Another MLB Prognostication

Friends,

Ande and The Mighty Flynn have put out how they think the MLB will shake out this season, so being a baseball fan, and a blog operator, I think too believe I should weigh in because, the way I see it, I have the exact same qualifications as Jayson Stark or Buster Olney to do this. Now, they may have more connections, and get paid to do this, but that doesn't make them better, just, you know, employed. So, here's out the season will shake out...first the JV league:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

East
Boston
Toronto
New York
Tampa Bay
Baltimore

Central
Detroit
Cleveland (Wild Card)
Chicago
Minnesota
Kansas City

West
Seattle
Los Angeles
Oakland
Texas


NATIONAL LEAGUE

East
New York
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Florida
Washington

Central
Milwaukee
Chicago
St. Louis
Cincinnati
Houston
Pittsburgh

West
Arizona
Los Angeles (Wild Card)
Colorado
San Diego
San Fransisco

PLAYOFFS

Divisional Series
American League:
Boston vs. Cleveland: Boston in 4
Seattle vs. Detroit: Detroit in 5

National League:
New York vs. Los Angeles: Los Angeles in 5
Milwaukee vs. Arizona: Arizona in 3

League Championship Series
American League:
Boston vs. Detroit: Detroit in 6

National League:
Los Angeles vs. Arizona: Los Angeles in 7

World Series
Detroit vs. Los Angeles: Detroit in 5


Commentary about the whole thing:
1) Yes, against all ESPN logic, I'm picking the Yankees third. Simply because I just don't believe in their pitching at all and I think Toronto will surprise a lot of people with their pitching and with an offense anchored by Wells & Rios.

2) Yes, I got the Cubs second and missing the playoffs again because I don't trust their pitching. Lily will regress to career norms, and you can't count on Zambrano to be consistent throughout the year and you can't count on Kerry Wood to do anything except, at one point in his life, be struck by lightning on a cloudless day.

3) I picked the Cardinals third because they honestly aren't that bad of a team. If last year's team could get within one game of the divisional lead, and this team is better, then I don't see how they can wind up worse in a division that didn't make any dramatic improvements.

4) I know the knock on Detroit is their bullpen is no good, but to me, that's like complaining about the mole on Cindy Crawford's face. It's not good, but with their starting pitching and robust offense will make up for it.

5) Why not the Mets for the NL? They are CLEARLY the best team on paper in the National League, but did you watch the 2006 and 2007 seasons for the Mets? They'll find a way to fuck it up, and I'm willing to bet Carlos Beltran has something to do with it. And as good as Johan is purpoted to be, he's not going to put up Gibson like numbers just because he's in the "worse" National League. He's not going to Chan Ho Park it or anything, but you can't assume he's going to win 20 games.

viva beisbol!