Spring Training is upon us, so it’s time for my annual predictions for the MLB season ahead. I only get about 50-percent of the division winners right, so if you put money down on my picks, don’t expect to get it back. As far as World Series, last year I had Cleveland beating the Mets… so at least I wasn’t too far off, with the Indians making it to the ALCS, while the Mets had to have one of the most epic collapses in baseball history to not make the playoffs on the last day of the season.
(Teams are listed in my predicted order of division finish. * denotes Wild Card)
NL WEST: Arizona, Los Angeles*, Colorado, San Diego, San Francisco
NL CENTRAL: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh
NL EAST: New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Florida, Washington
AL WEST: Anaheim, Seattle*, Oakland, Texas
AL CENTRAL: Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Minnesota, Kansas City
AL EAST: Boston, New York, Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore
NLDS: Cubs defeat Dodgers in five & Mets defeat Diamondbacks in five.
ALDS: Red Sox defeat Mariners in four & Indians defeat Angels in three.
NLCS: Cubs defeat Mets in seven.
ALCS: Red Sox defeat Indians in six.
WORLD SERIES: Chicago Cubs defeat Boston Red Sox in six.
We’ll finally get the World Series we should have had in 2003 with the two most cursed franchises in baseball, and because the baseball gods believe in symmetry, the Cubs will win a World Series exactly 100 years since their last championship.
OTHER PREDICTIONS:
- The team most likely to make a surprise playoff appearance: Tampa Bay — If they can beat back the Yankees and earn the wild card.
- No player will break 50 home runs, possibly verifying the end of the steroid era.
- The NL West will be the most competitive division with four teams within a half-dozen games of the division title going into September (only the Giants won’t compete).
- Hank Steinbrenner will open his mouth one (possibly way more) too many times and become more hated then his father.
- The NL will finally win the All-Star game, which will allow the Cubs to win the World Series at Wrigley Field.
6 Comments
Pretty fair predictions…even going out on a limb and picking Lou’s Cubs, huh? Well, if both Sox’s can break their own curses I suppose the Cubs can as well. Hoping for a good season!
you think the marlins will fare better than the nationals? and that the rays have a chance of “beating back the yankees?” are you smoking crack? actually, i’ll bet you just aren’t paying attention to anyone other than the mets and phillies in the nl east and that you put the braves below them because, well, they’re the braves. try looking at the marlins. they will lose 100 games this season.
and as far as your “rays beating back the yankees” comment, could you BE a more obvious hater if you tried? way to be objective. i’d LOVE to have you in my fantasy baseball league…easy money
Dunkin’ as far as the Marlins and Nationals… for me it was a coin flip. I chose Florida because they have a history of turning it on late in the season no matter how bad their team is.
And the Rays over Yanks. I didn’t actually predict that, I just said they’re the most likely franchise to surprise. It has nothing to do with the Yanks and everything to do with how well Tampa Bay has matured their farm system, and it could come to fruition this year.
With the “you put the Braves below them because, well, they’re the braves” has nothing to do with anything. I put them there because they’re considerably worse than the top two teams in the division, but considerably better then the last two. Their age will show this year, especially in the rotation.
An obvious Yankee hater? Hardly. I enjoy the Yankee’s. I’m not a die hard Boston or Yankee fan. In fact I’ll often choose the side of the “underdog” team in the series. For now, that’s the Yankees. Both teams are bad for baseball with their massive payrolls.
As far as easy money in your fantasy league tough luck. Invite me and I’ll kick your ass.
I know you’re busy, but its Thursday and Saturday has been for sports all those days ago, and you are so good and so important in my day to day world, I miss it when you don’t write something, ANYTHING, for a few days.
i think the mariners and angels will be down the wire. Its tought to expect a wildcard in the AL West as it just doesnt happen too often. However, the M’s and Angels may push eachother, both finishing in the mid 90’s for wins. Solid predictions
You’ve been smoking your Chicago Tribune again! The Cubs to beat the Red Sox in 6? Yeah, sure. And I predict the Louisville Bats will join the National League in mid-season and place for a wild-card spot.
Get that needle out of your arm!
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