Hey everyone. While I occupy my time here in Nashville during a major weather storm taking place here, its time for that MLB Review, the American League edition.
The point of these predictions is to think outside of the box on some occasions. Its not fun to pick the Angels to win the AL West every season.
Also, I’m not the best prognosticator out there and I’m wrong on half of my picks but that’s the fun of sports. Unless you’re cold hearted, you had to enjoy Tampa’s run last season. If the best teams going into the season won all of the time, where would the excitement be?
Anyway, just like last season, here’s the condensed version of the picks for those of you who want a quick read:
AL East: Tampa
AL Central: Cleveland
AL West: Seattle
Wild Card: Boston (yes, that team up north is not making the playoffs again)
AL Champs: Tampa
AL MVP (top-five):
The point of these predictions is to think outside of the box on some occasions. Its not fun to pick the Angels to win the AL West every season.
Also, I’m not the best prognosticator out there and I’m wrong on half of my picks but that’s the fun of sports. Unless you’re cold hearted, you had to enjoy Tampa’s run last season. If the best teams going into the season won all of the time, where would the excitement be?
Anyway, just like last season, here’s the condensed version of the picks for those of you who want a quick read:
AL East: Tampa
AL Central: Cleveland
AL West: Seattle
Wild Card: Boston (yes, that team up north is not making the playoffs again)
AL Champs: Tampa
AL MVP (top-five):
1) Grady Sizemore, Cleveland
2) Evan Longoria, Tampa
3) Miguel Cabrera: Detroit
4) Josh Hamilton, Texas
5) Kevin Youkilis, Boston
AL Cy Young (top-five):
2) Evan Longoria, Tampa
3) Miguel Cabrera: Detroit
4) Josh Hamilton, Texas
5) Kevin Youkilis, Boston
AL Cy Young (top-five):
1) Roy Halladay, Toronto
2) Felix Hernandez, Seattle
3) Jon Lester, Boston
4) Francisco Liriano, Minnesota
5) CC Sabathia, New York
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Madden, Tampa
AL surprise teams relative to most experts’ expectations (top-five):
2) Felix Hernandez, Seattle
3) Jon Lester, Boston
4) Francisco Liriano, Minnesota
5) CC Sabathia, New York
AL Manager of the Year: Joe Madden, Tampa
AL surprise teams relative to most experts’ expectations (top-five):
1) Seattle
2) Oakland
3) Toronto
4) Minnesota
5) Kansas City
AL disappointing teams relative to most experts’ expectations (top-five):
2) Oakland
3) Toronto
4) Minnesota
5) Kansas City
AL disappointing teams relative to most experts’ expectations (top-five):
1) New York
2) Anaheim
3) Boston
4) Chicago
5) Baltimore
AL Worst team: Baltimore
AL East:
2) Anaheim
3) Boston
4) Chicago
5) Baltimore
AL Worst team: Baltimore
AL East:
1) Tampa
Yea: Return nearly their entire young core. Longoria, Upton, Price, Crawford are all ready to possibly become the top-five players in all of MLB in their positions. Pat Burrell will add a steady bat to the lineup. Pena is a solid first baseman. Madden is an excellent manager. Depth at starting pitching. Bullpen is solid and has depth. Not worried about dealing with expectations since they’ve made run to World Series.
Ney: Expectations are clearly on them now to win. Talent is young, fear of complacency has to be acknowledged. Madden has unusual way of managing that may make team uneasy during pennant chase. Have you looked at that division? Bullpen is solid but lack of top dog as closer and don’t give me injur-prone Percival, may haunt them. Injury worries for Scott Kazmir. Sending down David Price for first month or two of season.
Fantasy focus: This is for the People’s Champion. Most of you who play fantasy baseball have probably already had your draft so these may or may not help. Carlos Pena gets undervalued often by fantasy people. Look to pick him up if you can for low levels.
