Hard to believe, but another NFL season is almost upon us. I might be doing this a tad early, but I'd rather do it now when I have time. Anyway, I will go division by division, predicting win/loss records and then the playoffs for each conference. Normally, I'd go further in detail to my Seahawks, but I don't think I will this time. I don't know what it is; I'm not particularly excited about this upcoming season. I feel like we outperformed last year, so I'm expecting some regression this year. Also, I'm going to make some very surprising picks, because I feel we get surprised by the NFL every year, and there are always a few teams that are almost the complete opposite of what we expect. Anyway, here are my predicted NFL standings! Wild cards will have asterisks.
AFC East
1. Buffalo Bills: 11-6
2. Miami Dolphins: 10-7*
3. New York Jets: 9-8
4. New England Patriots: 7-10
The Bills still have the most talented roster in the AFC East, but it's tightening fast. I wouldn't be surprised if they had to fight for a wild card, but I still put them as division winners because Miami and the Jets are still missing a few pieces. The Patriots remain competitive under Belichick, but remain mediocre at best.
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens: 10-7
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 10-7*
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-9
4. Cleveland Browns: 6-11
Call this the battered and blue division because these teams are going to beat each other up this season. I don't see any team losing or winning more than 4 in-division games. And I hate predicting injuries, but I have a bad feeling about Joe Burrow. His pre-season calf injury worries me and makes me think that might linger or he might suffer a different minor injury that knocks him out for a few games and costs the Bengals the division. The Steelers and Browns remain competitive, but it's hard to do much better in a very tough AFC. And yes, I have Mike Tomlin suffer his first losing season as head coach.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts: 9-8
2. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-9
3. Tennessee Titans: 8-9
4. Houston Texans: 5-12
Here's one of my surprising predictions: The Colts winning the AFC South. Anthony Richardson has a solid/borderline rookie of the year campaign and leads the Colts to the playoffs. The Jags return back to Earth a bit and realize they've still got a few holes. The Titans are just... there. The Texans still have a ways to go, but surprise some people. Ha! Try all of us. What I thought would be the Colts ended up being the Texans.
AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs: 12-5
2. Denver Broncos: 11-6*
3. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-10
4. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-15
The Chiefs are good, as expected, and retain the AFC's #1 seed. It's only with a record of 12-5, though, due to the competitiveness of the AFC. The Broncos are another of my surprise teams, and they claim the top wild-card spot. Russell Wilson mostly returns to form thanks to the help of new head coach Sean Payton. The Chargers get outcoached in many games and Brandon Staley likely loses his job at the end of the season. The Raiders stink with Jimmy G (who likely gets hurt, again) and Josh Jacobs shows his displeasure. If they can afford it, they fire McDaniels.
NFC East
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
2. New York Giants: 10-7*
3. Washington Commanders: 9-8
4. Dallas Cowboys: 6-11
Hard to believe that we haven't had a repeat NFC East champion in almost 20 years. I think that ends here. The Eagles are too talented. The Giants will make it close, however. The Commanders, no longer having the worst owner in professional sports, play inspired football and almost make the postseason. The Cowboys have a down year, due to not having much depth behind skill players Ceedee Lamb and Tony Pollard.
NFC North
1. Minnesota Vikings: 13-4
2. Detroit Lions: 10-7*
3. Chicago Bears: 8-9
4. Green Bay Packers: 6-11
The Vikings with the best record in the NFL? You heard it here first. Kirk Cousins is now the best QB in his division (although Goff is close). The Vikings will put together a 7 or 8 game win streak, and go 6-4 or 5-4 in their other 10 or 9 games. The Lions don't win the division, but they do snag a wild-card playoff spot. The Bears are slightly improved, but Fields can only do so much. The Packers regress heavily after losing Aaron Rodgers, and Jordan Love leads the Packers' front office to quickly try to find the next heir apparent.
NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints: 10-7
2. Carolina Panthers: 7-10
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-11
4. Atlanta Falcons: 5-12
Derek Carr and the Saints claim the division title, thanks to Carr easily being the best QB in the division. The Panthers surprise a bit, and Bryce Young does enough to win rookie of the year. The Bucco's switch to Kyle Trask after Mayfield struggles. The Falcons are just there.
NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
2. Los Angeles Rams: 11-6*
3. Seattle Seahawks: 8-9
4. Arizona Cardinals: 3-14
The Niners repeat as division champs, likely with multiple QB's starting games for them. The Rams bounce back and claim the top wild card spot thanks to Matthew Stafford's resurgence. My Seahawks do okay for most of the year, but they lose too many close games, due to either the defense allowing a late score or Geno Smith not being able to engineer a game-winning drive. The Cardinals are expected to not be very good, and they won't be.
Here are the playoff seedings:
AFC
1. Kansas City (12-5)
2. Buffalo (11-6)
3. Baltimore (10-7)
4. Indianapolis (9-8)
5. Denver (11-6)
6. Cincinnati (10-7)
7. Miami (10-7)
NFC
1. Minnesota (13-4)
2. San Francisco (12-5)
3. Philadelphia (11-6)
4. New Orleans (10-7)
5. Los Angeles Rams (11-6)
6. New York Giants (10-7)
7. Detroit (10-7)
Here's how I think the playoffs would go:
AFC Wild Card
(7) Dolphins at (2) Bills: Dolphins win
In a rematch of last year's wild card, the Dolphins get the upper hand this time.
(6) Bengals at (3) Ravens: Bengals win
Another rematch, this time with the Ravens as the higher seed, but it still doesn't matter.
(5) Broncos at (4) Colts: Broncos win
The Broncos' leadership (Payton/Wilson) has plenty of playoff experience, and it proves valuable.
NFC Wild Card
(7) Lions at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
I'd be rooting for the Lions like crazy, but it would just be too tough for them, just like it was for my Seahawks last season.
(6) Giants at (3) Eagles: Eagles win
Divisional showdown! Eagles come out on top easily.
(5) Rams at (4) Saints: Rams win
The Rams prove too much for Carr and the Saints.
AFC Divisional Round:
(7) Dolphins at (1) Chiefs: Chiefs win
Tyreke Hill returns to Kansas City! But he loses, due to the KC pressure being too much for Tua.
(6) Bengals at (5) Broncos: Bengals win
The Bengals have a more well-rounded roster in terms of talent and experience, which proves to be the difference.
NFC Divisional Round:
(5) Rams at (1) Vikings: Vikings win
The home field advantage proves too much for the Rams, who also cannot figure out a way to shutdown Justin Jefferson.
(3) Eagles at (2) 49ers: 49ers win
In a rematch of last year's NFC Championship game, the 49ers get the upper hand due to home field advantage, but also having a healthy quarterback this time.
Conference Championships:
(6) Bengals at (1) Chiefs: Bengals win
For the third year in a row, this is the AFC Championship game matchup. And it goes back to Cincy. The Bengals have an up and down season, but they catch fire at the end of the season, which is all that matters.
(2) 49ers at (1) Vikings: Vikings win
Whoever is under center for the 49ers is going to struggle under the lights and noise, and the Vikings win a close, hard-fought game.
Super Bowl LVIII: Vikings vs. Bengals: Bengals win
The Bengals enter as very slight underdogs but emerge victorious. In a matchup of two teams, each who has yet to win a Super Bowl, the Bengals come out on top. It's an electrifying Super Bowl, filled with plenty of lead changes. Joe Burrow wins Super Bowl MVP.
There you have it. The Cincinnati Bengals are my Super Bowl pick. Yikes! Couldn't have done worse, lol. However, my conference championship losers ended up being the Super Bowl, so there's that. Despite me thinking they'll have a down regular season, I think they'll do well late and in the playoffs. They were so close last year to returning to the Super Bowl, and this year I think they do and win it. Before I go, here are the coaches who I think get fired or leave by season's end:
Bill Belichick, Patriots (retires) Didn't retire, but he's done anyway
Mike Vrabel, Titans Yep
Brandon Staley, Chargers Yep
Josh McDaniels, Raiders Yep
Todd Bowles, Buccaneers Nope
Other possibilities: Jonathan Gannon (Cardinals), Arthur Smith (Falcons) Yep, Matt LaFleur (Packers), Pete Carroll (Seahawks, retire?) Yep, Ron Rivera, Commanders (retire?) Yep
The firing I did not consider: Frank Reich (first year!)
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
2023 NFL Predictions
Monday, March 6, 2023
My 2023 MLB Predictions
It's about that time of year! The MLB season officially gets underway later this month, so I got to get my predictions out.
