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Official AN MLB 2008 Prediction Thread

Oakland_tiny by Blez on

OK ANers, it's time to make those predictions for 2008.  Here is how I see the season shaking down in the American League:

AL West

1.  Anaheim Angels:  Yeah, they may be without Lackey and Escobar to start the season and Scot Shields suddenly now has arm issues as well.  But I just think they have too much depth and they have Vlad, who can always make a huge difference.

2.  Seattle Mariners:  I don't think this team will edge out our A's by much, and if the A's get some breaks their way, like Harden staying healthy for a full season, I definitely could see the A's winding up here and pushing the Angels.

3.  Oakland Athletics:  Yes, third is how I see the team shaking down.  But this will be one really fun third place team to watch with young studs galore, especially if we wind up seeing Carlos Gonzalez and Gio Gonzalez sooner rather than later.

4.  Texas Rangers:  You need quality starting pitching to succeed in this league and I'm not sold on the Rangers staff.

AL Central

1.  Detroit Tigers

2.  Cleveland Indians

3.  Chicago White Sox

4.  Kansas City Royals

5.  Minnesota Twins

AL East

1.  Boston Red Sox

2.  New York Yankees

3.  Tampa Bay Rays

4.  Toronto Blue Jays

5.  Baltimore Orioles

I think the wild card will be the Yankees and that the American League representative in the World Series will be the Tigers.

As for the National League, this is how I see it shaking down:

NL West

1.  Arizona Diamondbacks

2. Colorado Rockies

3.  Los Angeles Dodgers

4.  San Diego Padres

5. San Francisco Giants

NL Central

1.  Chicago Cubs

2.  Milwaukee Brewers

3.  Cincinnati Reds

4.  Houston Astros

5.  St. Louis Cardinals

6.  Pittsburgh Pirates

NL East

1. New York Mets

2.  Philadelphia Phillies

3.  Atlanta Braves

4.  Washington Nationals

5.  Florida Marlins

The NL representative in the NL will be the Arizona Diamondbacks with the Tigers winning it all.  I love the D'Backs rotation and honestly think it will be one of the best World Series in a while.  Possibly going back to the last World Series the D'Backs won.  But Detroit is just too stacked both offensively and in the rotation.  They gained a lot of experience over the last couple of years and seem ready to become champs.

By the way, in case you've missed it, Eric Chavez isn't looking good to provide much this season.  At least the early part of the year.  He should make sure that he's as close to 100 percent healthy before coming back.  I'd rather that once he get in there, he stay in there as long as possible.

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A's will win the AL West. Blez must not have gotten the AN

position paper on this. Everything else looks reasonable, but I think the Blue Jays will win the Wild Card and the Red Sox will win the World Series

by WaddellCanseco on Mar 23, 2008 10:53 AM PDT   0 recs

AL West
LAA
Sea
Oak
Tex

AL Central
Detroit
Cle
Minn
KC
Chic

AL East
Bos
NYY
Tor
TB
Bal

NL West
Ari
LA
Col
SD
SF

NL Central
Mil
ChC
Cin
Pitt
St. L.
Hou

NL East
NYM
Phi
Atl
Wash
Fla

Mets over Sox

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Mar 23, 2008 10:54 AM PDT   0 recs

Looks about right to me.

I can't see how the WC in the AL can come out of the East. Those teams are going to beat each other up too much, when they're not busy pummeling Baltimore.

I'd put Pittsburgh last, and Atlanta second, but otherwise, that looks right.

In the World Series, I'll take Arizona over the Sox, though.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Mar 23, 2008 12:05 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

San Diego

could still win the NL West, or maybe the Dodgers, or maybe the Rockies, or maybe Arizona...that is gonna be one hell of a race to watch...and I'm over Eric Chavez, he is done being healthy...he is the new Ken Griffey Jr.

We've never been in that position. We wouldn't know how to operate, I mean, do we get him a corsage?-Billy Beane on signing a high profile FA

by DyeLongJustice on Mar 23, 2008 11:03 AM PDT   0 recs

I agree about the NL West

pretty much any team could win it. Imagine if Mark Prior is his former self in San Diego?

by Blez on Mar 23, 2008 11:05 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't see Prior being his old self if he's not throwing at least 90

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Mar 23, 2008 4:43 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Good for 30 bombs and an .868 OPS?

