MLB Midseason Picks
July 8, 2004:
Now that it's about midseason for Major League Baseball, I guess it's time I make my
predictions for who's going to win. I'll break down each division, telling you which eight teams
will be making the playoffs. Then, from there, who will be moving closer and closer to the World
Series title. I'll also make predictions for the awards.
Let's start with the AL West. Now this is a strange division, because the Texas Rangers,
who I'm betting no one, including--I'll admit it--me, picked to win this division. They've traded
A-Rod, I-Rod, and Rafael Palmeiro, all possible future Hall of Famers. Yet they've managed to, at
the same time, go from last place to first place. Well, if you look at some of their young hitters
and pitchers, we shouldn't be too surprised. Every analyst is waiting for this team to slump, but
I don't think they will. I think they have a chance to take this division. However, they'll have to
watch out for the Athletics, who I think are going to win 90+ games. The Angels are looking good,
but they'll come up short in third place. And, of course, the veteran Mariners will be stuck in last.
Now for the AL Central. This shouldn't be quite as dramatic as the West, but it will
still be fun to watch. The White Sox are behind right now, but they have a great chance of coming
back to beat the Twins. Just compare the two teams--the White Sox have bigger names and better
players. They'll win 90 and a couple, whereas the Twins should only win 80-some games. Of
course, the Indians, the Tigers, and the Royals will all remain below .500 and be of no concern to
the White Sox.
The AL East is going to be boring--I'll say that right now. If the Yankees get on another
roll, they can not only take the division with a double-digit margin, but they could win 110 games.
The Red Sox will be great, but with only about 95 wins they'll have to settle for the wild card
(which they'll take by barely beating out Oakland). I'm going bold by saying the Devil Rays will
end up above .500--winning about 83 or 84 games. Of course, Toronto and Baltimore will be
fourth and fifth.
It'll be fun over in the NL West. I think the Giants have what it takes to take the
division, but the Dodgers and, for another month or two, the Padres will be nipping at their heels.
The Giants will end up in the mid-to-high 90's, the Dodgers in the low 90's, and the Padres in the
high 80's. The Rockies and the Diamondbacks will both be lucky if they reach 70.
Now for the greatest division in baseball--the NL Central. I don't think I'm the only
one who at the beginning of the season said the Cubs would win it and the Astros would get the
wild card. I still think the Cubs can pass the Cards and win 95+ games, but I don't think the
Astros will have the same luck. The Cards will still win 90-some (and the wild card race, just
barely over the Dodgers), the Astros and Brewers will be third and fourth (respectively) with
80-some, the Reds will be fall just short of .500, and the Pirates--well, we all know they'll be last.
The NL East may very well be the worst division in baseball, but it may also be the
most exciting. Right now it's a four-way race, and it could go to any one of them. But I think the
Marlins will get hot and, like last year, win about 91 games, taking the division. The Braves and
Phillies will contend, but are only great enough to win 80-some. The Mets will go past .500, but
they'll have to wait until next year to even think about winning it.
This will serve up a fun post-season. Should my thinking be correct, the Yankees will
face the White Sox and the Rangers will face the Red Sox. Both will be dramatic series, but the
Yankees and Red Sox will both win 3-2. In the NL, it will be the stories of a rivalry--the Cubs and
the Cards, and a repeat--Giants vs. Marlins. The Cubs will dominate in 5 games, and I think the
Giants can beat the Marlins in 4 or 5. However, don't be surprised if the Marlins can do it again.
Now in the next round will be two great series: Yankees vs. Red Sox and Cubs vs.
Giants. The Red Sox and Yankees will go seven games, and be ready for some fighting, as well as
exciting extra-inning games. Unfortunately, though, the Yankees will repeat in dramatic fashion
in the seventh game, with an excitingly close game. On the other hand, the Cubs will drop a
couple versus the Giants, but I think they'll beat them in six games. Then, in the World Series,
it will be the Cubs and the Yankees. This will go at least six games, and more likely seven, as
the Cubs try to break the curse. I think the Yankees will have a better chance than they did in
years past, but the "lovable loser" Cubs will prove that they're lovable, but not losers, by
winning the title.
Now for the awards. If the MVP votes were right now, I'd have to pick Guerrero for
the AL, but I have a feeling it will once again be A-Rod winning it. In the NL there's no
question in my mind that it will go to Barry Bonds. However, whether he deserves to win it
over someone like Pujols, Rolen, or Abreu is a different story. The Managers will be easy: the
two World Series managers--Joe Torre and Dusty Baker. The Cy Young for the NL will come
down to Roger Clemens and Jason Schmidt, but I have a feeling Clemens is going to win his
seventh. The AL will have no dominant pitcher, unlike the NL, but I think in the end they'll
have to give it to Curt Schilling. I can't honestly say who'll be the Rookies--there aren't many
good ones this year--so I'm not even taking a stab.
Well, there are my picks, whether you agree with them or not. Now let's just hope
they're right. *Winks.*
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