Like last year, I'm going to predict the order of each division (no win or loss totals), the wild card teams, and I'll run through the playoffs. Last year, I correctly picked the Mariners to end their playoff drought, and I even got their playoff seeding right (#5)! I'll also pick the team leaders for statistical categories and All-Stars. Let's hope I do better in that department this year. Just a refresher: I had Frazier leading in average, JP leading in stolen bases, Ray leading in ERA, and Winker, Haniger, and Ray as All-Stars. Oops! Without further ado, the 2023 MLB predicted standings:
NL EAST
1. Atlanta Braves
2. Philadelphia Phillies*
3. New York Mets*
4. Miami Marlins
5. Washington Nationals
Comment: In the highly competitive NL East (at least with the first three teams), I have the Braves winning the division. They lost Dansby Swanson but still have a great core with Riley, Acuna, and Harris. The Phillies will be a strong wild-card team after acquiring Trea Turner. The Mets did get Verlander, but he shows his age, and the Mets take a small step back.
NL CENTRAL
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Milwaukee Brewers
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment: This is likely the worst division in baseball. The Brewers and Cardinals will fight for the division, but the Cards have too much firepower with Goldschmidt and Arenado. The retirements of Pujols and Yadi will open up spots for younger players to emerge. The Cubs will be slightly better, and could possibly challenge for a wild card spot.
NL WEST
1. San Diego Padres
2. Los Angeles Dodgers*
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Colorado Rockies
Comment: My biggest surprise pick (standing-wise) is the Padres winning the NL West over the Dodgers. The Dodgers will hold the division for most of the season, but a combination of a late Padres run and a Dodgers late collapse results in the Padres winning the division. The Dodgers will still get a wild card. The Giants will be decent again, but like the Cubs may still be a year away.
AL EAST
1. New York Yankees
2. Toronto Blue Jays*
3. Baltimore Orioles*
4. Tampa Bay Rays
5. Boston Red Sox
Comment: The Yankees win the division... again. The Blue Jays again claim the top wild-card seed. The Orioles leapfrog the Rays and claim the final wild-card spot. The Orioles have a young core that will only get better. The Red Sox lost Bogearts and well... they need to rebuild.
AL CENTRAL
1. Cleveland Guardians
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Detroit Tigers
Comment: The Guardians have a solid young core and aren't going anywhere. The Twins should compete and will challenge for a wild card spot, but it won't be enough. The White Sox will feel the loss of Jose Abreu.
AL WEST
1. Houston Astros
2. Texas Rangers*
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland Athletics
Comment: I hate to say it, but the Mariners are missing the playoffs. I hope I'm wrong. I think the Rangers signing DeGrom and getting Bruce Bochy as manager were huge. I don't think the Mariners did enough this offseason, and it will come back to bite them. Of course, the Astros aren't going anywhere, unfortunately.
So, the 2023 playoffs! Perhaps a few surprise teams? No Mariners... let's hope if they miss the playoffs (like I'm predicting) that it doesn't start a new drought for the team.
NL WILD CARD
(6) Mets at (3) Cardinals: Cardinals win
(5) Phillies at (4) Dodgers: Phillies win
AL WILD CARD
(6) Orioles at (3) Guardians: Guardians win
(5) Rangers at (4) Blue Jays: Blue Jays win
NL DIVISIONAL ROUND
(5) Phillies at (1) Braves: Braves win
(3) Cardinals at (2) Padres: Padres win
AL DIVISIONAL ROUND
(4) Blue Jays at (1) Astros: Astros win
(3) Guardians at (2) Yankees: Guardians win
CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Padres vs. Braves: Braves win
Guardians vs. Astros: Guardians win
WORLD SERIES
Guardians vs. Braves: Braves win in 7
Yep, a rematch of the 1995 World Series, 28 years later. The Braves win again. Now, who I think will lead certain categories for the M's:
Average: JP Crawford (resurgent season)
Home Runs: Julio Rodriguez
RBI: Ty France
Stolen Bases: Julio Rodriguez
Wins: Luis Castillo
Strikeouts: Robbie Ray
ERA: George Kirby
Saves: Paul Sewald
All-Stars: Julio Rodriguez, George Kirby
I'm going to do a further look at the M's, what I expect from each player, and perhaps go in depth as to why I think they'll miss the playoffs (barely). Look for that soon!