I'll take the new Ken Griffey Jr. at 3B

Chiba Lotte lost simultaneously in the fighter plane of the Japanese ham.

by JediLeroy on Mar 23, 2008 11:05 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

good point

he is the new/old ken griffey...the one who can't stay healthy

We've never been in that position. We wouldn't know how to operate, I mean, do we get him a corsage?-Billy Beane on signing a high profile FA

by DyeLongJustice on Mar 23, 2008 12:48 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

AL West
LAA
Oak
Sea
Tex

AL Central
Detroit
Cle
KC
Chi Sox
Min

AL East
NYY
Bos (WC)
Tor
TB
Bal

NL West
Ari
Col
LA
SD
SF

NL Central
Chi Cubs
Mil
Cin
StL
Hou
Pit

NL East
NYM
Atl (WC)
Phi
Wash
Fla

Yankees over Cubs in 7.

by HigherPie on Mar 23, 2008 11:14 AM PDT   0 recs

Other than Oakland second

in the AL West, I'm about ...exactly.. in alignment with your predictions, Blez.

Wow, pretty much "snore..." "ho hum" with that, eh??

NL Central may provide the only September drama.

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Mar 23, 2008 11:46 AM PDT   0 recs

This is why I don't love preseason predictions

They generally avoid the daring guesses - which two years ago would have been the White Sox and last year would have been the Rockies. To save screen space, let me just list my more "go out on a limb" guesses:

AL West: A's second, M's third
AL Central: White Sox last
NL Central: Brewers first

Or not. I don't know. Nationals over the Rangers in 6?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 23, 2008 12:01 PM PDT   0 recs

Here's Mine

AL West
Ana 85 Oak 80 Sea 79 Tex 71
AL Cent
Cle 94 Det 92 Min 73 Chi 72 KC 71
AL East
NYY 95 Bos 94 TB 92 Tor 77 Bal 66

NL West
Ari 88 LAD 87 Col 83 SD 80 SF 65
NL Cent
Chi 89 Mil 88 Cin 82 StL 76 Pit 72 Hou 69
NL East
NYM 96 Atl 89 Phi 88 Was 70 Fla 68

NYY def Ana 3-0
Cle def Bos 3-2

Ari def NYM 3-1
Atl def Chi 3-1

Cle def NYY 4-2
Ari def Atl 4-1

Ari def Cle 4-2

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Mar 23, 2008 12:25 PM PDT   0 recs

Wow, 92 wins for the Rays?

I think they'll be good, but that good? Then again, no guts, no glory.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Mar 23, 2008 12:52 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm anticipating a midseason trade or two that bumps them from 89 or so ...

after it's clear that they're in contention for the first time ever.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Mar 23, 2008 3:51 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

No doubt they can contend, at least early.

They have lots of good trade assets, too.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Mar 23, 2008 4:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Thing is, Tampa Bay is kind of in a "Harden" situation

Their fortunes depend heavily on Kazmir and the early health returns aren't so encouraging. I'd LOVE for TB and Toronto to get good enough to push on Boston and NYY - but I'm not sold on the Rays until Kazmir's arm feels good.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 23, 2008 7:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Kazmir has average 180 innings over his career ...

and already has pitched 100 more career innings than Harden.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Mar 23, 2008 10:46 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

That's nice, but has little to do

with my point, which is that Kazmir has had arm problems throughout spring training, after having arm issues crop up at the end of last season.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 24, 2008 9:47 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

do you have Kazmir

winning the Cy Young?

by colin on Mar 24, 2008 11:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I have him as the third most likely winner

behind CC and Bedard
Kazmir and Bedard both should post better per inning numbers but they'll throw fewer innings (when healthy) and are both decent bets to miss a handful of starts.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Mar 24, 2008 11:27 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Sabathia

His innings pitched last year were the number one reason why I thought he totally deserved that Cy Young award. It's just so valuable to have your number one starter pitch all those innings in all those games.

