As promised here is my National League preview for the 2010 season.
NL WEST
Colorado Rockies
Last Season: 92-70 NL Wild Card
This season, the Rockies will overtake the Dodgers as the champs of the NL WEST. Of the three teams in contention last season in the West, the Rockies had the least amount of turnover. Their offense remains intact and the pitching staff did not undergo any major changes. This pick is not so much that the Rockies have dramatically improved, but that the two other teams in contention got worse and I think this clubhouse will benefit from a full season under Manager Jim Tracy and some rare continuity amongst a lineup.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Last Season: 70-92 25 GB of 1st place LAD
The D-backs are my pick for most improved team in 2010. Brandon Webb returns to the rotation which will only improve the performance of new Ace Dan Haren. The lineup improves with the addition of 1B Adam LaRoche. As long as RF Justin Upton lives up to his Willie Mays-esque hype, and Mark Reynolds maintains his power numbers, they will have a very successful season. I don't know that they'll peak much higher than .500, but I expect to see a rather large drop off in production from the rest of the NL WEST, so second place is definitely a realistic outcome for this club.
San Fransisco Giants
Last Season: 88-74 6 GB of 1st place LAD
The Giants will end this season in the same place they left it last season. Once again they will be faced with the same problems that plagued them all season last year. A phenomenal young pitching staff and likely a 3rd consecutive Cy Young winner in Tim Lincecum, and a terrible offense that outside of Pablo Sandoval will not produce nearly enough runs to improve on last year's record. They may surprise me and be a second place caliber team midway through the year, but unless they add a bat at the trade deadline I expect nothing more from the Giants this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Last Season: 95-67 1st place NL WEST
I expect a large drop off in the Dodgers this season. They do have wonderful young talent in OF Matt Kemp, but and inconsistent pitching staff and an aging and roidless Manny Ramirez will leave this team in search of victories. The ace on their staff this year is Clayton Kershaw who was lights out last season. His biggest issue is not his performance but the run support he received last season. With the lineup subtracting rather than adding this season, I look for that problem to continue. One shining spot that could drastically change this prediction is the return of SS Rafael Furcal. If Furcal can put up numbers similar to his 2008 campaign he could be a candidate for NL Comeback player of the year.
San Diego Padres
Last Season: 75-87 20 GB of 1st place LAD
The Padres will end this season is last place in the NL WEST. I expect them to move 1B Adrian Gonzalez by the trade deadline in July. That being said, the only offense in a true pitchers ball park will be gone by my calculations, resulting in an even worse offensive output for this team compared to last year. Add that to the fact that they traded away their longtime ace SP Jake Peavy and this team is looking like it'll give the Pirates a run for the worst record in the league.
NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals
Last Season: 91-71 1st place in the NL CENTRAL
The Cardinals will repeat as the champions in the National League Central. I expect this team to win 100 games this season due to the contributions of OF Matt Holliday and a healthy SP Chris Carpenter. They have added a lot of depth to their infield with Felipe Lopez fighting for a starting position with SS Brenden Ryan. The bullpen remains mainly the same with CL Ryan Franklin returning after his breakout season last year.
Milwaukee Brewers
Last Season: 80-82 11 GB of StL
The Brewers will win the NL Wild card birth this season. Their lineup is scary good with the Prince and Ryan Braun. It looks to get even better with the addition of rookie SS Alcides Escobar and new addition OF Carlos Gomez. With those additions one thing is certain, this offense will have speed and power. what more could you want? The pitching staff remains largely the same, but its success rests largely on the health of SP Yovanni Gallardo.
Cincinnati Reds
Last Season: 78-84 13 GB of StL
I look for the Reds to reach .500 this season, leaping over last year's division runner up Chicago. The emergence of some young stars like 1B Joey Votto give this offense a sense of fidelity between seasons. If the pitching staff can hold together the whole season, mainly the performances of SPs Aaron Harang and Bronson Aaroyo, this team could very well be in contention for a wild card spot. If Aroldis Chapman can get healthy and win 10 games I look for this team to be a serious threat.
