2008 MLB Prediction Thread

[757690]

I haven't found one on this board so I figured I'd start one. If there already is one, I apologize.

Here are my predictions. Have fun picking them apart.

NL Central

Reds - Always have them first, always will.
Cubs - Big Bullpen problem, and not much starting pitching depth.
Pirates - I see Duke and Maholm having big comeback years.
Brewers - See Cubs, but even worse.
Cardinals - Real battle for last with Astros.
Astros - One of the worst organizations in baseball.


NL East

Mets - Santana puts them over the top.
Phillies - If Lidge is reliable, they will contend. If not, they won’t.
Braves - Very suspect bullpen
Nationals - Kearns has a big year and leads them out of the celler
Marlins - Girardi so lucky he was fired. Mark Hendrickson was their opening day pitcher. Enough said.


NL West

Dodgers - The best team in the NL. A lot of great young talent finally getting the chance to play.
Rockies - Last year was not a fluke. Great young talent.
Diamondbacks - Last year was a fluke. Weak bullpen this year.
Padres - Not much starting depth, and very weak lineup.
Giants - Some good young pitching and some overpaid, over the hill vets.


AL

Who cares, they don’t play by the rules. Not a real league, never has been, never will.

In case someone does care...

AL East

Blue Jays
Rays
Red Sox
Yankees
Orioles

AL Central

Indians
White Sox
Tigers
Royals
Twins


AL West

Angels
Mariners
Rangers
A’s

[mlbfan30]

I haven't found one on this board so I figured I'd start one. If there already is one, I apologize.

Here are my predictions. Have fun picking them apart.

NL Central

Reds - Always have them first, always will.
Cubs - Big Bullpen problem, and not much starting pitching depth.
Pirates - I see Duke and Maholm having big comeback years.
Brewers - See Cubs, but even worse.
Cardinals - Real battle for last with Astros.
Astros - One of the worst organizations in baseball.


NL East

Mets - Santana puts them over the top.
Phillies - If Lidge is reliable, they will contend. If not, they won’t.
Braves - Very suspect bullpen
Nationals - Kearns has a big year and leads them out of the celler
Marlins - Girardi so lucky he was fired. Mark Hendrickson was their opening day pitcher. Enough said.


NL West

Dodgers - The best team in the NL. A lot of great young talent finally getting the chance to play.
Rockies - Last year was not a fluke. Great young talent.
Diamondbacks - Last year was a fluke. Weak bullpen this year.
Padres - Not much starting depth, and very weak lineup.
Giants - Some good young pitching and some overpaid, over the hill vets.


AL

Who cares, they don’t play by the rules. Not a real league, never has been, never will.

In case someone does care...

AL East

Blue Jays
Rays
Red Sox
Yankees
Orioles

AL Central

Indians
White Sox
Tigers
Royals
Twins


AL West

Angels
Mariners
Rangers
A’s

I normally don't criticize predictions but....come on!

Yankees 4th? Red Sox 3rd? Please justify

[NatiRedGals]

Im gonna have to say i think the yankees dont have the pitching depth and red sox idk why or how they could be that low

[757690]

I normally don't criticize predictions but....come on!

Yankees 4th? Red Sox 3rd? Please justify

Actually more of an indication of how good I think Toronto and Tampa bay will be. The Red Sox should contend, but I don't see the Yankees contending. Not much pitching depth in the rotation or bullpen, and an old lineup.

I was hoping others would chime in with their predictions. I would love to see what others think will unfold this season.

[forfreelin04]

Actually more of an indication of how good I think Toronto and Tampa bay will be. The Red Sox should contend, but I don't see the Yankees contending. Not much pitching depth in the rotation or bullpen, and an old lineup.

I was hoping others would chime in with their predictions. I would love to see what others think will unfold this season.

Your living in a dream world if you think Toronto or TB or going to better than the ESPN terrible twosome. Stop listening to George Grande

AL East
Bosox
Yankees
Toronto
TB
Balt

Al Central
Cleveland
Detroit
Minne
Chisox
KC

AL West
LA Angels
Oakland
Seattle
Texas

NL East
Phills
Mets
Atlanta
Flordia
Nats

NL Central
Cubs
MIL
Reds
STL
Pirates

NL West
LA Dodgers
COL
SD
SF

[He got it!]

I'll take a crack at it....

NL East...

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

I love the Phillies lineup and think their young hitters can compensate for a lack of pitching. The Mets just have too many injury prone veterans for me, se P.Martinez and M.Alou. I am not drinking the Braves Kool - Aid of the so called experts. Expecting too much out of young hitters and old pitchers in my opinion. See K.Johnson, Y.Escobar, J.Smoltz, T.Glavine, M.Hampton.

NL Central...

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

I am a big fan of Y.Gallardo, and I think paired with a healthy B.Sheets gives the Brew crew a nice 1-2 punch to go along with a great young lineup. Ryan Braun is an absolute stud. My only hesitation for picking the Brewers is Eric Gagne. I think the Reds will finish over .500 and be in their share of ball games. I feel like the Cubs have more talent than the Reds but, they are the Cubs and will find new and creative ways to lose games they should win. See the Bengals of the '90's. Seriously though, not a fan of Derosa and THeriot, if they pull off a trade for Brian Roberts I certainly would move them ahead of the Reds.