I totally agree with your top three Cy Young picks and I also agree that Sabathia will have the edge because he'll probably pitch more innings than Bedard or Kazmir.

by colin on Mar 24, 2008 1:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Let me Try

AL East
NYY - BOS - TOR - TB - BAL
AL Central
DET - CLE - CHI - MIN - KC
AL West
DISNEYLAND - A'S - SEA - TEX

Wildcard - CLE

World Series Rep. - DET

NL East
NYM - PHI- ATL - FLA - WA
NL Central
Mil - CHIC - STL.-CINCY-HOU-PITT
NLWest
ARZ-COL-LAD-SD-SF

Wildcard - PHI

World Series Rep. - NYM

Detroit over New York Mets in 6

by HRH on Mar 23, 2008 12:39 PM PDT   0 recs

My Picks

Hi ANers, it's been a long time, but I'm back, in time for season opening.

here are my picks:
*AL*
East Red Sox
Central Tigers
West Angels
Wild Card Indians

*NL*
East Mets
Central Cubs
West D'backs
Wild Card Dodgers

I don't know what to write in here.

by haroldMD on Mar 23, 2008 1:37 PM PDT   0 recs

Bienvenido

Chiba Lotte lost simultaneously in the fighter plane of the Japanese ham.

by JediLeroy on Mar 23, 2008 4:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Predictions

AL West: 1) Oakland 2) Anaheim 3) Seattle 4) Texas

Recap: A revitalized Mike Sweeney leads a resurgent Oakland offense to a 43-41 record at the all-star break, at which point the A's , in a gusty trade with a desperate D-backs team, trade Joe Blanton for Justin Upton, which pays immediate dividends as the A's replace Blanton with Gio Gonzalez in the rotation...............An injury riddle Angels team competes most of the way, but without Vlad slump horribly in July. The Mariners compete as well, Felix and Bedard live up to the hype, but declining production from Ichiro, Ibanez, Vidro, and Sexson leaves the Mariners wishing they hadn't parted with Adam Jones' 25 Hrs and excellent defense.

AL Central: 1) Indians 2) Tigers 3) White Sox 4) Kansas City 5) Minnesota

Recap: The Indians have a strong offensive year, getting significant production increases from rookie 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, Ryan Garko, Sizemore and Hafner. The Cleveland rotation is too great a match for Detroit's unsurprisingly. Minnesota discovers that Delmon Young is not ready to hit cleanup.

AL East: 1) Red Sox 2) Yankees 3) Devil Rays 4) Blue Jays 5) Orioles

Recap: Boston rotation >> NY rotation, end of story. Devil Rays show they are ready to take 1st place or the wild card in '09, led by rising stars Pena, Longoria, Upton, James Shields and phenom rookie SP Price.

NL West: 1) Dodgers 2) Diamondbacks 3) Padres 4) Rockies 5) Giants

Recap: Everyone except SF competes. Dodgers eventually take control behind a solid full-season from Furcal and their youth movement: Kemp, Loney, Martin, LaRoche, Billingsley.

NL Central: 1) Brewers 2) Cubs 3) Reds 4) Astros 5) Cardinals 6) Pirates

Recap: The battle for 88 wins!

NL Eats: 1) Mets 2) Braves 3) Phillies 4) Nationals 5) Marlins

Recap: Santana fits the bill. A healthy year from the Braves' offensive core keeps it interesting, but not even the Mets can blow this big of an advantage.

by ChadGod on Mar 23, 2008 1:54 PM PDT   0 recs

It would make more sense

if you traded a Rich Harden who was healthy and dealing for a Justin Upton that was healthy and mashing. We still might have the SP depth to pull that off.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Mar 23, 2008 4:07 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

read more carefully

He didn't say it was gutsy. He said it was gusty.

As in someone's blowing hot air.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Mar 24, 2008 12:32 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I normally don't bother

since I'm too lazy, but whatever.

AL East
RS
Yanks
BJs
DRays
Orioles

AL Central
Tigers
Indians
WS
Royals
Twins

I expect a regression from Carmona, due to overwork. And Cabrera even with his D issues is still a better player than Inge.

