2013 MLB Predictions

Here are my "official" 2013 MLB predictions ...

AL East

1.  Toronto Blue Jays
2.  Tampa Bay Rays
3.  Baltimore Orioles
4.  New York Yankees
5.  Boston Red Sox

It almost looks like I hit the shuffle button on this one, doesn't it.  The Blue Jays did a lot to improve their already improving team by bringing in Reyes and Dickey.  The Yankees seem to have lost a lot of pop and are really old.


AL Central

1.  Detroit Tigers
2.  Kansas City Royals
3.  Chicago White Sox
4.  Minnesota Twins
5.  Cleveland Indians

The Tigers just have more talent.  The Royals will be interesting to watch over the next few years.  I should be making my first trip to Target Field this summer.


AL West

1.  Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2.  Texas Rangers
3.  Oakland Athletics
4.  Seattle Mariners
5.  Houston Astros

I think the A's take a step back, the Angels will score a ton of runs and the Astros, despite the cool unis, may be the worst team of all time.


AL Wild Card Game

Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays

AL Divisional Playoffs

Tigers over Rays
Blue Jays over Angels

ALCS

Blue Jays over Tigers


NL East

1.  Washington Nationals
2.  Atlanta Braves
3.  Philadelphia Phillies
4.  New York Mets
5.  Miami Marlins

No innings limit for Strasburg and the addition of Dan Haren make the Nats tough again in '13.  The Marlins will also be historically bad.


NL Central

1.  Milwaukee Brewers
2.  Cincinnati Reds
3.  St Louis Cardinals
4.  Pittsburgh Pirates
5.  Chicago Cubs

The Brewers did what they had to do, completely revamping their bullpen, now it falls on a relatively young rotation to bring the Brewers back to the playoffs.


NL West

1.  Los Angeles Dodgers
2.  San Francisco Giants
3.  Arizona Diamondbacks
4.  Colorado Rockies
5.  San Diego Padres

I think the Dodgers and Giants will give us the best divisional race this year.


NL Wild Card Game

Giants at Braves


NL Divisional Playoffs

Nationals over Giants
Dodgers over Brewers

NLCS

Nationals over Dodgers


World Series

Nationals over Blue Jays in 6

2012 MLB Post Season Predictions

At the beginning of the year, I predicted the Texas Rangers would beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.   I also predicted the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics would take last in their respective divisions.  Today is a new day ...

AL Wild Card

Orioles at Rangers

Despite the Rangers dismal finish to the season, you are only as good as that day's starting pitcher, and the Rangers are sending Yu Darvish to the hill, and they are at home.  I'm picking the Rangers to hold on, and advance to the Divisional Series against the Yankees.  Rangers 6 Orioles 3.

NL Wild Card

Cardinals at Braves

I think this will be a good game, but every time I play this game in my head, I see the Cardinals rallying late.  Cardinals 5 Braves 4, to advance to the Divisional Series against the Nationals.

AL Divisional Series

Athletics vs Tigers

This year, the lower seed is hosting games 1 and 2, with the higher seed hosting games 3, 4 and 5.   I know Detroit has Verlander going at home in game 1.  The Tigers will win Game 1, but this Oakland team will battle, and win this series.

Athletics in 5.

Yankees vs Rangers

The Rangers have looked sluggish the last 4 weeks.  To blow a 5 game lead with 9 to play has to be demoralizing.  The Yankees will win this series easily, I hate to say it.

Yankees in 3.

NL Divisional Series

Reds vs Giants

This is an intriguing series.  With first two games in San Francisco, it changes the dynamic of the series.  You know what, despite Lincecum's worst season as a pro, he steps up big.  Giants take it.

Giants in 5.

Nationals vs Cardinals

A city that hasn't been to the playoffs in 79 years vs the reigning World Champions.  This will be a great series.  The Cardinals seem to step up when it counts the most, that being said, there will be a new champion this season.  Nationals advance, despite no Strasburg.

Nationals in 5.

