Ok Baseball Fans...prediction time !!!

[SaveElmer]

Now that spring training is getting underway time to reveal your season predictions. Here are mine:

AL East:
Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Devil Rays

AL Central:
Twins, Indians, White Sox, Tigers, Royals

AL West:
Angels, A's, Rangers, Mariners


NL East:
Marlins, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Nationals

NL Central:
Cardinals, Cubs, Astros, Reds, Pirates, Brewers

NL West:
Padres, Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies

Playoffs:

AL:
Angels beat Yankees
Twins beat Red Sox
Twins beat Angels

NL:

Cardinals beat Padres
Marlins Beat Mets

Cardinals beat Marlins

World Series:

Twins beat Cardinals


Award: AL MVP - David Ortiz
AL CY - Johan Santana

NL MVP - Albert Pujols
NL Cy - Ben Sheets

[Ravenseye]

1. Pirates All The Way

*sigh*

Baseball sucks. My team has zero chance to ever make the World Series when teams like the Yankees can spend more on a couple pitchers than the Pirates do for their whole roster.

[RedSox02]

4. I feel for you PIrate fan

Even though my team benefits from the current system by being competitive every year, I would prefer a system where there was a more level playing field. In every other division besides the AL East I tend to root for the small market teams.

[Ravenseye]

11. Appreciated

I mean. It's a great time to be a Red Sox fan I'll give you that. I hate the seats in Fenway, but it's a great park visually...just not ass-ually.

I just don't see how this can continue though. At least not without serious league contraction. Every year Pirates attendance drops. They have to give away tickets. Last season for 27 bucks I got 4 tickets, and 16 coupons for buy one get one. Now that's a great price for a ballgame, and it's fun to go as something to do, but it's hard to root. We have some great up and comers in Bay and Perez and Jack Wilson is spectacular...but how long till they're gone to the Yankees, the Red Sox, or a handfull of other teams.

One writer here suggested that they'd get better attendance by having a fireworks night when the Pirates are playing a road game. Have the road game on the jumbotron, sell concessions, and then have fireworks.

[RedSox02]

13. The system spoils Sox fans

On the Red Sox board, occasionally some of us who still follow basketball (although I certainly enjoyed the NBA more 12 years ago) like to discuss the Celtics. Well inevitable some young Red Sox fan will come in and say "The Celtics stink, Danny Ainge should quit and Theo Epstein should run the team." The implication of course is that Theo being the Red Sox GM knows what he is doing, Danny AInge, who is reuilding does not. After all Theo always has a winning team out there.

That's when I have to calmly explain to this young fan that the NBA is not like Major League baseball where the Boston team can just go out and sign a few top notch free agents every year. You see the NBA has soemthing called a salary cap, as well as rules as to how you can conduct trades (i.e. no salary dump trades are allowed in the NBA like the kind the Yankees seem to benefit from every year with guys like AROD and Randy Johnson).

[Ravenseye]

14. Yeah Salary Caps are important

They reward not just player skill but organization skill. Coaching, Drafting, and general organizational management become a much larger part of the picture. Just look at the Patriots. As a Steelers fan I don't like the team, but they're run immaculately from the top down which is why they're winners. Salary caps don't mean that any team is truly competetive, it just means that it's possible. Look at the Cardinals. When was the last time they were competetive?

Anyway I appreciate a Sox fan like you saying what you're saying. I've had too many discussions with Sox fans (I used to live in Boston) who were a bit ignorant about the actual monetary restrictions on the league and came down hard on the Pirates. I can't blame them though. At that point Sox fans would have sold their first borns to win the World Series.

It's doubley frustrating for me though because of the three teams I support, two (The Pirates and The Penguins) just will never be able to compete in their current league structures. One reason I'm supportive of the owners side in the current NHL CBA thing.

[RedSox02]

19. In regards to the Steelers

You praised the Patriots and how well their run, but I also have to say the Steelers have done a nice job. They'll have a very mediocre year every few seasons but then build right back up to a legit super Bowl contender. Also I like how they're loyal to Cowher. Sure they could have fired him during any one of those down years, but they wouldn't have been any better off, because Cowher eventually has a good team back out on the field a year or so later.

I also think the talk about him not being able to win big one is overrated. He has run into Bill Belichick twice and also John Elway in AFC CHampionship games. Tough to get past those guys. That doesn't explain Stan Humphries and the San Diego chargers loss in 94-95, but whatever. Belichick admitted Cowher outcoached him in that October game this year. He knows what he's doing.