The WS should be improved, replacing Uribe with the OC, Owens / Erstad with Swisher, Posednik with Quentin and Crede with Fields. I'm assuming that they are not going to be idiotic and start Owens in CF.

AL West
Mariners
Angels
A's
Rangers

Yes, the Mariners outperformed their pythag last year. Still, the various pythag metrics had them at 77-79 wins. They just replaced Ho (61 ERA+, 34 runs below average in 2007) and Weaver the Elder(70 ERA+, 24 runs below average in 2007) with Bedard(118 career ERA+, last 3 years 108, 121, 146; 8, 17, 27 runs above average last 3 years, a straight average of 17-18 runs above average per year) and Silva(102 ERA+, about average last 4 years)

Yes, Ichiro and Ibanez, maybe Vidro should regress slightly. But Sexson had a horrendous year, 84 OPS+ at 1b coupled with bad D. EIther he improves, his BABIP was an extremely low 217 in 2007, or he is replaced by a 100 OPS+ type journeyman.

Felix should improve. He will still be only 22 in 2008, younger or the same age as many highly touted prospects.

If Lackey AND Escobar had not gotten injured, even if the injuries are not all that serious, this still probably would not be enough.

NL East
Mets
Braves
Philies
Nationals
Marlins

The Mets appear to be somewhat overrated. Yes Santana improves the team, and is a fairly big improvement over Tom Glavine, but despite their historic collapse last year, they were not really unlucky or anything like that in 2007, pythag wise they were around 86-91 wins, they actually won 88. Carlos Delgado, with his hip problems is a big concern. If Pedro can be healthy, then they could be very good to great.

The Braves getting a full season of Teixeira instead Teixeira + ThorMan, replacing the likes of Kyle Davies(74 ERA+), Jo Jo Reyes(69 ERA+), Lance Cormier(60 ERA+), All Star Mark Redman(37 ERA+) with the innings eating of Glavine should run the Mets close. Jair Jurrjens should also be an improvement on the crap the Braves ran out at the back of their rotation in 2007.

Tthough they are likely to end up either having to pick up a Lofton type player or rushing either Jordan Schafer or Gorkys Hernandez or playing Francoeur or Lillibridge in center.

The Phillies are likely to miss 2007 Aaron Rowand. Shane Victorino might be as good as Rowand in 2008 or not, but he is very unlikely to be as a good as 2007 Rowand. And strange as it might seem, they might miss Kyle Lohse and Jon Lieber too. Kyle Kendrick is unlikely to maintain his nice ERA, his K rate was very mediocre, nor was he walk rate all that good. Even with Myers back starting, even with Hamels, that rotation is likely to be poor.

The Nationals have some young position players, but the pitching is bad.

NL Central
Cubs
Brewers
Reds
Astros
Cardinals
Pirates

Astros should be improved, but unless everything goes right, they still are not going to do anything. If Tejada rebounds to 2004-2006 levels, if Towles has a ROY type season, if Oswalt has a CY type season, if Wandy Rodriguez continues to improve and not regress instead, if no key player gets injured, if the Cubs AND the Brewers suffer injuries to key players, if none of the Reds young prospects contribute much, they could surprise some people. Which will not happen.

NL West
DBacks / Rockies / Padres
Dodgers
Giants

Dodgers: one word, Pierre. I do expect the Giants to be better than some believe, but still, Brian Sabean.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Mar 23, 2008 3:07 PM PDT   0 recs

I concur on AL West.

Looks like no one else on this entire thread thinks so, but I agree that Mariners should be favored to win the division.

As for the rest of the divisions, I have no clue.

formerly known as mdl

by iglew on Mar 24, 2008 12:41 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I don't even favour the Mariners to win

But I suspect the division shakes down like 45% Angels, 40% Mariners, 15% A's.

by Graham on Mar 24, 2008 5:08 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think most of us realize that last year

the Mariners weren't very good at all, but incredibly lucky, and don't think they actually improved the team, despite landing Bedard.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Mar 24, 2008 9:55 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

They replaced

Ho (61 ERA+, 34 runs below average in 2007) and Weaver the Elder(70 ERA+, 24 runs below average in 2007) with Bedard(118 career ERA+, last 3 years 108, 121, 146; 8, 17, 27 runs above average last 3 years, a straight average of 17-18 runs above average per year) and Silva(102 ERA+, about average last 4 years).

