MLB Award and Playoff Predictions

Awards

American League

MVP:

Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers): His first year in Detroit's potent lineup should yield huge numbers and a trip to the postseason.

Cy Young:

Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers): He has improved over the last 2 years and should be looking at a huge season with this offense; I'm looking at around 22 wins.

Rookie of the Year:

Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays): He will be called upon early in the season and should go right into the middle of the Tampa Bay batting order.

Manager of the Year:

John McClaren (Seattle Mariners): Seattle is poised to break out with a big year this year and McClaren will be pushing all the buttons)

Comeback Player of the Year:

Francisco Liriano (Minnesota Twins): After missing all of the 2007 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, he should return to form in '08.

National League

MVP:

David Wright (New York Mets): Look for his 4th full season to be his best yet: .320, 40 homers, 30 stolen bases, and at least 120 RBIs.

Cy Young:

Johan Santana (New York Mets) (After winning 2 AL Cy Young awards, he figures to start collecting a few in the NL.

Rookie of the Year:

Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds): He isn't going to start right away, but 25 homers and 80+ rbi should still be attainable in a potent lineup.

Manager of the Year:

Joe Torre (Los Angeles Dodgers): He could very well lead the Dodgers to the best record in the NL with all that pitching and young offense.

Comeback Player of the Year:

Pedro Martinez (New York Mets): If this spring is any indication, it looks like Martinez has found a second baseball life.

Playoffs:

American League

ALDS:

Tigers over Mariners
Red Sox over Indians

ALCS:

Tigers over Red Sox

National League

NLDS:

Dodgers over Phillies
Mets over Cubs

NLCS:

Dodgers over Mets

World Series:

Tigers over Dodgers (7 games)

The Giants Baseball Blog-http://giantsbaseballblog.blogspot.com/

JuTMSY4Legend

589 days ago

Score 3

Tigers over Dodgers? Fascinating!

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

588 days ago

Score 0

Yeah, Everybody on Earth is Picking Mets vs. Boston, so I am going to switch it up. Both the Dodgers and Tigers are very capable of reaching the series.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

589 days ago

Score 0

I wanted to know what has you thinking David Wright is good for UP TO 40 Homers!?!?! 30 okay, 35 would be against the odds, 40 would be unbelievable.

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LASportsblogAAA-er

589 days ago

Score 1

In his first three full seasons he hit 27, 26 and 30 homers respectively. Where is the protection in the line up to give him the opportunity to hit 10 more homers, much less the power to do it which I think is questionable.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

588 days ago

Score 0

You've never heard of players developing? 40 could be a bit of a stretch but 35-40 with 40 steals and a .320 average 100+ runs and 120+ rbi are all very realistic for a player who is only 25 and is getting stronger and better each year.

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MegECass110AAA-er

589 days ago

Score 1

Someone likes the Tigers... Cabrera, I can understand. But Verlander? Really? He hasn't even been healthy for a full season yet.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

588 days ago

Score 0

He was healthy last year and pitched very well, especially in September. This will be his 3rd full big league season (25 years old) and after 17 and 18 win seasons, he is poised for a 20 winner with that lineup and in that ballpark. 22 wins, 200 k's and a sub-4 era is attainable IMO.

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SashaDiv-I Stud

589 days ago

Score 3

Upton is not eligible to win ROY.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

588 days ago

Score 0

Your right, he missed it by 10 at-bats, I'll have to change that.

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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

589 days ago

Score 1

I'm voting for this because neither New York team or Boston was picked to go to the World Series.

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KelsdadAll-Star

588 days ago

Score 1

Its going to be tough for Francisco Liriano to win Comeback player of the year in the minor leagues.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

588 days ago

Score 0

Sure Kelsdad, because we all know he's going to stay down in AAA all season right.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

588 days ago

Score 0

Gardenhire said he'll be up by mid April after 3 starts in the minors. No big deal for a young arm coming off TJ surgery.