NL West...

1.DiamondBacks
2.Dodgers
3.Padres
4.Rockies
5.Giants

B.Webb and D.Harren may be the best 1-2 top of the rotation in the NL. Couple that with a talented young lineup and a team that is hungry to accomplish what they feel short of last year and I think they will take the West. I think by the All- Star break Tony Pena will be closing for the snakes. What the Rockies did last year was a story book one in a million thing. Don't look for the baseball gods to smile so kindly on them this year. The Rockies pitching really over - achieved last year. The Giants will battle the Marlins for the worst team in the NL.


AL East...

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

I am a little worried about the Red Sox starting rotation, but with the back end of that bull pen and a stacked offensive lineup they should win enough games to claim what will be a very competetive AL East. Unlike the Braves, I am drinking the Blue Jays Kool - Aid. They have very deep pitching 1 through 12. On the other hand I think the Yankees lack of pitching will keep them out of the playoffs. I like Hughes and Kennedy but think Mussina and Pettite will get batted around pretty good. Once easy wins will prove much more difficult against the improved Rays this year, which is why I think the wild card will come out of the AL Central this year.



AL Central...

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

I think the Tigers starting rotation will be fine and am a believer in the hype that this offense is getting. Injuries in the bullpen will prove trying but I think the Tigers will still be on top at the end. I think the tribe will make the playoffs one way or another. Eric Wedge doesn't get the credit he deserves in my opinion. I look for the White SOx to be much improved, but don't expect winning seasons from the Twins or Royals.


AL West...

1. Mariners
2. LA Angels
3. Rangers
4. Athletics

First team to win 90 games should take this weak division. The Angels at full strength would be a no brainer here, but they are really having to revamp their rotation due to pitching injuries. I think the addition of Bedard paired with a year older king Felix will be enough to put the Mariners over the top. I think the Rangers will finish at or near .500 behind All - Star Josh Hamilton. Put me down for Oakland as the worst team in the AL.


Not a lot of shockers in there but I saved the best for last. Put me down for the 2008 World Series Champion......
Philadelphia Phillies!


It will be fun to come back on check on these as the season progresses win, lose, or draw.

[He got it!]

Thought it would be a good time to check out how some of our predictions are going at this stage in the season.

The good....

My World Series pick is looking strong (Phillies)

I am all over the NL West with lots of love for teh baby snakes and not drinking the Rockies kool- aid.

My prediction of Red Sox to win the AL East and the Yanks to struggle is looking good.

I could not have been more right about teh Texas Rangers and Josh Hamilton.

The Bad.....
The Cubs are making me look like an idiot for not buying into them. THey appear to be rolling!

The Giants, Marlins, and Athletics have far exceeded what I thought they would accomplish.

Tigers and Mariners. Yikes. What happened to my 2 division winners. I still think the Tigers have a shot to get hot and take that division, but I am throwing dirt on the M's.

How are your pre-season predictions going?

[He got it!]

Checking in on our pre-season predictions - post All-star break....

The good.....

My world series pick of the Phillies is still looking OK. As most - I sold the Marlins short again.

The Brewers are making their charge towards the Cubs and my pick of the brew crew to win the central looks promising.

I'm looking pretty good in the NL West with the Diamondbacks edging out the Dodgers.

The Bad....

The Mariners - still.

I sold short the Athletics, Rays, and White Sox.

I still think the Tigers could come back to win the central - but right now, not looking too good.

[AFalcon10]

All those yankee bashers up there must be biting their tongue now.. They are coming on strong. I acutally think they will win the AL East. Nobody could have predicted Moose's incredible resurgence, Jobas smooth transition to the rotation, and Ponson's Bronx revival. Pettite has been solid as usual and Ian Kennedy should be back soon. The bats are a little banged up but Giambi , Abreu, Arod all having big time years , Jeter doing what hes does. Not quite a 4th place team. Easier to say in hindsight though.

[ChatterRed]

But will the A-Rod sideshow ruin things?

[AFalcon10]

Haha the yankees middle name is off-field drama. I think they will handle it. Poor Rays.. i dont think they will even get the wild card. NYY and BOS as usual...

[walk-off]

Cleveland in the cellar for good, nobody called that!!!

[Ghosts of 1990]

Cleveland in the cellar for good, nobody called that!!!

I had them going back to the ALCS :confused:

[He got it!]

Sorry to drudge up an old thread - I know everyone is looking ahead to 2009.

However I have been away from Redszone for awhile due to the birth of my daughter and I never got to gloat about picking the World Series winner back in April.

I'm not one to pat myself on the back too often, but not too many people were picking the Phillies to win it all at the begining of the year.

Just wish I would have put some money where my keyboard was.

OK - back to 2009 Reds.

[redsfandan]

Nice pick He got it! If you ever wanna go to a casino let me know. :D

[Ghosts of 1990]

very nice pick indeed