Chicago Cubs
Last Season: 83-78 7.5 GB of StL
I hate to break it to the fans of the north siders, but this team isn't getting any younger. The fact of the matter is that injuries kept this team out of the playoffs last year and it might do the same this season. Aramis Ramirez returns to the lineup but Derek Lee is one year older, Alfonso Soriano is coming off of his worst big league season, and there is very little to be excited about in the pitching rotation. Add that to unproven closer Carlos Marmol being the saves man, and I wouldn't be surprised if this team finishes far worse than .500
Houston Astros
Last Season: 74-88 17 GB of StL
The Astros lost their most productive bat from last season SS Miguel Tejada this off season. They have some excellent young pieces in OF Hunter Pence, but their age in the infield is cause for concern. I look for the pitching staff to be largely improved with Roy Oswalt healthy and the emergence of youngster Bud Norris, but they lost their closer and will receive little run support.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Last Season: 62-99 28.5 GB of StL
Pirates fans have something to look forward to at the beginning of this season, an electric outfielder in Andrew McCutchen and a potentially huge contributor in OF Garret Jones. However, whether or not the Pittsburgh Prospects will deal these youngsters by the deadline remains to be seen. Unfortunately a franchise with the history of the Bucos doesn't give fans too much to cheer for.
NL EAST
Atlanta Braves
Last Season: 86-76 7 GB of division champ PHI
The Braves enter the 2010 campaign with a very interesting pitching staff. The youngsters Jurjens and Hanson, they could feasibly win over 90 games. I happen to believe that they will which is why they are my pick to overtake two time defending champs Philadelphia. The addition of power bat Troy Glaus and the hyped debut of RF Jason Heyward, makes this my team to watch for a deep playoff run in the NL.
Philadelphia Phillies.
Last Season: 93-69 1st place NL EAST
Continuity will help this Phillies club in 2010. I really only picked against them because of the noticeable changes of the Braves this off-season. Personally I think the Phils will be worse off down the stretch with Roy Halladay over Cliff Lee. The numbers don't lie. There is no better pitcher before the all-star break in recent memory than Roy Halladay. After the all-star break however is a different story. This team is playing for the World Series and nothing less. I hate to break it to Philly fans, but this ain't your year.
New York Mets
Last Season: 70-92 23 GB of PHI
This team is interesting in general. If healthy last year its possible they finish in second place in the NL EAST. I think they will be better off if SS Jose Reyes is back in the lineup by the end of April. However, without a run producer and base stealer like ReyesI can't see them crawling any higher in this very competitive division.
Florida Marlins
Last Season: 87-75 6 GB of PHI
The Marlins will tail off this season due to a lack of pitching. Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco out performed expectations last season, and I look for them to come back to earth this year. They have a solid enough lineup to keep them in games but without a true ace on the staff I can't see them improving on an overperforming record from last season.
Washington Nationals
Last Season: 59-103 34 GB of PHI
Good news Nats fans! Your team will not have the worst record in baseball this season! Stephen Strasburg will win 10 games! Jason Marquis and Chien Ming Wang are wonderful additions to a terrible pitching staff! Unfortunately these changes won't make much of a difference this season. I see this team really emerging with a couple more moves in 2011 but this year they remain in the cellar of the NL EAST
AWARD WINNERS
NL MVP: 1B Albert Pujols- St. Louis
Who could possibly pick against him? He's a triple crown threat every year. His team will most likely represent the NL in the World Series. He's the hands down favorite.
NL Cy Young: SP Tim Lincecum- SF
I'd really like to pick against the wild haired phenom. But honestly, the only person I could see putting up a fight would be Chris Carpenter from St. Louis. True if the Diamondbacks have as much success as I predict Haren and Webb are both candidates, but Lincecum is solid and showing no signs of slowing down. Barring any sort of injury and he will be a three time consecutive Cy Young Winner.
NL Comeback POY: 3B David Wright- NYM
Before last season's injury Wright was a solid 25 HR 120 RBI guy. The fact of the matter is, with him out last season the Mets were just north of pathetic. I think if he puts up the kind of 20/20 numbers he has in the past he'd be the hands down favorite for this distinction.
NL PLAYOFF PICTURE
Brewers vs. Rockies-----Brewers in 5
Braves vs. Cardinals---- Cards in 4
NLCS
Brewers vs. Cards-------Cards in 6
WS
Cards vs. Yankees------Cards in 7
That's my MLB Preview for 2010. Any questions or comments feel free to fire away!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
MLB Spring Predictions
Hello all!
