Early 2009 projections?

[Providence A's]

I didn't pick Jimmie Johnson most weeks...DK did. The Red Sox are not the best team. The Phillies are because they won the WS last year and until someone else wins, they're the best. I predict the Sox will not win the WS.

[Porter]

AL East
1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Yankees
4. Jays
5. O's

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

AL West
1. Angels
2. Angels
3. Angels
4. Everyone Else.

Really all 3 teams are not on the Angels level in all 3 phases. The A's could have the pitching to keep on par. The Rangers have the Offense to keep up. The M's.....well they lose on the level the Angels win games.

AL Championship: Red Sox over Twins in 6


NL East
1. Mets
2. Phillies
3. Braves
4. Marlins
5. Expos....oops i mean Nationals

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

NL West
1. Dodgers
2. DBacks
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Fathers

NL Pennant: Cubs over Mets in 7

WS Champ: Red Sox over Cubs in 6

AL MVP: Joe Mauer
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez
AL CY: Josh Beckett
NL CY: Johan Santana

[browntown653]

AL East (baseball's best division)
1. Yankees - Too much rotation. The bullpen will be much better than people think.
2. Red Sox (WC) - Don't forget about John Smoltz - he will elevate this team when he comes back.
3. Rays - 91 wins not enough. Pitching injuries will happen - the magic fades a little.
4. Blue Jays - Everybody assumes they will be terrible. Roy Halladay would like to speak to you.
5. Orioles - Everybody assumes they will be terrible. Everybody's right.

AL Central (baseball's closest division top to bottom)
1. Indians - Division's most talented team puts it all, or most of it, together.
2. Twins - A great rotation has them in contention all season long.
3. Tigers - Look for a bounceback year from Justin Verlander.
4. White Sox - I feel weird about putting them this low. Oh well.
5. Royals - Baseball's best last place team. But I do not get the Mike Jacobs trade...so much for improving your OBP.

AL West (baseball's worst division)
1. A's - Quietly had a tremendous offseason. Don't sleep on these guys.
2. Angels - Early injuries to 3/5 of the rotation are a big concern.
3. Rangers - Nelson Cruz and Chris Davis are gonna be good. But, hey the pitching sucks! That's a new thing.
4. Mariners - Bringing back Griffey was a genius move - will it help the team, probably not, but now people have a reason to go to Mariners games.

Yankees over A's in 4
Red Sox over Indians in 5
OMG YANKEES RED SOX END OF THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yankees over Red Sox in 6


NL East (baseball's most intriguing division)
1. Mets - Yes, K-Rod's overrated, but he beats Luis Mother-****ing Ayala.
2. Phillies - It's the city of Philadelphia, they can't do it again.
3. Marlins - Very intriguing team...their 4 and 5 starters are the X factor to whether this team can win.
4. Braves - If they can get a bullpen, they'll compete. If not...
5. Nationals - Elijah Dukes will have a breakout year. There's my bold prediction.

NL Central (baseball's most obvious division to pick the winner...where that obvious winner will not win)
1. Cardinals - This is assuming Chris Carpenter is fairly healthy. Dave Duncan is the best pitching coach in baseball.
2. Cubs (WC) - 3 straight postseasons for the first time since 1908? Oh my!
3. Reds - Beware the team who's everyone's sleeper...I think they are a year away. Too bad Dusty Baker does not know a god damn thing.
4. Brewers - But Yovani Gallardo will be awesome.
5. Pirates - Out of the cellar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6. Astros - I know it's already been said. But they have Mike Hampton and Russ Ortiz in their rotation. Mike ****ing Hampton. Russ ****ing Ortiz.

NL West (baseball's tightest 1-2 race)
1. Dodgers - A full season of Manny and continued development of Chad Billingsley leads this team to a 1 game division victory.
2. Diamondbacks - Maybe if 5 players didn't strike out 100+ times a year, they'd be better. Max Scherzer could be the X factor here.
3. Giants - The rotation's top 3 is great...can they get anything out of Barry Zito? A 5.15 ERA just won't cut it.
4. Rockies - Wait, they made the World Series two years ago? Seriously??
5. Padres - So much for trading Jake Peavy.

Cubs over Mets in 5
Dodgers over Cardinals in 4

Dodgers over Cubs in 6

WORLD SERIES
YANKEE BIAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yankees beat Dodgers in 6 games
WS MVP: Johnny Damon



AL MVP: 1. Grady Sizemore 2. Matt Holliday 3. Miguel Cabrera
NL MVP: 1. Albert Pujols 2. Hanley Ramirez 3. Manny Ramirez
AL Cy Young: 1. CC Sabathia 2. Jon Lester 3. Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young: 1. Chad Billingsley 2. Johan Santana 3. Yovani Gallardo
AL RoY: 1. Matt Wieters 2. David Price 3. Travis Snider
NL RoY: 1. Cameron Maybin 2. Kenshin Kawakami 3. Dexter Fowler

Read em and weep!

[HollywoodLeo]

NL West
1. Dodgers
2. DBacks
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Fathers

The last time Porter picked the Padres to finish last they won the World Series.

