2006 MLB Predictions

NL East
Braves. Until someone beats them it's hard to pick against them. The Mets spent a bunch of money but any team that lets Glendon Rush pitch for them and who's ace has a bum toe doesn't scare me as much. My Phillies will score a bushel of runs and will have to out slug opponents. Marlins just suck

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

NL Central
Cardinals. Still rock solid rotation and they get back Rolen. Houston has a great 1-2 in Oswalt and Pettite but their bats are not as imposing as once was. Milwaulkee is a up in coming team and Pittsburgh will surprise with their baby face pitching staff and Jason Bay. Cubs. Prior and Wood on the DL. What a surprise

1. Cardinals
2. Astros
3. Milwaukee
4. Pittsburgh
5. Cubs

NL West
Yuck
San Diego gets my vote but you could pick any of the teams outside of the Rockies

1. Padres
2. Dodgers
3. Giants
4. D-Backs
5. Rockies

AL West
Angels. Great rotation and closer and my favorite non Phillie player in Vlad. Oakland A's. How do they keep doing so well? Great duo in Zito and Harden and their young closer in Street. Texas, if they only had some starting pitching. Seattle YUCK

1. Angels
2. A's
3. Texas
4. Seattle

AL Central
White Sox. It's not fair when the World Series champs can pick up Thome AND another SP of the caliber of Valdez. Not to mention a whole season with Jenks as their closer. Think of Mitch Williams with control. Minnesota and their slump killer Johan Santana, Cleveland will be around until the end of the season. Detroit yuck

1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Cleveland
4. Detroit

AL East.
Yankees. Losing Damon will hurt and Schilling isn't the same pitcher IMO. Blue Jays spent a bucket of money but they still have to get past the Yanks and Bo Sox. Baltimore. The Orioles hold a special place in my heart as I spent many a night in old Memorial Stadium. Tampa Bay? They would be better suited to run out the Durham Bulls (their AAA) out every night. Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo RUN AWAY NOW

1. Yankees
2. Bo Sox
3. Jays
4. Orioles
5. Devil Rays

Wild cards are the Astros and A's

 

cleveland 3rd??put down the crack pipe!

 

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AL East:
New York Yankees - they really should have addressed their pitching, but their lineup will get them through the regular season
Baltimore Orioles - they have a good enough lineup, and Leo will push their pitching staff over the top
Boston Red Sox - an injury to Manny, Ortiz, Schilling, or Beckett would sink them. I think at least one will.
Toronto Blue Jays - they spent money on all the wrong players (except for B.J. Ryan)
Tampa Bay Devil Rays - maybe next year or maybe the year after that or...

AL Central:
Chicago White Sox - with the additions of Thome and Vazquez, the White Sox actually got stronger
Minnesota Twins - the lineup is weak, but the pitching is very strong
Cleveland Indians - youngsters probably played over their heads last year, and they lost Millwood
Detroit Tigers - putting some pieces together, but not enough
Kansas City Royals - it's sad to see this happen to a great baseball town

AL West:
Los Angeles Angels - they're the strongest team in the majors
Texas Rangers - they should have enough pitching to get them the wild card
Oakland Athletics - they spent too much on the wrong people (loaiza) and not enough on the right ones
Seattle Mariners - at least they get to watch King Felix


NL East:
Philadelphia Phillies - this is the year they dethrone the Braves, as they have pitching and offense
Atlanta Braves - they should still be in contention for the wild card
New York Mets - Delgado is a nice add, but the rotation is thin
Washington Nationals - they need an owner
Florida Marlins - they need a new one

NL Central:
St. Louis Cardinals - too strong across the board
Chicago Cubs - Juan Pierre was a huge pickup, now if Prior could just stay healthy
Cincinnati Reds - they should have one of the better lineups in the N.L., it's just a matter of getting the pitching
Houston Astros - No Clemens, no offense
Milwaukee Brewers - people are getting too excited too soon about their young players
Pittsburgh Pirates - they added some decent players, not enough

NL West:
Los Angeles Dodgers - Garciaparra and Mueller were nice adds, and Penny will be big if he can stay healthy
San Francisco Giants - I'm not yet a Matt Cain believer, but Schmidt should rebound
Arizona Diamondbacks - they should be solid, they just lack punch
San Diego Padres - they keep adding older players
Colorado Rockies - they keep adding younger ones


ALDS:
Los Angeles Angels over New York Yankees
Chicago White Sox over Texas Rangers

NLDS:
St. Louis Cardinals over Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies over Los Angeles Dodgers

ALCS:
Los Angeles Angels over Chicago White Sox

NLCS:
St. Louis Cardinals over Philadelphia Phillies

World Series:
Los Angeles Angels over St. Louis Cardinals

 

Philadelphia pitching? They lost their closer and have a geriatric guy in Gordan now. Myers is their one starter I would count on week end and week out. Cory Lidle is an innings eater but no better than a 500 pitcher, Lieber can be good but he is long of tooth. They traded away Robinson Tejada and Vicent Padilla and Wolf won't be back until July at the earliest.

 

It's "Gordon," chief, and Wagner was turning 35 this year as well.

Lidle is no prize, but Lieber is much better than you think and should have a very solid season. The real key, though, is that Ryan Madson has a chance to be a very good starter, and Gavin Floyd has as much raw pitching talent as anyone in the National League. Now that Myers has finally broken out as a potentially dominating pitcher, that should give them the staff to win the East. With a solid bullpen and that impressive lineup, they're going to be the only team capable of challenging the Cardinals in the senior circuit.

 

I am probably the only Phils fan here, have followed them since the early 70's but until I see Floyd or Hamel do anything I'll believe it. Lieber got lit up like a Christmas tree today and Gordon still sucks ass.

 

Gordon has been awesome for a while now, and the only reason you got him as cheaply as you did is his age. But yeah, I know what you mean about the prospects. Be patient with Floyd, though, because it looks like he's making progress. Then it's too soon to say that Hamels is a lost cause, but I just don't like the way he's continuing to have control problems at all levels.

 

NL East

1. braves
2. mets (wc)
3. Phillies
4. Marlins

NL Central

1. Cardinals
2. Astros
3. Pittsburgh
4. cubs
5. brewers

NL West

(Flip a Coin)
1.Dodgers
2 padres
3 giants
4 d-backs
5 rockies



AL West

1. Angels
2. A's (WC)
3. Texas
4. Seattle

AL Central

1. chicago
2. cleveland
3. minnesota
4. Detroit
5. KC (Damn Baseball economics and KC's Front Office)
AL East.

1. Yankees
2. Bo Sox
3. Jays
4. Orioles
5. Devil Rays

Dodgers over the Braves
Cardinals over the Mets
Cardinals over the Dodgers

Yankees over the A's
Angels over White Sox
Yankees over Angels

Cardinals over Yankees in 7