AL Championship Series

The highest payroll in sports vs the lowest.  David vs Goliath.  Every thing points to the Yankees just being too good, having too much talent.  That's why I'm taking the A's.

Athletics in 7.

NL Championship Series

Jordan Zimmerman and Bryce Harper will introduce themselves on the national stage with authority.  Nationals advance to their first Fall Classic.

Nationals in 6.

World Series

You'll probably need a program to follow some of these names.  Fox will not be thrilled with an Oakland / Washington series, but it will be intriguing baseball.  It's all about who's hot now.  Two great stories.  My gut?  They will be raising a banner in Oakland.

Athletics in 6.



Who would have thought, the Oakland Athletics, world champions of baseball in 2012.

My 2012 NFL Predictions

Sorry these are late.  But technically they're not, I started them at 11:54, you're just not getting them until after midnight.

NFC East
1.  Eagles
2.  Giants
3.  Cowboys
4.  Redskins

This is always a fun division to follow.  For no particular reason, I have the Eagles edging out the Giants and Cowboys in a very competitive division.  Andy Reid deserves some good in his life.  All four teams will score points.  RG3 will be good, but he's the worst QB in this division, currently.

NFC North
1.  Packers
2.  Lions
3.  Bears
4.  Vikings

Is Matt Weiss out there tonight to call me a homer? I think the Packers are the best team in this division, hands down.  I like the Lions offense, the Bears will be good, and the Vikings wear purple.

NFC South
1.  Falcons
2.  Saints
3.  Panthers
4.  Bucs

I never have a feel for this division.  The Saints will take a step back with all the off-season turmoil.  As long as Jimmy Graham scores about 15 touchdowns.

NFC West
1.  49ers
2.  Seahawks
3.  Rams
4.  Cardinals

I don't know, this could be the worst division in football.  The 49ers will come back down to earth, but still win this division.

NFC Playoff Seeds
1.  Packers
2.  Eagles
3.  Falcons
4.  49ers
5.  Giants
6.  Lions

NFC Playoff Results

Wild Card Round
Falcons over Lions, Giants over 49ers

Divisional Round
Eagles over Falcons, Packers over Giants

NFC Title Game
Packers over Eagles


AFC East
1.  Patriots
2.  Jets
3.  Dolphins
4.  Bills

I actually think the Patriots will run away with this division.  Tired of the Jets drama, Dolphins and Bills won't compete this year.

AFC North
1.  Ravens
2.  Bengals
3.  Browns
4.  Steelers

This is not a misprint.  The Steelers will take last place in the AFC North this year.  My Browns will progress into a competent unit, and take a step up.  I like the Ravens making a deep run.

AFC South
1.  Texans
2.  Titans
3.  Jaguars
4.  Colts

This will be another weak division.  The Texans win this by 3 games.  Andrew Luck will be great one day.  That day will not occur in 2012.

AFC West
1.  Broncos
2.  Raiders
3.  Chargers
4.  Chiefs

Outside of the Broncos, I really don't have a feel for this division either.

AFC Playoff Seeds
1.  Patriots
2.  Texans
3.  Ravens
4.  Broncos
5.  Bengals
6.  Raiders

AFC Playoff Results

Wild Card Round
Ravens over Raiders, Broncos over Bengals

Divisional Round
Ravens over Texans, Patriots over Broncos

AFC Title Game
Patriots over Ravens


Super Bowl Prediction

Green Bay Packers 37
New England Patriots 31

MVP, Aaron Rodgers
Fantasy MVP,  Aaron Rodgers
I've seen his penis,  Brett Favre

2012 MLB Predictions

Here are my official 2012 MLB predictions. Enjoy ...

