Amending my Preseason Predictions for the MLB
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by user BigPPup
At the beginning of the 2006 baseball season I went ahead and made my picks for the division winners. Now sitting a few days away from the All-Star Break, I realize why I should stick to picking football games and leave MLB to the stat heads.
Here's a look at my original predictions:
The AL East always gets the most attention of any division in baseball and rightfully so. When it is home to the Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, the headlines write themselves 20 plus times a year. This may be the tightest race in the AL East ever. The Blue Jays spent serious money to update their roster. After watching newly acquired ace Roy Halladay out duel Santana of the Twins for a win it appears the Jays may have made the right decision. That being said the Jays will be competitive in the East for the first time in years, and will probably steal a Wild Card spot from the Sox. The Yankees will win the division. Surprise Surprise.
Across the midway to the AL Central, this may prove to be the most interesting division in baseball. The defending World Series Champions have made serious upgrades to their batting lineup as they look to defend their crown. Cleveland claims to have learned from last years late season meltdown, and they are looking for payback from the Sox knocking them out late in the season. And don’t forget the Twins lurking out there, always dangerous and capable of making a run. The race to the end in this division will be a war of attrition. I think the Tribe has a slight edge in the race, but Sabathia’s got to be able to bounce back from an opening day injury.
In the AL West we will see the rise of money ball once again. The Angels do not have enough depth, and health to go the distance of the season. The Oakland A’s have once again reassemble by law of the money ball. They constructed a strong lineup with solid pitching and hitting look for them to go through the West and wrap it up fairly early.
Now to the other league the NL West will suffer from another season of mediocrity on the field, but off the field it will be the most interesting site maybe in baseball history. The Barry Bonds saga will keep the Giants in the media throughout the season. What may be lost in the fray is if Bonds can stay healthy the Giants are a favorite to win the NL West. Remember this is the same division were .500 means success. And oh yeah Nomar is already on the DL - go figure.
NL Central will be the most boring division in baseball. Expect to see the same results we see every year, Cardinals win. The Cards are still together, and Pujols swings the best bat in the majors behind Barry Bonds. The Cards have made a habit of wrapping up the Central by mid summer, and they will do the same this year. Now if they can just get over the hump in the post season.
The NL East will prove to be an exciting division to watch throughout the season. The Mets have spent like their New York counterparts and they are hoping to see similar results. Down 95, the Phillies are hoping to come up with some success and bring pride back to the City of Brotherly Love. The Atlanta Braves have been the golden standard of success for all sports really winning 14 straight division titles. If they want to win a 15th they will have a dog fight, and they are up for it. Last year the Braves showcase 9 rookies. Several of them have made the everyday lineup and have postseason experience. They are ready to make an impact on the Majors. Expect the Mets and Braves to fight it out in the East with the Braves barely nudging them out.
Now with a half season under my belt I'd like to go back and make amends to my pre-season predictions for each division. Yeah, this is cheating and I’m admitting it.
In the AL East I was close, but the injuries to the Yankees will be too great for them to overcome. Combine the lost of 200 RBI’s with the lost of the outfielders and a lack of a stellar rotation and you get a 190 million dollar team that will miss the playoffs. No chance of finding the Wild Card. The AL East will go to the Boston Red Sox. I’m still sticking to my Toronto being a contender too.
In the AL Central I missed something, a huge something called the Detroit Tigers. They have been on gangbusters throughout the first half of the season. I am comfortable in the fact however that everyone else missed this pick too. That being said I am sticking with White Sox to win the Division with Detroit pushing them the whole way. Too bad for Minnesota for being one of the best teams in the Majors and not even second in their division, and yeah I was just wrong about Cleveland.
The AL West stands the same. The A’s will follow Billy Beane formula and take the title. However the emergence of Texas as a contender has become an interesting wrinkle in the plot.
In the NL East, I was half right. The Mets are not only contenders for the division but the best team in the NL. The Braves have struggled all season and they will not be able to make enough moves before the break to become a threat to the Mets. The rest of the NL East is full of AAA teams so Pedro and company are sitting pretty heading into the second half.
The NL Central is going to be a dogfight with St. Louis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Houston all hovering around each other. The one thing for sure is Dusty Baker is out in Chicago and the Cubs curse will continue. Clemens return to the Astros will not be enough to lift them into the post season. The Cards will find just enough to nudge out the competition, or more appropriately out last the competition as Cincinnati and Milwaukee will wilt under the summer heat.
The records in the NL West are far better than I thought they would be. By now I though the whole league would be sub-500 and staying that way. Nomar has had a resurgent year and right now is my front runner for NL MVP. I look for him and the Dodgers to make their move in August and pass the Padres to win the division.
So there it is my second half predictions for the MLB season. Yeah don’t worry I reserve the right to go back and change these too if I deem it necessary.
Date
Fri 07/07/06, 6:52 am EST