How is that not an improvement from the 2007 team? Yes they lost Adam Jones, but Adam Jones was not on the 2007 team. It is certainly debatable as to whether Adam Jones will be more valuable than Bedard in 2008, yes, and it might well have been that a 2008 Mariners team with AJ would have been better than a 2008 Mariners team with Bedard, but I do not see how replacing Ho with Bedard does not improve the team.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Mar 24, 2008 10:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

It's not Adam Jones so much as

replacing Guillen with Wilkerson. But obviously they have a stronger team this year because of the pitching.

The A's colors are green and gold.

by mikeA on Mar 24, 2008 11:18 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Guillen's D last season supposedly

ranged from comfortably below average, ~7 runs, to horrid, ~20 runs, below average.

Wilkerson, is a former CF, who still appears to be decent, around average or slightly above, in the corners.

CHONE projects Guillen at 6 runs below average in a corner, 18 runs below average in CF, Wilkerson at 4 runs above average in a corner, 5 runs below average in CF, in 2008.

If the defensive gap between Wilkerson and Guillen is indeed 10 runs or so, I'm not sure that replacing Guillen with Wilkerson, and Balentien, when Wilkerson inevitably breaks down, is going to be that a downgrade.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Mar 24, 2008 11:53 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

In 2007, Guillen

was around 15 runs above average offensively, OPS+ 116.

WIlkerson was a couple runs above average, 104 OPS+. Let's say Wilkerson is average.

So, Guillen is 15 runs better than Wilkerson offensively. If Wilkerson is indeed 10 runs or so better than Guillen defensively, that is a gap of about 5 runs. It's not meaningless in a close race, but it is still only 5 runs.

ZIPS: Milledge: 466 HR, 485 2B, 2282 hits, 278-379-524

by rfloh on Mar 24, 2008 1:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

More PIcks

AL West
LAA
SEA
OAK - I think the team now can challenge SEA for second, but the trades that will likely occur this season will keep the A's in third.
TEX

AL Central
DET
CLEV - I see Cleveland following back this year close to 90 wins and challenging the yankees for the wild card but coming up short
MIN
CHIWS
KC

AL East
BOS
NYY (Wild Card) - It sickens me to say they'll make the playoffs again
TB - It will be fun to see what this team can do this year. I think they are only a year away from challenging for at least a wild card spot.
TOR
BALT

NL West
LAD
ARIZ (Wild Card)
COL
SD
SF

NL Central
MILW
CHIC
CINCY
HOU
STL
PITT

NL East (This is the toughest division to pick as I don't see much separation between the top 3 teams)
ATL
NYM
PHIL
WASH
FLOR

AL Playoffs
DET Over NYY
BOS Over LAA

DET Over BOS

NL Playoffs
ARIZ Over ATL
LAD Over MILW

LAD Over ARIZ

World Series
LAD Over DET in 6

by elephantbaseball on Mar 23, 2008 5:49 PM PDT   0 recs

Put your mortgage on this:

AL West: OAK, LAA, SEA, TEX
AL Central: DET,CLE, MIN, KC, CHW
AL East: BOS, TB, NYY, TOR, BAL

NL West: LAD, ARI, SD, COL, SF
NL Central: MIL, CHC, CIN, STL, HOU, PIT
NL East: NYM, PHI, ATL, WAS, FLA

AL Playoffs
OAK over DET
BOS over CLE

NL Playoffs
LAD over MIL
NYM over CHC

OAK over BOS
LAD over MIL

WS:
OAK over LAD in 6

by mikev on Mar 23, 2008 6:20 PM PDT   0 recs

does that mean that if I lose, you will pay my mortgage?

I like the optimism, but can't buy it re the A's (unless you take over the payments). Most of the rest of the predictions seem reasonable. I do think Cleveland is going to be pretty good again, and could even beat detroit out. Detroit needs to win now - they have nothing left in the system. Living in the Boston area and seeing / hearing a lot about the red sox, I think they're a scary team and organization. They're probably the best team in baseball right now, the farm system is strong, and management's pretty smart.