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KelsdadAll-Star

587 days ago

Score 2

Shows you what you know, Liriano is in Single A.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

587 days ago

Score 0

http://minne...amp;c_id=min

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

587 days ago

Score 0

Kelsdad, buddy, don't read to far into that. A lot of times when players are coming off an injury like Liriano, teams will let them get some extra work in before starting the season. They either send them to extended spring training or give them a week or 2 in the minors. He is making 2 starts in the minors (1 in A and 1 in AAA) and then he'll be up with the big club. Gardenhire said he could have started the year in Minnasotta but he just wanted to play it safe. If you actually thought he was going to spend significant time in A or anywhere in the minors then I really don't know what to tell you. Here is a link with more info if you don't believe me. I really don't see why your arguing with me though?

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KelsdadAll-Star

587 days ago

Score 0

I'm not arguing, I'm clarifying. And if you remember, I told you BEFORE spring training started he wouldn't make the team, so no big surprise to me. You, maybe, but not me.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

587 days ago

Score 0

You didn't tell me anything before spring training Kelsdad. I write about the Giants, I didn't even mention Liriano's name this spring until I wrote up the previews which have been over the last week. It wasn't a matter of making the team, it's all about getting some extra work in after an arm surgery. He pitched a total of 15 innings (this spring) over the last 18 months, so a few starts in the minors to start the year is expected. Are you still implying that he's being sent down for performance issues? Regardless of where he is now, he'll be up in a few weeks. Here's the link again to calrify, right off the Twins official page. http://minne...amp;c_id=min

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KelsdadAll-Star

586 days ago

Score 0

Isn't it performance? He's not good enough to pitch in the bigs right now, regardless of the surgery.

Everyone, at least mostly everyone, knew before spring training started Liriano wasn't going to make the team. The first year after surgery is the hardest, fatigue, control, command, you're basically learning to throw all over again.

I mispoke in the previous comment, I didn't mean to imply I told you directly. There was a thread here before Christmas where I said he had had a setback in his rehab and had been shut down til the spring.

Anyone thinks he'll make a significant contribution to the Twins this year is fooling themselves. Will he pitch in the majors? Probably. Will he have good games? I would assume so. Will he have more bad games than good ones? No question.

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

586 days ago

Score 0

"Isn't it performance? He's not good enough to pitch in the bigs right now, regardless of the surgery."

No, he pitched very well the last few starts of the spring. But he was still only up to 70 or some odd pitches. Not where he needs to be quite yet.

"Will he pitch in the majors? Probably. Will he have good games? I would assume so. Will he have more bad games than good ones? No question."

No question huh? Someones confident. You must really not like Liriano. Or you didn't see him throw in '06. He's very good when healthy and he's almost back to being fully healed. Don't write him off just yet. There have been plenty of guys make successful comebacks from TJ surgery and he's still young.

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KelsdadAll-Star

586 days ago

Score 0

There have been plenty of guys make successful comebacks from TJ surgery and he's still young

Almost without exception, no player has done well consistently the first year after TJ surgery.

Yes, I did see him in '06 and there is no denying his talent, but to return to his previous form is asking alot despite his age. It's too early now to know for sure how he will react, maybe one of his pitches won't come back, (after his surgery, Mariano Rivera could no longer throw a breaking ball).

Time will tell, won't it?

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CoreyisarealboyMajor Leaguer

587 days ago

Score 0

I think Manny Parra has a pretty good chance of making it back-to-back Brewer ROYs. He's already in the rotation and will probably stay there all season. I expect about a 3.50 ERA from him, which isn't spectacular but it's good and he should add a bunch of strikeouts.

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Yakob878MVP

587 days ago

Score 0

evryone one on earth huh? not me Sox ova anyone

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Trecole696Red-Shirting

586 days ago

Score 0

wait, so you just said not everyone on earth is picking boston and new york but your picking boston over everyone?

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