Post by dustdevil28 on Mar 31, 2013 12:47:03 GMT -8
In case you didn't know it, today is MLB's opening day with one game scheduled to take place between the Rangers and Astros. No this isn't a interleague game, if you hadn't known, the Astros jumped from the NL Central to the AL West. (Does anybody else think MLB needs to do a better job of getting it's news out?)
Anyway, I haven't been following too much of what's been going on this offseason, but I'd like to take a crack at predicting who will win this years division, as well as who the wild card teams will be heading into the postseason.
First up, the NL.
In the West the Giants would be the natural favorite as last years WS Champs, bringing in it's second title in three years and largely bringing back a roster intact. Their main challengers should be seen as the LA Dodgers, whom MLB desperately want's to do well to draw the interest of a large market. The Padres won't offer much resistence and the Diamondbacks will give flashes of promise from a young roster, but not enough to be serious contenders.
Prediction: Giants win division. Dodgers don't have the pitching and nothing this offseason suggests this will change.
NL Central. Very tough division to predict, normally because of how many talented teams reside within it. Last year the Reds took the devision, but were a surprising bounce from the postseason blowing a 2-0 series lead against the eventual champ Giants. This year they face a Cards team which is always tough, and Pirates team which did lead the division and wild card race for a large portion of last year. The Brewers figure to be a non-factor again, but at least Ryan Braun will give us some nice plays this year.
Prediction. Cards are back. They've spent the couple of years revamping their roster, getting it younger but holding on to durable vets like Chris Carpenter. I think they take it this year.
NL East. I absolutely love the Washington Nationals roster and hope this year is their break out year. Barring injury (knock on wood) they will have Steven Strasburg returning to full health and will have Bryce Harper returning with a full year under his belt now. That, along with an already very skilled roster and I say they are a run away pick for this division. The Phillies are constant underachievers, and the Braves don't have the talent to challenge the Nats.
Prediction: Nats.
Wild Card Teams. Hmm, lets keep this interesting and say the Reds pick up the first spot and end up facing the Diamondbacks in the second spot.
Now the the AL.
The AL East. This is always a pick between the Red Sox and the Yankees, both of whom I hate with a passion. I am grateful the O's kept one of those bums home last year, but I think it was a fluke and don't see a repeat of it this year. Nor do I see a challenge coming from the Blue Jays or Rays. The one caveat to this statement is the Yankees have aged horribly and have done little to address this. I wouldn't be surprised to see them drop this year, which means the division would go to the Red Sox.
Prediction Red Sox
The AL Central. Another tough division, but mostly due to a mass of mediocre teams. The Twins seem to always be in the mix, as well as the White Sox and the Tigers. Justin Verlander just signed a major deal to stay in Detroit, and since there was scant movement amongst other teams I'll go with them to repeat as divison champs.
Prediction: Tigers
The AL West. My A's defied the odds and won a division in which the Angels added Albert Pujols and the Rangers returned a roster largely intact. The A's have most of their roster still and Billy Beane has some promising prospects coming up still. I'll take the gamble and say they'll get it done again this year.
Prediction: A's.
Wild Card Teams. I'll take the Rangers as the first seed against the Yankees as the second seed.
-DD
Anyway, I haven't been following too much of what's been going on this offseason, but I'd like to take a crack at predicting who will win this years division, as well as who the wild card teams will be heading into the postseason.
First up, the NL.
In the West the Giants would be the natural favorite as last years WS Champs, bringing in it's second title in three years and largely bringing back a roster intact. Their main challengers should be seen as the LA Dodgers, whom MLB desperately want's to do well to draw the interest of a large market. The Padres won't offer much resistence and the Diamondbacks will give flashes of promise from a young roster, but not enough to be serious contenders.
Prediction: Giants win division. Dodgers don't have the pitching and nothing this offseason suggests this will change.
NL Central. Very tough division to predict, normally because of how many talented teams reside within it. Last year the Reds took the devision, but were a surprising bounce from the postseason blowing a 2-0 series lead against the eventual champ Giants. This year they face a Cards team which is always tough, and Pirates team which did lead the division and wild card race for a large portion of last year. The Brewers figure to be a non-factor again, but at least Ryan Braun will give us some nice plays this year.
Prediction. Cards are back. They've spent the couple of years revamping their roster, getting it younger but holding on to durable vets like Chris Carpenter. I think they take it this year.
NL East. I absolutely love the Washington Nationals roster and hope this year is their break out year. Barring injury (knock on wood) they will have Steven Strasburg returning to full health and will have Bryce Harper returning with a full year under his belt now. That, along with an already very skilled roster and I say they are a run away pick for this division. The Phillies are constant underachievers, and the Braves don't have the talent to challenge the Nats.
Prediction: Nats.
Wild Card Teams. Hmm, lets keep this interesting and say the Reds pick up the first spot and end up facing the Diamondbacks in the second spot.
Now the the AL.
The AL East. This is always a pick between the Red Sox and the Yankees, both of whom I hate with a passion. I am grateful the O's kept one of those bums home last year, but I think it was a fluke and don't see a repeat of it this year. Nor do I see a challenge coming from the Blue Jays or Rays. The one caveat to this statement is the Yankees have aged horribly and have done little to address this. I wouldn't be surprised to see them drop this year, which means the division would go to the Red Sox.
Prediction Red Sox
The AL Central. Another tough division, but mostly due to a mass of mediocre teams. The Twins seem to always be in the mix, as well as the White Sox and the Tigers. Justin Verlander just signed a major deal to stay in Detroit, and since there was scant movement amongst other teams I'll go with them to repeat as divison champs.
Prediction: Tigers
The AL West. My A's defied the odds and won a division in which the Angels added Albert Pujols and the Rangers returned a roster largely intact. The A's have most of their roster still and Billy Beane has some promising prospects coming up still. I'll take the gamble and say they'll get it done again this year.
Prediction: A's.
Wild Card Teams. I'll take the Rangers as the first seed against the Yankees as the second seed.
-DD