I'll be rooting for the Pirates to make some noise this year. AS far as the Red Sox spending big, the only way I justify it in my head is that we have to be in direct competition with the Yankees, who make us look like the Expos.

[Ravenseye]

21. That San Diego Loss Killed Me

No way in hell San Diego should have won that game.

With less than 10 plays going slightly differently we'd have a completely different view of Cowher. Coulda shoulda woulda...but imagine what people would think of Cowher if he had won Superbowls in '94,'95,'97,'01 and '05. Honestly of those five years I really truly thought they were the better team in all but this past year, and that was mostly because the Steelers felt like they peaked too soon and were getting tired and hurt. Coulda shoulda woulda, didn't...suck it up. *ffffffffff*

Anyway I'll be rooting for the Pirates as well, God help me. If you want to go to a really great ballpark come on down to da 'burgh and I'll take yinz ta PNC park and buy you a Pirmanti sandwich.

And yes. I don't blame the Sox for trying to keep up with the Yankees. Steinbrenner is evil and the root cause of all the other problems in baseball. That and my mother in law is a Yankees fan because she thought Mickey Mantle was cute, and she's really obnoxious about it. We forced her to watch the Red Sox this playoffs when she was down visiting just to irritate her.

[RedSox02]

30. PNC is a nice Park indeed

I noticed your gripe about Fenway's seats earlier. I couldn't agree with you more. Now I love the Park and everything, as it is so unique to be able to watch major league baseball in such a small and intimate venue. This week I am sending in a check for my ten game mini-season ticket plan to the Red Sox. Total cost, $1,825.00. I renewed this season because Fenway tickets are worth more than gold around here. You just can't get seats without going to a ticket broker anymore. So seeing as how I had a plan under my name from last year, I might as well renew it. Now is not a good time to give up seats to Fenway as they are starting to develop a waiting list for season tickets, something usually only football teams have.

However, I sit in perhaps the worst section in the whole park. I am only about 8 rows from the field, which is nice, and you can have a decent covnersation with the Right Fielder from my seats. Unfortuantely, they are angled as such that you have to look almost 90 degrees to your left to see home plate. This means that the people sitting in front of you don't block your view. However the people sitting in the two sections to your left can, as well as any vendors who are makign the rounds up and down the first base line. Next time you go to a movie theatre, turn to your left and imagine trying to watch the movie looking over the heads of everyone else in your row instead of the person in front of you. That pretty much sums up my seats. At 6 foot 4, I can see fine, but my fiancee' can barely see a thing. Aw Fenway. I don't care that the Park is 100 years old, that still doesn't excuse the idiot who designed some of these views.

[Ravenseye]

36. Seriously - Bad Design

I've sat all over Fenway. It's funny how tickets are so expensive now. I remember not too too long ago (7 years maybe?) I was able to go down to the Fenway ticket office DAYS after tickets went on sale and still was able to get 4 seats for a Red Sox/Yankees Friday night game. Imagine being able to do that today!

Friends of mine last year had tickets to a Sox/Yankees game and were toying with selling them as they could have made hundreds per ticket just scalping them outside the park.

The seats though are the worst. I sat right about where you sound to be a couple times. My old company had season tickets right about there. My least favorite place in the park. I'd even take an obstructed view ahead of those.

My favorite 'cheap seats' there would have to be the outfield bleachers. Yeah you're looking at everything from outside right and center field but you don't have to crane your neck, and there aren't any obstructed views. Plus occasionaly you have a chance at a home run ball. Plus with the park being so small there aren't any bad seats...well...aside from the neck craning ones, but you know what I mean.

PNC is great. So much better for baseball than playing in old Three Rivers. I loved Three Rivers for football but it always seemed to dwarf baseball games. Back growing up they'd have frequent 'buc nights' where every seat in the upper deck was a dollar. Pretty much because they'd be empty otherwise, other than playoffs. The new one though is nicely designed, still intimate so you don't feel too far away from the game, open to the downtown skyline...we really enjoy going there. Even my wife today, who hates baseball, was talking about how many games we were going to go to this year. She likes the atmosphere there that much that the fact that she doesn't care for the game gets overshadowed by it.

