The Yankees are revamped and ready to defend their World Series title.
American League Predictions:
AL East: The AL East features 3 of the best teams in all of baseball.
(1)New York Yankees (101-61): Instead of spending money just to spend money, the Yankees spent it where they needed to this past off-season, acquiring key players such as Javier Vazquez and Curtis Granderson. The addition of Vazquez vastly improves the starting rotation and Granderson keeps the lineup very strong while also bolstering the defense. They’re an extremely confident group of players that are built for the ballpark they play in. With the best lineup in baseball, one of the best starting rotations and what should be a stellar bullpen, the Yankees have everything in place to repeat as World Champions.
(2)Boston Red Sox (97-65): Compared to the 2009 opening day roster, the Red Sox have improved offensively at catcher (Victor Martinez) and third base (Adrian Beltre), and defensively at shortstop (Marco Scutaro) and center field (Mike Cameron). The offense no longer has the punch that it did in the Ortiz/Ramirez years, but it’s still stacked from top to bottom. The addition of John Lackey gives this team possibly the best starting rotation in all of baseball and once again it will be a battle down to the last weeks of the season with the Yankees for AL East supremacy.
(3)Tampa Bay Rays (90-72): Quite possibly the most talented team in baseball, and it wouldn’t surprise me that much if they could sneak in and finish ahead of Boston or New York. But if mid-summer rolls around and they’re not in contention, the Rays will look to deal some of there big time players with expiring contracts (i.e. Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena, Rafael Soriano). More than any other team in baseball, the first few months of the season are crucial for this franchise and will determine whether they’ll be contenders in the stacked AL East.
(4)Baltimore Orioles (74-88): This team has a lot of young talent, most of which will be on display in 2010. The outfield of Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold is up there with the best the American League has to offer. And while you have to expect such a young rotation to be inconsistent throughout the year, Orioles fans have to be excited for what the future holds, especially with young left handed phenom, Brian Matusz. Unfortunately, they’ve got a very minimal chance of competing in this division in 2010.
(5)Toronto Blue Jays (65-97): The Blue Jays are a much different team than the one that took the field on opening day in 2009. They dealt their ace, Roy Halladay, to Philadelphia in the off-season and also lost right fielder, Alex Rios, to the White Sox at last year’s trade deadline. Most of the players they added in the off-season will begin the season in the minors and with no other notable additions, the Blue Jays will likely finish as one of the worst teams in the entire American League.
AL Central: The AL Central will once again be decided in the late days of September.
(1)Chicago White Sox (89-74): The White Sox have more than enough pitching to lead them to the AL Central title. Jake Peavy is healthy and will return to his 2007 form and the rest of the rotation (John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Mark Buehrle) also offer plenty to be excited about. The question is how will the offense fare? 2nd year player, Gordon Beckham, is a prime breakout candidate, but the White Sox will need players like Alex Rios and Paul Konerko to step up if they’re to win this division.
(2)Minnesota Twins (88-75): I think this team could struggle to find itself for the first month or so of the season as they adjust to their new open air stadium (Target Field). Playing all those years at the Metrodome will undoubtedly lead to a period of adjustment for the hitters and pitchers alike. But this is still a very balanced ball club with one of the best players in baseball behind the dish in Joe Mauer. They have a much better offense than the White Sox and the pitching is arguably better as well. If it weren’t for the loss of Joe Nathan for the entire 2010 season, the Twins would’ve been my pick to win the AL Central.
(3)Detroit Tigers (82-80): Another AL Central team that is loaded with pitching, but lacking in offense. The addition of Max Scherzer to the starting rotation gives the Tigers a great 1-2 punch to go along with Justin Verlander. And while I like Rick Porcello a lot, you have to worry about the amount of innings he pitched last year. It will be interesting to see if he can improve on his 2009 success. The addition of Johnny Damon helps the offense, but will really hurt their outfield defense playing their home games in spacious Comerica Park.
(4)Kansas City Royals (71-91): Once again, there’s not much to be excited about for Royals fans heading into the 2010 season. Reigning AL Cy Young winner, Zack Greinke, figured things out last year and should be in line for another stellar season, despite the lack of offense to back him. Young first basemen, Billy Butler, led the AL in doubles last season and even bigger things are expected for him in 2010. All in all, this team doesn’t have enough talent to compete in a competitive AL Central, but at least I don’t have them finishing last!
