Boston-Homer

Predictions lacking knowledge.



Making predictions is not my strong suit. Sometimes I get one or two right (the Texas Rangers last year and Kentucky this March...so far).


However, my roommate Pat had the idea to go through and choose every division, MVP, and Cy Young winners, culminating in a playoff prediction.


The gambler in me decided to throw in the "over/under" for wins for each team. The gambler in me is what is also holding a year old slap bet over Pat, a forlorn Angles fan.


Without further adieu...


AL DIVISIONS

AL EAST (The Most Talent)
1) Red Sox - This kills me to do. The keys: Beckett, Papelbon, and Crawford. (Under 95.5 wins).

2) New York - Offense will have to carry pitching. Keys: Phil Hughes, Bullpen (Over 91.5 wins).

3) Baltimore Orioles - A surprise success. Keys: Vlad G., Adam Jones, pitching. (Over 76.5 wins).

4) Tampa Bay - Lost too much. The Keys: Manny, Damon, Shields (Under 84.5 wins).

5) Toronto - Just a bad team. Keys: Bautista and Ricky Romero (Under 76.5 wins).



AL CENTRAL (The up and coming division)
1) Minnesota- Mauer and Morneau need to stay healthy. Keys: Thome and Liriano (Over 85.5)

2) Detroit - Adding V. Martinez was huge. Keys: Cabrera (duh), Zumaya, Porcello (Over 84.5)

3) Chicago - Lotta Power, lotta K's? Keys: Dunn and Peavy (Under 85.5)

4) Cleveland - Yuck. Keys: Orlando Cabrera (winner), Choo, Fausto (Over 71.5)

5) Kansas City - Double Yuck. Keys: I have nothing. Poor Alex Gordon (Under 68.5)


AL WEST (The Most Mediocre)
1) Oakland - A roster of unknowns. Keys: Matsui's leadership of young talent (Over 83.5)

2) Angles - A team in limbo. Saving for Pujols? Keys: Trumbo and V. Wells ($$!) (Over 83.5)
 
3) Texas - A letdown year after losing some talent. Keys: Can Beltre fill in for Vlad? (Under 86.5)

4) Seattle - Triple Yuck. Keys: Can they get King Felix to pitch 81 games? 162?? (Over 70.5)



Wild Card: Yankees

AL MVP: Joe Mauer
Cy Young: CC Sabathia (again...)




NL DIVISIONS 
(Note: I do not know enough about the NL to make any sort of reasonably knowledgeable comments. Honestly? It is pretty painful as you look at what Vegas expects from them.)


NL EAST (The Best division in the NL. Similar to being the tallest "small person" in the circus)

1) Philadelphia -  (Over 97.5)

2) Atlanta - (Over 87.5)

3) New York - (Over 77.5)

4) Florida - (Under 82.5)

5) Washington - (Over 72.5)


NL CENTRAL (The Second Best Division in the NL)

1) St. Louis - (Over 83.5)

2) Milwaukee - (Over 86.5)

3) Cincinnati - Under 85.5)

4) Chicago - (Over 81.5)

5)  Houston - (Over 72.5)

6) Pittsburgh  - (Over 66.5)


NL WEST (The Second Best division in the NL too..)

1) Giants -  (Over 87.5)

2) Dodgers - (Over 83.5)

3) Rockies - (Under 86.5)

4) San Diego - (Under 75.5)

5) Arizona - (Under 72.5)

NL MVP: Prince Fielder
Cy Young: Lincecum (Phillies Four steals votes from one another) 

Wild Card: Brewers 


World Series Matchup:
Red Sox over Phillies in 7


PAT'S PREDICTIONS
(O= Over and U=Under)

AL EAST:
Red Sox (O)
Yankees (O)
Rays (U)
Orioles (U)
Blue Jays (U)

AL CENTRAL:
Twins (O)
White Sox (U)
Tigers (U)
Indians (O)
Royals (O)

AL WEST:
Rangers (O)
A's (O)
Angels (U)
Mariners (U)

NL EAST:
Phillies (U)
Braves (O)
Marlins (U)
Mets (U)
Nationals (U)

NL CENTRAL:
Reds (O)
Brewers (O)
Cardinals (O)
Cubs (U)
Astros (U)
Pirates (O)

NL WEST:
Rockies (O)
Giants (U)
Dodgers (O)
Padres (U)
Diamondbacks (U)

AL MVP:  Josh Hamilton
AL CY YOUNG:  Jon Lester
NL MVP:  Joey Votto
NL CY YOUNG:  Roy Halladay

ALCS: Red Sox v. Yankees
NLCS: Phillies v. Braves
WORLD SERIES: Red Sox v. Braves
CHAMPS: Red Sox