So this is Brian from late 2023, the MLB season is now in the playoffs and I wanted to point out the biggest things I got right and the biggest things I got wrong:
Biggest things I got right:
- Mariners missing the playoffs. I wish I wasn't right on this...! Sigh.
- The Texas Rangers finishing 2nd to the Astros and snagging a wild card, along with two other AL East teams.
- The Baltimore Orioles making the playoffs--although I did not see them winning the East!
- The Dodgers losing their first playoff series--again. Although, I had them losing the wild card instead of losing in the divisional round.
Biggest things I got wrong:
- Guardians winning their division and the AL Pennant--Whoops!
- Cardinals winning the NL Central--but I wasn't the only one to get this wrong
- The Padres winning the NL West over the Dodgers. Hey, they lost a lot of close games, if you switch those, you basically get what I predicted.
- The Yankees winning the AL East while the Rays finish 4th. Basically switch those two.
Monday, October 17, 2022
2022: A Successful Season for the Seattle Mariners
What's even more impressive is the wild card series the Mariners had. They took care of business in game 1, and then in game 2, they came back from a seven-run deficit to win 10-9 in one of the greatest postseason comebacks in baseball history. This was all done on the road in Toronto, a harsh environment to play in. That series showed that this team can never be counted out.
Because of the Mariners' Wild Card Series win, they were able to advance to the Divisional Series against the Houston Astros and play at least one home playoff game. Unfortunately, one home playoff game is all they would get as they got swept in three games. The Mariners lost the three-game series by a total of 4 runs. They just couldn't get luck back on their side.
I said a month ago I'd consider this a successful season if the Mariners got to the divisional round and got to play at least one home playoff game, and that they did. They were in each of the three games against the Astros. They held a lead in the first two, which they unfortunately could not hold. They went 18 innings against the Astros in game 3, only to lose on a fluke home run by the Astros. They were close to winning all three games, yet lost all three.
What seems so disappointing is that this team seemed to be on a run. In game 1, the Mariners held a 4-run lead and seemed to be on their way to their third straight playoff victory and a huge game 1 win. Instead, the bullpen folded, the Astros hit a walk-off homer, and the Mariners could never fully recover. The Mariners only scored 2 runs in the final 27 innings of the series.
The big obstacle in the Mariners' way is the Houston Astros. They have made it to six straight ALCS's, won 5 of 6 AL West division titles, and are always tough for the Mariners to beat. They are the Goliath to the Mariners' David, and the Mariners will either have to best them in the regular season or beat them in the playoffs if they want to do any better in future years.
Maybe the 2023 Mariners can win the AL West outright. That'd certainly seem to be the most straightforward plan. The Mariners are still in a 21-year division title drought. Every other AL West team has won the division since the Mariners last won it.
So let's hope the Mariners' front office makes the right moves this offseason to upgrade the team. Moves need to be made so that this team can finally get past the Astros. A couple bats, and a bullpen arm, and they might just be there. It is imperative that the Mariners make progress in 2023 and not take a step back.
Friday, September 30, 2022
Twenty-One Years in the Making
The 2022 Mariners, barring the most miraculous finish by Baltimore and the most epic of collapses by them, will make the playoffs for the first time in twenty-one years. The playoff drought for this team will not see its 21st birthday if you count from the last playoff game in Mariner's history, which was October 22, 2001. Just one more win by the Mariners and one more loss from the Baltimore Orioles will make it so it is impossible for Baltimore (or any team behind them, for that matter) can supplant the Mariners from a Wild Card playoff spot.
I have waited twenty-one long and painful years for this. As a Mariner fan, I have endured ineptitude, horrible trades and free agent acquisitions and have always been disappointed by September at the latest. It's going to be weird. The Mariners in the playoffs seems so abnormal in today's world, like seeing someone still using an iPod shuffle or a Microsoft Zune. But the Mariners making the playoffs has to become a new fad or trend, and one that will hopefully stick around longer than the Zune did.
It's hard to express my emotions right now. To be honest, part of me is half-expecting to wake up and realize this was a dream and see the 2022 Mariners with a losing record. So it might take a while for it to sink in with me.