After my long hiatus from the sports blogging world, I'm back and better than ever. As the Major League Baseball Season draws near, I think it important to voice my predictions for division winners, wildcards, award winners, and some thoughts on the upcoming season. The division predictions are listed in order from who I think will win it at the top to the worst team at the bottom
DIVISION PREDICTIONS:
American League WEST
Texas Rangers
Last season: 87-75 6 GB of division champ LAA
2010 is the year of the Ranger. The Halos lost a lot of talent this off season, and did not bring in much to make up for it. The Rangers' roster remains mostly in tact, and they add a big bat in the Aging DH, Vlad Guerrero. I look for their pitching to continue its upswing. The addition of Rich Harden may prove to be much more important in the playoff hunt if he remains healthy. There is no denying, that he has some filthy stuff, keeping him in the rotation is paramount to Texas' success.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Last Season: 97-65 1st place.
This season brings on a new set of challenges for the usually very successful Angels. Losing John Lackey will prove to hurt this team down the stretch. True he has not started the more recent season healthy, but he has come on late to secure the AL WEST when it mattered. I look for the Halos to miss bat of Vlad Guerrero and more so the multi-faceted Chone Figgins. What will hurt this franchise more is that both of those off season departures landed within their division at Texas and Seattle respectively.
Seattle Mariners
Last Season: 85-77 7 GB of 1st place LAA
The Mariners are the "sexy" pick this season for a lot of baseball analysts. And why not? With the addition of Cliff Lee, they have a one-two punch in their rotation possibly better than any in Major League Baseball. However, beyond King Felix and "I wasn't trying to hit him", their rotation is... well lack luster to say the least. Pair that with a bull pen that is unproven and undependable at best, and you've got yourself a recipe for disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I see the potential for vast improvement. I understand why a lot of people think they'll make the playoffs, but the most important thing to remember is that they are in the AL. That being said, the only way to post season play is winning the division. There are just too many good teams in the AL to think an AL WEST team will win the wild card.
Oakland Athletics
Last Season: 75-87 22 GB of 1st place LAA
The Athletics are a puzzling team this season. They have a core of good young pitching. Andrew Bailey may be one of the most overlooked closers in the league this year. However, youth is about all this team possesses. Their "Ace" is Ben Sheets, who could be just one outing away from washed up. Their lineup has promise, five years from now. And the bull pen short of Bailey is bunch of kids that no one has ever heard of. A special note on the A's is that usually this is the outlook of their team every year. And for a while it worked. They would surprise everyone by sneaking to the top of the AL WEST playing "Billy Ball" but in recent years the West has gotten pretty good, and I don't see that kind of performance from this group of youngsters.
AL CENTRAL
Chicago WhiteSox
Last Season: 79-83 7.5 GB of 1st place MIN
This is the year that all of least year's trade dealine moves pay off. GM Kenny Williams made it clear last July that while they were Buyers they were buying for 2010. They acquired the then injured Jake Peavy and under performing Alex Rios from San Diego and Toronto respectively. Peavy looked solid when he finally returned from injury in September. He started 3 games winning them all and pitching 20 innings with a 1.35 ERA. Perhaps the most impressive stat of his 09 campaign was his 8.1 K/9 which was just 1 strikeout per nine shy of his 2007 Cy Young Campaign. I look for Peavy to take a lot of pressure off of southpaw Mark Buerhle allowing him to return to the form we saw pre-perfect game last season. The offense can once again begin to play "Ozzie Ball" with the additions of Juan Pierre at LF and Rios in Center. If Gordon Beckham can put up 20 HR and 20 SB, this offense will be scary.
Minnesota Twins
Last Year:87-67 1st Place AL CENTRAL
It's safe to say that the Twins will miss Closer Joe Nathan. Over the last six seasons he has been within the top five saves leaders in the league. You cannot simply replace production like that. However, good news for the Twins is that Joe Mauer has been secured for the next 8 years on a gargantuan contract. The rest of the offense went through some changes, the most noticeable being the addition of Orlando Hudson and last year's trade deadline addition of Orlando Cabrera at SS. For the most part I don't see this team getting worse I just think that the WhiteSox will be noticeably better, and an 87-67 record will not be enough to win the CENTRAL this year.