2) Boston
Yea: Solid core (Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jed Lowrie, Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon) who are all under-30, which means that they will win another two World Series in the next five years. Expect a revitalized David Ortiz to provide stability to lineup. No Manny Ramirez distraction. Significantly less pressure on J.D. Drew to perform, which is a good thing. Has management that will make move to acquire major player (Jason Bay last year, Matt Holiday this season?).
Ney: All things come town to two questions. Can David Ortiz and Josh Beckett stay healthy for entire season? I lean towards no. Jason Varitek, game-player, tremendous leader, below-average hitting catcher at this point of career. Worries about third base with Mike Lowell being brittle and yes, I know that they can move Youkilis there but that hurts the overall makeup of the team. Worried about wear and tear on Daisuke’s arm. Ellsbury needs to step up at centerfield. Was last year a one-year wonder for Pedroia?
Fantasy focus: They have elite to solid fantasy players across the board. Some guys like Brad Penny, Hideki Okajima and maybe John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli but their injury pasts are very questionable.
3) New York
Yea: Its hard to argue against CC Sabathia. He’s everything you want from your elite pitcher. Teixeira is solid, not worth $180 million, but solid overall. Pitching situation overall is better, Joba should be improved this year. Rivera does what he does at closer, Hall of Fame lock.
Ney: Seriously, that’s all I like from this team. Sabathia will break down at some point this season. Nothing against the guy, I just see it. You’ve got to be kidding me with A.J. Burnett, who will represent the biggest example of “contract year” player we will see in a long time. First DL stint will be shortly after All-Star Break, you heard it here first. Wang is ok but not great. Who knows what you’re getting out of Pettitte at this stage. Tex is going to be solid but is paid and expected to produce like a superstar which won’t happen. Cano is lost, Jeter will continue to decline. Rodriquez is a physical and mental mess. Have you seen the outfield situation? Here’s the opening day lineup: Jonny Damon, Brett Gardner (CofC represent) and Hideki Matsui. That’s winning the division, let alone the World Series, please. Rivera deserves respect, but the man is 39 years old.
Fantasy focus: I think that Cano is going to have a decent season for a fantasy second baseman.
4) Toronto
Yea: Halladay is a stud. Bullpen is legitimately one of the top four or five in all of baseball, especially with B.J. Ryan. Cito Gaston is the right man to lead this team. I expect an improved season from Vernon Wells. Alex Rios is a solid talent.
Ney: They’re in the wrong division. The three teams above them are arguably the three best teams in all of baseball. If Halladay goes down or gets traded, the latter more likely, then the season is a wrap. That’s why I don’t have them even competing for the playoffs. The entire infield is questionable with injury-prone and aging players.
Fantasy Focus: Seriously invest in B.J. Ryan as an elite relief pitcher. Also, take a chance on Alex Rios.
5) Baltimore
Yea: Matt Wieters, that is all. Seriously, they are making strides in the right direction as an organization. Wieters will be an elite talent, Markakis, Jones and Guthrie are worth a watch.
Ney: They’re in the wrong division. Put them in the AL Central or the Al West or even the NL West and these guys may actually be competing for a playoff position. However, with all of the games that they have against those four teams above them, many losses are going to come. Love the uniforms though and Baltimore is a beautiful city this time of year.
Fantasy Focus: All of the players mentioned above are worth a look. Beware of Brian Roberts and Aubrey Huff being overvalued in your various leagues.
Yea: Return nearly their entire young core. Longoria, Upton, Price, Crawford are all ready to possibly become the top-five players in all of MLB in their positions. Pat Burrell will add a steady bat to the lineup. Pena is a solid first baseman. Madden is an excellent manager. Depth at starting pitching. Bullpen is solid and has depth. Not worried about dealing with expectations since they’ve made run to World Series.
Ney: Expectations are clearly on them now to win. Talent is young, fear of complacency has to be acknowledged. Madden has unusual way of managing that may make team uneasy during pennant chase. Have you looked at that division? Bullpen is solid but lack of top dog as closer and don’t give me injur-prone Percival, may haunt them. Injury worries for Scott Kazmir. Sending down David Price for first month or two of season.