What would also help is having a home playoff game. Playoff baseball in Seattle is like no other. Unfortunately, there hasn't been enough of it in MLB history. But playoff baseball in Seattle is, for lack of a better term, electric. The Kingdome rocked in the 1990s with pennant fever. T-Mobile park has shown signs of what the players have dubbed "The electric factory." But imagine if the Mariners did damage and won a playoff series at home.
Unfortunately, with the way the playoffs are currently designed, the Mariners would have to get the top wild card spot in order to guarantee themselves home playoff games. Otherwise, they'd have to win their wild card series on the road, likely against Cleveland or Toronto. Neither is an easy task. So while the Mariners may end their playoff drought, they still might not get to host a playoff game, and that streak could continue.
But I'm sure many Mariners fans, myself included, would take this situation in a heartbeat. After twenty-one years, you'll just take any modicum of success your team can achieve. To have the Mariners in a playoff series, even if it's entirely on the road, is something I've dreamed about for twenty-one years. When I watch them play in the playoffs, it's going to feel so surreal, on the verge of feeling unreal, almost.
I'm so stoked these guys are on the verge of ending this drought, and I wish them the absolute best for the rest of the season and in the playoffs. Regardless of the finish (provided we clinch the playoffs), this 2022 season will always be looked back at fondly. The playoff drought now is longer than the one this team endured to start its existence. And you know what? It's about damn time we made the playoffs. Go Mariners.
Friday, September 23, 2022
What Constitutes a Successful Season at this Point for the 2022 Mariners
The 2022 Seattle Mariners season has been quite the roller coaster. From being 10 games under .500 to going on a 14-game winning streak, this team has really experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. The Mariners currently sit at 82-67, guaranteed their first consecutive back-to-back winning seasons since 2002 and 2003. But the team's sights are set on the postseason, to make their first trip there in 21 years.
The Mariners are currently nearing the end of a three-city road trip, a road trip that has gone about as bad as it could for a contending team. They salvaged the final games in each series so far from the Angels and A's, two teams that have no shot at the postseason. They also seem to have lost Julio Rodriguez, their star player, for at least a few games. Even if the Mariners sweep the Royals, they cannot have a winning road trip.
I'm left wondering what constitutes a successful season at this point. The worst realistic scenario would be this hitting slump continues, injuries mount, and the Mariners limp into the #6 wild card spot and promptly lose two games in Cleveland. That to me would not constitute a successful season given where the Mariners once stood.
I'd say the bare minimum for the Mariners is they need to win a playoff game. I could argue the Mariners need to host a playoff game, which would mean either claiming the top wild card spot or winning their wild card series. I'll say this: If the Mariners can host a playoff game, it will definitely be a successful season, regardless of how the rest of the postseason goes. If they cannot, it'll definitely be left up to the determination of their fans.
This recent stretch of losing and poor hitting is certainly concerning. But if the Mariners can enter the postseason on a hot streak, good things can happen. They'll need to use their final homestand to get right. They'll need to use it to figure out which hitters will be on the postseason roster and to break some hitters out of slumps.
Of course, the Mariners have not clinched anything yet. The postseason is not guaranteed. But a collapse of that proportion would be too much for most Mariners fans, myself included, to handle. We have put up with too much heartbreak in the last two decades, and a collapse of that nature would put me over the edge as a Mariners fan.
Once the season is over, I will make another post recapping and say if it was a successful season or not. It'll be hard to say it's not a successful season if the Mariners make the playoffs, ending a 21-year postseason drought. But if the Mariners limp in, promptly lose both games and fail to even host a playoff game, it'll be equally hard to call it a successful season.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
My 2013 Major League Baseball Predictions
NL East
1. Atlanta Braves, 97-65
I think the Braves are going to be scary good this year. They have an outfield full of Uptons (and a Heyward), they have Freddie Freeman who, with a consistent season could even garner NL MVP talk, and they have the best closer in baseball right now in Craig Kimbrel.
2. Washington Nationals, 91-71 (Wild Card)
I see a dropoff year for the Nationals, if ever so slightly. I think Bryce Harper will have a Mike Trout type season and get some MVP consideration. Strasburg should be fresh and ready having sat out last postseason. I think the Braves' talent is more ready to win the division this year, but the Nationals are strong enough to get the Wild Card.
3. New York Mets, 80-82
I think the Mets will have a lot of positives this season, but they still have a ways to go before contending again. This season will definitely be seen as moving in the right direction for them, but signing so many oft-injured has-been in recent years has really set them back.