Back to Fenway though, I recall reading a poll for whether or not they should build a new park. People who went to something like under 5 games a year voted hugely in favor of keeping the park, those that went to more than 5 games a year voted hugely for either a massive renovation, or a brand new park. I think the thing I hated about fenway the most, after the seats, was the dank concrete tunnels...and the bathrooms...

still going to a game at Fenway is a pretty neat thing. Take a crowded T to Kenmore Square, follow the gush of people up the stairs and then around the corner, up over the bridge over the pike, past the huge guns kill kids billboard, down past landsdowne, around the corner to get a sausage and drink, into stadium once you hear the anthem start playing, finding the liliputian seats and staring at the green green grass, the green monster, the citgo sign...the cool spring air brushing your face as the sun starts to set and the sign lights up...the crack of the bat...the roar of the crowd...

ready for baseball yet?

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. Ok, I predict that the Braves will

make it all the way to the playoffs like they always do and CHOKE LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish they'd quit wasting our damn time. Every freakin' year.....

[ThorsHammer]

25. My prediction too; at least we had one title, unlike the poor Bills

[RedSox02]

3. OK My turn

AL EAST:

Yankees, Red Sox, Baltimore, Toronto, Tampa
(Yes I did pick the Yankees over my Sox)

AL CENTRAL
White Sox, Twins, Indians, Tigers, Royals

AL WEST
Angels, A's, M's, Rangers

AL WILDCARD
Red Sox

NL EAST (Deepest division in baseball this year)
Marlins, Braves, Mets, Phillies, Expos, errr Nationals

NL CENTRAL
Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers, Astros, Reds, Pirates

NL WEST
Giants, Padres, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies

NL WILDCARD
Cubs

PLAYOFFS
Red Sox over Angels
Yankees over White Sox
Yankees vs. Sox (I have no idea)

Marlins over Cubs
Giants over Cardinals
Marlins over Giants

Yankees or Red Sox over Marlins

AL MVP: Vlad Guerrero
AL CY: Randy Johnson

NL MVP: Pujols
NL CY: Pedro

[Redneck Socialist]

20. Pedro gets another Cy?!

Ya killin' me. I love Petey but I don't think his arm's going to hold up.

I had serious mixed emotions on him leaving the Sox, but ultimately I think it was the right move. It would be classic if he has a fantastic year, but I don't think it's going to happen.

[ohkay]

23. I hope he does

I'd like to see him do really well this year, but I don't think ANYONE expects him to play out that contract.

Oh, and I hope he throws a shutout during the subway series..

[RedSox02]

31. Well......

Pedro has gone basically injury free the past three seasons. He should have won the CY YOung award in 2002 (20-4 with an ERA around 2.20 and 250+ ks) but everyone was in love with Barry Zito. When Pedro is motivated, he will pitch well. Just look at what happened in the 7th inning of game 7 this year against the Yanks. As soon as the Yankees had a rally going and the "Who's Your Daddy" chant hit deafening levels, he suddenly hit 97 on the radar to strike out Olerud. I don't think he had thrown that fast since the 99 All Star game.

I could see him winning 18 with an ERA in the 2's. That should put him in contention for the NL CY with the Big Unit no longer in the National League. Speaking of which, imagine a Big Unit-Pedro matchup in Yankee Stadium or Shea this year?

[Redneck Socialist]

38. Like I said mixed emotions...

I don't really want to see another "washed up" player leave the Sox and then go on to have an incredible year. That's selfish and more than a little mean-spirited I know. Recognizing that, part of me does want Pedro to do well and a Pedro (if he has his A game) Big Unit match up would be sweet, but I really don't think Pedro has too many A games left in his arm, especially against the Yankees.

You are absolutely right about 2002 and his ERA will likely be almost a full point lower in the National League if he stays healthy and the Mets don't over pitch him.

I think his leaving the Sox was a good move for all parties. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :P

[ohkay]

39. I agree.

Pedro leaving, and getting paid WAAAAY to much is the best situation for everyone. Even the Mets, for now, because he IS a draw.

Well, except for me. I still have an autographed Pedro shirt hnaging in my room, and it makes me sad

:(

[KitchenWitch]

5. I like how you think!

[TheFarseer]

6. here goes

AL East: Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, D-Rays, Blue Jays

AL Central: Royals, Indians, Twins, Tigers, White Sucks

AL West: Angels, Rangers, A's, Mariners

NL East: Braves, Mets, Marlins, Phils, Nationals

NL Central: Retardnals, Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Astros, Brewers

NL West: Giants, Padres, Dodgers, Rockies, D-Backs

AL Playoffs

Yankees over Royals, Red Sox over Angels, Yankees over Red Sox

NL Playoffs

Cards over Mets, Braves over Giants, Cards over Braves

World Series
Cards over Yankees

AL
MVP - Mike Sweeney
Cy Young - Zach Grienke

NL MVP - Albert Pujols
NL Cy Young - Pedro Martinez

[KitchenWitch]

8. The Royals???????? Are you kidding me?

I think the Tigers have a better chance than the Royals!