My earliest memory in life is of Campy Campaneris

by eastcoasta'sfan on Mar 23, 2008 7:49 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Mariners will...

...come back down to Earth (in their case the cellar) after a lucky year last year.

They'll win like 75 games. A's will finish second in the West.

Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.2 WARP3: Priceless

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Mar 23, 2008 7:38 PM PDT   0 recs

AL west predictions

1. The Angles will win between 85-90 games, enough to win the West. Rev Halofan will post 85-90 of those retarded special-needs-enhanced "WIN" graphics, and will lose in the first round to any other AL contender.
2. The A's will come up a few games short. Hopefully, the Orange County rodentia will not clinch in our house again.
3. The Mariners will find that Pythagoras has no sense of humor, and will finish a few games behind the A's as a result.
4. The Rangers will finish in their accustomed position. Fat, drunk, and lacking adequate pitching is no way to go through life, son.

As for the rest of MLB, I figure it will be the Mets, Brewers, Rockies, and Braves (WC) for the NL, and the Bloody Sux, Tigers, and Indians (WC) for the AL.

"Evidently, a large number of people said, 'We really need more vermin at the ballpark, Artie.'" - Nick (AN), 10/7/07

by doctorK on Mar 23, 2008 8:05 PM PDT   0 recs

I think you're pretty right on, doctorK

I'm envisioning the Angels winning about 90, leading to about 90 retarded developmentally disabled WIN graphics, 86 for the Surprisin' A's, about 80 for the Surprisin' (in a not so good way) M's, and the usual 72 for the "sure hope Millwood is healthy - actually he isn't that great anyway" Rangers.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 23, 2008 8:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

"Orange County rodentia"

frickin brilliant. Bravo!

by Blez on Mar 23, 2008 9:44 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Foolsh Predictions

AL West
Oakland Athletics
Anaheim Angels
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers

AL Central
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians [WC]
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins
Kansas City Royals

AL East
Tampa Bay Rays
New York Yankees
Boston Red Sox
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles

NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
L.A. Dodgers
San Diego Pardres
S.F. Giants

NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers
Chicago Cubs [WC]
Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
Houston Astros

NL East
N.Y. Mets
Florida Marlins
Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

ALCS
Detroit over Oakland

NLCS
Arizona over N.Y. Mets

World Series
Arizona over Detroit

Go A's!

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 23, 2008 8:49 PM PDT   0 recs

At least it's bold -

and the two spring training champs are unlikely division winners. Does the ALCS end with a Magglio Ordoñez HR off of Huston Street?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Mar 23, 2008 9:39 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Indeed, the two SP champs are unlikely division winners...

and, admittedly, the Pirates and Marlins would probably be even more surprising where I placed them. But, that's why they play the games. When somebody gets everything exactly right in their pre-season prognostications, I'm sure we'll hear about it. I know I'll post a diary faNposT about it, if I do.

I wouldn't want to see that happen to Huston. But, the Tigers look pretty good to me this year. I suppose pitching could be an issue, but probably not enough of one to keep that offense out of the World Series. So, they'll probably just pound our loveable moppets into the ground in 4 games.

Go A's!

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 23, 2008 10:00 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

you're two years early with your AL East prediction. I think the Rays seriously competing is possible in around 2010.

Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.2 WARP3: Priceless

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Mar 23, 2008 9:59 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

young and inexperienced (and extremely talented)...

is the new "undervalued." At least, on a team level.

Go A's!

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 23, 2008 10:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

I only know a few things

1. The Tigers will not win the World Series, or even the AL pennant. Their rotation is horrible for a playoff team, and pitching beats hitting in the postseason.

2. The A's will not finish last in their division.

3. The Giants will.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Mar 23, 2008 11:07 PM PDT   0 recs

2 outta 3 ain't bad...

MLB hitters would set records if they were that good.

Go A's!

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 23, 2008 11:14 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Not only is that Tigers rotation iffy

Their bullpen is iffy and their offense is largely made up of old/injury prone/not-that-good players. Sure, Granderson and Cabrera are pretty awesome. But Sheffield will be hurt, Pudge is downright terrible now and nobody but me seems to have noticed, Jacque Jones is bad., Renteria in the AL won't work.