4. Philadelphia Phillies, 80-82
What happened to the Phillies? Used to be perennial pennant contenders. Now, they are barely a .500 team. I'll tell you what happened: Age caught up with them. They will have to undergo a youth movement which has sort of started, but they have a ways to go.
5. Miami Marlins, 73-89
Boy, what a letdown year last season, which I correctly predicted. You can't have too many egos on one team. The Marlins underwent a massive overhaul this offseason, including their coach. But something tells me they could be slightly better than last year. At least they still have Giancarlo Stanton. They just have to hope he stays healthy. Getting beaned by a ball in spring training is not a good sign for Stanton.
NL Central
1. Cincinnati Reds, 88-74
Despite no longer having the Astros to beat up on, I think the Reds will have fewer wins this year, due to increased competition from other NL teams. I see the NL Central being a tight race all season long. I expect Joey Votto to return to near his usual form.
2. St. Louis Cardinals, 86-76 (tied for Wild card)
Somehow this team CAN survive without Pujols. And they almost made it to the World Series, being up 3 to 1 to the Giants. I don't see a repeat of success this year. But I'll have a major league first this year: Two teams tied for the 2nd wild card spot.
3. Pittsburgh Pirates, 82-80
And, on the final game of the season against the Reds, the Pirates pull off a miracle and secure a winning season for the first time in 21 years. They are definitely a team on the rise, and if there ever is a time to break the streak of losing seasons, now is the time.
4. Milwaukee Brewers, 80-82
I told you this would be a tight race, with the 4th place team only 8 games back at the end of the season. I don't know what it is about the Brewers, but they just don't scream post-season. I don't see any sort of awful season for them, but there is just too much competition in the NL Central.
5. Chicago Cubs, 69-93
And then there are the Cubs. The good ol' Cubbies. Well, someday, they will again contend for the NL Central crown, and it doesn't hurt to have one less team to compete against. But someone has gotta be in last place and every other team in their division just have too much talent.
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers, 95-67
The Dodgers lavish amount of spending will finally pay off in a division title. Sorry, Giants fans, but I think 2013 will be the Dodgers year, at least in the regular season. Matt Kemp, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Andre Eithier, and Carl Crawford all in the same lineup? Yes please. Oh and the signing of Zack Grienke should give them an ace to carry them throughout the season.
2. San Francisco Giants, 86-76 (tied for wild card)
The Giants come off their championship run with another solid season, but one that they just manage to squeak in to the post-season. I think the Giants will have trouble with the Dodgers next season, so a 2nd place finish would be the landing place I see them in.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks, 79-83
The Diamondbacks had a letdown season after their great 2011 run, but I just don't see them climbing back up. They just don't have the talent. They traded away Justin Upton, so they have even less talent. I don't see a last place finish for the D-Backs, but a first or even second place finish would be quite a surprise.
4. Colorado Rockies, 77-85
I see the Rockies having a bounceback season from last, when they finished dead last in the NL West. I think CarGo and Tulo will regain their hitting prowess and make the Rockies one of the NL's best hitting teams again. But, like always, they have to work on their pitching.
5. San Diego Padres, 62-100
I don't know what it is about these guys, but I just can't see many wins this year from them. Someone has got to lose a ton of games in the NL, and this year I'm picking the Padres. Worst team in baseball? No. Worst team in the NL? Possibly.
AL East
1. Baltimore Orioles, 89-73
Who would have thought a couple years ago that the Orioles would have any shot of a division crown? They have arguably some of the best young talent in the division. The AL East, in my opinion, is the hardest division to predict for 2013. I'll pick the young O birds to come out in top. A good 12 months for Baltimore sports teams.
2. Tampa Bay Rays, 88-74 (Wild card)
What? No Red Sox OR Yankees in the top 2 in the AL East?! That has to be a first, right? No, but it hasn't happened in 21 years. There is too much young hitting with the O's and too much good young pitching with the Rays. They will barely miss the division, but get a wild card.
3. New York Yankees, 81-81
The Yankees without a winning record. Hasn't happened since 1992. But with injuries (Jeter), age (Rivera, Pettitte), and scandal (A-Rod) surrounding the team, I can see it happening. I know it's probably Mariano Rivera's last season, but I just don't see how he can have his dominant stuff. No storybook ending for him.