Cleveland Indians
Last Year: 65-97 21.5 GB of 1st place MIN
This is less of a declaration of improvement in Cleveland, and more of a condemnation of Detroit's ability to contend this year. Each of the last two years, Cleveland has traded away a Cy Young winning by the deadline. The only thing Cleveland fans will know for sure this year is that that will not happen. Because an Indian did not win the CY Young last year, a Royal did. However, I think Jake Westbrook is a potential Cy Young candidate this year. Before you scoff, realize that Cleveland has been breeding quality pitchers as of late. Jake Westbrook has proven in the past to have pretty good stuff when healthy. That being said I think he's a dark horse candidate for comeback player of the year and Cy Young this year if he can stay healthy and win 15 games or so. Those are two pretty big "ifs" but I do love the Indians first three in the lineup and the bullpen could be a bit better than expected if RP Chris Perez keeps up his spring training production.
Detroit Tigers
Last year: 86-77 1 GB of 1st place MIN
The Tigers have lost a lot of pop this season. Their outfield will be questionable at best. Johnny Damon is far from his prime and we must assume that his offensive productivity will be down from last season after moving to Comerica from HR happy New Yankee Stadium. The pitching staff has the ability to be great. Verlander is a top 10 pitcher in the AL, and Porcello had a stellar rookie campaign last season. I do think that Scherzer is a downgrade from last year's Edwin Jackson, but Bonderman at full strength may nullify that loss. The Bull Pen is full of questions as well this year, but the addition of RP Jose Valverde at closer should at least solidify the back end.
Kansas City Royals
Last Season: 65-97 21.5 GB of 1st place MIN
This is not the Royals breakout season. Yes Greinke had a coming out part of sorts last season winning the AL Cy Young award with a stellar 16-8 2.14 ERA 242 strike out performance. However, the biggest issue with this year's team is the same as last, the rest of the rotation. And with the same giant weakness I cannot believe that the additions of OFs Scott Podsednik, Rick Ankiel, and C Jason Kendall will make any difference in this teams final standing.
AL EAST
New York Yankees
Last Year: 103-59 1st place AL EAST
The Yankees will repeat as AL EAST Champs next season. This off-season the Yankees were not nearly as aggressive as last. But can you blame them? If it ain't broke, don't fix it! They won the World Series last season with a great offense in a HR happy ballpark and solid pitching staff headed by C.C. Sabathia. There is no reason to believe that losing Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon will result in a worse record, especially considering the additions of OF Curtis Granderson and DH/1B Nick Johnson. This lineup has pop and speed. The pitching staff has dominating stuff and the best closer in the AL. Add it up and you've got another favorite for the AL rep at the World Series.
Tampa Bay Rays
Last Year: 84-78 19 GB of 1st place NYY
The Tampa Bay Rays will overtake the Boston RedSox for 2nd place and the AL Wild Card this year. Evan Longoria is my pick for AL MVP this season. His third big league season big league season is going to lead to crushing power numbers as the third batter in a relatively stacked lineup. I believe he is a sure fire hit for 40 HRs and 130 RBI this season. The starting rotation leaves a lot to be desired, but I think their offense will over power the Sox in the regular season.
Boston Red Sox
Last year: 95-67 8 GB of 1st place NYY, AL Wild Card.
Boston takes a step back this season. Their inability to add another big bat to the lineup will ultimately be their demise. Big Papi has seen his better days come and go, and to think that he will produce well enough to maintain is DH role is laughable. Losing LF Jason Bay will also prove costly, especially considering their only "big" addition to the lineup this year is 3B Adrian Beltre. IF they make another blockbuster deal at the deadline like last year adding 1B/C Victor Martinez then maybe they make a run at the Wild Card, but the offense is not going to be able to keep up with the Yankees or the Rays for that matter without it.
