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2010 MLB Predictions

OK, so everyone can throw darts at a board and come up with a winner in April. Every year for about the last 15 years, I have used a system, where I predict the final standings, the playoff and World Series winners and the Cy Young and MVP winners. In all the years I've used this system, only one season did I have less than six of the playoff teams correct. I've predicted the World Series winner a handful of times (although the last time I was correct was when the Sox won in 2004). I have picked at least one of the Cy Young award winners numerous times and the MVP has actually been on the money more than any other category (thanks to guys like Bonds and Pujols). This being said, I'm sure now that I'm making my picks public, the correct picks will be embarrassingly low.

Just to give you a little insight into my thought process. I rate every player at every position based on hitting alone. Fielding is very overrated at most positions. Pitching is much more important in the National League, because there is no DH. I also don't put much value on RP, because despite what most people might think, the difference between the best and worst closers isn't even close to the difference between the first and fifth best SS. Sorry Mariano fans. I also feel that over the course of the season, good hitting beats good pitching. This of course, changes in the playoffs. Especially when more moves are made depending on match-ups in the late innings.

So here it goes.

AL East: Yankees*, Boston (w), Toronto, Tampa Bay, Baltimore
AL Central: Minnesota*, Detroit, Kansas City, Cleveland, Chicago
AL West: Seattle*, Los Angeles, Oakland, Texas
Boston and LA will battle for the wild card down to the last week, but Boston's pitching will come up big. The Yankees will be the only team in baseball to win more than 100 games (again!). Detroit has built a team that doesn't fit their park and will learn this by June. The biggest surprise, might be the fall of Tampa Bay, whose young pitching falters down the stretch. Trade rumors all season will also play a part and don't be surprised to see Carl Crawford on the Yankees before the end of the season.

NL East: Philadelphia*, Florida, Atlanta, NY Mets, Washington
NL Central: St. Louis*, Milwaukee, Chicago, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Houston
NL West: Los Angeles*, San Francisco (w), Colorado, San Diego, Arizona
The return of Barry Zito catapults SF into the playoffs. Los Angeles has too many offensive weapons not to be good this season. As long as Matt Kemp dating Rihanna doesn't affect his swing. St. Louis wins the notorious worst division in baseball. Philly wins this division running away and home field advantage through the playoffs, which will prove big in mid-October.

AL Playoffs: The Yankees can't play Boston, so they will play Minnesota.
Yankees, who have had their problems with Minnesota in the past, breeze by them 3-0
Seattle and Boston have some serious pitchers duels, but Seattle 1-2 punch prevails 3-2
Yanks benefit from King Felix pitching twice against Boston and win the series 4-2

NL Playoffs:
Philadelphia/SF features the dream match-up of Lincecum/Halladay - twice. Philly survives 3-2
Torre's Dodgers pitch around Pujols (the way every other team should) and win the series 3-1
Philly's pitching is too much for the cold bats of LA in chilly Philly. Philly wins 4-2.

World Series: I hate to say it, but the Yankees win this one with brute force. Halladay pitches second game on three days rest and the Yankees win 4-1.

Awards:
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez - no pressure on A-Rod turns into monster year
AL Cy Young: CC Sabathia - very close between CC and King Felix
NL MVP: Albert Pujols - as long as he's healthy, I'm picking him. Look out for Ryan Braun.
NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum - he's Pedro, Gooden, Clemens. Pitchers you don't wanna miss.

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