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Predicting The 2010 MLB Season
By Josh Handszer
39 days. This represents the amount of days until Spring Training is upon us and the baseball off-season is over. Matt Holliday’s staying put in St. Louis; Jason Bay has packed his bags for New York, and John Lackey’s gone across the country to Boston. The 2009 off-season has made for an interesting one to start off the new decade, with great players changing their addresses and teams improving to compete for the 2010 campaign. Although it is only January and pitchers and catchers are not to report until mid-February, it is time to offer up some predictions for the 2010 season:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
1. New York Yankees**
2. Boston Red Sox*
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays
While I picked the Yankees to repeat and win the division, expect it to be much closer this year than last year, due to the great improvement by the Boston Red Sox. Expect John Lackey, Adrian Beltre, Marco Scutaro and Mike Cameron to help the Red Sox push even with the Yankees this season. While the Red Sox and Yankees draw even in the rotation, the Yankees offense is a force to be reckoned with. Adding the likes of Curtis Granderson and Nick Johnson will help the offense from the 2009 season prove greater this season, and the return of Javier Vazquez to the rotation will result in another Division Title. The Toronto Blue Jays, after trading all-star ace Roy Halladay, move down a place in the division to the improving Baltimore Orioles. Once again, expect the Yankees, to be the AL East champs, though slightly, and the Red Sox to follow them into the post-season with the Wild Card.
CENTRAL
1. Chicago White Sox**
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Kansas City Royals
5. Cleveland Indians
Jake Peavy; the reason the Chicago White Sox will win the AL Central division. The American League Central division is usually a toss up, but a full season of the White Sox’s ace should prove otherwise. Already joining a formidable rotation that includes the likes of Mark Buehrle and John Danks, the White Sox will stomp on the hopes of back-to-back division titles by the Minnesota Twins and 2009 AL MVP, Joe Mauer, dismissing hopes of a division title in the first year of the new Target Field in Minnesota. After trading away two of their star players (Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and Edwin Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks) and losing all-star closer Fernando Rodney via free agency, the Detroit Tigers take a hit and place themselves lower in the division. The usual suspects in the growing Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians roam the bottom of the division.
WEST
1. Seattle Mariners**
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland Athletics
Throughout the past decade, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have held the reigns of the AL West division. Expect the new decade to begin with a new West champion: The Seattle Mariners. This may prove to be one of the most greatly improved teams of the off-season. The Mariners signed Chone Figgins away from the Angels and acquired both former Philadelphia Phillies ace, Cliff Lee, and former all-star Milton Bradley in key trades. Expect the arrival of Lee to be the difference maker, as he joins a very young rotation that includes Cy Young award runner-up, Felix Hernandez. The improved offense should also prove the Mariners’ chances. The Angels, after losing two key players in former ace John Lackey and third baseman Chone Figgins, fall to second place. Expect the Texas Rangers to battle hard with the Angels for second place, and Oakland Athletics to follow behind. The West will be a very competitive division this season.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
1. Philadelphia Phillies**
2. Atlanta Braves
3. New York Mets
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals
Do not expect the Phillies to be anywhere else but first place for a very long time. The Phillies made a major move this off-season that puts them in a class by themselves in the East: Acquiring former Toronto Blue Jays all-star hurler, Roy Halladay. Halladay is without a doubt the best pitcher in baseball right now. Despite having to include ace Cliff Lee and major prospects in a 3-team-trade with the Blue Jays and Mariners, the Phillies are without a doubt the winners of the East, acquiring the best pitcher and adding him to already a rotation that has seen the World Series twice in the past two seasons. The Atlanta Braves, after finishing strong last season, will win second place, however, after adding proven “good-luck charm” Eric Hinske, perhaps the Braves will make a run at the World Series (Hinske was on the World Series teams of the Red Sox in 2007, Rays in 2008, and Yankees in 2009.) Although the Mets added all-star outfielder Jason Bay, do not expect them to place higher than third place. It was only last year that the Mets were picked to win the NL East, but after a dismal 2009 season due to injuries and a questionable new ballpark in Citi Field, they placed fourth. So far this off-season they’ve added one of their needs, a power bat, but have neglected to fix their pitching by adding another serviceable starting pitcher. The surprising Marlins will fall back to Earth next year and place fourth with the dismal Nationals in the cellar of the East.
CENTRAL
1. St. Louis Cardinals**
2. Cincinnati Reds
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Houston Astros
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Pittsburgh Pirates
Be prepared for back-to-back division titles for the Cardinals. This off-season they were able to retain all-star outfielder Matt Holliday, who proved to be the difference maker last season in a division title, and serviceable starter Brad Penny to bolster the rotation. The 3-4 combination of 2009 NL MVP, Albert Pujols and Holliday should strike fear in the hearts of pitchers and the 1-2 combination of co-aces, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, should freeze up hitters. The Reds, coming off a decent season, should remain strong but will battle for second with the Milwaukee Brewers, who added former Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf to go along with two great sluggers in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. The Cubs, Reds, and Pirates will compete for fourth place but my gut tells me that the addition of Brett Myers will help the Astros reach this position.
WEST
1. San Francisco Giants**
2. Los Angeles Dodgers*
3. Colorado Rockies
4. San Diego Padres
5. Arizona Diamondbacks
The NL West; once considered a joke in the National League has shaped up to be a very competitive division after 2009. Pitching is the key to winning the West, and when it comes to pitching one team stands above all others in this division: The San Francisco Giants. With a young, dominant and improving rotation led by back-to-back Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum and all-star Matt Cain, the Giants have the best pitching staff in the West. While offense is somewhat of a concern, adding versatile third baseman Mark DeRosa to join a lineup with Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez should improve the Giants offense enough to help them push past the former division champion, Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers, although under Hall Of Fame manager Joe Torre, lack the power pitching that the Giants have. That does not seem to be the case for their offense. Led by Manny Ramirez and the surging young stars in Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp, the Dodgers have a very good offense that could help them keep up with the Giants. Then there are the resurgent Colorado Rockies, two years removed from the 2007 World Series, who made a truly stunning run at the division in 2009, ultimately winning the wild card. Do not count the Rockies out in the West. The Padres and Diamondbacks, both going through the re-building process will fight it out at the bottom of the division.
POST-SEASON (PLAYOFFS)
ALDS
Yankees over White Sox in 4 games (3-1)
- The White Sox pitching will flounder and the Yankees offense, led by Mark Teixeira, will pounce on it.
ALDS
Mariners over Red Sox in 5 games (3-2)
- Expect a full series. A pitching duel of Hernandez vs. Lackey in game 5 will result in Seattle’s favor.
NLDS
Phillies over Dodgers in 4 games (3-1)
- Dodgers have historically no luck against the Phillies. Expect the Phillies offense to push them to the next round.
NLDS
Giants over Cardinals in 3 games (3-0)
- Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain will shut down the Cardinals offense, resulting in a quick sweep for the Giants.
ALCS
Yankees over Mariners in 6 games (4-2)
- Another long championship series for the defending world champions, expect the pitching to carry both sides and CC Sabathia and Javier Vazquez specifically, to shut down the Mariners.
NLCS
Giants over Phillies in 7 games (4-3)
- One would have expected to see a re-match of the Phillies and Yankees from 2009, but this will not be the case. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain will once again shut down the offense and leave Phillies hitters in the dust. Pitching will also decide the outcome of this match-up.
WORLD SERIES
Wait, the Yankees and the Giants? Are you kidding?
No, that is my prediction. I feel that the team that has the strongest pitching will capitalize and make it to the fall classic. Now the Phillies certainly have good pitching, and two years worth of post season and World Series experience. But after Roy Halladay in the rotation, since Cliff Lee was traded (and was dominant last season) who pitches Game 2? Cole Hamels? He had a terrible season last year as well as a terrible post season, but maybe he if he can rebound, the Phillies might just quite make it. But what else do the Phillies have in that rotation that you fear can shut down a team? Joe Blanton? Nope. Jamie Moyer? J.A. Happ? Not quite. Only if these pitchers can suddenly pitch with shut down stuff can you count on the Phillies. There can even be questions about Halladay, as he has never once in his professional career pitched a single game in the postseason having to deal with the immense pressure of a playoff game. One never knows how a pitcher will react. The Phillies have a dominant offense, probably the best in the National League, but after Halladay what do you have if you are the Phillies? There are too many ifs in the rotation; however, if Cole Hamels can repeat his success from 2008, then I can see the Phillies going back to the World Series. The same can be said for Lincecum and Cain and mainly the whole Giants team. Neither of the two pitchers have any postseason experience. However, they are two of the best pitchers in the NL and have shutdown stuff. If you want to win a postseason series, your team must have at least two starters who are shutdown pitchers, in other words they have to be HOT at the time (example: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling (2001), Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine (1995), Brad Penny and Josh Beckett (2003).) It is tough to not pick the Phillies, but this is a prediction. You never quite know how the pressure can affect a pitcher. You truly cannot predict baseball exactly. That is why the name of the game is PITCHING.
Yankees over Giants in 7 games (4-3)
- After dominating offense in the two rounds prior, Lincecum and Cain will continue their dominance in the World Series. The Yankees pitching will in turn shut down the young Giants hitters. This will be a low-scoring World Series that will head in favor of the Yankees making them back-to-back World Champions.
ACCOLADES
American League MVP-
Mark Teixeira, 1B,
New York Yankees
National League MVP-
Ryan Braun, OF,
Milwaukee Brewers
American League Cy Young-
Justin Verlander, SP,
Detroit Tigers
National League Cy Young-
Tim Lincecum, SP,
San Francisco Giants
American League Rookie of the Year-
Neftali Feliz, SP,
Texas Rangers
National League Rookie of the Year-
Jason Heyward, OF,
Atlanta Braves
While in the end this may not all prove to be true, it is certainly fun to speculate the outcomes of a sports season. Hang onto your seatbelts because 2010 is going to be one crazy season of ups and downs to start the decade. 39 days. That’s the amount of days until Spring Training is upon us and the baseball off-season is over.
(**- Division Champion, * - Wild Card)
So obviously there are some changes.
AL EAST REAL STANDINGS
- Yankees
- Rays
- Red Sox
- Blue Jays
- Orioles
- Twins
- White Sox
- Tigers
- Royals
- Indians
- Rangers
- Angels
- Athletics
- Mariners
- Braves
- Phillies
- Mets
- Marlins
- Nationals
- Reds
- Cardinals
- Brewers
- Astros
- Cubs
- Pirates
- Padres
- Giants
- Rockies
- Dodgers
- Diamondbacks
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