I start my first blog entry in five months with a fuckin' Joe Walsh lyric? No wonder I didn't sell any books.
Here are my 2011 MLB predictions ...
AL East
1. Boston
2. New York
3. Tampa Bay
4. Baltimore
5. Toronto
This division bores me. Boston is solid across the board. New York, I believe lacks pitching depth. TB could either be really good or take a step back. Baltimore is going in the right direction, but they are a few years away, and Toronto, I believe is in Canada.
AL Central
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Kansas City
4. Detroit
5. Cleveland
The AL Central is always interesting to me. Two years ago, I had Detroit and Cleveland at the top of this division. I think Chicago and Minnesota will have a great race until the end. KC is on their way up. Baseball needs the Royals, Pirates and Orioles to be good again....
AL West
1. Texas
2. Oakland
3. Los Angeles
4. Seattle
I don't watch a lot of AL ball, and I certainly don't watch a lot of AL West ball. Texas will repeat in the division, and blah blah blah ....
NL East
1. Philadelphia
2. Atlanta
3. Washington
4. Florida
5. New York
It pains me to say it. I've never picked the Mets for last. I hope I'm wrong. Washington is still a few years away from making a push.
NL Central
1. Milwaukee
2. Cincinnati
3. St Louis
4. Chicago
5. Houston
6. Pittsburgh
You heard it here first. First division crown in 29 years for the Brewers.
NL West
1. San Francisco
2. Colorado
3. Arizona
4. Los Angeles
5. San Diego
San Francisco will be better in 2011 than they were in 2010. Colorado is solid. The rest of the division isn't that good.
My two wild card teams are ....
Minnesota and Atlanta
AL Playoffs
Boston over Minnesota in 5
Chicago over Texas in 5
Boston over Chicago in 6
NL Playoffs
San Francisco over Atlanta in 5
Philadelphia over Milwaukee in 5
Philadelphia over San Francisco in 7
World Series
Boston over Philadelphia in 6
AL MVP - Joe Mauer (Twins)
AL Cy Young - Jon Lester (Red Sox)
AL Rookie of the Year - Tsuyoshi Nishioka (Twins)
NL MVP - Ryan Braun (Brewers)
NL Cy Young - Roy Halladay (Phillies)
NL Rookie of the Year - Mike Minor (Braves)