Baltimore Orioles
Last Year: 64-98 39 GB of 1st place NYY
The Orioles make the move past the Blue Jays this season into fourth place in the AL EAST. The Orioles have done a lot to work on a lack luster lineup from last season. They have a solid outfield with Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and newcomer Nolan Reimold. And they have brought back a former stable to the Orioles Lineup in SS Miguel Tejada, so as long as C Matt Weiters lives up to the hype, they should have no problems putting up some runs. The pitching staff on the other hand is still in the cellar. The debut of rookie SP Brian Matusz definitely gives you something to watch if you're an Orioles fan, but beyong that they will struggle against the potent lineups of the AL EAST.
Toronto Blue Jays
Last Year: 75-87 28 GB of 1st place NYY
The Blue Jays enter this season after dealing away long time ace and fan favorite SP Roy Halladay this off-season. They did manage to bring in some excellent prospects in the deal, so I don't expect them to remain cellar dwellers in the AL EAST for too long, but they will not crawl out this season. The offense should remain relatively potent if OF Adam Lind and 2B Aaron Hill repeat their performances from last year and OF Vernon Wells comes back strong after injury. But it will not be enough to compete with this fantastically strong division.
AL Award Winners:
AL MVP:
As I said previously 3B Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays is my pre-season AL MVP. I look for him to put up monster numbers as he grows comfortable in his third season as the "franchise" player in Tampa Bay. The lineup around him remains largely the same and with Carl Crawford leading off he should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.
AL Cy Young:
My AL Cy Young winner this season is SP Felix Hernandez from the Seattle Mariners. I expect he'll win around the same amount of games as last year's 19 which will most likely lead the American League. I expect to see him perform with much less pressure most likely resulting in a lower ERA and similar Strike Out numbers.
AL Come Back POY:
This year's Come Back POY will go to SP Jake Peavy from the Chicago Whitesox. He spent most of last season on the DL going 9-6 with the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Whitesox. I expect him to put up number comparable to his Cy Young season of 2007. Somewhere around 18 wins and and over 200 strikeouts would definitely merit this award and contend against King Felix for the Cy Young.
Playoff Predictions:
The ALDS will look as follows
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox----- Rays in 5
Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees------ Yankees in 4
ALCS
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees--- Yankees in 6
I'll be hitting up the National League tomorrow so make sure to check it out.
Leave comments, I want to know what you think!
After my long hiatus from the sports blogging world, I'm back and better than ever. As the Major League Baseball Season draws near, I think it important to voice my predictions for division winners, wildcards, award winners, and some thoughts on the upcoming season. The division predictions are listed in order from who I think will win it at the top to the worst team at the bottom
DIVISION PREDICTIONS:
American League WEST
Texas Rangers
Last season: 87-75 6 GB of division champ LAA
2010 is the year of the Ranger. The Halos lost a lot of talent this off season, and did not bring in much to make up for it. The Rangers' roster remains mostly in tact, and they add a big bat in the Aging DH, Vlad Guerrero. I look for their pitching to continue its upswing. The addition of Rich Harden may prove to be much more important in the playoff hunt if he remains healthy. There is no denying, that he has some filthy stuff, keeping him in the rotation is paramount to Texas' success.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Last Season: 97-65 1st place.
This season brings on a new set of challenges for the usually very successful Angels. Losing John Lackey will prove to hurt this team down the stretch. True he has not started the more recent season healthy, but he has come on late to secure the AL WEST when it mattered. I look for the Halos to miss bat of Vlad Guerrero and more so the multi-faceted Chone Figgins. What will hurt this franchise more is that both of those off season departures landed within their division at Texas and Seattle respectively.
Seattle Mariners
Last Season: 85-77 7 GB of 1st place LAA
The Mariners are the "sexy" pick this season for a lot of baseball analysts. And why not? With the addition of Cliff Lee, they have a one-two punch in their rotation possibly better than any in Major League Baseball. However, beyond King Felix and "I wasn't trying to hit him", their rotation is... well lack luster to say the least. Pair that with a bull pen that is unproven and undependable at best, and you've got yourself a recipe for disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I see the potential for vast improvement. I understand why a lot of people think they'll make the playoffs, but the most important thing to remember is that they are in the AL. That being said, the only way to post season play is winning the division. There are just too many good teams in the AL to think an AL WEST team will win the wild card.