AL East

1. Yankees

2. Rays

3. Red Sox

4. Blue Jays

5. Orioles

AL Central

1. Tigers

2. Royals

3. White Sox

4. Twins

5. Indians

AL West

1. Rangers

2. Angels

3. Mariners

4. Athletics

NL East

1. Braves

2. Phillies

3. Marlins

4. Nationals

5. Mets

NL Central

1. Brewers

2. Reds

3. Cardinals

4. Pirates

5. Cubs

6. Astros

NL West

1. Dodgers

2. Giants

3. D-Backs

4. Rockies

5. Padres

AL Wild Card

Angels over Rays

NL Wild Card

Phillies over Giants

ALDS

Tigers over Angles

Rangers over Yankees

NLDS

Dodgers over Phillies

Brewers over Braves

ALCS

Rangers over Tigers

NLCS

Brewers over Dodgers

World Series

Rangers over Brewers

AL MVP

Robinson Cano, Yankees

NL MVP

Matt Kemp, Dodgers

AL Cy Young

Justin Verlander, Tigers

NL Cy Young

Cliff Lee, Phillies

AL Rookie of the Year

Yu Darvish, Rangers

NL Rookie of the Year

Bryce Harper, Nationals

2011 NFL Predictions

My apologies, these are three days late ....

I think the lockout will have a major effect on the quality of play this year. In my opinion, despite the excitement of seeing the Packers win the Super Bowl, I thought the play on the field in 2010 was poor (tackling, QB play), the officiating was bad, and the overall product was sometimes unwatchable. Expect to see more of that this year, especially early in the season. With that being said, I'm still excited for the season to start. Take these predictions with a grain of salt (don't know what that means), but I've only seen about 20 minutes of pre-season football this season.

NFC East

1) Eagles

2) Cowboys

3) Giants

4) Redskins

Expecting another big year from Vick (and no, not just because I own him in the Fugazzi). The Cowboys and Giants will be competitive, and the Redskins have maroon and yellow uniforms.

NFC North

1) Packers

2) Lions

3) Vikings

4) Bears

I think the lockout will have minimal effect on the teams that made few changes in the offseason, and keep in mind, the Packers have a 2nd place schedule. They may win 13 games. The Lions are on their way up, and Vikings won't be as bad as last year, and the Bears won't be as good as last year. Still will be a good division.

NFC South

1) Falcons

2) Saints

3) Bucs

4) Panthers

The Falcons will be solid, the Saints will be solid, I can't figure out the Bucs, and the Panthers will be terrible.

NFC West

1) Rams

2) Cardinals

3) 49ers

4) Seahawks

This division will be bad again, but I'm predicting the division winner will have 9 wins, instead of last year's 7.

AFC East

1) Jets

2) Patriots

3) Dolphins

4) Bills

The Jets and Patriots will be atop this division for awhile.

AFC North

1) Ravens

2) Steelers

3) Browns

4) Bengals

I think my Browns will be competitive, but I'm not ready to have them pass up the Steelers and/or Ravens yet. The Bengals will be the worst team in the league.

AFC South

1) Texans

2) Colts

3) Titans

4) Jaguars

I have absolutely no feel for this division whatsoever.

AFC West

1) Chargers

2) Chiefs

3) Broncos

4) Raiders

Chargers ..... and everyone else.

So .... the eight division winners will be the Eagles, Packers, Falcons, Rams, Jets, Ravens, Texans and Chargers. My pick for the four wild cards will be the Lions, Saints, Patriots and Steelers. You heard it here first. Lions, and no Colts.

NFC Playoff predictions

#3 seed Falcons over #6 seed Saints

#4 seed Rams over #5 seed Lions

#1 seed Packers over #4 seed Rams

#3 seed Falcons over #2 seed Eagles

#1 seed Packers over #3 seed Falcons for NFC Championship

AFC Playoff predictions

#6 seed Steelers over #3 seed Texans

#5 seed Patriots over #4 seed Chargers

#1 seed Ravens over #6 seed Steelers

#2 seed Jets over #5 seed Patriots

#2 seed Jets over #1 seed Ravens for AFC Championship

My Super Bowl Prediction

Packers over Jets, 27-17

2011 MLB Predictions

Hi, there. How are ya? It's been a long time...

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)

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!