MLB Predictions (A Week Late) and Other Thoughts and Observations

by user MichaelSpic

I actually wrote this last week but never got around to posting.

AL East

1. Boston Red Sox
2. Toronto Blue Jays*
3. Baltimore Orioles
4. New York Yankees
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays

AL Central

1. Cleveland Indians
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals

AL West

1. Oakland Athletics
2. Anaheim Angels
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Texas Rangers

NL East

1. New York Mets
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Washington Nationals
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Florida Marlins

NL Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Houston Astros*
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Chicago Cubs
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
6. Milwaukee Brewers– As a favor to me, please root against the Brewers this season. Thank you.
   

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Diego Padres
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Colorado Rockies

* Wildcard

Post Season

• ALCS: Oakland over Cleveland
• NLCS: New York over St. Louis
• World Series: New York Mets over Oakland
• World Series MVP: David Wright

Surprise Teams

• AL Surprise Teams (Pleasant): Baltimore, Detroit
• AL Surprise Teams (Unpleasant): New York Yankees
• NL Surprise Teams (Pleasant): Cincinnati
• NL Surprise Teams (Unpleasant): Philadelphia

Awards

• AL Rookie of the Year: Nick Markakis, Baltimore
• NL Rookie of the Year: Josh Willingham, Florida
• AL Cy Young: Dan Haren, Oakland
• NL Cy Young: Brandon Webb, Arizona
• AL MVP: Grady Sizemore, Cleveland
• NL MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis

Other Thoughts and Obervations

Strangest Peter Gammons blurb I’ve ever read:

‘All the Team USA pitchers -- and pitching coach Marcel Lachemann -- were in awe of Roger Clemens. But one thing they weren't ready for was Clemens taking that Icy Hot that pitchers rub on their shoulders and arms and spreading it over his upper thighs and private parts. "He doesn't want to get comfortable on the mound," says Jake Peavy, who tried the same trick Friday night in Phoenix.’

Um… what?

LSU’s Tyrus Thomas reminds me a whole lot of Stromile Swift. Hopefully for Thomas, and the NBA team that selects him, he’ll have a much better career than the former-Tiger Swift. Since our last Jets-discussion, Gang Green has acquired QB Patrick Ramsey and a 1st Round selection (for John Abraham). After much debate and reading the following quote, I hope the Jets make the correct move and draft OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson:

"I'm a beast. I see myself as a bodyguard. I'm personally responsible for the health and welfare of my quarterback, and I'll do anything in my means to protect him."

The Jets could use more players with that kind of attitude.

Congrats, Phil. Make some room in the closet for that new Green Jacket.

Michael Spiciarich is a Senior Writer at CyberSportsEdge.com and a contributing writer at WritingItUp.com and SportsPages.com. He can be reached via e-mail at MJS3131@hotmail.

Date

Mon 04/10/06, 4:45 pm EST