With ST 10 days away, what are your playoffs/World Series predictions?

With spring training only 10 days away for pitchers/catcher to report, thought I would start a thread on who everyone thinks will win playoff spots and eventually make and win the World Series. Here are mine:

NL East:
1. Philadelphia Phillies-Think this may be their year with offseason moves to upgrade pitching staff; Gordon has to stay healthy or they fall down in the standings.
2. NYMets...Think some of the young pitchers grow from playoff experience but still in need of sp upgrade which may come at some point from Minaya which may move them up.
3. Atlanta Braves...With Hampton back and upgrade of bullpen, they could surprise once again but not sold on losing Giles/Laroche helping team offensively.
4. Florida Marlins...Played above their heads due to Joe Girardi and will fall back due to closer position uncertainty and center field hole.
5. Washington Nationals...This team is in clear disseray with absolutely no sp and avg. defensive players with little pop in their bats.

NL Central:
1. Milwaukee Brewers...Call this a hunch. I feel they now have best starting 5 in division and if they can figure out outfield situation could have special year.
2. St. Louis Cardinals....Lost too much in starting rotation but never know how rookies or second year guys will do over full season with top players now a year older.
3. Chicago Cubs...Feel their outfield defense, bullpen hold them back.
4. Cincinnati Reds....Feel they still don't have enough pitching despite all the trades. Feel some younger players need to be worked in.
5. Houston Astros....Mighty have fallen with nobody after Oswalt and Jennings in starting 5. Maybe young guys step up as they do have nice farm system and history of developing young pitchers.
6. Pittsburgh Pirates...This team though last place has improved and young guys getting better. This could be a surprise team in first half before falling back down to the cellar in second half.

NL West:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers....Their starting staff may end up being best in NL but must find another power bat somewhere along the way.
2. San Diego Padres....Too much age in rotation and too many Giles in starting nine. No proven 3b and loss of Barfield will prove costly on team speed and defense.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks....Feel they have upgraded at key positions but still not enough difference makers for long haul.
4. SF Giants....Bonds will be a distraction and closer position unsettled. Also, team still old as can be and will wear down.
5. Colorado Rockies...Still about 2 years away though if they trade Helton, have to get prospects not Lowell and Tavaraz.

Wildcard: NY Mets
NL Champion: NY Mets

American League:

AL East:

1. Boston Red Sox...Feel have best starting 5 in baseball just a matter of keeping all the ego's in check.
2. NY Yankees....Making strides in right direction but going to take young pitchers a year to get accustomed to pitching in NY.
3. Baltimore Orioles...Feel Mazzone will have pitchers pitch over their heads and will surprise for a long time this year.
4. Toronto Blue Jays....Not replacing Lilly will be costly but this team still good enough to win 2 or 3 other divisions.
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays....Need to trade some of their of prospects for major league ready pitching. (Gomes,Young,Dukes,Baldelli) 2 need to go.

AL Central:
1. Cleveland Indians...Going out on a limb with this one as I feel they have improved and youngsters ready to step up.
2. Detroit Tigers....Feel they are improved but are they hungry.
3. Chicago White Sox.....Too much loss of chemistry on this team who took step back this year to go back forward in year or two.
4. Minnesota Twins...Loss of Liriano will handcuff this team. May need to trade Hunter to reload as fa after this year anyway.
5. KC Royals...Very much improved but still year or two away.

AL West:

1. Texas Rangers....Another hunch. Feel this team is ready to take next step and don't forget teams success year after firing Showalter (Yanks and Arizona won WS!).
2. Seattle Mariners...Did nice job upgrading pitching staff which should allow them to move up from the cellar. Still a move or 2 away.
3. Los Angeles Angels....Best staff in division with best manager but simply not enough talent in everday lineup to score enough runs and Colon out till AS break.
4. Oakland A's...No Zito means this team falls in standings in competitive division and Piazza will not make up for the Big Hurt going to Toronto.

Wildcard: Detroit Tigers

AL Champion: Cleveland Indians

World Series: NY Mets vs Cleveland Indians

WS Champion: NY Mets

You cannot possibly think the Blue Jays are going to finish anywhere but 1st or 2nd in the East.

Sure acquiring John Thomson and Tomo Ohka isn't all that promising but the 1-2-3 rotation tandum of Halladay, Burnett and Chacin is one of the best in the Majors hands down.

With Frank Thomas in the lineup, Vernon Wells will continue to shine in that roll and should Alex Rios have a season like he did last year, I would go as far as saying that this team will win the East by a nice little margin.

Interesting thoughts anyways Kojak and thanks for posting, can't wait for the season to begin.

I like the Mets from the NL definitely....

I think the Tigers fall off this year, really think last year was a bit of a fluke

I also like the Indians, young but lots of potential

I see a Mets/Red Sox matchup in the World Series

For the 1st time in 5 years I believe the O's will be competitive through August before falling out of Wild Card contention.

No weed smoke, just a bit of liquor. :howdy:


The CUBS will win the NL Central.

can't wait...have all of march/april off for spring training and first month..will be racking up plenty of frequent flyer points next 2.5 months!!

You can't deny that the Jays have a promising lineup:


In November, Toronto used a two-year contract to reel in free-agent slugger Frank Thomas, who finished fourth in AL Most Valuable Player voting last year after an impressive campaign with Oakland. In 137 games -- the most Thomas appeared in since 2003 -- the 6-foot-5 designated hitter belted 39 home runs and had 114 RBIs. Both of those totals would've led Toronto.