[love_that_reefer]

AL East
1. Rays- Better than last year by far and have the depth all around
2. Red Sox (WC)- A full year of Jason Bay and a lot of pitching
3. Yankees- Too many red flags in that lineup
4. Jays- Close battle with the O's for dead last but still have Halladay
5. Orioles- Not enough pitching anywhere to do anything

AL Central
1. Indians- Best offense in baseball and much improved bullpen
2. Twins- Only finish second if Joe Mauer can play 100 games
3. Royals- Better offense and better defense
4. White Sox- Weaker at CF, 3B and 2B
5. Tigers- Aging stars and no pitching

AL West
1. Angels- Pitching's coming back in late April so don't sweat it, they win easily
2. A's- Better offense but rotation is inexperienced
3. Rangers- A lot of offense but no pitching
4. M's- Weaker offense and the same pitching

NL East
1. Mets- Better bullpen and still have an offense
2. Marlins (WC)- Best rotation in the league and good offense
3. Phillies- Once Hamels started having elbow problems, they dropped from 1st to 3rd
4. Braves- Improved rotation but the offense is lacking
5. Nationals- Adam Dunn cannot save you

NL Central
1. Cubs- Awesome rotation and the offense looks good as well
2. Cardinals- Best player in baseball and Carpenter and Wainwright look great
3. Reds- Offense and rotation is improved
4. Astros- What's worth a damn after Oswalt and Wandy?
5. Brewers- Rotation and bullpen is holding that team back
6. Pirates- Can any Pirates starter post back to back good seasons?

NL West
1. Dodgers- Manny puts that offense over the top
2. Giants- Better offense and better bullpen
3. Dbacks- Too many strikeouts and the bullpen is questionable
4. Rockies- They will miss Francis and Holliday
5. Padres- Jake Peavy will be gone in June and won't be worth watching after that

AL MVP- Grady Sizemore
NL MVP- Manny Ramirez

AL CY Young- Roy Halladay
NL Cy Young- Derek Lowe

AL ROY- Travis Snider
NL ROY- Jordan Zimmerman

[love_that_reefer]

Eh, he's not worth it. I can't believe reefer is high on him. Then again, he still thinks Dallas McPherson is a major league starting third baseman.

First, never ever said Dallas McPherson was a starting third baseman. I said he could help a team. Secondly, what's not to like about Ishikawa? He can hit for average, play great defense and hit 20 HRs. That's why I'm high on him. Same reasons I like James Loney.

[love_that_reefer]

Elvis Andrus has an OBP lower than Willy Taveras.

Gary Sheffield has a bout of drama that involves Carlos Delgado.

Brandon Morrow will wish he stayed as a SP.

Detroit Tigers file for bankruptcy.

Yankees will use 4 different 3B until ARod returns.

Brandon Morrow will be the happiest guy in the world in the bullpen. It was either a couple of years until he was forced to retire due to arm injuries or play a long career as closer. Pretty easy answer.

[cjkalt]

NL East
2. Marlins (WC)- Best rotation in the league and good offense

Did they trade for Jake Peavy and Roy Halladay and I missed it?

[HollywoodLeo]

Did they trade for Jake Peavy and Roy Halladay and I missed it?

They don't have the best pitcher in the league, but one through five they're pretty solid.

Don't know if I'd call their rotation the best in the league, but they certainly fit into the discussion.

The Padres and Blue Jays, Jake Peavy and Roy Halladay (respectively) and all, do not.

[cjkalt]

They don't have the best pitcher in the league, but one through five they're pretty solid.

Don't know if I'd call their rotation the best in the league, but they certainly fit into the discussion.

The Padres and Blue Jays, Jake Peavy and Roy Halladay (respectively) and all, do not.

I LOVE Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco as much as anyone and think they are underrated...

That being said they don't belong in the conversation with the Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, Giants and Twins. They don't have any proven starters in the 3-5 positions.

[realmofotalk]

Lincecum > Josh Johnson
Cain > Volstad
Randy Johnson > Nolasco
Jonathan Sanchez > Anibal Sanchez
Zito sucks, but Andrew Miller sucks harder

[HollywoodLeo]

I LOVE Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco as much as anyone and think they are underrated...

That being said they don't belong in the conversation with the Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, Giants and Twins. They don't have any proven starters in the 3-5 positions.

I'm pretty sure by "the league" he meant the NL.

I agree with you that the Giants rotation is better.

[love_that_reefer]

Did they trade for Jake Peavy and Roy Halladay and I missed it?

No but they have Nolasco, Johnson, Volstad, Sanchez and Miller. Good enough for Bobby Cox, its good enough for me. I happen to agree with him.

[love_that_reefer]

I'm pretty sure by "the league" he meant the NL.

I agree with you that the Giants rotation is better.

I did mean the NL and the Giants and Marlins are neck and neck.

[love_that_reefer]

Lincecum > Josh Johnson
Cain > Volstad
Randy Johnson > Nolasco
Jonathan Sanchez > Anibal Sanchez
Zito sucks, but Andrew Miller sucks harder

Sorry but Johnson is not better than Nolasco, not even close.