Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Case's Fearless 2012 MLB Predictions
Well, baseball fans, I'd best be doing this now, or I'll never get to it. Spring baseball is here, as high schools and colleges have their pitches, runs, and hits going full force. And Major League Baseball players are finishing up their warmup routines in Arizona and Florida. We've got baseball at hand right now, and major league prognosticators are making their round of predictions for the outcome of this upcoming season. Posters on our own City-Data site will be offering their takes on the forums.
My take will happen right here.
So, here now is a division-by-division look at predictions for finishes to this new season. A second Wild Card entry will be added in each league this season, so the * you see will indicate which teams will get the Wild Card.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
1. Tampa Bay Rays (98-64)
2. New York Yankees (95-67)*
3. Boston Red Sox (88-74)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81)
5. Baltimore Orioles (58-104)
The Rays will get it going on, as their pitching will take them very far, and they've got the lineup solid with Evan Longoria swinging a big bat. New York will be solid, too, but will Andy Pettitte (who rejoined them recently) have any of his old magic on a pitching staff with a few question marks? The Red Sox have a new manager in Bobby Valentine and are looking to rebound from last year's heartbreak season. Don't overlook Toronto, though, as they are loaded with bats in a lineup that got real good last season. And in Baltimore, they've got good, young players but seem stuck in an abyss. They need a leadoff hitter. Look for catcher Matt Wieters to really blossom at catcher, coming off a Gold Glove award.
CENTRAL
1. Detroit Tigers (84-78)
2. Kansas City Royals (82-80)
3. Minnesota Twins (76-86)
4. Cleveland Indians (74-88)
5. Chicago White Sox (65-97)
Detroit appears poised for another run in a quest to repeat last year's success in a very weak division. Manager Jim Leyland has a top-flight batting order and a bona fide, elite ace starting pitcher in Justin Verlander. The surprise of the year will be found in Kansas City, where the Royals' young talent will finally emerge after breakthrough seasons from Eric Hosmer (first base) and Mike Moustakas (third base). Look out for that starting rotation, too. The Twins are trying to rebound from finishing last in '11 after they finished first in '10. In Cleveland, they held on to Grady Sizemore as their leadoff hitter, but they wonder if Ubaldo Jimenez has the stuff they need on the mound to get it done this year. And it's a mess in Chicago now, as the White Sox could face a major rebuilding task under new manager Robin Ventura.
WEST
1. Los Angeles Angels (90-72)
2. Texas Rangers (89-73)*
3. Oakland A's (75-87)
4. Seattle Mariners (64-98)
The Angels were definitely the buzz of the offseason with their prized, new acquisitions, C J Wilson and Albert Pujols. Texas will have to go some to get to their third straight World Series, and they have good balance in their lineup and pitching staff. Things in Oakland are pretty bleak right now, with a team loaded with journeymen and bad defense. In Seattle, the Mariners have just as bad a situation, with no pitching to surround Felix Hernandez with. Pencil in a long season there.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
1. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
2. Atlanta Braves (94-68)*
3. Miami Marlins (83-79)
4. Washington Nationals (81-81)
5. New York Mets (61-101)
Philly still has the tools to win this division and possibly more, with the league's best rotation (aces Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee look to keep them in good stead). The Braves will be riding the Phillies' coattails, as they, too, have a wealth of starting pitching. Look out, though, for the newly-rebranded Miami Marlins in a new ballpark and with a new outlook, and they appear headed in the right direction. If there were a surprise team in the NL this year, it'd likely be Washington, where Michael Morse will be hard-pressed to repeat last year's 31-homer success. The New York Mets, on the other hand, will be hard-pressed just to win games this year. Rebuilding is in their offing.
CENTRAL
1. St Louis Cardinals (95-67)
2. Cincinnati Reds (88-74)*
3. Milwaukee Brewers (85-77)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (79-83)
5. Chicago Cubs (72-90)
6. Houston Astros (64-98)
The Cardinals are simply the class of the NL. They stand a really good chance of repeating, but will need to do so without retired long-time manager Tony LaRussa. Mike Matheny has taken that role over. In Cincinnati, there could be lots of noise this year, and none more than the offense of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. The Brewers have Ryan Braun locked up through 2021, and we'll see if he cashes in on that extension. Pittsburgh fans might be a little encouraged with a lineup that is promising, but must rebound from an atrocious team batting average. On the north side of Chicago, the Cubs are trying to avoid their 105th consecutive year without a championship, and something tells me that that record will continue, despite new team president Theo Epstein and new GM Jed Hoyer. The Astros are in the middle of rebuilding their team (I'll share more in a future blog) and are coming out of their spring significantly better than at this time last year. We'll see if that holds up, but they'll continue to take some lumps in their final National League season as they welcome new GM Jeff Luhnow and new owner Jim Crane.
WEST
1. Arizona Diamondbacks (91-71)
2. San Francisco Giants (83-79)
3. Colorado Rockies (80-82)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-89)
5. San Diego Padres (68-94)
The D-Backs rose to the occasion last year and will do so again, thanks to a strong rotation and managing magic done by Kirk Gibson. San Francisco figures to be in the thick of things, but there are too many offensive question marks. Tim Lincecum will continue as the ace of a fine Giants pitching staff. Colorado extended Troy Tulowitzki's contract, but will they tear up manager Jim Tracy's? The Dodgers have Matt Kemp returning to a strong lineup, and their pitching staff will likely lead the NL in strikeouts. And in America's finest city, the Padres are stuck with rebuilding.
ALL-STAR GAME: National
ALCS: Tampa Bay/Los Angeles
NLCS: Philadelphia/St Louis
AL PENNANT: Los Angeles Angels
NL PENNANT: St Louis Cardinals
WORLD SERIES CHAMPION: St Louis Cardinals
And there you are.