Thomas joins a lineup that already boasted Vernon Wells, Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay, and a cast of talented young players, such as Alex Rios and Aaron Hill. In 2006, the Blue Jays ranked second in the AL in slugging percentage (.463), third in batting average (.284) and fourth in home runs (199) and on-base percentage (.348).

1. Mets
2. Phils
3. Braves
4. Marlins
5. Nats

1. Cubs
2. Brewers
3. Reds
4. Astros
5. Cardinals
6. Pirates

1. Dodgers
2. D-Backs
3. Padres
4. Giants
5. Rockies

1. Yankees
2. Red Sox
3. Blue Jays
4. Orioles
5. Devil Rays

1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. White Sox
4. Twins
5. Royals

1. Angels
2. A's
3. Mariners
4. Rangers

probably be down in lakeland scouting the tigers camp, cant wait.

think the royals will be a 500 club this year.

Phillies beat the Tigers for the WS

Glad you are strong on the Brewers, Kojak. If Sheets can stay healthy...hasn't done it yet in his career...they will be there. They finally have a catcher that can hit in Estrada, will move Hall to center, probably Jenkins in left and Corey Hart in right, and the young infield with Fielder, Weeks and Hardy, along with hopefully Koskie at third, should make this season the first interesting one in about 30 years for Milwaukee fans.

I really hate to say it. But the Yanks will take down the AL East again. We just dont have the defense.

I hope I am wrong.

The Red Sox days are numbered, there is no way in hell Theo will excercise the team options for 09 and 10 on manny.

If we dont shure up the defense and relief the Sox will enter another very long title drought.

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Inside Manny's Ramirez's contract

DALLAS — Details of the record $160 million, eight-year contract agreed to by Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox, as obtained by The Associated Press:

Overall
Signing bonus — $16 million, paid from 2001-05
2001 — $13 million, of which $3 million deferred
2002 — $15.5 million, of which $4 million deferred
2003 — $18 million, of which $4 million deferred
2004 — $20.5 million, of which $4 million deferred
2005 — $20 million, of which $4 million deferred
2006 — $19 million, of which $4 million deferred
2007 — $18 million, of which $4 million deferred
2008 — $20 million, of which $4 million deferred
2009 — $20 million (team option)
2010 — $20 million (team option)

RobFunk said:

The Red Sox days are numbered, there is no way in hell Theo will excercise the team options for 09 and 10 on manny.

If we dont shure up the defense and relief the Sox will enter another very long title drought.

-------------------------------------------------------

Inside Manny's Ramirez's contract

DALLAS — Details of the record $160 million, eight-year contract agreed to by Manny Ramirez and the Boston Red Sox, as obtained by The Associated Press:

Overall
Signing bonus — $16 million, paid from 2001-05
2001 — $13 million, of which $3 million deferred
2002 — $15.5 million, of which $4 million deferred
2003 — $18 million, of which $4 million deferred
2004 — $20.5 million, of which $4 million deferred
2005 — $20 million, of which $4 million deferred
2006 — $19 million, of which $4 million deferred
2007 — $18 million, of which $4 million deferred
2008 — $20 million, of which $4 million deferred
2009 — $20 million (team option)
2010 — $20 million (team option)

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god damn i wish i was good at a sport besides curling.

roach23 said:

god damn i wish i was good at a sport besides curling.

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If you are good at curling you have it made, no need to pay attention to the rest of the sports world.

RobFunk said:

If you are good at curling you have it made, no need to pay attention to the rest of the sports world.

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i've never actually played...but i know i'd be nasty at it. i school dudes at the local bowling alley/bar in shuffle board all the time.

East: Mets
Central: Cubs
West: Dodgers

WC: Brewers

East: Yankees
Central: Tigers
West: Angels

WC: Red Sox

World Series:

Dodgers vs Red Sox

Red Sox in 5

arniesarmy said:

Glad you are strong on the Brewers, Kojak. If Sheets can stay healthy...hasn't done it yet in his career...they will be there. They finally have a catcher that can hit in Estrada, will move Hall to center, probably Jenkins in left and Corey Hart in right, and the young infield with Fielder, Weeks and Hardy, along with hopefully Koskie at third, should make this season the first interesting one in about 30 years for Milwaukee fans.

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Doug Melvin made a very shrewd move in signing Counsell...

If Hardy or Weeks get injured again...he has a very nice player on that roster.

I have heard that Koskie is not doing well at all...Hell Matheny had to retire because of that Post-Conc-Syndrome...

Even w/out Koskie...Counsell could play 3B if TonyG doesn't.

I think Mench will be the LF and Jenkins in RF...but I also would not be surprised to see the Brewers deal Jenkins.

I think the Brewers will have their 1st winning season in the NL this year.

Tribe has alot of value when it comes to the future plays this year. Last year they were the preseason AL favorite. Only change they made this off season was to re-tool the bullpen and add Barfield at 2b. Expect a better start from them and Peralta to hit much better.

ChiTown Hustler said:

Tribe has alot of value when it comes to the future plays this year. Last year they were the preseason AL favorite. Only change they made this off season was to re-tool the bullpen and add Barfield at 2b. Expect a better start from them and Peralta to hit much better.

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agree %100