Oakland Athletics
Last Season: 75-87 22 GB of 1st place LAA
The Athletics are a puzzling team this season. They have a core of good young pitching. Andrew Bailey may be one of the most overlooked closers in the league this year. However, youth is about all this team possesses. Their "Ace" is Ben Sheets, who could be just one outing away from washed up. Their lineup has promise, five years from now. And the bull pen short of Bailey is bunch of kids that no one has ever heard of. A special note on the A's is that usually this is the outlook of their team every year. And for a while it worked. They would surprise everyone by sneaking to the top of the AL WEST playing "Billy Ball" but in recent years the West has gotten pretty good, and I don't see that kind of performance from this group of youngsters.
AL CENTRAL
Chicago WhiteSox
Last Season: 79-83 7.5 GB of 1st place MIN
This is the year that all of least year's trade dealine moves pay off. GM Kenny Williams made it clear last July that while they were Buyers they were buying for 2010. They acquired the then injured Jake Peavy and under performing Alex Rios from San Diego and Toronto respectively. Peavy looked solid when he finally returned from injury in September. He started 3 games winning them all and pitching 20 innings with a 1.35 ERA. Perhaps the most impressive stat of his 09 campaign was his 8.1 K/9 which was just 1 strikeout per nine shy of his 2007 Cy Young Campaign. I look for Peavy to take a lot of pressure off of southpaw Mark Buerhle allowing him to return to the form we saw pre-perfect game last season. The offense can once again begin to play "Ozzie Ball" with the additions of Juan Pierre at LF and Rios in Center. If Gordon Beckham can put up 20 HR and 20 SB, this offense will be scary.
Minnesota Twins
Last Year:87-67 1st Place AL CENTRAL
It's safe to say that the Twins will miss Closer Joe Nathan. Over the last six seasons he has been within the top five saves leaders in the league. You cannot simply replace production like that. However, good news for the Twins is that Joe Mauer has been secured for the next 8 years on a gargantuan contract. The rest of the offense went through some changes, the most noticeable being the addition of Orlando Hudson and last year's trade deadline addition of Orlando Cabrera at SS. For the most part I don't see this team getting worse I just think that the WhiteSox will be noticeably better, and an 87-67 record will not be enough to win the CENTRAL this year.
Cleveland Indians
Last Year: 65-97 21.5 GB of 1st place MIN
This is less of a declaration of improvement in Cleveland, and more of a condemnation of Detroit's ability to contend this year. Each of the last two years, Cleveland has traded away a Cy Young winning by the deadline. The only thing Cleveland fans will know for sure this year is that that will not happen. Because an Indian did not win the CY Young last year, a Royal did. However, I think Jake Westbrook is a potential Cy Young candidate this year. Before you scoff, realize that Cleveland has been breeding quality pitchers as of late. Jake Westbrook has proven in the past to have pretty good stuff when healthy. That being said I think he's a dark horse candidate for comeback player of the year and Cy Young this year if he can stay healthy and win 15 games or so. Those are two pretty big "ifs" but I do love the Indians first three in the lineup and the bullpen could be a bit better than expected if RP Chris Perez keeps up his spring training production.
Detroit Tigers
Last year: 86-77 1 GB of 1st place MIN
The Tigers have lost a lot of pop this season. Their outfield will be questionable at best. Johnny Damon is far from his prime and we must assume that his offensive productivity will be down from last season after moving to Comerica from HR happy New Yankee Stadium. The pitching staff has the ability to be great. Verlander is a top 10 pitcher in the AL, and Porcello had a stellar rookie campaign last season. I do think that Scherzer is a downgrade from last year's Edwin Jackson, but Bonderman at full strength may nullify that loss. The Bull Pen is full of questions as well this year, but the addition of RP Jose Valverde at closer should at least solidify the back end.
Kansas City Royals
Last Season: 65-97 21.5 GB of 1st place MIN
This is not the Royals breakout season. Yes Greinke had a coming out part of sorts last season winning the AL Cy Young award with a stellar 16-8 2.14 ERA 242 strike out performance. However, the biggest issue with this year's team is the same as last, the rest of the rotation. And with the same giant weakness I cannot believe that the additions of OFs Scott Podsednik, Rick Ankiel, and C Jason Kendall will make any difference in this teams final standing.