[SaveElmer]

9. That's right

Royals have a chance to be the worst team in baseball this year!!!

[TheFarseer]

15. If you're a true fan

the Royals are never mathematically eliminated! Seriously though I think the Twins will pull it out against the Indians and the rest of the division will pretty much suck.

[KitchenWitch]

18. I am sorry

I did not mean to slam you, I think the Royals are maybe a couple years away from really contending for the Central. What I would *like* to see is the White Sox in last place in the Central, with the Twins on top, and a close race between Cleveland and KC for second.

[TheFarseer]

26. Then we are both agreeable to White Sux in the basement n/t

[KitchenWitch]

29. of course

A baseball blog I frequent calls them the Bitch Sox LOL

[RedSox02]

Maybe I was foolish to predict the Chisox...

....would win the Central. I mean I know the Twins have the best pitching staff in the division from starters to bullpen, I just felt that with a lineup of Posednick, Rowand, Konerko, Thomas, Dye and company to go along with a decent rotation, they should have a shot.

At second look though, the Twins, even without Koskie and Guzman should be as tough as ever. (Not that Guzman was worth that much). BTW, I wish the Sox had kept Mientkiewicz. He is just too special with that glove. I understand the Twins have enough leather as it is and needed more offense so that explains why they would prefer Morneau. I'd take Dough voer Kevin Millar though if I ran the Sox. I just felt real comfortable come playoff time in the late innings with Minetkiewicz in there for us.

[KitchenWitch]

35. I miss "Dougie Defense" terribly

although it is nice to have a little more offense in the lineup. Wish we could get a better 2nd baseman than Rivas. But we have pitching and defense, and those two aspects tend to win more games than offense alone.

BTW I rooted for the BoSox in the series and was thrilled that they won!

[SaveElmer]

41. Yeah I think the Red Sox made a mistake with Doug...

Great glove and despite last year not a bad bat!!!

Letting him go so cheap was probably a mistake.

After the Twins got knocked out I was definitely rootin for the Red Sox...

Goin to a game at Fenway is on my 101 things to do before I dies list

[KitchenWitch]

45. Me too

the Fenway thing. Also want to do Yankee Stadium too (just to say I went there....want to see the monuments).

[AllegroRondo]

7. I just hope the Brewers dont embarass themselves too badly

at least last year we had a good first couple months.

[KitchenWitch]

10. I will take a stab at it.

AL East:
Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Devil Rays

AL Central:
Twins, Indians, Tigers, White Sox, Royals

AL West:
Angels, Mariners, A's, Rangers


NL East:
Marlins, Mets, Braves, Phillies, Nationals

NL Central:
Cardinals, Astros, Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Brewers

NL West:
Padres, Giants, Dodgers, Rockies, Diamondbacks

AL Wild Card:
Yankees

NL Wild Card:
Astros

Playoffs:

AL:
Angels beat Yankees
Twins beat Red Sox
Twins beat Angels

NL:

Cardinals beat Padres
Astros beat Marlins
Cardinals beat Astros

AL beats NL in All Star Game

World Series:

Twins beat Cardinals (Repeat of the '87 WS)


Award: AL MVP - Vladimir Guerrero
AL CY - Randy Johnson
NL MVP - Albert Pujols
NL Cy - Pedro Martinez

[pres2032]

12. ok, this'll be fun

AL East:
Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Devil Rays, Blue Jays

AL Central:
Twins, Indians, White Sox, Tigers, Royals

AL West:
Angels, Rangers, A's, Mariners


NL East:
Marlins, Phillies, Braves, Mets, Nationals

NL Central:
Cardinals, Astros, Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Brewers

NL West:
Padres, Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies

Playoffs:

AL:
Angels beat Yankees
Red Sox beat Twins
Red Sox beat Angels

NL:

Cardinals beat Padres
Marlins Beat Phillies

Marlins beat Cardinals

World Series:

Marlins beat Red Sox


Award: AL MVP - David Ortiz
AL CY - Johan Santana

NL MVP - Carlos Delgado
NL Cy - Josh Becket

[Mojambo]

16. I'll have my predictions before the end of Spring Training

I just haven't done the research yet.

