2010 Predictions: AL West

The Angels should win the division again this year, but not without a fight from the newly revived Mariners.  Even with the departure of Vlad Guerrero, John Lackey and Chone Figgins, this team will still put up numbers.  The arrival of Hideki Matsui should wash out the loss of Vlad’s numbers and even without Lackey the starting rotation is still stacked.  Jared Weaver should move into the ace spot without much trouble and his supporting cast (Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders, Scott Kazmir and Joel Piniero) are very good.  Figgins will be missed, but the Angels won the division last year by 10 games so they have some room to slip a little.

The Mariners made a lot of off-season moves, possibly to get Griffey a ring before he retires.  The addition of Cliff Lee and Chone Figgins should be enough to move the M’s into second in the division.  The starting pitching is solid with Felix Hernandez, Cliff Lee and Erik Bedard however the bullpen leaves something to be desired.  If Milton Bradley can get his head straight out West, look for good numbers from Figgins, Bradley, Griffey and Ichiro.

The Rangers should struggle this season due to questionable starting pitching.  The bullpen is strong and and Kinsler, Hamilton and Young should add some excitement for the fans but don’t expect too much in 2010.

The A’s are in bad shape.  This will not be a good season for them.  There pitching is young and they have next to zero offense.  It’s time to make some wholesale changes.

2010 Predictions: NL East

The NL East has a clear winner and a clear bottom dweller.  However, the middle is tough to pick.  Obviously, the three-time defending NL East Champion Philadelphia Phillies, who added Roy Halladay to an already stacked rotation, are not only my favorite to win the East again but also my pick for the National League representative in the World Series. 

At the bottom, once again, are the lowly Nationals that have a young pitching staff and added an aging (old) Pudge Rodriguez.  Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham should offer the fans some excitement and although I’m not a big fan, I suppose Adam Dunn does provide some power.  The big event this year for the Nats should be when rookie Stephen Strasburg gets the call to throw some for the big club.

The middle three were essentially a toss-up for me.  I made the safe bet and chose the Mets to finish second almost exclusively off of name recognition.  With guys like Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Wright and the addition of Jason Bay, you have to expect good things to happen.  The starting rotation brings the expectations back to Earth.  After Johan Santana, there are a lot of questions.  Francisco Rodriguez needs the game to be close to even have a chance of helping.  If the Mets can avoid the injury and the offense can put up some numbers, they have a chance to finish high in the standings but probably won’t have enough to earn the NL Wild Card.

The young talent in Florida could help the Marlins have a decent season.  Somehow they manage to hang around for most of the year, so with guys like Hanley Ramirez, Dan Uggla, Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco coming back with another year’s experience, perhaps they can make a viable run at that second spot.

The Braves outfield production was well below what was expected last year.  If Nate McLouth can bounce back and Melky Cabrera can bring New York-esque numbers with him, the Braves have a legitimate shot at second as well.  The addition of Billy Wagner could help shutdown the opposition late in the game to give the Braves the edge they need.  And of course there is always the Bobby Cox factor.  I’m sure this team wants to send him out on top, but the question is, can they?

2010 Predictions: NL Central

This one isn’t hard to pick.  The Cardinals look to stay atop the division in 2010.  Pujols still amazes and the addition of Matt Holiday last season adds another bat to the lineup, showing that the Cards are content with just winning the division.  As long as Wainswright and Carpenter are at the top of the rotation, this team will continue to win.  Brad Penny was added in the fourth spot but I don’t know if this helps or not.  I’m looking forward to see how their young stud shortstop Brendan Ryan betters his performance of a year ago.  As long as Big Mac doesn’t cause too much of a distraction, 2010 promises to be another good season for the Cards.

I look for the Reds to move up to second in the division this year after picking up Orlando Cabrera to help plug the hole up the middle.  There is too much talent (Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips) to think that this team shouldn’t do better.  With a starting rotation of Harang/Arroyo/Cueto and now the addition of Aroldis Chapman, the Reds should have what it takes to make a run this season.  As long as the can stay competitive until June, hopefully Edison Volquez will return from Tommy John surgery and give this team the boost they need for the stretch run.

Sliding to third then, is the Chicago Cubs.  Everyone says their window of opportunity is closing with guys like Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly getting older but I think their window has already starting closing.  Although the Cubs will run out Zambrano, Lilly, Dempster and Wells, I think their age will hold them back.

The Brewers have possibly the best 3-4 hitters in the game with Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, but with the departing of JJ Hardy and Mike Cameron, they should struggle to score runs.  Still manageable for teams with good pitching, but the Brew Crew struggled last year from the mound and the addition of Randy Wolf doesn’t appear to be enough.

Hanging around in the fifth spot is the Astros for another season.  Essentially, the ‘stros are playing with 4 guys (Hunter Pence, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman and Michael Bourn) and 2 pitchers (Wandy Rodriguez and Roy Oswalt).  I don’t look for the Astros to make much of an impact in 2010.

Bringing up the rear as usual are the Pirates.  This year, however, there is hope.  The bucs bring a lot of young talent to spring training this year.  2010 should be a learning season for Pittsburg, but look for a climb in the standings in years to come.

