Baseball Predictions

Even though the baseball season is almost a week in, there is enough time to get the sports editors’ thoughts on the season. Here are our predictions for the season.

JEROME FOSTER’S PREDICTIONS NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST DIVISION CHAMPS:

New York Mets – The bullpen cost the Mets a playoff spot last year. In the offseason, they solidified the bullpen by acquiring J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. The bullpen will take the Mets to the bullpen division title.

CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS:

Chicago Cubs – The Cubs are just too good. They have a good lineup and a decent rotation in a weak division.

WEST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers have the best lineup with Manny Ramirez. Their pitching could hold them back, but the lineup will do.

WILDCARD:

Philadelphia Phillies – The defending World Series champs have a great lineup with Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins. If Cole Hamels can get healthy, the Phillies will be in the mix

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION:

New York Mets

NATIONAL LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS:

MVP: Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers – Ramirez is the best player in the Dodgers lineup and is one of the best hitters in the game. Ramirez will show why the Dodgers re-signed him in the offseason.

CY YOUNG AWARD: Johan Santana, New York Mets – Santana is the best left-hander in the game. He led the majors in earned run average last season and will do so again. Santana will also rack up plenty of wins behind a good lineup.

OTHER HONORS:

BREAKOUT PLAYER:

Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds – Phillips doesn’t get too much love because he plays for the Reds. He has power, speed and a great glove. The only thing he really needs to improve on is his batting average. If Phillips can avoid injury, he will put up good numbers.

UNDERRATED PLAYER:

Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego Padres – Gonzalez will be forgotten about because the Padres will be terrible. He put up great numbers last season, hitting 36 homeruns with 119 RBI, while hitting .279. He can hit and can field. It’s too bad most people outside of San Diego won’t notice.

DARKHORSE TEAM:

Cincinnati Reds – The Reds have great young talent in the lineup and rotation. Phillips, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce lead the lineup, while Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez anchor the rotation. The Cubs are the team to beat in the division, but the Reds have the talent to make some noise.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox have a good lineup, but it’s their rotation that will carry them to the division title. Josh Beckett, John Smoltz, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Jon Lester will go deep into games while Takashi Saito, Hideki Okajima and Jonathan Papelbon will close them out.

CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS:

Minnesota Twins – This division is a toss up, but I will take the Twins because Ron Gardenhire is the best manager in the division.

WEST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Los Angeles Angels – The Angels have to replace the offseason losses of Francisco Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira, but they still have enough to win a weak division.

WILDCARD:

New York Yankees – The Yankees spent a lot of money in the offseason on C.C. Sabathia, A.J Burnett and Teixeira. The Yankees addressed their needs in the offseason, but the Red Sox are still better.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPION:

Boston Red Sox

AMERICAN LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS:

MVP: Mark Teixiera, New York Yankees – The Yankees investment in Teixiera will work this season. Teixiera will put up the best numbers for the Yankees and will be the main reason they return to the post-season.

CY YOUNG AWARD:

Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox – Even though Beckett gets most of the attention when talking about Boston’s rotation, baseball people say Lester is the better pitcher. Lester will be the best pitcher on the best team in the American League and that will net him his first Cy Young award.

OTHER HONORS:

BREAKOUT PLAYER: Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angels – While Kendrick doesn’t have much power, he can hit for a good average and has good speed to steal bases. The only thing Kendrick needs to do is stay healthy. If he can, expect him to hit around .310 to .320 and swipe 30 to 40 bases.

UNDERRATED PLAYER: Nick Markakis, Baltimore Orioles – Unfortunately for Markakis, he will put up good numbers in the A.L. East. He will hit about 30 homeruns and drive in about 100 runs but since he shares a division with Red Sox, Yankees and Rays, he won’t get much attention.

DARKHORSE TEAM: Oakland Athletics – The A’s play in the weak A.L. west. They improved their lineup by trading for Matt Holliday and signing Jason Giambi. If the young pitching staff can keep from getting knocked around, the A’s may contend with the Angels for the A.L. West title.

WORLD SERIES PREDICTION: Boston Red Sox over New York Mets

TAYLOR HOWSMON’S PREDICTIONS NATIONAL LEAGUE

EAST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Philadelphia Phillies -The Phillies are the defending champion. They have the exact same team as last season and I don’t think 2008 was a fluke.

CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS:

St. Louis Cardinals – The Cardinals will win the division because Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter are healthy. Not having them at the top of the rotation last year killed them.

WEST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Los Angeles Dodgers -The Dodgers are not great, but they are the best?team in a crappy division.

WILDCARD:

New York Mets – The Mets are much improved thanks to the bullpen. If you are going to beat them, you better be leading after the sixth.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPION: New York Mets

NATIONAL LEAGUE AWARD
WINNERS:

MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals – In my opinion the best pure hitter in the league. If the Cardinals do what I think they will, he will be the catalyst.

CY YOUNG AWARD: Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies – The injury at the start of this season aside, Hamels was huge down the stretch last season and will pick up from where he left off.

OTHER HONORS:

BREAKOUT PLAYER:

Daniel Murphy, New York Mets – Young outfielder who has won the starting left fielder job. He will flourish in a line-up where he hits between Jose Reyes and David Wright.

UNDERRATED PLAYER:

Aaron Harang, Cincinnati Reds – Terrible season in 2008, but he is still one of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball. He has lost weight and is back to where he needs to be psychologically.

DARKHORSE TEAM:

Cincinnati Reds – Much improved and a brilliant combination of young talent and veteran leadership. Look for the Reds to improve this year and be in the conversation for post-season baseball in 2010.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Tampa Bay Rays – The Rays are the same team that won this division a year ago. Now they have added Pat Burrell to their already strong lineup.

CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPS: Cleveland Indians – The Indians improved their squad over the off-season. They had a tough start to last year, but finished strong.

WEST DIVISION CHAMPS:

Texas Rangers – The Rangers are a team to look out for. Their pitching is suspect, but they have a great offense and play in a hitters’ park. The Angels’ reign is done without Mark Teixiera and Francisco Rodriguez, the A’s are too young and the Mariners are not quite there.

WILDCARD:

Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox lost Curt Shilling and Coco Crisp, but added John Smoltz. They will be neck and neck with Tampa before falling again. Plus I don’t think the Yankees are nearly as good as many think.

AMERICAN LEAGUE CHAMPION:

Tampa Bay Rays

AMERICAN LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS:

MVP: Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers – If the Rangers are going to do what I think they are capable of, they will need their big-bopper in the middle of the line-up to do what he is capable of.

CY YOUNG AWARD:

Scott Kazmir, Tampa Bay Rays – James Shields is the Rays ace, but Kazmir is a tough pitcher. He will be the key to the Rays success.

OTHER HONORS:

BREAKOUT PLAYER: Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles – Not to be confused with Pac-Man, Baltimore’s Adam Jones will finally have a huge year after being the top prospect the O’s have had for two years.?

DARKHORSE TEAM: Kansas City Royals. Can’t believe I am saying this, but the Royals could be very good this season. Good young pitchers to go along with young superstars like Alex Gordon and David Dejesus could add up to big improvements.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES: Much improved and very young. I love these young teams who have a very good chance of being contenders in a short time. The O’s play in a tough division, but they might have the ability to compete

WORLD SERIES PREDICTION:

New York Mets over Tampa Bay Rays