Now’s the time when we put all of our 2010 baseball predictions in one place. Then in October we can look back at this and laugh. Oh, and we will laugh. Big, bellowing, seat of your pants laughs. Hindsight is indeed 20/20. But where’s the harm in setting ourselves to look like jackasses? We run a fantasy baseball blog, after all. Grey’s picks in RED. Rudy’s picks in BLUE. Anyway, here’s our predictions for baseball’s post-season awards and whatnot:
AL Pennant Winner – Minnesota Twins – The Yankees would’ve been the easy choice here, but I’m a small market kind of guy. Some would call me a hero. Who? I’m not sure. Nevertheless! I think Slowey and Baker have huge years, the bullpen is deep enough to take the Nathan blow and they have enough bats to beat the sorry AL Central pitching staffs.
AL Pennant Winner – New York Yankees – Unless I’m getting some type of odds on this thing, I’m taking the Yanks. They were fortunate last year with the injury bug given their age but their team is perfectly built for that stadium and got Curtis Granderson and Javier Vazquez without giving up anyone with short-term value.
NL Pennant Winner – Los Angeles Dodgers – May be the only time a team with the Opening Day starter, Vicente Padilla, is chosen to win the pennant. Contrary to their choice for Opening Day, they have a solid staff for a playoff series and enough offense to beat any NL team on any given day.
NL Pennant Winner – Colorado Rockies – I can’t go and pick a repeat of last year’s World Series so I’m going to assume the Phillies’ 2nd half of the rotation and bullpen collapses. I think the Cardinals are the only team in the NL Central that can win it and just feel that Wainwright/Carpenter won’t pitch more than 300 IP total. The Dodgers’ have absolutely no SP depth behind Kershaw/Billingsley. So I’m going with the Rockies. Great depth, players with youth/upside, and no major weaknesses.
World Series Champion – Dodgers – Still never been to a World Series game and would like to go. Thank you!
World Series Champion – Rockies – The Yankees can’t beat expansion teams in the World Series.
AL ROY – Scott Sizemore – Who’s going to steal at-bats from him? Ramon Santiago? The Ram-Santi? C’mon, the Ram-Santi sounds like a shawarma place.
AL ROY – Brian Matusz – The two Detroit rookies (Sizemore, Austin Jackson) both have potential but will be weak on AVG. Any support might cancel each other out with Matusz winning the award with a 12-10/4.00 ERA/150+ K type season.
NL ROY – Stephen Strasburg – Lots of times the ROY doesn’t start the year with the club, I think this will be another time.
NL ROY – – Jason Heyward – A .280 / 20 HR season should do it.
AL Cy Young – Felix Hernandez – He’s going to win at least one of these awards one of these years, why not this year? Rhetorical! (For what it’s Wuertz, I almost picked Slowey. I’m crazy… like Jake Fox!)
AL Cy Young – Felix Hernandez – There’s a lot of competition with Greinke, Verlander, Sabathia, Lee, and Lester but I’ll go with F-Her too.
NL Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw – His team can get him Wins, he can get Ks and his home park doesn’t hurt. Plus, he pitches against the Padres and Giants every third game.
NL Cy Young – Roy Halladay – He’s going to enjoy his first year in the NL.
AL MVP – Evan Longoria – If Longoria can buoy his average and the Rays can sneak into the Wild Card, I like Longoria’s MVP chances.
AL MVP – Joe Mauer – Any catcher who can hit .330+ and 20+ HRs gets my vote.
NL MVP – Chase Utley – Pujols is too obvious for me.
NL MVP – Albert Pujols – Pujols is too obvious.
Now put your picks in the comments and we’ll look back on this in October and mock each other.
