Friday, March 25, 2011

2011 MLB Predictions



Given that my 2010 pre-season prediction ended so well...

http://slavieboy.blogspot.com/2010/04/pre-season-mlb-predictions-2010.html
(GIANTS as World Champions just never gets old) --

...I decided to repeat the procedure exactly as I did last year. Same format. Same spot in my wife's basement (it's her house and my mom kicked me out long ago). Same lucky underwear from last year. DANG IT HONEY, YOU DID NOT THROW THEM LUCKY DRAWERS OUT, DID YOU!?!?!

Oh well, here it goes.

NL East:

Phillies: Again, 95+ wins with a buzz-saw of a rotation. Have to get to Brad Lidge to win.
Braves: Should be closer to 90 wins, but no cigar. Lose out on wild-card by a game or two.
Nationals: The Bryce Harper era begins. Luckily for Nats, he will not blow out his arm. + .500
Marlins: Less than .500, not by much. Fun to watch, young team. Too bad not many in Miami attend.
Mets: Paying penance just for knowing Bernie Madoff. Need a wrecking ball here.



NL Central:

Brewers: Greinke can relax here, cheese-heads provide low-stress environment. Might win 90, should be enough for this division.
Reds: The Aroldis Chapman era begins, hopefully his 100MPH+ arm is more durable. Just short of 90 wins.
Cardinals: Will struggle with injuries and .500 and being so close in the standings to the Cubs. LaRussa looks tired.
Cubs: Will struggle with .500 and being so close to each other in the dugout. On the other hand, will be giddy at being so close to the Cardinals in the standings, failing to realize that the Cardinals suck this year.
Astros: Might be in AAA if we were more like British soccer.
Pirates: Might be in AA if we were more like British soccer. Wins against them should only count as 1/2 win.

NL West:

Giants: Should have enough to hold off the Rockies, but not by much.
Rockies: Will challenge the Giants all year, especially late. A Wild Card that nobody, save Philly and the Giants, will want to face.
Dodgers: Until the Divorce Court of the McCourt's issues are resolved, this team will struggle. Divorce in LA-LA land is miserable and shit flows downhill -- do the math.
D-Backs: Might struggle to win 75 games.
Padres: See Pirates and Astros only with pitching.

AL East:

Red Sox: Tired of second place, brought out the checkbook to do something about it. Should be exciting and challenge 100 wins.
Yankees: Will coast into the wild card, if Boss, Jr. allows it. It's fun to watch someone who lives in a castle on his own island bitch about people building a custom McMansion in a gated community. What has baseball come to?
Rays: Rebuilding. Rinse, lather, repeat. Loaded with prospects.
Blue Jays: Canadian dollar now stronger than US dollar, may win 90 games but it will only count for 85 due to the conversion rate.
Orioles: Fighters in Uncle Buck's army will compete, but /- .500 by a game or two at best.

AL Central:

Twins: Still good enough in this division. Not as good as last year though.
White Sox: Will be OK unless Peavy's arm flies off. WHAT, ALREADY?!?!
Tigers: Still waiting for those stimulus funds from Washington to bail them out.
Royals: AL's perennial candidate for AAA
Indians: Another possibility for AA.

AL West:

Rangers: Should win the division easily.
Angels: Should be so much better. Should win 90+ games per year on talent. Coast too much.
A's: Still mired around the .500 mark.
Mariners: Might be most improved team in AL and they still suck. Shows how bad they were last year. A Felix arm injury away from AAA.


AL Playoffs:
Rangers pummel Yankees
Red Sox pummel Twins

NL Playoffs:
Phillies over Rockies (but not by much)
Giants over Brewers (by much, Greinke has to pitch under pressure)


AL Championship:
Red Sox over Rangers in a classic.

NL Championship:
Giants beat Phillies in a classic rematch of great pitching staffs. Teams have to figure out how to win like '69 Mets or girls softball teams, try to learn slap-hitting in futility.

