BASEBALL PREDICTIONS FOR 2009

Another season, another failed attempt at prognostication. Here goes:

In the National League East:
1. Mets
2. Phillies
3. Marlins
4. Braves
5. Nationals

I'm going with the Mets until they prove they can do it. A perverse, contrarian logic yes, but let's face it they can't choke every year....or they would be THE CUBS!!!! That's right I said it. The Phillies will be the wild card. The Marlins will be too young. The Braves too young. The Nationals are just somewhat confused.

In the National League Central:
1. Cubs
2. Brewers
3. Cardinals
4. Reds
5. Astros
6. Pirates

Cubs rule, then October comes and they see their shadow and crawl back into their cave and hibernate. The Brewers hit too much, pitch too little. LaRussa gets more than expected out of Cards which isn't much. Reds, Astros and Pirates should be in AAA. No, I'm sorry the Pirates should be NCAA Division III.

In the National League West:
1. Dodgers
2. Diamondbacks
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Padres

Dodgers win a weak division, which kills them in the playoffs. Diamondbacks don't have quite enough to hold off the Phillies for the wild-card. Interestingly enough, they have more than enough to hold off the Mets. Tough time reconciling that. The Giants, Rockies and Padres compete in a fierce battle to avoid last place. Padres seem to be the team to beat, but tough call.


In the Playoffs:
Cubs vs. Phillies - CUBS WIN!!!! CUBS WIN!!!!
Dodgers vs. Mets - Dodgers in a landslide. Mets shouldn't even be here.

In the Championship Series:
CUBS vs. Dodgers - CUBS WIN!!!! CUBS WIN!!!!
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In the American League East:
1. Rays
2. Red Sox
3. Yankees
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles

Rays are that good. Sox are hanging on to faded glory, but they have the pitching to do it. The Yankees are pathetic, they think they can still but their way in and it is great to see them fail, year after year. Toronto plays in Canada, so who cares really. The Orioles are trying to go the Rays route after years of being the third wheel in the Yankees-Sox spending orgy. And who really wants to be the third wheel in any orgy? It's kind of pathetic.

In the American League Central:
1. Indians
2. Twins
3. White Sox
4. Tigers
5. Royals

Might be the best division top to bottom in baseball. Top three teams get the most out of their roster. The Twins are so fundamentally sound, they are fun to watch. The Tigers need more pitching to compete with the Indians and Sox. The Royals just need a miracle.

In the American League West:
1. Angels
2. A's
3. Mariners
4. Rangers

Angels are best in a weak division which hurts them in the playoffs. A's still get the most out of their rosters, best garbage pickers in baseball. Mariners have Griffey back, not much else. Rangers have nothing.

In the Playoffs:
Angels vs. Red Sox - deja vu, Red Sox win
Rays vs. Indians - Rays win.

In the Championship Game:
Rays vs. Red Sox II - Rays win.
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World Series - Rays vs. Cubs

Rays WIN!!! Rays WIN!!!

Keep betting against the Cubs winning the Series until proven otherwise.