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 MLB Predictions For 2014
You know what time it is again, sports fans. You see it in the air, and you can even smell it. Baseball is back, and it's time to get my predictions squared away for you. We're about to find out who goes to the World Series, who wins it, and also who will stay home and eat chocolate cake.
So, here it is now, your 2014 rundown of the predicted order of finishes in Major League Baseball. All the teams and everything that goes with them, so let's go.
MLB 2014 PREDICTIONS
* - Wild Card Entry
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST: Boston (99-63), Tampa Bay* (97-65), Baltimore (86-76), New York (82-80), Toronto (65-97)
The Red Sox will still finish on top in a very tough division, with an extraordinarily stingy offense. New York was supposed to be improved in the offseason, but the Yankees will still have a difficult time with expected strong showing by the Rays and Orioles. Look for the Rays and Red Sox to go to the wire in September.
CENTRAL: Detroit (94-68), Kansas City* (90-72), Cleveland (81-81), Chicago (70-92), Minnesota (59-103)
Detroit's Tigers are still the team to beat until someone else unseats them, even with a new manager. But did you see who I've picked for second? Yes, the Royals, with a good, young lineup and good starting pitching. They'll even nab a Wild Card berth in the last week. The Twins will finish with baseball's worst record.
WEST: Oakland (91-71), Seattle (88-74), Texas (80-82), Los Angeles (73-89), Houston (70-92)
You would expect Oakland to do just enough to win, and that will be the case again. I expect Seattle to emerge as a surprise team this year, with a bevy of offense and pitching talent to get them in the hunt. The Rangers will take a step back after another early playoff elimination. L.A. will disappoint again, while the Astros will see some improvement as they emphasize a winning attitude during their rebuild. Houston's 100-loss season streak should end, but more work needs to be done.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST: Atlanta (98-64), Washington* (95-67), Philadelphia (79-83), Miami (69-93), New York (66-96)
The Braves will be the team to beat again, with arguably the league's best lineup and starting pitching. Watch out for the Nationals, however, as Washington will be showing improvement and will seriously contend up to the end of September. As for the rest of the division, well, forget about it.
CENTRAL: St Louis (100-62), Pittsburgh (87-75), Cincinnati (84-78), Milwaukee (70-92), Chicago (61-101)
St Louis just keeps on plugging away, with the league's deepest farm system and the division's best pitching staff. Pittsburgh's Pirates finally broke through last year and should make some noise late before the Cards run away with the Central. The Cubs will bring up the rear in the NL.
WEST: Los Angeles (95-67), Arizona* (94-68), San Francisco (82-80), Colorado (79-83), San Diego (73-89)
Look for the Dodgers and Diamondbacks to duke it out in September, with L.A. getting the spoils. San Francisco should show some flashes after some key offseason additions, but will still be an also-ran just two years removed from their last World Series.
All-Star Game Champ: American League
AL Pennant: Oakland (in a shocker)
NL Pennant: St Louis
World Champion: Oakland (in 7 games)
And there you are. Play ball!
So, here it is now, your 2014 rundown of the predicted order of finishes in Major League Baseball. All the teams and everything that goes with them, so let's go.
MLB 2014 PREDICTIONS
* - Wild Card Entry
AMERICAN LEAGUE
EAST: Boston (99-63), Tampa Bay* (97-65), Baltimore (86-76), New York (82-80), Toronto (65-97)
The Red Sox will still finish on top in a very tough division, with an extraordinarily stingy offense. New York was supposed to be improved in the offseason, but the Yankees will still have a difficult time with expected strong showing by the Rays and Orioles. Look for the Rays and Red Sox to go to the wire in September.
CENTRAL: Detroit (94-68), Kansas City* (90-72), Cleveland (81-81), Chicago (70-92), Minnesota (59-103)
Detroit's Tigers are still the team to beat until someone else unseats them, even with a new manager. But did you see who I've picked for second? Yes, the Royals, with a good, young lineup and good starting pitching. They'll even nab a Wild Card berth in the last week. The Twins will finish with baseball's worst record.
WEST: Oakland (91-71), Seattle (88-74), Texas (80-82), Los Angeles (73-89), Houston (70-92)
You would expect Oakland to do just enough to win, and that will be the case again. I expect Seattle to emerge as a surprise team this year, with a bevy of offense and pitching talent to get them in the hunt. The Rangers will take a step back after another early playoff elimination. L.A. will disappoint again, while the Astros will see some improvement as they emphasize a winning attitude during their rebuild. Houston's 100-loss season streak should end, but more work needs to be done.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
EAST: Atlanta (98-64), Washington* (95-67), Philadelphia (79-83), Miami (69-93), New York (66-96)
The Braves will be the team to beat again, with arguably the league's best lineup and starting pitching. Watch out for the Nationals, however, as Washington will be showing improvement and will seriously contend up to the end of September. As for the rest of the division, well, forget about it.
CENTRAL: St Louis (100-62), Pittsburgh (87-75), Cincinnati (84-78), Milwaukee (70-92), Chicago (61-101)
St Louis just keeps on plugging away, with the league's deepest farm system and the division's best pitching staff. Pittsburgh's Pirates finally broke through last year and should make some noise late before the Cards run away with the Central. The Cubs will bring up the rear in the NL.
WEST: Los Angeles (95-67), Arizona* (94-68), San Francisco (82-80), Colorado (79-83), San Diego (73-89)
Look for the Dodgers and Diamondbacks to duke it out in September, with L.A. getting the spoils. San Francisco should show some flashes after some key offseason additions, but will still be an also-ran just two years removed from their last World Series.
All-Star Game Champ: American League
AL Pennant: Oakland (in a shocker)
NL Pennant: St Louis
World Champion: Oakland (in 7 games)
And there you are.
Play ball!Total Comments 8
Comments
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Well, I like some of the way you think. You've got my Cards on the wrong end of a World Series surprise. Oh, Case, you have so flipped out now! 
Actually, you seem to pick surprises pretty well. Oakland has been finding ways to win when no one really expects them to.Posted 04-12-2014 at 11:17 AM by malfunction
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Let's try to come back to this post as the year wears on and we'll see how it all goes.Posted 04-12-2014 at 11:19 AM by malfunction
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This thing still has a chance.Posted 08-25-2014 at 04:40 PM by case44
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And we didn't expect Milwaukee to be this good, but there they are, clawing at it like there's no tomorrow.
Got one month to go. Astros, meanwhile, have already surpassed win totals from last year.Posted 08-25-2014 at 04:47 PM by case44
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Astros now at 63 wins. That means my prediction for that is coming more true each day, and also, Mattress Mack will have some very happy customers tonight.Posted 09-07-2014 at 06:36 PM by case44
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Your Angels prediction was, oh, a bit off, ya think? They're now running away with the AL West over the "vaunted" Oakland A's.Posted 09-13-2014 at 11:18 AM by malfunction
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And you really overrated the Diamondbacks earlier. Good golly, what's happened there?
And Boston is in last again! Last to first, and then back to last.Posted 09-13-2014 at 11:19 AM by malfunction
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Well, I nailed my Astros prediction to the letter (well, their record, anyway; not their place of finish).
Still, a 19-game improvement over last year. A fast start next season, and they could be in the hunt for contention.Posted 09-28-2014 at 02:53 PM by case44