Setting up a Giants - Red Sox World Series, which the Giants win in a seven game classic.

That's the way I see it, but I could be wrong.

GO GIANTS!!!

No comments:

Giants Top Minor League Prospects

  • 1. Joey Bart 6-2, 215 C Power arm and a power bat, playing a premium defensive position. Good catch and throw skills.
  • 2. Heliot Ramos 6-2, 185 OF Potential high-ceiling player the Giants have been looking for. Great bat speed, early returns were impressive.
  • 3. Chris Shaw 6-3. 230 1B Lefty power bat, limited defensively to 1B, Matt Adams comp?
  • 4. Tyler Beede 6-4, 215 RHP from Vanderbilt projects as top of the rotation starter when he works out his command/control issues. When he misses, he misses by a bunch.
  • 5. Stephen Duggar 6-1, 170 CF Another toolsy, under-achieving OF in the Gary Brown mold, hoping for better results.
  • 6. Sandro Fabian 6-0, 180 OF Dominican signee from 2014, shows some pop in his bat. Below average arm and lack of speed should push him towards LF.
  • 7. Aramis Garcia 6-2, 220 C from Florida INTL projects as a good bat behind the dish with enough defensive skill to play there long-term
  • 8. Heath Quinn 6-2, 190 OF Strong hitter, makes contact with improving approach at the plate. Returns from hamate bone injury.
  • 9. Garrett Williams 6-1, 205 LHP Former Oklahoma standout, Giants prototype, low-ceiling, high-floor prospect.
  • 10. Shaun Anderson 6-4, 225 RHP Large frame, 3.36 K/BB rate. Can start or relieve
  • 11. Jacob Gonzalez 6-3, 190 3B Good pedigree, impressive bat for HS prospect.
  • 12. Seth Corry 6-2 195 LHP Highly regard HS pick. Was mentioned as possible chip in high profile trades.
  • 13. C.J. Hinojosa 5-10, 175 SS Scrappy IF prospect in the mold of Kelby Tomlinson, just gets it done.
  • 14. Garett Cave 6-4, 200 RHP He misses a lot of bats and at times, the plate. 13 K/9 an 5 B/9. Wild thing.

2019 MLB Draft - Top HS Draft Prospects

  • 1. Bobby Witt, Jr. 6-1,185 SS Colleyville Heritage HS (TX) Oklahoma commit. Outstanding defensive SS who can hit. 6.4 speed in 60 yd. Touched 97 on mound. Son of former major leaguer. Five tool potential.
  • 2. Riley Greene 6-2, 190 OF Haggerty HS (FL) Florida commit.Best HS hitting prospect. LH bat with good eye, plate discipline and developing power.
  • 3. C.J. Abrams 6-2, 180 SS Blessed Trinity HS (GA) High-ceiling athlete. 70 speed with plus arm. Hitting needs to develop as he matures. Alabama commit.
  • 4. Reece Hinds 6-4, 210 SS Niceville HS (FL) Power bat, committed to LSU. Plus arm, solid enough bat to move to 3B down the road. 98MPH arm.
  • 5. Daniel Espino 6-3, 200 RHP Georgia Premier Academy (GA) LSU commit. Touches 98 on FB with wipe out SL.

2019 MLB Draft - Top College Draft Prospects

  • 1. Adley Rutschman C Oregon State Plus defender with great arm. Excellent receiver plus a switch hitter with some pop in the bat.
  • 2. Shea Langliers C Baylor Excelent throw and catch skills with good pop time. Quick bat, uses all fields approach with some pop.
  • 3. Zack Thompson 6-2 LHP Kentucky Missed time with an elbow issue. FB up to 95 with plenty of secondary stuff.
  • 4. Matt Wallner 6-5 OF Southern Miss Run producing bat plus mid to upper 90's FB closer. Power bat from the left side, athletic for size.
  • 5. Nick Lodolo LHP TCU Tall LHP, 95MPH FB and solid breaking stuff.