Skip to main content

Finally, baseball season is here (and so are my picks)

Finally, baseball season has arrived.

That means, despite the weather whipping across the Midwest and Northeast, spring is here.

So, while I await some snow, now's as good a time as any to make my picks official.

NL East
1. New York Mets: The bullpen stunk last year. It's better this year.
2. Philadelphia Phillies: The champs are fighting for a wild-card berth.
3. Atlanta Braves: They're better and will stay competitive all season.
4. Florida Marlins: The Pirates need to follow the Marlins' blueprint for rebuilding.
5. Washington Nationals: Jordan Zimmerman is the pitcher to watch in a couple weeks. Will it be Stephen Strasburg in a couple months?

NL Central
1. Chicago Cubs: The best team in this division.
2. St. Louis Cardinals: Tony La Russa finds a way to keep this team near the top.
3. Cincinnati Reds: What a rotation.
4. Milwaukee Brewers: They will miss C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets.
5. Houston Astros: No one in the rotation after Roy Oswalt.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: Another long season.

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers: They have Manny back, which isn't necessarily good news.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks: Nice 1-2 punch with Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.
3. San Francisco Giants: Don't be surprised to see them competitive all season.
4. Colorado Rockies: Weren't they in the World Series a couple years ago?
5. San Diego Padres: Let the Jake Peavy sweepstakes begin.

AL East
1. Boston Red Sox: They have it all.
2. Tampa Bay Rays: Gotta root for the underdogs with the low payroll.
3. New York Yankees: I can't pick 'em, no matter how much they spend.
4. Baltimore Orioles: Young offense still needs some pitching.
5. Toronto Blue Jays: Roy Halladay is great but there's not much else here.

AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins: They're just hoping to get everyone healthy right now.
2. Cleveland Indians: They bounce back this year.
3. Chicago White Sox: They slip to third in a competitive division.
4. Kansas City Royals: Surprise team of the year.
5. Detroit Tigers: Sorry, Jim. I don't think there's magic this year -- or a pitching staff.

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels: They're too deep. The West is to weak, too.
2. Texas Rangers: Great hitters. Not-so-great pitchers.
3. Oakland Athletics: Rebuilding with a young pitching staff.
4. Seattle Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr. won't help.

NL Playoffs
Mets over Dodgers; Cubs over Phillies
NLCS: Cubs over Mets

AL Playoffs
Red Sox over Twins; Angels over Rays
ALCS: Red Sox over Angels

World Series
Red Sox over Cubs
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Don't compare the Steelers to last year's playoff team

Embed from Getty Images I'm already hearing talk about this year's playoff is unfolding like last year. You know how that went: The Steelers lost their starting running back in Week 17, then lost in the wild-card round against a divisional opponent. This year, DeAngelo Williams was injured in Week 17. And the Steelers face a divisional opponent -- the Bengals. That's where it stops. Williams has a sprained ankle, and is considered day-to-day. They also face an opponent that has a rich history -- of losing in the postseason. That's not to suggest that this game is a gimmie and the Steelers should book a trip to Denver. This will present it's share of challenges, namely A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. The Steelers will need to slow them down, no matter who's throwing the ball. But, if A.J. McCarron is behind center, that should be in favor of the Steelers -- also something different from a year ago.
Post a Comment
Read more

Time for someone to suspend Roethlisberger

I hate prepared statements. Any time I see an athlete read from a prepared statement, I doubt their sincerity. Anyone can read from a piece of paper. Anyone can rehearse and deliver a speech written by someone else. I can't help but think that was the case Monday when Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger delivered his short words. Can't an athlete speak from the heart these days? I know, I know, there are those worried that an athlete could misspeak, so prepared remarks can keep him on topic. I don't buy it. And I hope the league or the Steelers aren't buying it either. One or both need to suspend Roethlisberger. I'm tired of his antics. I'm sure the Steelers are too. Probably throw in NFL commish Roger Goodell. Maybe the return of sensibility to the Steelers organization won't end with Sunday's trade of Santonio Holmes.
2 comments
Read more

Are the Steelers the team no one wants to face?

Embed from Getty Images There's a label attached to the Steelers this postseason: The team no one wants to face. Don't buy it? Monday Morning QB thinks so . Andy Benoit says an explosive passing game and creative defense makes Pittsburgh the most dangerous team in the AFC. I don't think the Ravens had any problems facing the Steelers two weeks ago. But, hey, the Ravens aren't in the playoffs, right? The problem with the Steelers is the defense. They might be creative, as Benoit suggests, but they're also vulnerable to the big play. The team seems to play up -- or down -- to its competition. So, again, there are no Ravens in the playoffs, so they can't be accused of playing down. However, the Steelers have to like their chances with the Bengals on Saturday. One Vegas line on Sunday night had Pittsburgh as a small favorite. Does that mean the Steelers could play down to Cincy? I'm sure the Steelers will be fired up. And it is the po...
Post a Comment
Read more