 is pretty close to 6 in my book.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LA could be good

if Ned Colletti would just let the young players play. If Andy LaRoche, James Loney, Matt Kemp and Chad Billingsley would respectively replace Wilson Betemit, Nomar Garciaparra, the excreble Juan Pierre and the equally awful Brett Tomko, the Dodgers would likely win the division. However, their GM is holding them down.

by Willton on Apr 3, 2007 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you are going to try

and use big words, try spelling them correctly. It makes you sound even snootier.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Apr 3, 2007 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not starting Loney is dumb

That is all.

River Ave. Blues
Yankees and their minor leagues. My last blogging stop, I promise.

by PinstripePowerhouse on Apr 3, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Phils

bullpen is atrocius, as you saw yesterday, and will become worse than atrocius once the piece of dental floss holding Tom Gordon's arm together finally snaps. Oh, and there are rumors abound that Freddy Garcia is shot. He went on the DL with a bicep injury after he was unable to crack the high 80's.

The Dbacks are a good young team. But they are way too young in way too many places to consider them the best team in the league.

You missed my point. Average performances from Glavine, Duque, and everyone else (no stardom required from Pedro) will lead to Met victories. And their bullpen is solid enough (esp. compared to Philly) They POUND the ball on offense. No one in the NL has a lineup that comes close. I think the Braves are a bigger challenge to the Mets than the Phillies. And Omar will have his checkbook ready should any starters start to spring loose around the All Star break.

by matthaggs on Apr 3, 2007 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree,

while the Phillies offense is good (maybe not as good as the mets), their pitching is better. I do not think the Mets in any form will run away with the division. I actually think the Phils or Braves will win it.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Apr 3, 2007 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No to the Phillies

Crappy bullpen and spotty starters will do in the Phils. It could do in the Mets as well. If that's the case, and they both falter, Atlanta could sneak into the picture.

NL West: I'm seeing golden arches, baby. I think the Padres put it together and run away with it in the West.

NL Central: I'm reaching abit, but I think Milwaukee could make some noise. The Cardinals are real vulnerable. If Sheets stays healthy I think they could steal it from the Cards.

Back in the AL, I'm picking the Angels in the West. They look strong with pitching and youth.

by Ronster22 on Apr 4, 2007 4:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs