***Official Preseason Predictions MLB Thread***

[SammyKid11]

I haven't taken the time to look at my predictions yet, but I have a word of warning on the Astros. There is no WAY they finish below .500...and it's unsurprising, yet dumb nonetheless, that none of you are picking them to make the playoffs. This is still a team with two bona fide aces (Oswalt and Pettitte), despite whatever his agent says - a decent chance Clemens returns, a fourth starter on the cusp of greatness (Brandon Backe - just look at his playoff numbers), the best bullpen in baseball (two relievers on the US national team), and a lot of young talent in the lineup on their way up in the world (Taveras, Chris Burke, Luke Scott)...they add Preston Wilson to this bunch, and let's not forget they still have Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio, and Jeff Bagwell (though, admittedly it's unclear how much Bags has left in the tank)...and rising stars Morgan Ensberg, Mike Lamb, and Jason Lane at the plate...all of it topped off by one of the best defenses in the majors.

You guys kiddin me? Under .500? No chance at the playoffs? And do you all forget the preseason predictions that leave out the Astros EVERY YEAR, only to be proven wrong in almost ALL of those years?

Might wanna take another look at Houston is all I'm saying.

Oh, and the Cubs winning the NL Central? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[damaniac]

I predict the Tigers will find a way to be mathematically eliminated by the end of May.

[P.Dirty]

[ QUOTE ]
(NL) West - Nobody

[/ QUOTE ]

If you can't win 90 games, you shouldn't be in the playoffs. This should be a rule.

[SharkTank43]

[ QUOTE ]

Oh, and the Cubs winning the NL Central? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[/ QUOTE ]


Suck it. I can always hope.

[tdarko]

sammy,

i think they will press hard for the playoffs and be a very good team but i think st. louis will win the division b/c they are damn good and i think that the NL East will come out with the wild card team.

i definately think sub-.500 for the 'stros is very wrong.

[nolanfan34]

[ QUOTE ]
On July 4th, with the Chicago Cubs 1.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Central lead, Jim Hendry and Dusty Baker are signed to five year contract extensions.

In late September the Cubs lose their third straight game (6-2) to the Milwaukee Brewers to fall 12.5 games behind the Cardinals for the NL Central lead and 6 behind the Brewers for the NL wildcard.

AL SS Gold Glove: Derek Jeter

[/ QUOTE ]

Great post, I laughed a bit.

Official Mod predictions!!:

AL East - Red Sox
AL Central - Indians
AL West - A's
AL Wild Card - White Sox

NL East - Braves
NL Central - Cardinals
NL West - Dodgers
NL Wild Card - Brewers

[pryor15]

[ QUOTE ]
a fourth starter on the cusp of greatness (Brandon Backe - just look at his playoff numbers)

[/ QUOTE ]

say what?

Backe's playoff numbers (2005)
6 Oct (Atl) 1.0 ip, 1 h, 1k
9 Oct (Atl) 4.1 ip, 5 h, 5 er, 1 hr, 3bb, 2k
16 Oct (StL) 5.2 ip, 2 h, 1 er, 3 bb, 7k
26 Oct (CWS) 7.0 ip, 5 h, 0 bb, 7k
TOT 18.0 ip, 13 h, 6 er, 1 hr, 6 bb, 17k, 3.00 era

there's a long, long list of pitchers who had better playoffs than this and failed to turn it into a good regular season, much less greatness. pitchers like, i dunno, Brandon Backe last year.

2004 18.2 ip, 11 h, 6 er, 2 hr, 6 bb, 15k, 2.89 era

anyone can have a good playoff run, just ask Mark Lemke.

[sublime]

AL EAST
Boston

I have the yankees and boston virtually equal. The reason I pick the RedSox (other than the obvious) is that they are a bit younger (less injury risk imo) and have more depth/wiggle room for midseason adjustments.

AL Central
Minnesota

fantastic pitching!. the white sox had an interesting offseason, but the rowand move was baffling. regression to the mean is a biatch and last year was magical in terms of guys playing out of thier minds. cleveland will probably finish second.

AL WEST
Oakland

Young, great defense, great pitching and THEN they have a great offseason. loazia was a steal, frank thomas can play 50 games and be a steal and milton bradley for next to nothing. as usual NOBODY FREAKIN NOTICES! best team in the AL.

WildCard
Yankees

NL EAST
Ny Mets

The and philly are probably neck and neck. I dont think the braves can win this division again without significant injurys.

NL Central
ST Louis

Best team in NL, more of the same etc...

NL West
LA Dodgers

best team is the division, i guess [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

NL wild card
Philly

[sublime]

West - Texas Rangers

i have been wondering how on gods earth you have them to win the division and i come up with two possibilities:

1) you are huffing spray paint
2) it keeps the red sox out of the playoffs

[tdarko]

[ QUOTE ]
West - Texas Rangers

i have been wondering how on gods earth you have them to win the division and i come up with two possibilities:


[/ QUOTE ]

1) you are huffing spray paint
2) it keeps the red sox out of the playoffs
3) oakland a's team plane crashes
4) la angels team plane crashes
5) seatle mariners team plane crashes