Predictions '09: Cincinnati Reds

Boy do these guys have a new look after losing two of their career players. Ken Griffey Jr. heads back to his roots and Adam Dunn’s strikeouts are a mere memory now. This club is one for the future. Centered around youngsters Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, this club has a lot of work to overcome the Cubs and Cards. But for now, a strong pitching staff and a great bullpen, they’ll get quite a few W’s in that win column.

Highlights: Edinson Volquez is their ace after completing an All Star season. He dropped off in the second half but ended with a 17-6 record and a 3.21 era. If he comes any where close to these numbers again, the Reds will be looking fine for years to come.

Question Mark: Alex Gonzalez and Brandon Phillips could be a dynamite duo. That’s if Alex Gonzo can still play. He missed the entire 2008 season because of a fractured knee and hasn’t played regularly since 2005. That’s 4 seasons ago! Management might need to re-think shortstop if Gonzalez doesn’t start rolling out of the gate.

Key to Success: Behind Volquez are two very underrated pitchers in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo. Both are innings eaters with style. Harang was disappointing last season with 17 losses. But we know that he can put up big numbers and strikeout a lot of batters. If they are healthy and committed this year, the Reds staff could be one of the best in the Big Leagues.
Prediction: 5th Place

Predictions '09: Pittsburgh Pirates

I would hate to live in Pittsburgh. Well that’s because I’m a baseball fan and not a football fan. The Pirates haven’t had a winning season in who knows when. Seriously though, they’re the PIRATES! They should be mean, and tough, and win ball games. But these guys rarely win games. No one lives up to their potential. Look at their pitching prospects for a prime example. Okay, enough ranting… maybe.

Highlights: If there was one highlight in the Pirate lineup, it would be the .276, 26 HR, 94 BIs, and 23 SBs that Nate McLouth had last season. Look forward to a slump this season, Pirates fans!
Question Marks: The rest of the lineup (minus Adam LaRoche and Freddy Sanchez). The entire rotation. The Bullpen.

Key to Success: The Pirates need a face-lift. Whether this is revamping the team management or getting a big star in their lineup that can energize the team into winning a few games. Jason Bay’s still on the team right??? Basically, the Pirates are looking for anything above .500. If they can do that, they’ll be a success.

Prediction: 6th Place

Who's On First...

One of the Greatest pieces of comedy every!!!

Enjoy

Predictions '09: New York Yankees

How can you fight against a team that added almost half a billion dollars worth of stardom? The additions of A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia, and M. Teixeira will greatly add to what is already a decent squad. As much as I despise the pinstriped players from the Bronx, it’s still a scary sight from 3,000 miles away. Not only do they have arguably the best player in the past quarter-century (A-Rod, a title needing to be reconsidered, considering his admitted steroid use), but also a matching threat across the diamond. Add a couple gems in-between the two and the Steinbrenner clan seems happy for now. But that’s only if they can make it to the end of the playoffs. Last year was the first time the Yanks were sitting at home for the playoffs in 15 years. They are looking for revenge. I’ve repeated it a thousand times, but they are in a tough division. Each of their division rivals (minus the Orioles, sorry) can beat the Yanks on any given night. What will determine who goes to the playoffs is who is the most consistent in bringing home the wins.

Highlights: The Yankees could have the best infield in the history of the game. A-Rod and Tex man the corners while Jeter and Cano are up the middle. If Cano can return to his 2007 form and Jeter continues to do what he does best, only pitching can hurt the Yanks.

Question Mark: This brings us to pitching. $82.5 mil for a guy that’s been on the disabled list 10 times in his 10-year career… uh… I don’t quite agree with this deal. But, hey, if you’ve got the money, why not right? If Burnett stays healthy, the rotation is strong. If Phil Hughes actually wins a game or two, the rotation is really strong. If Sabathia, Wang, and Joba Chamberlain win 15 games a-piece, like many claim they can; this rotation is dominant. But those are a bunch of ifs. We’ve seen how pitchers have done in New York the past couple seasons. And it ain’t pretty. New York is hoping a few dollars… million dollars… can change that.

Key to Success: The Yanks were already full of pre-Madonnas. Now they add 3 more. Will the clubhouse atmosphere be that of a Championship team? They must play together as a team. Seriously, the only advice I can give them is the old saying of “there is no I in TEAM.” Seriously! This has been their problem for the past seven, eight years. The thing about the Yankees this season is that even if half of their players don’t have career years, they will still contend. If all of their players have decent years, they are almost a sure bet for the playoffs.

Prediction: 1st Place

Baseball Talk Title Sequence

Click to Play

just playing with motion BT Productions (c) 2009

Predictions '09: Boston Red Sox

I’ve come to hate the Boston Red Sox almost as much as I despise their rival New York Yankees. For the past half-decade, they have continually shut down my Angels in the land of the post-season. But it’s hard to say too many bad things about a team with such depth and experience. This season seems like a year in which two-thirds of the clubs are in a rebuilding state, trying out something new. But the BoSox are doing what they’ve done for the past 5 years. They’ve added a couple new arms in Brad Penny and John Smoltz. They lost the Mark Teixeira party, but still have outstanding hitting. They’re bullpen is led by one of the most exciting players of the game (Papelbon). The reigning MVP/ROY (08/09) is still manning second base. But he’s hardly their best player. All-around, the red sox are going to do what they do best; rival the Yankees and now the Rays. But in a division with such talent, it wont be as easy as one, two, three.

Highlights: Jon Lester is the real deal. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Tim Wakefield, Josh Beckett, and

Brad Penny could all be #1 or #2 starters for almost any team in the Majors. This is definitely a strength of the Red Sox that could be like the dominant pitching we saw in the 2005 White Sox. Remember them rolling through the playoffs.
Question Mark: Mike Lowell and David Ortiz. Will Lowell stay healthy and continue to produce the way he did in 2007 (.324/120 RBIs)? Is Big Papi in a decline? After off years by both key players, its up to them to keep this line-up as solid as it is on paper.

Key to Success: Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, and Jacoby Ellsbury have to produce like they did last year. All three players are on the fast-track to stardom, but will they continue to climb? If they can, along with Jason bay and the rest of this line-up, the BoSox Bombers will bat through the American L

eague.

Prediction: 2nd Place

Predictions '09: Tampa Bay Rays

The Cinderella story of 2008 comes back with the same line-up and the same rotation as last year. They added Pat Burrell to DH which adds some protection to Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton. Was last season a fluke? They Rays definitely have the talent. Their rotation is dominant and their bullpen isn’t half bad. But I find it hard to believe that the Rays can put up numbers like last year. What excites me is that Carl Crawford and Upton didn’t have superb seasons. If they perform consistently better than last season, we may be in for more surprises.

Highlights: James Shields, Scott Kazmir, and Matt Garza are all solid. The Rays won 20 games when Andy Sonnanstine was on the mound. Lastly, David Price was the Minor League Player of the Year according to USA Today. This pitching staff is legitimate.

Question Mark: Troy Percival is already hurt and 

won’t be back at the start of the season. Will the bullpen be able to hold the Rays leads.

Key to Success: Joe Maddon just has to keep playing his game. The line-up is packed with young stars. The Rotation seems flawless. If the two can work together and consistently put up numbers, they have a team that can compete with New York and Boston.

Prediction: 3rd Place