Official 2010 MLB Thread
Mar 30, 2010 13:57:56 GMT -5
Post by Pun on Mar 30, 2010 13:57:56 GMT -5
With less than a week before the 2010 MLB season kicks off, I figured I would get this year's thread started. As usual, let's start things off by making our season predictions. In addition to the usual standings, ROY, Cy Young, MVP predictions, though, make one bold prediction for the season. Let's see whose might actually come true.
Last year's predictions.
AL East[/u]
Yankees
Red Sox (WC)
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
- If the Yankees get smart and sit Granderson against left handed pitching, they could run away with the Division by the All Star Break.
AL Central[/u]
Twins
White Sox
Tigers
Royals
Indians
- Even with the loss of Nathan, I think the Twins can take the Division. I have a feeling they will go out and get Heath Bell or Jason Frasor before the deadline, though, just to shore things up.
AL West[/u]
Rangers
Mariners
Angels
Athletics
- I think the Rangers are going to surprise a lot of people. As a staunch supporter of Milton Bradley last season (which, I have already admitted I regret) I think he's going to have the same detrimental effect on a promising Mariners team as he did in the Cubs clubhouse last season.
NL East[/u]
Phillies
Braves (WC)
Marlins
Mets
Nationals
- The bottom two spots really could go either way.
NL Central[/u]
Cardinals
Cubs
Brewers
Reds
Astros
Pirates
- As much as it pains me to put the Cards on top, until someone knocks them off, they are the champs. But, with that being said, the NL Central is really up for grabs. Any of those first three have a legit claim to say they could take it. They also all have similar questions. How will the Cards' pitching fare behind Carpenter and Wainwright (and for that matter, will Carp's health hold out this season)? Having a new contract, will we see the Holliday that was in Oakland last year, or the Holliday that came to St. Louis? Will Pujols' back hold up all season? With the Cubs, even with all their injuries, they still had 83 wins last season. If they can stay healthy (and, yes, that's a big if) they have the potential to be just as good as they were in 2008. Theriot and Fuku have looked good this spring, and if they can set the table, a middle of the order of DLee, ARam, Byrd, and Soriano looks like it could be sick! I could easily see those 4 combining for 120 HRs or more. And if Soto has a bounce back year, watch out! In addition to health, the big question for the Cubs is pitching. Will Randy Wells repeat? Will Ted Lilly be effective after having his shoulder scoped? Will Silva pitch as well as he has this spring? Will Big Z finally have the meltdown we all know he could have and kill someone? As for the Brewers, we all know they have the offense, but will they have the pitching to hang with the Cubs and Cardinals? (Sorry for the diatribe. Obviously, the NL Central is the Division I follow the closest.)
NL West[/u]
Rockies
Diamondbacks
Giants
Dodgers
Padres
- This is another Division I could see going to just about any of those teams. I know I'm going to catch shit for having the Dodgers so low, but when Vincente Padilla is your ace, you have issues.
AL Playoffs[/u]
Yankees over Rangers
Red Sox over Twins
Yankees over Red Sox
NL Playoffs[/u]
Phillies over Cardinals (hopefully it's the Cubs in there, but the Phillies will win over whomever it is)
Braves over Rockies
Phillies over Braves
World Series[/u]
Yankees over Phillies in a rematch of last year
AL Rookie of the Year - Julio Borbon
NL Rookie of the Year - Jason Heyward
AL Cy Young - King Felix
NL Cy Young - Doc Halladay
AL MVP - ARod
NL MVP - Pujols
Bold Prediction - I was going to say that the Pirates would finish over .500, but then I looked at that team. That is just god awful! I will go out on a limb and say that Starlin Castro will be called up for the Cubs by the All Star Break after tearing the cover off the ball in Iowa. This will move Theriot to 2B, meaning Mike Fontenot will be traded. Castro will go on to finish 2nd in the ROY voting.
Last year's predictions.
AL East[/u]
Yankees
Red Sox (WC)
Rays
Orioles
Blue Jays
- If the Yankees get smart and sit Granderson against left handed pitching, they could run away with the Division by the All Star Break.
AL Central[/u]
Twins
White Sox
Tigers
Royals
Indians
- Even with the loss of Nathan, I think the Twins can take the Division. I have a feeling they will go out and get Heath Bell or Jason Frasor before the deadline, though, just to shore things up.
AL West[/u]
Rangers
Mariners
Angels
Athletics
- I think the Rangers are going to surprise a lot of people. As a staunch supporter of Milton Bradley last season (which, I have already admitted I regret) I think he's going to have the same detrimental effect on a promising Mariners team as he did in the Cubs clubhouse last season.
NL East[/u]
Phillies
Braves (WC)
Marlins
Mets
Nationals
- The bottom two spots really could go either way.
NL Central[/u]
Cardinals
Cubs
Brewers
Reds
Astros
Pirates
- As much as it pains me to put the Cards on top, until someone knocks them off, they are the champs. But, with that being said, the NL Central is really up for grabs. Any of those first three have a legit claim to say they could take it. They also all have similar questions. How will the Cards' pitching fare behind Carpenter and Wainwright (and for that matter, will Carp's health hold out this season)? Having a new contract, will we see the Holliday that was in Oakland last year, or the Holliday that came to St. Louis? Will Pujols' back hold up all season? With the Cubs, even with all their injuries, they still had 83 wins last season. If they can stay healthy (and, yes, that's a big if) they have the potential to be just as good as they were in 2008. Theriot and Fuku have looked good this spring, and if they can set the table, a middle of the order of DLee, ARam, Byrd, and Soriano looks like it could be sick! I could easily see those 4 combining for 120 HRs or more. And if Soto has a bounce back year, watch out! In addition to health, the big question for the Cubs is pitching. Will Randy Wells repeat? Will Ted Lilly be effective after having his shoulder scoped? Will Silva pitch as well as he has this spring? Will Big Z finally have the meltdown we all know he could have and kill someone? As for the Brewers, we all know they have the offense, but will they have the pitching to hang with the Cubs and Cardinals? (Sorry for the diatribe. Obviously, the NL Central is the Division I follow the closest.)
NL West[/u]
Rockies
Diamondbacks
Giants
Dodgers
Padres
- This is another Division I could see going to just about any of those teams. I know I'm going to catch shit for having the Dodgers so low, but when Vincente Padilla is your ace, you have issues.
AL Playoffs[/u]
Yankees over Rangers
Red Sox over Twins
Yankees over Red Sox
NL Playoffs[/u]
Phillies over Cardinals (hopefully it's the Cubs in there, but the Phillies will win over whomever it is)
Braves over Rockies
Phillies over Braves
World Series[/u]
Yankees over Phillies in a rematch of last year
AL Rookie of the Year - Julio Borbon
NL Rookie of the Year - Jason Heyward
AL Cy Young - King Felix
NL Cy Young - Doc Halladay
AL MVP - ARod
NL MVP - Pujols
Bold Prediction - I was going to say that the Pirates would finish over .500, but then I looked at that team. That is just god awful! I will go out on a limb and say that Starlin Castro will be called up for the Cubs by the All Star Break after tearing the cover off the ball in Iowa. This will move Theriot to 2B, meaning Mike Fontenot will be traded. Castro will go on to finish 2nd in the ROY voting.