Ok, Ok, I guess I like to cheat. I wanted to get a one week window into the season, before I laid out my picks for who’s gonna do what this year. I don’t think my “cheating” is too bad. Ten games into the MLB season, would be like trying to prognosticate the NFL year halfway through the fourth quarter of the first game. Anyway, here are my humble guesses for how the 2010 season will turn out.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
(Playoff teams in Caps)
East
1. NEW YORK
2. Boston
3. Tampa Bay
4. Toronto
5. Baltimore
Central
1. CHICAGO
2. Minnesota
3. Detroit
4. Cleveland
5. Kansas City
West
1. LA ANGELS
2. SEATTLE
3. Texas
4. Oakland
I was going to pick Baltimore 4th before the season started; but I am swayed just as much by how well some of the Jays are playing, as I am by how poorly the Orioles have hit and pitched. My only real surprise in the AL is that although I don’t think they terrible, I don’t think this Red Sox team is as good as past years.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East
1. PHILADELPHIA
2. FLORIDA
3. Atlanta
4. Washington
5. New York
Central
1. ST. LOUIS
2. Chicago
3. Cincinnati
4. Milwaukee
5. Pittsburgh
6. Houston
West
1. SAN FRANCISCO
2. LA Dodgers
3. Colorado
4. Arizona
5. San Diego
I have thought for awhile that this could be the best Nationals team since the move here for the 2005 season. I like their mix of speed and power, and I like their pitching staffs upgrades even before the phenom Strasburg arrives. I had to contain myself from even putting them above Atlanta.
PLAYOFFS
Yankees over Seattle
Angels over White Sox
Marlins over Cardinals
Phillies over Giants
ALCS
Angels over Yankees in 7
NLCS
Phillies over Marlins in 6
2010 World Series
I think the Phillies with their playoff tested rotation (plus Roy Halladay) will bring Philly a second world title in the past three years.
Phillies in 6 over the Angels
AWARDS
AL MVP Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
AL Cy Young Felix Hernandez, Seattle
AL Rookie Brian Matusz, Baltimore
AL Manager Don Wakamatsu, Oakland
NL MVP Hanley Ramirez, Florida
NL Cy Young Roy Halladay, Philadelphia
NL Rookie Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati
NL Manager Fredi Gonzalez, Florida
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