2010 Predictions: NL West

I look for Arizona to shake things up a little bit this year in the NL West.  After a disappointing 2009, winning only 70 games, the Diamondbacks traded for Ian Kennedy to help out their better than average starting three of Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson.  Also, the addition of Adam Laroche at first base gives the snakes a regular contributor to go along with go to guys Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Miguel Montero.  While these changes should bolster the Diamondbacks up the standings ahead of cellar-dwelling San Diego, fourth place San Francisco and the slightly older not any better Colorado Rockies, the Dodgers still look to finish atop the standings.  While the Dodgers didn’t seem to get any better this off-season, I can’t see them dropping off too much from their 95 wins of last season.  Sure, I think it will be a struggle to get to 90 this year, but I think it will be just enough to hold off the Diamondbacks who may just win the wild card.  While the Dodgers did send Juan Pierre to the White Sox, they still may have the best outfield in the majors with Manny Ramirez, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier.  Although the Dodgers and Manny have announced that this will be his finally season in LA, Joe Torre and the boys in blue should be looking at another post season.

‘Big Hurt’ Calls it Quits; Awaits the Hall

Frank Thomas announced his retirement on Thursday in Chicago where he spent most of his amazing career.  Opposing pitcher feared Thomas throughout the 90s.  Frank put up some amazing numbers from 1991 through 1998.  Every year he had over 100 hits, 100 RBI, and 100 walks, all while hitting over .300 (except for 1998).  In the same time period he hit 32, 24, 41, 38, 40, 40, 35, and 29 home runs respectively.  Thomas ends his career with 521 homeruns which ties him for 18th all-time.  He is one of only three guys to be named MVP in back-to-back seasons which he did in 1993-1994 (Jimmie Foxx and Albert Pujols).  He hold 12 different records for the White Sox organization, including home runs (448), walks (1,466), runs scored (1,327) and RBI (1,465).  The White Sox have announced they will retire Frank Thomas’ number 35.  There is no doubt Thomas will be a HOFer, the only question is ‘will the writers play games or elect him on the first ballot which he deserves?’

Glavine Retires; Headed for Hall

Tom Glavine officially announced his retirement yesterday after 22 seasons as a major league pitcher.  Glavine was instrumental in the Braves unprecedented 14 consecutive NL East pennants.  He began his career with the lowly Braves of the late 80s before helping turn the team around going from worst to first in 1991.  The trio of Glavine/Smoltz/Maddux is still one of the best starting rotation in the history of the game.  Glavine won two NL Cy Young awards (1991, 1998) and is fourth on the all-time wins list for left-handed pitchers with 305, behind guys like Warren Spahn, Steve Carlton and Eddie Plank and just ahead of recently retired Randy Johnson.  He pitched his last game in 2008, which makes him eligible for the Hall of Fame induction in 2014, the same year that former teammate and friend Greg Maddux will be eligible.  Glavine went to the New York Mets in 2002 where he eventually won his 300th game before returning to the Braves at the end of 2007.  Glavine will be remembered as one of the good guys both on and off the field.

Over-Exposure of the Good Guys

Peyton Manning is taking a beating for his interception in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl to seal the win for the Saints.  So I got to thinking, 'Why is a guy that seems to be a great role model on and off the field, taking such a pounding from fans and the media?'  I think the problem is the media itself.  With so many outlets to get information today, we have become overwhelmed.  In the days of radio broadcasts, you eager awaited for the game coverage to begin to hear all about your favorite (and usually local) sports hero.  After the game, your options for more information was usually limited to your local newspaper where maybe there would be a column that day and maybe there wouldn't.  Today, guys like Derek Jeter, Tim Teabow and Peyton Manning are everywhere; commercials, billboards, video games, etc.  Now before a game, the average fan has just heard hours, days or even weeks about how this guy is the greatest to ever play the postion/game.  They have somehow become super-human.  After hearing all your media outlets flood you with their greatness, you can't help but start to believe everything they are saying.  So, naturally when something does go wrong (like an interception to lose the game), we fans feel like we have been duped and betrayed.  We can't believe that we have been lied to or that your 'hero' isn't perfect.
There is no changing the media.  If anything, it looks to get worse.  Sensationalism sells the story.  We as fans, need to keep things in perspective.  We are seeing some of the greatest athletes to ever play the game, but they are still human.  Enjoy them for what they are and be gld you got the chance to see them play.  And most importantly, think before you over react.

Reds Acquire Cabrera, Miles; Damon in their Sites?

After remaining silent thus far in the off-season, the Reds have waited out all the Hot Stove action and landed a few new guys looking for teams in 2010.  In a 4 way trade, Cincy acquires infielder Aaron Miles from the A’s who signed him from the Cubs in December.  Along with Miles, the Redlegs have signed veteran shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Twins.  Cabrera is sure to fill a hole on the left side.  The Reds infield is shaping up with Rolen, Cabrera, Phillips and Votto.  Perhaps the Reds can hold out long enough to actually ink a deal with former Red Sox and Yankee, Johnny Damon.  For a team that has historically refused to open the check book, this could end up being a decent off-season.  Anything to make the NL Central more exciting is good with me.