(5)Cleveland Indians (68-94): New manager, Manny Acta, has his work cut out for him in Cleveland this year. They lack talent in every facet of the game, including offense, defense and pitching. But at least their star player, Grady Sizemore, is healthy to begin the season. Also outfielder, Shin Soo-Choo, will step up even more this year and improve on his 20-20 season with a 25-25 season…..mark it down.
AL West: Despite a revamped roster, the Angels are still the class of the AL West.
(1)L.A. Angels (91-71): The Angels did not have a very good off-season. They lost Chone Figgins to Seattle and Vlad Guerrero and Darren Oliver to Texas, two teams within their own division. They also lost their ace John Lackey to the Red Sox and Kelvim Escobar went to the New York Mets. They did manage to add Hideki Matsui, Joel Pineiro and Fernando Rodney, but it will be interesting to see how this team fares after losing so many key pieces to a team that made it to the 2009 ALCS. Mike Scioscia is one of the best managers in the game and his “small ball” style of baseball still fits this roster.
(2)Seattle Mariners (89-73): In contrast to the Angels, the Seattle Mariners had an excellent off-season. They stole Figgins away from the Angels, acquired Cliff Lee in the 3 team trade that saw Roy Halladay land with the Phillies, and also took a chance on the talented yet controversial outfielder Milton Bradley. The acquisitions of Figgins, along with Casey Kotchman and Jack Wilson, should sure up a defense that struggled at times last season. Led by a talented duo of pitchers at the top of the rotation in Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee, the Mariners have all the makings of a team that can win the AL West. But it’s the rest of the starting rotation that could hold them back.
(3)Texas Rangers (88-74): The Rangers finished 1st in the majors in runs scored in 2008, but slumped to 10th in the league in 2009. The addition of Vladimir Guerrero to the lineup, as well as a healthy Josh Hamilton (fingers crossed Rangers fans), will only help them get back to their 2008 form. Add a solid starting rotation to that mix and the Rangers could make some serious noise in 2010. Flame thrower Neftali Feliz will work out of the bullpen to start the year and very well could be the team’s most valuable player when all things are considered.
(4)Oakland Athletics (71-91): The clear favorite to finish last in the AL West, the Oakland A’s are a young team lacking in offensive talent. They’re not a bad team, in fact if they were in the AL Central, I think they’d have a chance to compete. But the other 3 teams in this division are clearly better top to bottom. The pitching is good, led by up and coming phenom, Brett Anderson, but the A’s are more likely to play the role of spoiler rather than contender in 2010.
National League Predictions:
NL East: In a division marked by an influx of future stars, the Phillies will prevail once again.
(1)Philadelphia Phillies (98-64): The two-time defending NL champions have added a new ace in former Cy Young winner, Roy Halladay. He will bolster an already solid starting rotation and all but assure the Phillies earn their 3rd consecutive NL East crown. The lineup is nothing short of scary, resembling what you would see on an American League roster. The trio of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins is about as good as it gets and the addition of Placido Polanco in the “2-hole” can not be underestimated. The Phillies are the best team in the National League.
(2)Atlanta Braves (90-72): The Braves have a very balanced team. The rotation, with right handers Tommy Hanson and Jair Jurrjens leading the way, was tops in the NL in ERA last year and figures to be even better this year with a healthy Tim Hudson added to the mix. The bullpen is somewhat of a question mark, but if 38 year old Billy Wagner can return to form, it will go a long way toward solidifying that area of the team. Rookie phenom, Jason Heyward, has earned the starting RF job after a solid spring and while it may take time for him to grow accustomed to the pro game, he’ll be productive and provide a much needed bat to the Braves lineup. The Braves will be determined to send Bobby Cox out in style and I predict they’ll earn their first playoff berth since 2005.
(3)Florida Marlins (83-79): With the amount of up and coming talent they’ve got on the horizon, the Marlins are once again heading in the right direction. Unfortunately, 2010 will not be the year they get back into the playoffs. Pitchers Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco form one of the best 1-2 punches in the entire National League. Chris Coghlan and Cameron Maybin are two young, talented players who will sit atop the batting order in front of superstar Hanley Ramirez, and the types of seasons they have will go a long way in determining what kind of team the Marlins will be this season.
