2010 MLB Predictions !

The Yankees and Red Sox officially kick the season off one week from today, and the rest of baseball, except for Bal at TB (dumb), will start their seasons on Monday, April 5th. I will be at Miller Park on Monday with Jamie, Mike and a mystery attendee to see the Brewers take on the Rockies. I cannot wait. One thing you don't have to wait for is my 2010 MLB predictions. Here they are...

NL East
1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Mets
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

This is the first time in a long time that I don't have the Mets winning the whole damn thing, and I don't even have them making the playoffs this year. Too many seasons of being let down. If I said 3rd, and they take the division, then I will be pleasantly surprised. But I think the Phillies are the class of the division, and the Braves look like they are ready to make a push. The Marlins are the wild card, I can see them taking anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the division, and watch out for the Nationals in a few years....

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

The Cardinals....and every one else. I like what the Brewers did in the off season, I just can't see them winning this division. I think the Reds will be a surprise team this year. Look for Homer Bailey to win 17 games, then in six months, look for 6 Atlanta's from the Dogg Haus to wallpaper my belly (courtesy of Nick Jim Korth)....side bet. The Cubs will falter, and the Astros and Pirates will struggle. Man, oh man, would I like winning baseball to return to Pittsburgh, but it won't happen in 2010.

NL West
1. Giants
2. Dodgers
3. Rockies
4. Diamondbacks
5. Padres

The Giants, Dodgers and Rockies will have a great run in this division, but in the end, Tim Lincecum will be the difference. Don't expect much out in Arizona or San Diego.

AL East
1. Red Sox
2. Rays
3. Yankees
4. Orioles
5. Blue Jays

This division is the main reason why realignment is necessary. The Birds (O's and Jays) don't have a chance. I think the Sox bounce back this year. I love the pitching, and the Yankees just seem too old (I said that last year, too....).

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

Chicago's rotation will prove to be too much, and the Twins will really miss Joe Nathan. Not much else here, expect losing seasons in Detroit, Cleveland and Kansas City.

AL West
1. Seattle
2. Los Angeles
3. Texas
4. Oakland

Seattle is one of my surprise teams to watch out for. The addition of Cliff Lee to an already solid rotation will make the difference. I've been high on the Angels for years, and it's time for a new champion out of the AL West.

My prediction for the two wild card teams is Milwaukee and Tampa Bay.

The playoffs will look like this. Philadelphia vs Milwaukee, and St Louis vs San Franciscon in the NL. Chicago vs Tampa Bay, and Boston vs Seattle in the AL. It pains me to say this, but in a 5 game series, I like Philly over Milwaukee, and St Louis will sweep San Francisco. I have St Louis advancing to the World Series. The ALCS will pit Chicago vs Boston, and Boston will advance to face St Louis.

The World Series Champions will be St Louis, beating Boston in 7 games. We need a 7 game series. We haven't seen one since 2002.

Awards?

NL MVP (Albert Pujols)
AL MVP (Evan Longoria)

NL Cy Young (Tim Lincecum)
AL Cy Young (Felix Hernandez)

NL ROY (Alcides Escobar)
AL ROY (Matt Wieters)

Some miscellaneous things to look for...

I will hit for the sausage cycle this season. I predict it will happen during a Thursday afternoon game.

I would like to return to Indianapolis for a minor league game, because Terre Haute is not too far away from Indy, and I need my Chi-Chi's menu item fix.

The Twins open their new open-air stadium, and expect to see a snow out or three...

OK, enough talk, let's play ball!