AL EAST
New York Yankees
Last Year: 103-59 1st place AL EAST
The Yankees will repeat as AL EAST Champs next season. This off-season the Yankees were not nearly as aggressive as last. But can you blame them? If it ain't broke, don't fix it! They won the World Series last season with a great offense in a HR happy ballpark and solid pitching staff headed by C.C. Sabathia. There is no reason to believe that losing Melky Cabrera and Johnny Damon will result in a worse record, especially considering the additions of OF Curtis Granderson and DH/1B Nick Johnson. This lineup has pop and speed. The pitching staff has dominating stuff and the best closer in the AL. Add it up and you've got another favorite for the AL rep at the World Series.
Tampa Bay Rays
Last Year: 84-78 19 GB of 1st place NYY
The Tampa Bay Rays will overtake the Boston RedSox for 2nd place and the AL Wild Card this year. Evan Longoria is my pick for AL MVP this season. His third big league season big league season is going to lead to crushing power numbers as the third batter in a relatively stacked lineup. I believe he is a sure fire hit for 40 HRs and 130 RBI this season. The starting rotation leaves a lot to be desired, but I think their offense will over power the Sox in the regular season.
Boston Red Sox
Last year: 95-67 8 GB of 1st place NYY, AL Wild Card.
Boston takes a step back this season. Their inability to add another big bat to the lineup will ultimately be their demise. Big Papi has seen his better days come and go, and to think that he will produce well enough to maintain is DH role is laughable. Losing LF Jason Bay will also prove costly, especially considering their only "big" addition to the lineup this year is 3B Adrian Beltre. IF they make another blockbuster deal at the deadline like last year adding 1B/C Victor Martinez then maybe they make a run at the Wild Card, but the offense is not going to be able to keep up with the Yankees or the Rays for that matter without it.
Baltimore Orioles
Last Year: 64-98 39 GB of 1st place NYY
The Orioles make the move past the Blue Jays this season into fourth place in the AL EAST. The Orioles have done a lot to work on a lack luster lineup from last season. They have a solid outfield with Adam Jones, Nick Markakis and newcomer Nolan Reimold. And they have brought back a former stable to the Orioles Lineup in SS Miguel Tejada, so as long as C Matt Weiters lives up to the hype, they should have no problems putting up some runs. The pitching staff on the other hand is still in the cellar. The debut of rookie SP Brian Matusz definitely gives you something to watch if you're an Orioles fan, but beyong that they will struggle against the potent lineups of the AL EAST.
Toronto Blue Jays
Last Year: 75-87 28 GB of 1st place NYY
The Blue Jays enter this season after dealing away long time ace and fan favorite SP Roy Halladay this off-season. They did manage to bring in some excellent prospects in the deal, so I don't expect them to remain cellar dwellers in the AL EAST for too long, but they will not crawl out this season. The offense should remain relatively potent if OF Adam Lind and 2B Aaron Hill repeat their performances from last year and OF Vernon Wells comes back strong after injury. But it will not be enough to compete with this fantastically strong division.
AL Award Winners:
AL MVP:
As I said previously 3B Evan Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays is my pre-season AL MVP. I look for him to put up monster numbers as he grows comfortable in his third season as the "franchise" player in Tampa Bay. The lineup around him remains largely the same and with Carl Crawford leading off he should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs.
AL Cy Young:
My AL Cy Young winner this season is SP Felix Hernandez from the Seattle Mariners. I expect he'll win around the same amount of games as last year's 19 which will most likely lead the American League. I expect to see him perform with much less pressure most likely resulting in a lower ERA and similar Strike Out numbers.
AL Come Back POY:
This year's Come Back POY will go to SP Jake Peavy from the Chicago Whitesox. He spent most of last season on the DL going 9-6 with the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Whitesox. I expect him to put up number comparable to his Cy Young season of 2007. Somewhere around 18 wins and and over 200 strikeouts would definitely merit this award and contend against King Felix for the Cy Young.
Playoff Predictions:
The ALDS will look as follows
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Chicago White Sox----- Rays in 5
Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees------ Yankees in 4
ALCS
Tampa Bay Rays vs. New York Yankees--- Yankees in 6
I'll be hitting up the National League tomorrow so make sure to check it out.
Leave comments, I want to know what you think!
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