My take will happen right here.
So, here now is a division-by-division look at predictions for finishes to this new season. A second Wild Card entry will be added in each league this season, so the * you see will indicate which teams will get the Wild Card.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST
1. Tampa Bay Rays (98-64)
2. New York Yankees (95-67)*
3. Boston Red Sox (88-74)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (81-81)
5. Baltimore Orioles (58-104)
The Rays will get it going on, as their pitching will take them very far, and they've got the lineup solid with Evan Longoria swinging a big bat. New York will be solid, too, but will Andy Pettitte (who rejoined them recently) have any of his old magic on a pitching staff with a few question marks? The Red Sox have a new manager in Bobby Valentine and are looking to rebound from last year's heartbreak season. Don't overlook Toronto, though, as they are loaded with bats in a lineup that got real good last season. And in Baltimore, they've got good, young players but seem stuck in an abyss. They need a leadoff hitter. Look for catcher Matt Wieters to really blossom at catcher, coming off a Gold Glove award.
CENTRAL
1. Detroit Tigers (84-78)
2. Kansas City Royals (82-80)
3. Minnesota Twins (76-86)
4. Cleveland Indians (74-88)
5. Chicago White Sox (65-97)
Detroit appears poised for another run in a quest to repeat last year's success in a very weak division. Manager Jim Leyland has a top-flight batting order and a bona fide, elite ace starting pitcher in Justin Verlander. The surprise of the year will be found in Kansas City, where the Royals' young talent will finally emerge after breakthrough seasons from Eric Hosmer (first base) and Mike Moustakas (third base). Look out for that starting rotation, too. The Twins are trying to rebound from finishing last in '11 after they finished first in '10. In Cleveland, they held on to Grady Sizemore as their leadoff hitter, but they wonder if Ubaldo Jimenez has the stuff they need on the mound to get it done this year. And it's a mess in Chicago now, as the White Sox could face a major rebuilding task under new manager Robin Ventura.
WEST
1. Los Angeles Angels (90-72)
2. Texas Rangers (89-73)*
3. Oakland A's (75-87)
4. Seattle Mariners (64-98)
The Angels were definitely the buzz of the offseason with their prized, new acquisitions, C J Wilson and Albert Pujols. Texas will have to go some to get to their third straight World Series, and they have good balance in their lineup and pitching staff. Things in Oakland are pretty bleak right now, with a team loaded with journeymen and bad defense. In Seattle, the Mariners have just as bad a situation, with no pitching to surround Felix Hernandez with. Pencil in a long season there.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST
1. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
2. Atlanta Braves (94-68)*
3. Miami Marlins (83-79)
4. Washington Nationals (81-81)
5. New York Mets (61-101)
Philly still has the tools to win this division and possibly more, with the league's best rotation (aces Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Cliff Lee look to keep them in good stead). The Braves will be riding the Phillies' coattails, as they, too, have a wealth of starting pitching. Look out, though, for the newly-rebranded Miami Marlins in a new ballpark and with a new outlook, and they appear headed in the right direction. If there were a surprise team in the NL this year, it'd likely be Washington, where Michael Morse will be hard-pressed to repeat last year's 31-homer success. The New York Mets, on the other hand, will be hard-pressed just to win games this year. Rebuilding is in their offing.
CENTRAL
1. St Louis Cardinals (95-67)
2. Cincinnati Reds (88-74)*
3. Milwaukee Brewers (85-77)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (79-83)
5. Chicago Cubs (72-90)
6. Houston Astros (64-98)
The Cardinals are simply the class of the NL. They stand a really good chance of repeating, but will need to do so without retired long-time manager Tony LaRussa. Mike Matheny has taken that role over. In Cincinnati, there could be lots of noise this year, and none more than the offense of Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. The Brewers have Ryan Braun locked up through 2021, and we'll see if he cashes in on that extension. Pittsburgh fans might be a little encouraged with a lineup that is promising, but must rebound from an atrocious team batting average. On the north side of Chicago, the Cubs are trying to avoid their 105th consecutive year without a championship, and something tells me that that record will continue, despite new team president Theo Epstein and new GM Jed Hoyer. The Astros are in the middle of rebuilding their team (I'll share more in a future blog) and are coming out of their spring significantly better than at this time last year. We'll see if that holds up, but they'll continue to take some lumps in their final National League season as they welcome new GM Jeff Luhnow and new owner Jim Crane.
WEST
1. Arizona Diamondbacks (91-71)
2. San Francisco Giants (83-79)
3. Colorado Rockies (80-82)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (73-89)
5. San Diego Padres (68-94)
The D-Backs rose to the occasion last year and will do so again, thanks to a strong rotation and managing magic done by Kirk Gibson. San Francisco figures to be in the thick of things, but there are too many offensive question marks. Tim Lincecum will continue as the ace of a fine Giants pitching staff. Colorado extended Troy Tulowitzki's contract, but will they tear up manager Jim Tracy's? The Dodgers have Matt Kemp returning to a strong lineup, and their pitching staff will likely lead the NL in strikeouts. And in America's finest city, the Padres are stuck with rebuilding.
ALL-STAR GAME: National
ALCS: Tampa Bay/Los Angeles
NLCS: Philadelphia/St Louis
AL PENNANT: Los Angeles Angels
NL PENNANT: St Louis Cardinals
WORLD SERIES CHAMPION: St Louis Cardinals
And there you are.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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I agree with most of your picks, Case, and they're well thought out. I'd have thought the Dodgers might be better than what you're expecting, as that starting rotation does have some talent to compete with the big boys. Your NL Central predictions look to be about right (you've got the Cards in the right place!).
It's never a perfect science, but the only real accurate thing is this: There's always the unexpected.Posted 04-14-2012 at 10:23 AM by malfunction