(4)New York Mets (78-84): Let’s start with the good news. Third basemen, David Wright, will return to form this year and rediscover the power that he undoubtedly still has. Jose Reyes appears to be on track to return in early April, despite a thyroid condition that kept him sidelined for much of the spring. And the addition of Jason Bay gives the Mets a much needed bat in the middle of the lineup. The bad news is that Carlos Beltran is not healthy and may not return until at least mid to late May. The rotation behind Johan Santana is suspect to say the least and the bridge to closer, Francisco Rodriguez, is nothing short of awful. I do believe the Mets will improve on their 2009 record, but it still won’t be enough to compete with Philadelphia or Atlanta in the NL East.
(5)Washington Nationals (68-94): The Nationals are most definitely a team on the rise. The farm system is finally shaping up and Nationals fans have a lot to be excited about in the next few years. In all my years following baseball, I have never seen a pitching prospect as good as Stephen Strasburg. This kid IS the next generation when it comes to pitchers and he will make an immediate impact when he gets promoted on or around June 1st. Ryan Zimmerman produces year after year, despite being surrounded by a mediocre lineup, and 2010 will be no different. This team will take a small step forward in 2010, but a big step forward is not out of the question for 2011.
NL Central: With too many questions surrounding the Brewers and Cubs, the Cardinals look primed for a 2nd consecutive NL Central title.
(1)St. Louis Cardinals (88-74): The Cardinals didn’t add much of anything in the off-season, but they will get a full year’s worth of work out of All-Star leftfielder, Matt Holliday. They’ve got the best player in baseball on their team in Albert Pujols and two of the best pitchers in the NL in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright. Young centerfielder, Colby Rasmus, will improve greatly in his sophomore season and if veterans Brad Penny and Ryan Franklin can stave off the aging process, they’ll be even better than they were last year.
(2)Milwaukee Brewers (85-77): I think the Brewers will take a big step forward this year, but I don’t think they’ve got enough pitching to beat out the Cardinals in the race for a division title. Superstars, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, will lead a potent offensive attack and the defense should be above-average as well. Yovani Gallardo will step up in his third full-season and enter the realm of elite pitcher status in the National League. The additions of veterans Randy Wolf and Doug Davis gives them a much better starting rotation than last year’s team, but the bullpen leaves a lot to be desired. With the addition of another left handed bat with power, this team would soar. They’ll still be a very good team in 2010, but I expect them to come up just short of making the NL playoffs.
(3)Chicago Cubs (83-79): This team is a bit of an enigma to me. It wouldn’t surprise me if they finished 1st in this division, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if they finished last. If players such as Geovany Soto, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano can return to form, they’ll be in contention. But if not, a 3rd place finish will be about as best as they can do. Cubs fans would also like to see pitchers Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano improve on their 2009 seasons, and they’ll need Ted Lilly to bounce back strong after having off-season shoulder surgery. One thing is for sure, the departure of Milton Bradley can only be seen as a good thing for this club.
(4)Cincinnati Reds (81-81): The Reds are definitely a team on the rise, with an influx of young talent leading the way. This will be the year that Jay Bruce shows why he’s been so highly touted in year’s past, but I’m not sure I can say the same for the once “can’t miss” prospect Homer Bailey. First basemen, Joey Votto and second basemen, Brandon Phillips, are the offensive leaders and both should enjoy productive seasons, especially playing at home in the hitter’s haven that is Great American Ballpark. Cuban defector and top prospect, Aroldis Chapman, could arrive sooner rather than later, but the Reds would be smart not to rush him.
(5)Houston Astros (70-92): There’s really not much to be excited about in Houston these days. And to think, they’re just a few years removed from a World Series appearance. Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt can all still play, but they aren’t getting any younger. Berkman will actually begin the season on the DL with a knee injury which has got to be a cause for concern. Hunter Pence should have a breakout season and look for Wandy Rodriguez to build on last year’s success. But that’s about it. They’ve all but ignored their farm system for years and it’s starting to catch up with them.
(6)Pittsburgh Pirates (59-103): It pains me to even write about this sorry franchise. They do have an exciting and ultra-talented young player in Andrew McCutchen and this could be the year that catcher, Ryan Doumit, stays healthy and produces. But they’ve got virtually no chance of finishing anywhere even in the neighborhood of .500 in the standings. Newly acquired, Jeff Clement, who will move to first base after spending several years as a catcher with the Mariners (mostly in the minors), will be out to prove that he can play and I suspect that he can.
NL West: In a highly competitive NL West, the Rockies will prove to all that they’re no fluke.