4. Toronto Blue Jays, 79-83
While I'd like to give the Blue Jays a better record, I just can't. They had probably the best offseason of any team, getting RA Dickey, Melky Cabrera, and Mark Buehrle. But like I've said earlier, too much talent in this division.
5. Boston Red Sox, 75-87
The turnaround won't happen overnight, even for the BoSox. New manager John Farrell won't do much, and with the BoSox not selling out all their games this year like they usually do, fan support will be down. But they'll come back, obviously. Just not this year.
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers, 95-67
The reigning AL Champs will have an even better regular season than last, motivated by their loss in the World Series to the Giants. If they stay healthy and motivated, they're one of the best teams in the AL. Verlander will more than likely dominate again.
2. Cleveland Indians, 85-77
The Indians are my surprise pick for 2013, with 17 more wins than last year. They play in a division that isn't too difficult, and they made some great moves in the offseason, the best probably being hiring Terry Francona as manager. The Indians will break out and give the Tigers some competition, not just this year, but for years to come.
3. Chicago White Sox, 81-81
The ChiSox always seem to hover between mediocrity and decent for years and years. This year, I expect mediocrity. With the Indians breaking out, someone has to slide down in the division a bit, and that would be the White Sox.
4. Kansas City Royals, 75-87
The AL equivalent of the Pirates (Former contending team now a laughingstock), the Royals will have another ho-hum season. They made very few moves in the offseason and could have gotten a big haul of prospects for Billy Butler, but I guess the Royals have renounced their ways of letting good players go and just trying to hang with them.
5. Minnesota Twins, 67-95
Wow, an improvement of ONE game! What a turnaround! Joe Mauer for MVP! In all seriousness, however, the Twinkies will need more than a new park to return to prevalence.
AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 99-63
2013 will be the year for Los Angeles area baseball teams. The Angels were really mad after being TWO SPOTS behind the low-payroll Oakland A's last year. The same won't happen again. Hamilton, Pujols, Trout, and co. (Wow that's a lot of talent) will muscle their way to a division crown.
2. Texas Rangers, 90-72 (Wild Card)
Losing Hamilton will hurt. His presence, more than anything was felt throughout the clubhouse. Who is the big star of this team now? Elvis Andrus? Yu Darvish? Despite that, they will continue to compete and earn a wild card berth.
3. Oakland Athletics, 83-79
The A's do have a lot of good young players, but even the biggest of A's fans would admit last year had to do a bit with luck. Alas, their luck ran out and they lost to the Tigers in the division series. They will get back to that level some year, but not 2013.
4. Seattle Mariners, 79-83
Finally. Our Seattle Mariners. It just seems we are so slowly inching our way toward prevalence. Who knew the rebuilding process could take so freaking long? Nevertheless, I'll take an improved record any day. We just have to wait until one of our AL West contenders falls on their face, similar to the 2012 Boston Red Sox. But hey, at least we won't be in last place!
5. Houston Astros, 52-110
The Astros are such a laughingstock right now. Only one guy is making a million or more. Quick, name five Houston Astros players! I can only name one: Jose Altuve, only because he was their All-Star last season. It's odd to see a last place team 27 games behind.... the 4th place team, but it could happen. They might not beat the Angels or Rangers once this year.
2013 MLB Post-Season Predictions
Tie-breakers and wild cards:
NL Wild Card tiebreaker: Giants over Cardinals
NL Wild Card: Nationals over Giants
AL Wild Card: Rays over Rangers
Divisional Round:
NL: Nationals over Braves
Dodgers over Reds
AL: Angels over Rays
Tigers over Orioles
NL Championship: Nationals over Dodgers
AL Championship: Angels over Tigers
World Series: Angels over Nationals, 4-1
Award winners:
AL MVP: Mike Trout, Angels
NL MVP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
AL Cy Young: David Price, Rays
NL Cy Young: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
AL Coach: Terry Francona, Indians
NL Coach: Fredi Gonzalez, Braves
AL Rookie: Wil Myers, Rays
NL Rookie: Darin Ruf, Phillies
There you have it. Again I pick a California team to win it all, but hey, I'm slightly west-cost biased. The Nationals advance to the World Series to make the Seattle Mariners the only current team to have never gone to the World Series. Congrats, Angels. Up next: My predictions for the Seattle Mariners.