Power Pros Forum

I can't agree with that. How can you think the NL WC will come from the NL East? I suppose it's better than predicting the Dodgers getting the WC, but the NL WC will definitely come from the NL Central. Two out of the three leading NL Central teams (Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers) will win the WC.

Postseason Predictions:

AL East: Rays
AL Central: Twins
AL West: Angels
AL Wild Card: Red Sox

NL East: Marlins
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: Brewers


ALDS
Red Sox vs. Angels
Rays vs. Twins

NLDS
Cubs vs. Diamondbacks
Marlins vs. Brewers

ALCS
Rays vs. Red Sox

NLCS
Cubs vs. Marlins

World Series
Cubs vs. Rays

I'm not predicting who will win the WS, it's too early to call that. If it does come down to Rays and Cubs, I say the winner will depend on who wins the All-Star game. Cubs got swept at the Trop, and the Cubs play way better at home. So if the NL wins the All-Star game, Cubs will win the World Series.

I don't think the Cardinals will finish better than the Marlins. But with Sabathia the Brewers could beat the Fish.

Don't look now, Kuroda throws near perfection (someone smack Teixeira) and the Dodgers are tied for 1st in the NL Weenie Division.

D'backs are fading, I wonder if the kids are finally figuring it out (although Tubbo Jones is still slumping major).

Seven all-star selections for the Cubs!

Soto, Fukudome, Soriano, Ramirez, Zambrano, Wood and Dempster.

I think Cubs are gonna have a hard time beating the Boston Red Sox though. (in the all-star game)

I wish the Mets could actually win a game where I don't need to sit right in front of the TV wondering if the bullpen will actually hold it together. Whatever though, we're back above .500, and 2.5 out of 1st! Yeah!

The Cubs got Rich Harden, but traded 4 players including Murton, Gallagher, and Patterson for him. I'm not sure how this is going to work out for them.

My Predictions

AL
East- Rays
Central- White Sox
West- Angels
Wild Card- Red Sox

NL
East- Mets
Central- Cubs
West- D'Backs
Wild Card- Phillies

ALDS
Rays beat Red Sox
Angels beat White Sox

NLDS
D'Backs beat Phils
Mets beat Cubs

ALCS
Rays beat Angels

NLCS
D'Backs beat Mets

WS
Rays beat D'Backs

I only keep track of the AL East, where my Jays are, but I think it will end up being: Boston, Rays (win wild card), NY, Jays, Baltimore.

I just saw how bad we are losing to Baltimore.....put us in last place with our GM getting FIRED!

That was a good trade for both teams. Harden can improve the Cubs suspect rotation.

Yep, the Cubs now have 3 aces in their rotation.

First of all, before I start, I just want to say... What the hell was Francona thinking!? Why isn't Moose in the All-Star Game! What is Paplebon doing when there are so many other better relivers including the Sox own Delcarmen!
Anyway, now that I got that out of my system.. We really have an interesting situation in the AL East and the AL in general. We have Tampa-Bay, a team where all of its young players have improved a litttle bit but they've reallly started to clutch-hit and belive in themselves. With the exception of the bullpen, the club hasn't actually changed much. The real difference is that for once they belive they can win and don't go into every game thinking their going to lose. They had a good team last year but they couldn't put it together. The team they have now is really the type that is better then the sum of its parts. You look at the leader board and there is not a single Ray there besides Crawford in triples. Yet they are in first place. They have a very stable and strong team and I think this is one that can compete for years to come. They really just play good quality baseball and are really a fun team to watch. They have the make-up (though not the same quality) of the 1998 Yanks where everyone was a good player with clutch-hitting but no one really stood out.
The Red Sox, like the Yanks, are not so stable. Their the kind of team that dies and lives by the sword with their offense, and when its not on, they do terrible. Their bullpen is one of the weakest and this might be their down fall that stops them from winning the AL-East. The Yanks are too unpredictable as well and while their bullpen has been as big of a surprise as the Rays, their offense is either by far the best in the game or almost non-existent. In my opinion, the Rays will continue to be stable and win the AL-East. With the Yankees 3 games behind, the real battle will be between the Yanks and the Sox and it should be interesting to see who comes out first. Don't be surprised if the Yanks make another late-season comeback and race ahead of the sox. Remember, at this time last year the Yanks were considered out of it as they trailed the sox by 15+ games. But at the end of the year there were one or two games behind and had claimed the wild-card by a fair amount. While I believe the wild-card will be in the east, the other teams have a strong chance as well. Oakland been playing great and has a good chance at the wild card. The Twin have kicked their game into gear and are playing phenomenally but the question is is if they can stay consistent. Don't count Detroit out either, they've started playing extremly well as of late and could make a big come-back.
Still, I believe it will really come-down to the Yanks and the Sox.

I have to disagree. The Rays are on top because even though they don't have any league leaders, they have a well-built lineup and offense with solid defensive players. They have a good pitching staff and their chemistry is sky high. I can't see the Yankees doing much because their pitching is so bad.

It seems like you agree with me. Perhaps I didn't phrase it well. Everything is a strength for them, but they don't have over the top pitching or offense. Again, they have great clutch hitting and I think that's what does it. They hit when their pitchers pitch badly and vica versa. I'd say noemally your right about the Yank's pitching but it has actually been pretty good so far. The bullpen has only blown 1 of 37 games while leading in the 6th+ inning. Moose has had 11 wins, Pettite 10, Rasner has pitched very well until recently but the offense is terrible when he's pitching, Ponson had a 8-inning shutout, is into the 6th with another against the rays, although his second game was terrible (the Yanks won it anyway 19-7). Wang was doing very well before he got injured and Joba has been brilliant with the exception of one start. He has had shutouts in half of his starts (more or less) and his only bad start was 4 runs in 4 innings. So, the pitching has been good. The fielding has been very good as well and Giambi(power of the Stache!) has become and average if not a little above average fielder. Cano, Cabrera, A-Rod and arguably Damon and Jeter are probably golden-glove contenders. They have all the formula for a dominating team it's just a matter of clutch hitting. They seem to hit beautifully when their starter is struggling but can't get more then 1 or 2 runs when their starter is dominant. If this can change, which it has begun to, they can continue to contend and possibly take the wild-card.
B

OK cownip I thought you were saying that they couldn't keep it up because of that. I agree with you then.

How about that Hamilton! What a display of hitting. I was hoping he would win though after all that.