(1)Colorado Rockies (92-70): Respect. If the Rockies have yet to earn yours, this will be the year that changes. This team is one of the deepest in baseball, with as balanced a lineup as any team in the National League. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki hit .302 with 27 HR’s and 76 RBI in just 102 games in 2009 and at the tender age of 25, he’s primed to step up his game even more in 2010. The rotation is solid, led by a true bonafide ace in Ubaldo Jimenez, who should also improve on his success from last year. Huston Street will begin the season on the DL, but the closing duties are in good hands with power lefthander Franklin Morales, who thrived in the role when Street was injured last season. There’s really a lot to like with this team and that’s why they’re my pick to win the NL West in 2010.
(2)Los Angeles Dodgers (88-74): It wasn’t that difficult picking the Rockies to finish ahead of the Dodgers this season, but it was hard leaving Los Angeles out of the NL playoff picture entirely. The reason it was so hard is because I actually like this team a lot. They’ve got two rising star outfielders in Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, a future Hall of Famer in Manny Ramirez who will be playing for a new contract this season, a high ceiling ace in Clayton Kershaw who is on the verge of greatness and one of the best closers in the game in strikeout machine Jonathan Broxton. They’ve basically got everything the Rockies have got except the depth. An injury to a key bat, or even worse a key arm in their rotation, spells doom for this team. With two injury riddled and aging starters (Vincente Padilla and Hiroki Kuroda), the chances of that happening aren’t so slim.
(3)San Francisco Giants (86-76): Other than rising star, Pablo Sandoval, the Giants offense is not very good. The addition of Aubrey Huff should help, but they’re still lacking true impact bats in their lineup. The pitching, on the other hand, is nothing short of phenomenal. Led by 2-time Cy Young Winner, Tim Lincecum, the Giants rotation is one of the best the National League has to offer. Matt Cain had a great year in 2009 and is due for even bigger things this year. Barry Zito is still a serviceable #3 starter and if lefthander Jonathan Sanchez can put it all together, the sky is the limit for this rotation. The bullpen is stacked as well, led by closer Brian Wilson.
(4)Arizona Diamondbacks (79-83): I’ve got the D-Backs improving their record this season by 9 wins. If Brandon Webb were fully healthy and back to form, I could even see them finishing 2nd in this division. Dan Haren will have another solid year and I think the same will be true for the newly acquired Edwin Jackson as well. Rising superstar Justin Upton will be even better this year and could compete for MVP honors if his supporting cast comes along for the ride and the D-Backs contend for the playoffs. Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson and Kelly Johnson will need to step up if this lineup is to be formidable.
(5)San Diego Padres (63-99): Quite possibly the worst team in baseball. The Padres won’t be able to compete in this division in any facet of the game. They will deal Adrian Gonzalez at the trade deadline to stock up their farm system, which is a move they have to make. They do got a few young players who should be fun to watch, including pitcher Mat Latos and slugger Kyle Blanks. Chase Headley had a fantastic spring and could be in line for a breakout season.
***2010 MLB Playoff Predictions***
ALDS:
New York Yankees defeat Chicago White Sox 3-1
Boston Red Sox defeat L.A. Angels 3-2
NLDS:
Philadelphia Phillies defeat St Louis Cardinals 3-1
Colorado Rockies defeat Atlanta Braves 3-2
ALCS:
New York Yankees defeat Boston Red Sox 4-3
NLCS:
Philadelphia Phillies defeat Colorado Rockies 4-2
*****WORLD SERIES*****
New York Yankees defeat Philadelphia Phillies 4-2
**2010 MLB AWARDS PREDICTIONS**
AL MVP: Mark Teixeira (NYY)
NL MVP: Albert Pujols (STL) (…surprise, surprise)
AL CY YOUNG: Felix Hernandez (SEA)
NL CY YOUNG: Roy Halladay (PHI)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (AL): Brian Matusz (BAL)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (NL): Jason Heyward (ATL)
MANAGER OF THE YEAR (AL): Mike Scioscia (LAA)
MANAGER OF THE YEAR (NL): Bobby Cox (ATL)
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR (AL): Francisco Liriano (MIN)
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR (NL): Conor Jackson (ARI)
VN:F [1.8.5_1061]
Rating: 7.8/10 (4 votes cast)
VN:F [1.8.5_1061]
Rating: +2 (from 2 votes)
