One of my favorite things to do before the MLB season starts is read what all the so called experts think is going to happen during the season, who is going to make the playoffs and win it ALL. I read everything I can find from ESPN to Yahoo to Fox Sports to Fan Blogs, I mean I will read anything that has MLB predications. Its fun to read what people think will happen. Now a majority of people are wrong but every once in a while someone has to get it right. I make predication every year but its usually just in my head or I share it with the few friends I talk sports with but this year I’m going to take a crack at it. So here I go my predications for the 2013 MLB season are…………..
Let’s start with the AL East because for me it was the hardest one to pick. I’m going to take the easy way out and not pick a division champ but I do think that 3 teams will make the playoffs from the AL East. A division winner and both wildcards. I believe anyone of these teams can win the division and anyone of them will finish at the bottom. But just to make everyone happy I am going to go with:
1) Rays
2) Blue Jays (WILD CARD)
3) Red Sox (WILD CARD)
4) Yankees (half their team is hurt)
5) Orioles
To me the AL Central is a slam dunk for the Tigers. The Royals aren’t as far behind them as most people might think but the Tigers are just head and shoulders above everyone else in the division.
1) Tigers
2) Royals
3) Indians
4) White Sox
5) Twins
The AL West is a tough one for me because the Mariners are one of the favorite teams I don’t want to be a homer and pick them. I do believe they are getting better but just aren’t quite there yet. The Angels are the top of the pack and that really pains me to say that. They have the best offense by far. The only thing that could hold them back is there pitching staff. I like the A’s but I believe last year was more of a fluke.
1) California Angels (Yes, I write California because they DO NOT PLAY NEAR LOS ANGELES) sorry I’m done venting……for now
2) Rangers
3) Mariners
4) A’s
5) Astros
On to the NL East where the Nationals reign continues. The Phillies are much healthier and will be much better. The Braves got both Upton brothers, one by trade and one by paying way to much $ for (my opinion). The Marlins traded most there team and will challenge the Astros for the cellar in all of baseball.
1) Nationals
2) Phillies (WILD CARD)
3) Braves
4) Mets
5) Marlins
The NL Central should be somewhat easy for the Reds but you never know with them. I do believe the Pirates will battle for a wild card spot but will come up short. They will finally finish above .500 though. I think the Cardinals are going to have a down year. There pitching staff isn’t what it has been in the past few years.
1) Reds
2) Pirates
3) Cardinals
4) Brewers
5) Cubs
The NL West is where I am going to be a homer. Dodgers all the way but could be a little more difficult with Hanley Ramirez maybe being out up to 2 months. The returning champs (yuck), The Giants will battle the Dodgers all year coming up short for the division but taking 1 of the 2 wild card spots. The D-Back could be a big surprise in the NL West. They are young and well coached.
1) DODGERS!!!!
2) Giants (WILD CARD)
3) D-Backs
4) Padres
5) Rockies
In the ALCS I have the Tigers playing the “_______” doesn’t really matter because they are going back to the World Series to try to finish what they couldn’t in 2012.
In the NLCS I have the Dodgers playing the Nationals and to everyone’s surprise I am picking the Nationals to beat the Dodgers in 6. Even typing this hurts and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
So I got the Tigers playing the Nationals in the World Series. I believe the Nationals will win in 5 games with Stephen Strasburg winning the WS MVP. He goes 2-0 pitching 16 innings with 19 K’s with only giving up 11 hits and 3 earned runs. This is extremely painful for Mariners fan because they had a lock on the 2009 #1 pick until they decided to sweep the A’s while the Nationals got swept by the Phillies in the last 3 days of the 2008 season.
Well those are my picks so I will check back at the end of year and see how I did. Hopefully I’m somewhat correct but at the very least if I’m way off then we can all have a good laugh at my expense.