With the baseball currently in spring training mode the time has come to look like a fool and pretend like you know anything about the coming season by making those predictions you are sure will come true.
It doesn’t matter if you have a horrendous track record you still make the same mistake every year, thinking that your predictions will come true.
With that in mind here are my predictions that of course will be 100% correct. If you disagree with, well you’re wrong not me.
AL East
The Yankees won the World Series last year and there should be no reason as to why they won’t at least get back there. They added Javier Vazquez to the pitching rotation, traded for Curtis Granderson and are going to move Joba Chamberlain back to the bullpen.
They did lose Johnny Damon but Granderson should make up for that loss.
Best offence + second best pitching rotation = Win 100 games again.
AL Central
Probably the toughest division to call with the Twins, Tigers and White Sox all fighting for one spot, because no one is going to beat the Red Sox to the Wild Card. The Twins look like they will re-sign Joe Mauer to an eight-year deal and they added Jim Thome to their roster.
The Tigers added Johnny Damon to their ballclub and could prove to be tough to beat if their pitching holds up.
The White Sox will have Jake Peavy leading a strong pitching staff for the entire season and Gordon Beckham should continue improving from last year.
My pick would be the Twins, but not by much though – don’t forget this division went to an extra game play-off between the Tigers and Twins last season.
AL West
Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, that’s 40 wins right there. Plus they have great defence and they added Chone Figgins to their team who will steal 20-30 bases a year. If Milton Bradley doesn’t have another mental breakdown and hits like he is capable of the Mariners will win the division.
Some still think the Angels are still the class of the west but they lost too much this off-season without plugging the holes, John Lackey was a huge loss.
NL East
I’ll make this quick. The Phillies are the best team in the east and possibly the whole of the National league. The added Roy Halladay but got rid of Cliff Lee but they still have the main core of the team intact – Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino –
The bullpen isn’t the best especially with Brad Lidge struggling last season, but with three inning eaters in the pitching rotation the pen should be well protected.
The Braves and Marlins will challenge but eventually will fall short, sorry Bobby Cox.
Oh and Mets fans get ready for another season of mediocrity.
NL Central
How can we put this without offending the other teams in the NL Central, the Cardinals are by far the best team in the division and it will take an injury to Albert Pujols or one of their starting pitchers to even give the others a chance.
Sorry Cubs fans it might be another 100 years before you win a World Series.
Watch out for the Brewers they could make a push for the division crown if everything goes right for them but the Wild Card is probably what the Brewers will be aiming for.
NL West
Sorry Giants fans you might have Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain spearheading your rotation but your team lacks any sort of offensive force. Not even Kung Fu Panda is going to be able to save you. That being said you will be competitive and should be able to finish ahead of the cash strapped Dodgers.
The Rockies won the Wild Card last year and look like the team to beat. If Jeff Francis comes back from injury and can win over 12 games then the rest of the division can forget about catching Colorado.
Arizona may challenge, but their offence is so weak that it will take a monumental effort from every player on the offensive front to even start challenging the Rockies.
AL Cy Young
Zack Greinke will not have another dominating season like he did last year, he’s good but he’s not Pedro Martinez. He might come close to what he did last year but he won’t be as good. My pick for the Al Cy Young is CC Sabathia simply because he is a monster on the mound. He can bring the heat and then make you look like a fool with his changeup, add the fact that he plays for a team which will give him a copious amount of run support 20 wins should be the minimum for Sabathia.
NL Cy Young
Roy Halladay – How can he not win it? He dominated in the American League East against the Yankees and Red Sox, so how can he not do it in the weaker National League?
My guess is a sub 2.70 ERA, 21 wins and a WHIP close to 1.
AL MVP
Alex Rodriguez – Why? Because after winning his first World Series title A-Rod has nothing to lose now. He’s going to try get the all-time home run record and after admitting to using PEDs he says he feels like a new man.
40 home runs, 120 RBIs, .310 avg, doesn’t sound too optimistic.
NL MVP
Hanley Ramirez. – Ramirez is a five tool guy, plus he plays shortstop one of the most demanding positions in baseball. He won the batting title last year and could do so again and if he has a really amazing year he could win the triple crown for the time since 1967 when Carl Yastrzemski hit .326, 44 HR and 121 RBI.
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