Fantasy focus: This is for the People’s Champion. Most of you who play fantasy baseball have probably already had your draft so these may or may not help. Carlos Pena gets undervalued often by fantasy people. Look to pick him up if you can for low levels.
2) Boston
Yea: Solid core (Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, Jed Lowrie, Jason Bay, Jacoby Ellsbury, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jonathan Papelbon) who are all under-30, which means that they will win another two World Series in the next five years. Expect a revitalized David Ortiz to provide stability to lineup. No Manny Ramirez distraction. Significantly less pressure on J.D. Drew to perform, which is a good thing. Has management that will make move to acquire major player (Jason Bay last year, Matt Holiday this season?).
Ney: All things come town to two questions. Can David Ortiz and Josh Beckett stay healthy for entire season? I lean towards no. Jason Varitek, game-player, tremendous leader, below-average hitting catcher at this point of career. Worries about third base with Mike Lowell being brittle and yes, I know that they can move Youkilis there but that hurts the overall makeup of the team. Worried about wear and tear on Daisuke’s arm. Ellsbury needs to step up at centerfield. Was last year a one-year wonder for Pedroia?
Fantasy focus: They have elite to solid fantasy players across the board. Some guys like Brad Penny, Hideki Okajima and maybe John Smoltz and Rocco Baldelli but their injury pasts are very questionable.
3) New York
Yea: Its hard to argue against CC Sabathia. He’s everything you want from your elite pitcher. Teixeira is solid, not worth $180 million, but solid overall. Pitching situation overall is better, Joba should be improved this year. Rivera does what he does at closer, Hall of Fame lock.
Ney: Seriously, that’s all I like from this team. Sabathia will break down at some point this season. Nothing against the guy, I just see it. You’ve got to be kidding me with A.J. Burnett, who will represent the biggest example of “contract year” player we will see in a long time. First DL stint will be shortly after All-Star Break, you heard it here first. Wang is ok but not great. Who knows what you’re getting out of Pettitte at this stage. Tex is going to be solid but is paid and expected to produce like a superstar which won’t happen. Cano is lost, Jeter will continue to decline. Rodriquez is a physical and mental mess. Have you seen the outfield situation? Here’s the opening day lineup: Jonny Damon, Brett Gardner (CofC represent) and Hideki Matsui. That’s winning the division, let alone the World Series, please. Rivera deserves respect, but the man is 39 years old.
Fantasy focus: I think that Cano is going to have a decent season for a fantasy second baseman.
4) Toronto
Yea: Halladay is a stud. Bullpen is legitimately one of the top four or five in all of baseball, especially with B.J. Ryan. Cito Gaston is the right man to lead this team. I expect an improved season from Vernon Wells. Alex Rios is a solid talent.
Ney: They’re in the wrong division. The three teams above them are arguably the three best teams in all of baseball. If Halladay goes down or gets traded, the latter more likely, then the season is a wrap. That’s why I don’t have them even competing for the playoffs. The entire infield is questionable with injury-prone and aging players.
Fantasy Focus: Seriously invest in B.J. Ryan as an elite relief pitcher. Also, take a chance on Alex Rios.
5) Baltimore
Yea: Matt Wieters, that is all. Seriously, they are making strides in the right direction as an organization. Wieters will be an elite talent, Markakis, Jones and Guthrie are worth a watch.
Ney: They’re in the wrong division. Put them in the AL Central or the Al West or even the NL West and these guys may actually be competing for a playoff position. However, with all of the games that they have against those four teams above them, many losses are going to come. Love the uniforms though and Baltimore is a beautiful city this time of year.
Fantasy Focus: All of the players mentioned above are worth a look. Beware of Brian Roberts and Aubrey Huff being overvalued in your various leagues.
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