Detroit is very, very good, but I still think Cleveland is better.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Mar 24, 2008 9:59 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Chavez back surgery

It sickens me to hear the news on Chavez's back. So now it comes out that the surgery and recovery process is similar to Kotsay's last year. I'm assuming this surgery is not a one-of-a-kind experimental surgery, that it's been done and doctors have experience with it. The fact that now Chavez's rehab seems to have been rushed, compounded with the fact that the team just went through it with Kotsay last year, it doesn't give me the warm fuzzy that our team's medical staff know what they are doing. Back surgery is a big deal, why don't they stop trying to fool the players, the fans, and most importantly themselves, and admit that it's going to take a while to get Chavez back from the beginning, and not put false hope on fans, and pressure on players and the medical staff themselves.

by asfansince1989 on Mar 23, 2008 11:36 PM PDT   0 recs

pointless and irrational anger and homering directed at rival club.

you give the rangers no love. wtf mate.

last place. come on.

btw it honestly wouldnt surprise me to see the mariners finish last this year since they where such an amazing fluke last year

touchdown... touchdown... and st.micheals takes the lead.

by kmacsm on Mar 24, 2008 12:10 AM PDT   0 recs

I Get Most of This...

But would someone please explain to me what on Earth prompts anyone to think the Royals will have a better record than the Twins? Granted, beyond Liriano and Bonser, the pitching staff is an unknown quantity, but the line-up (Morneau, Cuddyer, Adam Everett, Delmon Young, Joe Mauer) is strong, and they still have the best closer in baseball. The Royals are counting on .....Gil Meche? Yccch.

by richwol1 on Mar 24, 2008 12:31 AM PDT   0 recs

yeah

that was my only question too. i was surprised to see multiple people having them so low

by oakinboston on Mar 24, 2008 5:09 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

The Twins lineup makes me retch

It's not Giants-level offense, since they do actually have SOME capable hitters, but they're essentially punting at least a third of their offensive innings, and even their "core" is not all that strong.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Mar 24, 2008 7:02 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Adam Everett

I've posted before about Everett's defense and how valuable he is to a team (and what a steal he was for the Twins if his injury hasn't sapped his ability), but to include him in an argument about a strong lineup doesn't make any sense. He might be the worst offensive starter in baseball right now.

http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/

by thejd44 on Mar 24, 2008 10:01 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Noted

I was including Everett for his defense. The Twins do have capable hitters, but they also have a handful of capable pitchers. The Royals have...again...Gil Meche...who had a career year in 2007.

by richwol1 on Mar 24, 2008 12:31 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

When we're talking about teams that are going to lose ~90 games ...

does it really matter who is going to lose two more?

And doesn't the answer to that question have more to do with motivation and talent of late season call-ups than the team the put on the field in a week?

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Mar 24, 2008 5:04 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Rangers will have the worst record....in MLB

Every year TEX seems to top itself in terms of how bad the starting rotation is. Don't think I've ever seen such a horrible starting rotation as the one they're going to go with this year. All the candidates from the big-team down to AAA OKC and AA Frisco are pathetic. If they're not either washed-up like Padilla and Millwood, they're soft-tossing noodle-armed weaklings like Mendoza and Gabbard, injury-prone overrated busts like McCarthy, rejects like Elizardo Ramirez and Eric Cyr, guys with absolutely horrible control like Thomas Diamond, a prospect coming off injury who had the worst BB:IP ratio among starters who pitched 100+ innings in the entire minor leagues prior to getting injured, soft-tossing weak-armed finesse-oriented prospects like A.J. Murray, Scott Feldman, Kameron Loe, and Matt Harrison, or overrated prospects like Hurley who used to be thought of as a guy with ace-type potential but is now probably a #3 at most. Other teams can whip out Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander, Clay Buchholz, Francisco Liriano, Matt Cain, Phil Hughes, etc. and we're pinning our hopes on Hurley. Yay. Yay for the 2nd coming of Colby Lewis.

