Baseball Predictions '08

I know that technically, I’m a little late in making my baseball predictions...evidently the season started this past Tuesday in Japan. Can the season really start, if no one in the States was awake to watch?

Anyway, both Nats and O’s fans have something to cheer about. The Nats have a brand new park to show-off and the O’s are FINALLY rebuilding. Hopefully, the Nats will improve on last season and play respectable .500 ball in their new digs. The O’s on the other hand are hoping not to be historically bad.

As for the bigger picture, I’m picking the Tigers(as I did last year) to beat the Braves in the World Series. On paper, who’s going to beat Detroit. In Miguel Cabrera, they added a MVP caliber player to an already scary lineup. In Dontrelle Willis, they added a potential ace(if he returns to form) almost as an afterthought. The Braves, with the return of Tom Glavine(along with Smoltz and Hudson), again have a 1-2-3 punch at the top of their rotation. While Mark Teixiera will put up MVP numbers as he gets more comfortable in the National League.

My division and wild-card picks are a little different from last year. In the AL, I have the Yankees, Tigers and Mariners winning pennants and the Indians earning the wild-card. In the NL, I have the Braves, Brewers and Dodgers winning pennants and the Phillies earning a wild-card. I know, I’m in the minority, in thinking that the hated-Yankees can take the division from the Red Sox nation, but that’s just it, I can’t believe that Boston can be so arrogant after tasting a little success -- watch out for karmic pay back. Also, I’m still not convinced that Terry Francona is as good of a manager as recent results might indicate. While the Yankees, didn’t treat Joe Torre with the respect he deserved, Joe Giraldi is a very good replacement(he would still be the Marlins’ manager if he could have gotten along the the owner). In the Central, The Indians were no fluke, they just didn’t do enough to keep up with the Tigers. Last year, I liked the Mariners and Felix Hernandez for the Cy Young in the West, and I still do. While the Mariners may one day regret the loss of Adam Jones, they did add an ace to their rotation in Erk Bedard with their trade with the O’s. Bedard and Hernandez is a pretty nice 1-2 at the top of the rotation.

While I expect the Braves to return to the top of the NL East, I still assume that the Phillies with Howard and Rollins in the heart of their lineup should not be dismissed as a contender. As it did last year, the Brewers fortunes hinge on the health of their ace Ben Sheets. If he stays healthy, he’ll be in the running for the Cy Young(along with Peavy and Webb). In the West, I remain suspect that the Rockies are for real. I expect Joe Torre to mold the Dodgers into the division winners that on paper they should have been last year.

To recap: NL Pennants to the Braves, Brewers and Dodgers (wild-card to the Phillies), AL Pennants to the Yankees, Tigers and Mariners (wild-card to the Indians), MVPs for Miguel Cabrera(AL) and Mark Teixiera(NL), and Cy Young awards for Felix Hernandez(AL) and Ben Sheets(NL).

Let the season REALLY begin...

At Congress Hall, 3/23/08

At Congress Hall, 3/23/08
Originally uploaded by oldforest

We got back from our annual Easter weekend trip to Cape May last night. While it was a little cold, it was much nicer than last year(no snow!). The kids are pictured here, right after the Easter egg hunt -- the girls are wearing their Sunday's best. This photo was taken by the Exit Zero(a free weekly) photographer who was there for the Easter egg hunt. It was e-mailed to me this morning.