Baseball predictions -- Baseball Talk

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 00:11:01 02/02/03 Sun
Author: Jason
Subject: Baseball predictions

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that Darin Erstad caught the final ball of the World Series? Now, the A's and Mariners will be reporting to Spring Training in less than a week. So, rather than waiting to see what the teams look like, I wanted to throw out a few predictions (subject to change, considering trades, injuries, and me changing my mind every few days). Hopefully others will chime in with their thoughts.

AL EAST
Boston - an upgraded bullpen, and emphasis on OBP with new GM Theo Epstein, overtakes the Yanks
New York - still a great team, but aging. Can't wait to see Godzilla.
Baltimore - still rebuilding
Toronto - Roy Halladay can't carry them.
Tampa Bay - they got Blake Stein and Rey Ordonez. Have fun Lou.

AL CENTRAL
Chicago - picked up Colon and Koch, and got Daubach very cheap.
Minnesota - didn't get any better.
Cleveland - losing Thome hurts, but both Ben Broussard and Travis Hafner can hit, and will be fun to watch battle for the job. Victor Martinez is the next big thing at catcher. I know ONE person who is happy to have Brian Anderson back :)
Detroit - Trammell will make them work hard, but losing Fick and Acevedo hurts.
Kansas City - lost their only good pitcher, Paul Byrd.

AL WEST
Oakland - changes in the pen, but still good.
Texas - yep. Very solid changes in the pitching. They'll get the runs, and now may be able to hold a lead.
Anaheim - I think their 15 minutes is over
Seattle - cut some dead weight, but didn't improve. They still have no power

Wild Card - TEXAS (?)

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

NL East
Philadelphia - I still can't believe they got Kevin Millwood for Johnny Estrada! It's not just that they added Thome, Bell and Millwood, but it's also the crap those guys replaced. Great young rotation, great offense.
Atlanta - they just reload. Fick, Byrd, and Ortiz are nice pickups. If Mike Hampton reverts to pre-Colorado form, watch out.
New York - should be better, but still not in the same class as Philly and Atlanta.
Montreal - losing Colon hurts
Florida - they go from bad to worse. What was Pudge thinking?

NL CENTRAL
Houston - I think adding Jeff Kent makes the whole team better. My prediction is, Kent hits at least 50 HR as an Astro.
Chicago - improved pen and catcher spot, and some exciting young hitters. Prior, Wood, Clement, Zambrano... scary good.
St. Louis - guys like Woody Williams, J.D. Drew and Edmonds need to stay healthy. I think STL has a down year.
Cincinnati - good young hitters need a healthy Griffey in the lineup. Lost their only good starter, Dessens.
Pittsburgh - Brian Giles' back must hurt from carrying the team. The comebacks of Aramis Ramirez and Kris Benson will determine whether Pittsburgh is bad or worse than bad.
Milwaukee - They had 2 good hitters and lost 1. Will fight Tampa Bay for the worst record in the league.

NL WEST
Arizona - old, but very good. A healthy Danny Bautista will really help. Look for Lyle Overbay to be a healthy version of Erubiel Durazo.
San Francisco - big changes by the Bay. Durham and Alfonzo should be adequate replacments for Bell and Kent. Damian Moss was a nice pickup for them.
San Diego - lots of injuries last year led them to tie the record for players used in a season (57). Solid young rotation of Brian Lawrence, Oliver Perez, Jake Peavy, and a healthy Adam Eaton. Francisco Cordova is an intruiging acquistion. A healthy Nevin and Burroughs will help the offense, and I like the signing of Mark Loretta. Jay Witasick is back, and Jaret Wright is my pick for Comeback Player of the Year, when he finds his niche as a great set-up guy.
Colorado - good upgrades at SS with Jose Hernandez and in CF with Preston Wilson. I think they could surprise this year.
Los Angeles - did well to get rid of Karros and Grudziepiatkowskikryzyewskipierzynskisczerbiaklanek. Can Shawn Green carry them again?

Wild Card - ATLANTA

--------------------------------------
World Series - Philadelphia and Boston, but what do I know.

MVP's - Alex Rodriguez and Jim Thome
Cy Young - Barry Zito and Mark Prior
Rookies of the Year - Marlon Byrd (PHI) and Victor Martinez (CLE)

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]