The highlights of the season will be the dealing away of useless twats like Laird, Padilla, Broussard, Mench, J. Patterson, Sid "If-I-got-lost-in-the-woods-and-couldn't-find-
anything-to-eat-I-could-still-last-a-month-or-two-because-I- could-just-burn-the-massive-amount-of-blubber-I-have-like-polar-bears-do-when-they-hibernate" Ponson, etc. and watching Brandon Boggs, Chris Davis, Taylor Teagarden, and possibly German Duran making their ML debuts.

by Rangerchick on Mar 24, 2008 1:19 AM PDT   0 recs

AL West
LAA - Oak - Sea - Tex

AL Central
Detroit - Cle - KC - ChiSox - Minn

AL East
Tor - Bos - NYY- TB - Bal

AL wild card: Bos

NL West
Col- LA - Ari - SD - SF

NL Central
Mil - ChC - Cin - St. L. - Hou - Pit

NL East
NYM - Atl - Phi - Wash - Fla

NL wild card: Atl

Mets over Det

by robertmelvin on Mar 24, 2008 7:37 AM PDT   0 recs

I'll try too.

AL West

Oak-LAA-SEA-TEX

AL Central

DET-CLE-CHiSox-Minn-KC

AL East

RSox-NYY-TB-JAYS-BAL

NL West

ARI-LAD-Col-SD-SF

NL Central

Cubs-Mil-ST.L-Cin-Hou-Pit

NL East

Mets-Atl-Phi-Wash-Fla

NL wild card Dodgers

AL wild card NYY

Detroit over Dodgers

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Mar 24, 2008 8:54 AM PDT   0 recs

My AL picks

LAA will win the AL West in a runaway. The A's offense can't compete, and the Mariners won't duplicate last year's clutch hitting. The Rangers don't have enough of anything to break .500 in '08.

The Tigers look better on paper, but the bullpen is the most valuable aspect of any team right now, and the Indians' pen is far superior to Detroit's. I'm picking Cleveland in a close race, with Detroit a possible wild card out of the AL Central. The Royals will continue to slowly improve, but will still finish last. Signing Jose Guillen was a horrible mistake for KC at this time.

I think Boston will struggle more than people realize this year because of thin starting pitching. They still probably have enough to beat the Yanks, who are relying too heavily on youngsters and oldsters on the pitching staff.

AL Champ - Angels
Division Winners - Boston, Cleveland, LAA
Wild Card - Detroit

by Athletic Supporter on Mar 24, 2008 9:06 AM PDT   0 recs

It will be fun to watch the young studs do well

and then get traded the next season

by Athletic on Mar 24, 2008 10:36 AM PDT   0 recs

Seattle does not impress me at all

AL West-

LAA
OAK
SEA (wasn't a good team last year, improved but still bad)
TEX

AL Central-

CLE
DET (no pitching)
CHI
MIN
KC

AL East-
BOS
NYY
TB
TOR
BAL

NL West-

ARI
COL
SD
LAD
SF

NL Central-

CHI
MIL
STL
CIN
PIT
HOU

NL East-
NYM
PHI
ATL
WAS
FLA

world series- BOS over NYM

by MrIncognito on Mar 24, 2008 12:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Cubs beat Indians in 7

AL West
Sea – Oak – LAA – Tex
Injuries kill LA; Oakland becomes a buyer after ASB to win WC
AL Central
Cle-Det-Chi-Minn-KC
Detroit line up underachieves; Cleveland continues to improve
AL East
NY-Tor-Bos-TB-Bal
Boston struggles in own division; Jays injuries come up later than usual

NL West
LA-Ari-SD-Col-SF
Giants lose 100; Haren doesn’t win 10 games
NL Central
Chi-Hou-Mil-Cin-STL-Pitt
Cubs run away early; finish with best record in baseball
NY East
Atl-NY-Phil-Fla-Wash
Braves "big three" too much; NY wins WC

AL Playoffs
Oak beats NY, loses to Cle
NL Playoffs
Alt beats LA, loses to Chi

Cubs beat Indians in 7

Harden wins CY (how else do we win WC)
Crobsy wins MVP (just kidding, the world doesn’t end afterall)
Hafner, not Ortiz, is first DH to win MVP<