So here we are, getting on towards late February. Between the Mitchell Report and some intriguing trades (and the continued non-signing of Barry Bonds), it has been quite the off-season. And yet, we’re only a week away from the beginning of Spring Training contests.
Now I know we all have our Go Dodgers! favorite team biases Woooo Dodgers! which is to be expected Dodgers all the way! of any true baseball fan. But I also know there are a lot of intelligent baseball minds on this board. So what I’d like to know is, based on your assessment of how each team stands, what two teams do you pick to be in the World Series this year, and who will come out on top?
I am certainly not an analyst of the game, so my picks are fairly meaningless, but I keep hearing an awful lot of noise about Detroit. It seems to me that it will be a very disappointing year for the team and its fans if they don’t get to the Series this year based on the off-season acquisitions. As for the NL…I really haven’t a clue. I think the Dodgers are really solid, but so are a lot of other teams. I hesitate to call it, but I believe the NL representative will come out of the West again this year.
All I can say for sure is that a Dodgers-Red Sox series would likely result in a divorce around Casa Silenus, so I’m rooting for anything but that. But the Vegas oddsmakers have that as most likely, according to the pre-season postings. Last time I looked, the Sox were 3-1 to win it all, and the Dodgers Go Blue! were 5-2. This was a few months ago, so the odds have likely changed a bit.
AL…I think the Angels will dominate the American League. AL West is a very weak division this year. I’m sure the Red Sox and Yankees will make their usual noise. Probably also hear from the Indians and the Tigers.
NL…Well, no one predicted the Rockies last year. Just shows whoever gets hot at the right time can make a run for it. Right now, I’d have to say the Mets probably have the best chance, although the Dodgers can also make a move. Anyone can come out of the West. NL Central is weak.
Tigers over Mets. Detroit will make a deal for another starter at midseason to put them over the top. Red Sox will regret standing pat, as the youngsters don’t all develop. No other NL team can keep up with New York’s staff already.
As much as it pains me to say it, the Yankees have to stage some kind of a comeback. I mean, they’re The Yankees, right? Steinbrenner is going to blow a fuse if they don’t make the playoffs this season.
NL is so wide open I don’t know how to make heads or tails of it. The Reds actually look to improve quite a bit as they’ve secured a lot of bullpen help (most notably Cordero) that cost them a ton of games last season.
A bullpen won’t help if the starters haven’t left them anything to save (if you’re depending on Aaron Harang as your ace, you’re in trouble). And Cordero’s not the most reliable reliever, not by far.
I think the Diamondbacks will be tough in the NL, along with the Dodgers and Mets. The Tigers looks really good in the AL. Since I hate the Sawx with such a passion that I cannot bring myself to be reasonable, the Yankees are certainly the team to beat in the East (as long as their kiddies perform up to expectations…)
The fan in me says Boston over Arizona. The Red Sox have only gotten better this year. Ellsbury will likely start as CF, Manny and Ortiz will bounce back from down seasons, JD Drew’s family situation has hopefully improved, and Buckholtz will start. Schilling being injured really is a non-issue for me until they get into the playoffs (if he makes it that far).
