MLB Season Predictions

The beginning of the marathon that is the Major League Baseball season began today similar to the same way it did last year in that Jason Heyward hit a home run on his first at bat of the season. I was luckily back to my apartment a little early from fieldwork and caught the last eight innings of the Braves first game. No worries, I caught the first six outs on the radio on the way back to the apartment. In honor of the new season here are my picks to win each division.

AL East- The Boston Red Sox have too much speed, power, and pitching for any other team in this division to catch them. Adding OF Carl Crawford and 1B Adrian Gonzalez were enormous pickups. Gonzalez will thrive in a smaller park than what he has been playing in, Petco Park in San Diego. There is not a weak spot in the lineup, big bat after big bat. The New York Yankees can challenge if they can get the game to the 7th inning because of their strong bullpen. Their biggest problem is with their starting pitching. Boston Red Sox

AL Central- The race is wide open for the Central. An argument can be made for three teams, Twins, White Sox, or the Tigers, to win from what is the deepest division in the American League. I am going with the Detroit Tigers have the most win at the end of the season. They have a great starting pitching rotation and a solid defensive lineup. The Twins will threaten if 1B Justin Morneau is symptom free from his season ending concussion last season. The White Sox have plenty of power, but they have consistently underperformed and have to prove themselves first.  Detroit Tigers

AL West- The sexy "surprise" pick is the Oakland A's from the West, but I am having a hard time going against reining AL MVP Josh Hamilton and his Texas Rangers. They lost their ace with Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies and unless C.J. Wilson can step up their weakness in their starting rotation will be apparent. On the other side of the ball it is completely possible for the Rangers to score 10 runs a game with their strong offense. They know how to win and will continue to, but expect strong performances from Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels. Texas Rangers

NL East- My winner from the East may come as a surprise for some but those who really know me know there is no question where I am going with this pick. The Atlanta Braves will win the NL East. I know the Phillies have one of the best starting pitching rotations of all time but after that, what else is there? The oldest lineup in the majors. A weak bullpen. A potential MVP out until at least the All-Star Break. I said the Braves would win before the Phillies lost 2B Chase Utley to patellar tendonitis. The Braves have deep pitching and no weak link in their lineup, as they have in the past, and have added 2B Dan Uggla. I could keep going, but this is a preview for all if the majors. Atlanta Braves (duh)

NL Central- The St. Louis Cardinals have lost their number one starter. The Milwaukee Brewers have added Zach Grienke to become a better team. The Cincinati  Reds have the same team that won the division last year. All that said, I am taking experience and a city that will support their Cards. St. Louis may not run away with the title as they have in the past but they still have the best player in baseball, a winning manager, and a front office that will acquire necessary players to be winners. St. Louis Cardinals

NL West- A weak division that may be the most evenly matched from top to bottom. The San Francisco Giants won the World Series, but I am not sure they will even win their own division this season. The Dodgers have too much trouble in the front office, with the divorce of the owners, and the problems that will come with a rookie manager to win consistently. I am picking the Colorado Rockies. Look out for OF Carlos Gonzalez. He will become a star this season and they have a proven ace in Ubaldo Iminez who dominated last year in a batter’s park. the Rockies have finished strong the past few seasons and will continue that trend. Colorado Rockies