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. well, here's my expert picks

AL East:

Yankees
Red Sox
Devil Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays

AL Central:

Twins
Tigers
Royals
Indians
White Sox

AL West:

Rangers
Angels
A's
Mariners


NL East:

Mets
Braves
Marlins
Phillies
Nationals

NL Central:

Cubs
Cardinals
Astros
Brewers
Pirates
Reds

NL West:

Dodgers
Padres
Giants
Rockies
Diamondbacks

Playoffs:

AL-

Yankees beat Rangers
Twins beat the Angels
Twins beat the Yankees


NL-

Mets beat the Cubs
Braves beat the Dodgers
Mets beat the Braves

World Series:

Mets beat the Twins

[Reverend_Smitty]

22. I like the way you think...

I hope the Mets go all the way this year too.

[FlyByNight]

24. Go Sox!!

The various predictions I've seen have the Yanks/Sox or Sox/Yanks as 1-2 for the AL East.

I liked the Renteria signing but Wells, I'm not sure of. I wonder how long he'll last before some part of his body gives out. The bullpen should be fine but the starting pitching (except Schilling when he gets healthy) will be the question. The hitting should be potent. And I'm glad Varitek stuck around and signed.

Play ball!!

[DaveinMD]

27. my prediction

American League

East-Yankees
Central-Twins
West-Angles
Wild Card-Boston

ALDS-Yankees beats Twins

Anaheim Beats Boston

ALCS-Yankees beat Angels

Cy Young-Randy Johnson

MVP-Arod

National League

East-Braves

Central-Cardinals

West-Giants

Wild Card Marlins

NLDS-Giants beat Braves
Cardinals beat Marlins

NLCS-Cardinals beat Giants

Cy Young-Ben Sheets

MVP-Albert Pujols

World Series-Yankees beat Cardinals in 6 games

[ProfessorGAC]

28. Cubs Will Win 89 Games

That's all i can predict. I haven't paid enough attention to all the other moves and team make-ups to pick.

The Cubs will win one more game than last year, but it won't be enough to win the division.
The Professor

[DU GrovelBot]

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[DrGonzoLives]

46. GrovelBot doesn't stand a chance

No pitching, bad defense, anemic hitting....cellar-dweller, no doubt.

[RawMaterials]

33. Reds and indains

win there division. the reds depend on griffy and kerns staying healthy and the indains depends on millwood having a great year.

[RedSox02]

34. Or Cliff Lee and Sabathia...

...could have huge years and Millwood and Westbrook could simply just fill in behind them.

[RawMaterials]

37. Indians have done

a nice job of assembling a great young rotation and with adding the veteran milwood to provide some leadership and depth, I'm excited.
there were some rumors that they were going to trade with the reds one young pitcher or two for ether kerns or dunn, but the reds fearing injury's decided to keep 4 outfielders.

[Caution]

40. Here you go

AL East:
Red Sox, Yankees, Orioles, Blue Jays, Devil Rays

AL Central:
Twins, Indians, White Sox, Tigers, Royals

AL West:
Angels, Rangers, A's, Mariners


NL East:
Braves, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, Nationals

NL Central:
Cardinals, Astros, Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Brewers

NL West:
Padres, Dodgers, Giants, Rockies, Diamondbacks

Playoffs:

AL:
Angels beat Yankees
Red Sox beat Twins
Red Sox beat Angels

NL:

Astros beat Padres
Atlanta beat Cardinals
Astros beat Atlanta

World Series:

Red Sox beat Astros

Award: AL MVP - Manny Ramirez
AL CY - Curt Schilling

NL MVP - Albert Pujols
NL Cy - Roger Clemens

WS MVP - Jason Varitek

[Jack Rabbit]

42. Okay:

National League (Where they still play baseball):

East: Atlanta Braves
Central: St. Louis Cardinals
West: San Francisco Giants
Wild Card: Chicago Cubs

American League (Where baseball hasn't been played since 1972):

East: New York Yankess
Central: Some team that will finish just above .500 and get knocked out in the first round of the playoffs
West: Oakland A's
Wild Card: Boston Red Sox

[DaveinMD]

43. national league baseball is boring

this purity stuff is hogwash.

[MrSlayer]

44. I predict the Phillies will suck and baseball will continue to be boring.

Can't miss predictions right here.

[HuckleB]

47. The Angels will flop, and none of your NL picks will be playoff-bound.

That's what I'm saying.

[HuckleB]

48. Oh, and sorry, Twins fans, but it's Cleveland's turn.

Whether they can win one in New York and push it to four games like the Twins remains to be seen.

:)