Ok, I don't remember doing this, yet...And with only a few days left until opening day, it is time for predictions.
Let's start with the AL East.
Boston 97-65 (with their pitching, solid lineup, and very good "d" up the middle, their consistency will win this division. They are also deep on the bench and in the minors (with pitching)...Let's not count them out of the Clemens race, too...)
New York 94-68 (not having upgraded their pitching will hurt them. Mussina is set to have a bad year, Wright is cooked, Where's Pavano? Small will not do what he did last year...Their bullpen is worse than last year. They have a great lineup, but they had one last year, too.)
Toronto 88-74 (Very strong rotation, but I don't know if Ryan will repeat his mastery as a closer. I also think their general lack of depth will keep them from making a serious run at the division this year. One injury (Wells, Halladay) could be trouble.
Tampa Bay 81-81 (That's right...a team that hasn't won 70 games, yet (that I am aware of) will go .500. Think of them as the George Mason of MLB. They have a boat load of young talent and will win many games with their aggressiveness and speed.)
Baltimore...who cares? This team has not gotten better. Millar might improve chemistry, but I don't see this team as a contender at all...
I don't know if it is possible with the unbalanced schedule to have that many .500+ teams in the division, but that is my order of finish.
CENTRAL
Indians
White Sox
Twins
Detroit
Kansas City
WEST
Oakland
LAA
Texas
Seattle
Thanks for kicking this off Grieves, I've been waiting for this to happen. I differ on a couple key teams:
ReplyDeleteEAST
Yankees - Power house offense will keep them winning and they will fix their rotation or bullpen or both with some crazy mid-season trade
Boston - Will edge out the new-imporved BJs, but will be roughed up in the process. It will be a good year, but mostly because guys like Pena and Crisp will be gearing up for 2007.
Toronto - As Grieve's pointed out, I am just not scared of Rios, Russ Adams, and Overbey...yet.
Baltimore - Bedard and Lopez are solid. Their offense is potent at times but volitle.
Tampa - Young guns, but no pitching. They will need to sell some studs to get some pitching for 2007.
CENTRAL
White Sox
Cleveland
Twins
Detroit
CLK
Team X
Grieve-us
Rhesus Pieces
Pine Tar Boogies
Cricket Anyone
KC
WEST
Oakland
LADLA (Los Angeles de Los Angeles)
Texas
Seattle
My picks, because I am never wrong. (Just check out my predictions last year - spot on!!!)
ReplyDeleteAL East
Yankees: 94 wins
Boston: 2 games back
Toronoto: 88 wins sounds right
Orioles: 76 wins
Tampa Bay: 71 wins! Woohoo!!! They did it!
AL Central
Cleveland
CWS (1 game back)
Minn
Detroit
My left buttcheek
KC
AL West
San Francisco A's of Oakland
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Texas Rangers of Arlington
Pacific Northwest Mariners of Seattle
Okay, my picks, amde under protest of Carl Everett's ludicrous prediction that I will be a) be dethroned as GYS champ and b) that the Tigers would be better than any team in our league.....
ReplyDeleteEAST
NY - similar to Braves, until unseated I have to pick them. Plus that offense is scary.
BOS - I like the improved depth especially in the Pen. They will go as far as Schilling, Beckett and to a lesser extent Foulke carry them. If things click, they are better built for the postseason than the Yanks.
TOR - a trendy pick to make the leap to second last year. And often cited is that their Pythagorean last year was higher but their runs stats outperformed the underlying stats. Improved talent will offset that they will be unlucky this year.
Baltimore - Millar improves clubhouse chemistry (hahahaha).
TB - just don't see them getting out of the cellar.
CENTRAL
CHI - still the one
MIN - too many arms to be held down again
CLE - shot their wad last year. Byrd can't replace Millwood.
DET - improving - I thought about making them 2nd, but then didn't know which to make 4th.
KC - and I remember when they were a powerhouse.
WEST
OAK - too many arms.
TEX - for some reason I see a surprise
ANA - Vlad's back catches up with him
SEA - Ichiro would look good in Sox uni. SEA does not appear to be going anywhere fast. Maybe we could make a push for him.
Oh hell. Injuns, then Twins, THEN the World Champeen White Sox.
ReplyDeleteNYY - sadly, I think they've got another year before they install rocking chairs in the dugout. I'm expecting a bump in performance from RJ, and an otherwise fairly even keel, but without that swoon from the first half.
ReplyDeleteBOS - really close to them, but not there. I'll still admit to being worried about the rotation a bit - 3 40 year olds backed up by guys who haven't thrown full MLB seasons has an element of chaos to it.
TOR - low-90's. improved pitching, pen, and offense. The SLG infusion is really all they needed to have a very solid attack, and they'll be giving up even fewer runs.
TAM - the hitting is scary. Kazmir is scary. Everyone else... eh. If McClung can step up like some think he can, and Hendrickson and Fossum are at least not too far below league average... 70 wins is not unreasonable.
BAL - I can just see this club completely imploding offensively. Outside of Tejada, Gibbons and Mora, there's not a guy there I'd be willing to count on for league average production. Pitching will be okay, but there's just no one behind Bedard, Cabrera and Benson.
Central:
CLE
CHW
DET
MIN
...
KC
West:
OAK
LAA
TEX
SEA