Baseball Predictions '07

Spring break(for Heather and Lily) has started, Spring training has ended, all three kids are napping, so there's no time like the present for my annual baseball predictions...


As Opening Day approaches, the question for the Nats is how bad will will they be? Will they be historically bad, like the ‘62 Mets(40-120), or more recently, the ‘03 Tigers(43-119), could they start the season 0-22 to replace the ‘88 Orioles in the record books, or will they just be bad like the ‘90 Braves(65-97)? My guess, is the latter. As the Nats brain trust, will constantly remind fans, there will be better days in the future -- the ‘69 Mets would win a World Series, the ‘91 Braves and last year’s Tigers would make it to the Series and the ‘89 O’s would challenge for the division until the season’s final weekend -- so, one can hope(about next year)...just up I-95, they’re asking a different question, after being hopeless for a decade or so, can the Orioles finally be good? I’m not talking about a big window of opportunity -- it’s not like an Orioles dynasty is ever in the cards -- because, Angelos is always bound to meddle with a good thing(he recently admitted to nixing a deal that would have sent Adam LaRouche to the O’s for Brian Roberts!). Yet, for the moment, pitching coach Leo Mazzone can imagine that this O’s staff of Bedard, Loewen, Cabrera and Trachsel can produce like his ‘91 Braves staff of Glavine, Avery, Smoltz and Leibrandt. With the addition of Aubrey Huff to their lineup, they just might score enough runs to challenge the Yankees for the division(call me crazy).

With a starting staff that had a grand total of TWO wins last year, there’s no way that the Nats will compete for anything. And despite all their offense, don’t expect the Mets to repeat in the NL East, they just don’t have enough starting pitching. The Phillies and the Braves will go toe to toe, with the Braves taking the pennant as Tim Hudson returns to form. Unless the Cardinals have another magical run(LaRussa's recent DUI was not exactly a good omen), don't expect them to repeat as World Series champs. After all, the Cards did very little during the off-season, other than lose some key pitching(Suppan, Marquis and Weaver). If Ben Sheets stays healthy(and that's not guaranteed), he’ll win a Cy Young and the Brewers will have the season I expected last year and take the Central. Former-Nat, Alfonso Soriano will have another monster year(I'd like to believe that last year was not a "career" year), win the MVP, and lead Lou Pinella’s Cubs to a wild-card berth. In the West, the Padres will compete for another pennant against, not the Dodgers, but the Diamondbacks. Both teams have intriguing starting staffs of aging veterans(Maddox and Wells for the Padres, Johnson and former-Nat, Hernandez for the Diamondbacks) and potential Cy Young candidates(Padres’ Chris Young and the Diamondback’s Brandon Webb who actually won it last year). Arizona, with their more functional lineup, will win out in the end.

In the American League East, the Yankees pitching staff will show its age -- even more so, if Clemens ends up there. Meanwhile, Boston seems to think they can win without a closer, giving the Orioles a chance to shock a lot of people. With the addition of Gary Sheffield, who will leave no doubt about the MVP this year, Detroit has a chance to return to the World Series, assuming that the pitching staff learns how to field. Cleveland, will bounce back from an off year to take the wild-card. In the West, I know the Angels are the easy choice, but I just can’t imagine them winning anything again as long as Mike Scioscia is their manager -- and who was the knuckle head that decided to sign Gary Mathews Jr. to a big contract after what was clearly a career year? So, who does that leave? The A’s lost their ace, Texas still has no pitching, then again they don’t have Buck Showalter as manager either, and every team that has gotten rid of him almost immediately goes on to win the World Series(Yankees and Arizona) -- but lightning can’t strike a third time can it? That leaves Seattle, who have my Cy Young pick in Felix Hernandez, but also have Mike Hargrove (known as the “human rain delay” as a player) as their manager. His career win-loss record is 1,143-1,140 -- talk about mediocre! After watching him as the O’s manager for years, I can’t figure out why he even has a job -- probably just bitter grapes on my part. The Mariners did pickup two former-Nats named Jose(Guillen and Vidro) in the off-season as well.

To recap, National League pennants: Braves, Brewers and Diamondbacks(wildcard Cubs). American League pennants: Orioles, Tigers and Mariners(wildcard: Indians). MVPs: Soriano(NL) and Sheffield(AL). Cy Young: Ben Sheets(NL) and Felix Hernandez(AL). World Series: Tigers over Cubs. Again, feel free to call me crazy.

Who's That Handsome Baby Boy?

Who's That Handsome Baby Boy?
Originally uploaded by oldforest.

It's snowing outside, Lily's home from preschool sick, all three kids are napping -- AT THE SAME TIME -- for only the third time in their lives...instead of posting photos(including this one of Asa), I should probably be napping as well.