Baseball Predictions

Tommy G's 2008 Baseball Predictions:

Here's a quick run down of my predictions...I'll start with the division my team sits in:

NL West (Best Division in MLB)
1. Rockies -
The Rockies will take the division title. They will prove to have the most complete team in the division. Pitching will be strong enough, and their hitting will lead the division, thus putting them over the top.
2. Dodgers- Wild Card
The Dodger Blue wins the battle for the Wild Card over the Padres, Cubs and Phillies. Joe Torre surprises the NL and sneaks the Dodgers into the playoffs.
3. Padres
The Padres hang tough until the end, but lack of hitting becomes their downfall. Kevin Kouzmanoff turns out to be a top notch player, but can't lead the Padres into the playoffs.
4. Diamondbacks
D-backs will continue to have strong pitching, but nothing else from last year follows. Eric Byrnes falls back down to Earth and becomes the journey man they had originally signed. And the team that won the division despite getting outscored by 20 runs in the season, cannot repeat the feat.
5. Giants
Exit the Barry Bonds era. Enter the rebuilding era. The Giants will have the worst offensive team in baseball, but they have plenty of good young pitching. This will make the team more respectable and possibly even give them a good run during the year. Spoiler role late in season.

NL Central
1. Brewers
The Brew Crew are getting picked by many to possibly win the division, and I believe they can. They're a good young team will some power (Prince & Braun), but pitching might be a little overrated.
2. Cubs
Sorry Cubbies, not this year. Make it 101.
3. Reds
The Reds will have their moments, but ultimately will just be the Reds.
4. Cardinals
The Red birds have fallen from grace. Once in the World Series and a popular pick to return, the Red birds find themselves older, more injured, and just not as good as they used to be. Very little pitching and an injured Puljos will brake the birds...and now the rebuilding process begins. LaRussa might not be back next year.
5. Astros
Houston is the new grave yard for players to come die to.
6. Pirates
They're the Pirates. Enough said.

NL East
1. Mets
Best team in baseball. This year they won't choke...at least until playoffs.
2. Phillies
Last years most overrated team. The Mets pulled off the biggest choke job in history and the Phillies backed their way in. Sweep in playoffs proved it. Hitting is good, but pitching is average.
3. Braves
Old = hurt = bad. Braves will spend year grooming new prospects.
4. Nationals
New ball park. Team sucks.
5. Marlins
Mortgaged team to Detroit to win their 3rd W.S. Title...but Tigers won't do it.

AL West
1. Mariners
Most improved team in baseball, and will win the AL West handily.
2. Angels
Injuries will plague their season and fall 15 plus games back of the Mariners.
3. Athletics
Outside of their traditional 13 game winning streak in July, the A's won't make much noise. They'll groom a lot of pitching prospects so they can get rid of them by trade deadline or next year.
4. Rangers
Bad team.

AL Central
1. Tigers
After plucking the Marlins roster for free, the Tiggers will dominate regular season and edge out the Indians for the division title.
2. Indians - Wild Card
The Indians and Tiggers will be last years version of D-Backs-Padres-Rockies, and the two will duke it out until the end.
3. White Sox
The team will rebound a little from last year's poor hitting performance, but the end of the Ozzie era will take place some time this season.
4. Twins
The twinkees will strive as a small market club, doing just the small things well enough to compete, but this year won't be the year they fight for the playoffs.
5. Royals
Not the worst team in baseball. Yeah!

AL East
1. Yankees
Return of the Evil Empire to the top.
2. Red Sox
What? No division title or wild card for the champs? Yep. I think I'm the only one in the world with balls big enough not to pick the Sox. Don't know why, but I don't think they'll get in.
3. Devil Rays
The D-Rays or Rays or Devil Rays or whatever the f*ck you want to call them, will be the most improved team in baseball. Spring training bitterness with Yankees started a mini rivalry between the two. Watch for them to knock off the Yanks and Sox a few times unexpectedly.
4. Blue Jays
Not enough to keep up in the division.
5. Orioles
Worst team in baseball.


Divisional Series
Dodgers over Brewers 3-0
Mets over Rockies 3-2
Mariners over Indians 3-2
Yankees over Tigers 3-1

Championship Series
Dodgers over Mets 4-2
Mariners over Yankees 4-1

World Series
Mariners over Dodgers 4-3