lets get to something better, such as the 2010 baseball season (these predictions are based on the facts that key players from teams, or the players predicted to win MVP/Cy Young don't get injured)
Predictions:
NL MVP-
1. Albert Pujols (duh, unless some sort of injury occurs)
2. Pablo Sandoval-if he keeps improving, we're looking at a guy who hits 35 and 110, along with a .330 average, maybe win a batting title
3. Prince Fielder (he mite lead the league in rbis and waist size, but bottom line, he won't win bcuz he hits behind another superstar)
AL MVP-this is a tough one
1. Joe Mauer (yes, again, because he can potentially hit .350 and hit 40 hrs and drive in a 100+ runs if he is healthy)
2. Alex Rodriguez-he will have better stats than Mauer in every single position except BA, but he won't win it because he bats behind the projected 3rd place finisher.
3. Mark Texeira- he should win, but won't bcuz ppl will say he bats in a hell of a good lineup (in front of a-rod, behind Damon and Jeter.
NL CY YOUNG
1. Pot smokin' Tim Lincecum-it doesn't matter how much money he gets when he files for arbitration, he is just unstoppable:
Record- 18-4, 2.59 ERA, 250 K's
2. Adam Wainwright-close, but no cigar
Record: 21-3, 2.70 ERA, not enough K's to match up to Lincecum
3. Jair Jurrjens-yes, this is not a misprint, JAIR JURRJENS
after seeing this guy in 2009, he has shown the stuff to be a CY-YOUNG Candidate
Honorable Mentions: Matt Cain SF, Yovani Gallardo MIL, Chris Carpenter STL
AL CY YOUNG:
1. Roy Halladay-if he does not leave the AL, he is the clear candidate
first, if he stays with Toronto, then he will have 19 wins, with stellar stuff, if he goes to another team, most likely boston or new york, then he has a shot at 25 wins
The bottom line is-Halladay has something to prove, as he is a free agent in 2011, and this is his year to prove it.
Projected Record: With Toronto: 20-11, 2.79 ERA, and 240 K's
Boston or New York: 26-7, 2.59 ERA, 240 K's
2. Zack Greinke- He will fall just short of trying to defend his Cy Young award. However, the efffort will be valiant. He just won't have too many wins, and ppl like Halladay will have similar numbers with more wins.
Projected Record: 15-6, 2.50 ERA, 252 K's
3. Feliz Hernandez- This guy will get the most second place votes, but no first place votes, and some third place votes, leaving him at number. A young talented pitcher, Hernandez will have a career year.
Projected Record: 18-7, 2.86 ERA, 202 K's
Division Winners:
NL-
East: Phillies
Central: Cardinals
West: Dodgers
Wild Card: San Francisco
1st round playoffs:
SF vs. Philly- SF in 5 (lincecum and cain will be too strong for lee and hamels, and sandoval will break out along with utley, but howard will slump; bottom line, SF will get a bat this off-season and take it to Philly)
Cards vs. Dodgers- Cards in 4 (unless something idiotic happens like last year, carpenter, wainwright, and pineiro will be too hot too handle for the dodgers; franklin will be a lot better, and holliday will not be an idiot)
SF vs St Louis:
Cain and Lincecum are the best one-two punch in the game. However, Wainwright and Carpenter will not forget that Lincecum took away the Cy Young from them last year, and will take it to an inexperienced Giants offense. Oh, and it helps to have Pujols on your team if you want to win a pennant.
St. Louis in 6
AL Projected Playoff Picture:
Division winners:
West-Anaheim (please, no need for explanation)
Central-Twins (will be tight, but mauer and morneau will be too good down the stretch)
East-Yankees
Wild Card: Boston (assuming Bay resigns, if not, then Detroit or even Tampa Bay)
1st round:
Anaheim vs. Boston (where have we seen this before)
Even if Sox don't get Halladay, they will seek revenge for last year. Beckett and Lester, with the possibilty of either of those two not being the acem is too much for any team.
BoSox in 4
NYY vs. Minnesota
the defending champs, with the acquisition of cliff lee, roy halladay, and the best player at every position possible, will buy another world series. Ok, not really. But still, they are indomitable at this point, and NYY should sweep.
NYY in 3
ALCS:
NYY vs. Red Sox (Where have we seen this before)
If the Sox get Halladay, they will dethrone the Evil Empire. However, if not, the Evil Empire will reign. The fate of the ALCs depends on one man.
WORLD SERIES:
St. Louis vs. NYY/Boston
If the Sox get Halladay, they win. If not, then NYY will win.
Sox with Halladay: Sox in 7
NYY with Halladay: Duh.
NYY without Halladay: NYY in 7
Sox without Halladay: they will not even be here:
Well, the baseball season doesn't start in a long time, but it is always nice to break down the divisions.
GO SOX!!!
