Baseball predictions (warning very short)

[JohnKleeb]

AL East: Yankees win first, Sox second as the wild card
AL Central: Twins win again
AL West: A battle between the Rangers and Angels for first
NL East: Braves find some way to win again despite the Mets impressive build up this off season
NL Central: Cardinals win it again
NL West: Shit I dont know, perhaps a classic dodgers and giants battle.
World Series: I dont know for sure.

[nickgutierrez]

1. My picks:

AL:

East: Sox win over 100, Yanks take the Wild Card
Central: I'll cop out and say the Twins, though the Indians have a real chance to win this year.
West: I'll take the A's, just edging out the Angels by two or three games.

NL:
East: The Mets, Braves, and the Phillies all have a real chance. I'll take the Phillies, with the Braves taking the Wild Card
Central: The Cubs? I guess so. I see the Cards falling victim to the injuries that didn't really hit them last year, and the Cubs sneaking up and taking it
West: The Dodgers, and this will be the least close race in baseball

World Series: Dodgers over... Yankees, I think

[bigwillq]

2. Let's GO YANKEES!

I predict the Yankees win the World Series.:bounce:

[GOPFighter]

3. I think the Yanks will have trouble this year

Age will finally catch up. Injuries, etc. Still, I think they will win the AL East because the Bosox will self-destruct trying to repeat last year's success. They certainly weren't impressive last night!

So I believe the AL East will be more competitive than last year (which should make you happy JK) and the Sox just might not win the wild card (I'm hoping the Twins or Indians will get it!).

[maveric]

4. Watch out for the Padres, Kleeb!

They will be the cinderella team this year.

[JohnKleeb]

6. Well thats one I wouldnt mind being wrong about :)

[JohnnyCougar]

5. Ok, here's mine

AL East:
NY Yankees 103-59
Boston 95-67
Baltimore 76-86
Toronto 75-87
Tampa Bay 70-92

Notes: The New York Yankees will fold again in the post season, for the specific reason that it's hard for a conglomeration of overpaid egos to mesh when crunch time comes. I just don't think the team chemistry will be there. Boston just doesn't have enough pitching. I think the Blue Jays will be better than people expect.

AL Central:
Detroit 89-73
Minnesota 87-75
Cleveland 78-85
Chicago Sox 77-86
Kansas City 58-104

Notes: The Tigers have the best offense in this division hands down. Who cares what they did the last two years. They would have been over .500 last season had the bullpen not blown 28 saves. With Percival, Farnsworth and Urbina this year, they rival the Twins with the best bullpen. The young pitching staff will blossom this year, and Jeremy Bonderman will certainly be a Cy Young candidate. Magglio Ordonez will silence all critics of his health. Minnesota, while still strong, did not improve in the offseason.

AL West:
Anaheim 99-63
Oakland 82-80
Texas 79-83
Seattle 76-86

Texas has too little pitching to contend. Period. Anahiem is clearly the winner here. Oakland winning 82 may be a stretch, but I think they will surprise this year, even without Mulder and Hudson. I have too much faith in Billy Beane.

NL East:
Atlanta 95-67
Philadelphia 91-71
Florida 85-79
NY Mets 82-80
Washington 68-94

Atlanta and their pitching will hold strong. This won't be the year they give up their perennial AL East title. The Mets will prove that signing a bunch of free agents to ridiculous contracts won't improve a team, a team that still has a minor-league bullpen.

NL Central:
St. Louis 101-63
Chicago Cubs 88-74
Cincinatti 84-78
Houston 79-83
Milwaukee 70-92
Pittsburgh 66-96

There's no stopping LaRussa this year. They're going all the way. There is no way Houston makes the playoffs again.

NL West:
San Diego 89-73
Los Angeles 84-78
San Fransisco 83-79
Arizona 72-90
Colarado 64-98

This division is now the weakest in baseball, especially without Bonds. San Diego has a good team this year, and will handily win the division.

Al Champs: Anaheim
NL Champs: Cardinals

World Series: Cardinals

[Tweed]

8. Now those are predictions

Can't say I agree with where you place the Marlins, but thanks for the in-depth anaylsis Johnny.

[JohnnyCougar]

10. You think the Marlins will be better or worse?

I am predicting injuries to their starting pitching. They have a hell of an offense now with Delgado, Cabrera, Lowell, Pierre and Castillo. It depends on whether Delgado can return to MVP form. I actually have considered that I rated the Marlins too low and the Phillies too high. It's too late to edit this, though. I may have predicted too much for the Angels as well.

[JohnnyCougar]

12. Kick....I am the man!

I only screwed up both central divisions. ANd I gor Boston and Texas right on the head. And nearly 7 of 8 playoff teams.

Ok, I'll stop bragging now!

[Tweed]

7. Talk about half-assed

'Shit I don't know, perhaps a classic dodgers and giants battle'?
'I don't know for sure'?

Do you write for ESPN Page 3 or something?

Kidding kidding.

Seriously though, the Marlins are way better than the Mets. If the Braves fight anyone off, it will be the Marlins.

[JohnKleeb]

9. Oh I agree

I just had to mention that the Mets had a big spree, hey I am meant to be half assed.

[JohnKleeb]

11. Ahh yeah dudes

The wildcards are gonna be the Sox for the AL and the Marlins for the NL. Though I hope I am being proved wrong about my AL East predictions.