Myth -- the 2004 MLB predictions are in. you'll be happy to know that the Cubs will make the post-season again in 2004, and probably even happier to know that no Texas teams will sniff the playoffs.
the Curses will live for another year, as the Phillies will christen their new ballpark with a World Series title.
so, without further ado, the 2004 baseball predictions (no need to play the season, but plenty of chances to win some coin....)
American League
East MFY
Central Twinkies
West A's
Wild Card Red Sox
MVP Eric Chavez, A's
Cy Young Javier Vazquez, MFY
ROY Joe Mauer, Twins
(yeah, i know, those are the same teams that made the playoffs last year. so much for all the off-season player movement....)
National League
East Phillies
Central Cardinals
West Padres
Wild Card Cubs
MVP Albert Pujols, Cardinals
Cy Young Mark Prior, Cubs
ROY Edwin Jackson, LA
best money-making lines:
Cardinals at 4-1 to take the NL Central
Oakland at 2-1 to take the AL West
Cleveland at 7-1 to take the AL Central (no, i don't think they'll win, but 7-1 is great odds for what i think is going to be a down-to-the-wire race between Minny and Cleveland)
Richie Sexson at 15-1 to win the ML Home Run title (Sexson is good for 55-60 bombs this year playing in the BOB)
best over-under bets:
take the over for:
MFY 99 wins
Red Sox 97
Phillies 92.5
Cardinals 85
Cleveland 74.5
MFY are good this year for 105-110 wins; Red Sox for 100-103; Phillies for 97 and if Pat Burrell hits like he did in 2002 they'll score 880-890 runs and win 100. Cardinals will win 90+ (although i read in the St Louis Post Dispatch over the weekend that Tony Womack might start at 2B and lead off; this is such a Tony Larussa moron move and i retract my recco if it happens; why do you want an out machine like Womack hitting in front of Renteria / Pujols / Edmonds / Rolen??). Cleveland figures to be in the AL Central race til the very last week.
take the under for:
(and JRI and Freep are going to KILL me for these, but oh well)
Anaheim 91 wins
Arizona 82.5
LA Dodgers 82.5
Kansas City 80.5
NY Mets 80.5
The best bet in here is the Mets, who stil positively suck and will be lucky to clear 72 wins. On Anaheim, all you really need to know is Darin Erstad is playing 1B; they will be lucky to win 85. Arizona stinks and won't come anywhere near .500, despite the monster year that Sexson is going to put up. The Dodgers are going to score the fewest runs in major league history in a lost year before Paul DePodesta blows up the whole team and starts from scratch in 2005. And what to say about KC other than that last year was a mirage; they will finish well behind Cleveland.
Players in a "3 of 3" likely to put up monster, break-out seasons:
Derrek Lee, 1B Cubs
40 bombs, 130 RBI, top-5 MVP vote getter
Richie Sexson, 1B D'Backs
tough to call Sexson a "break-out" candidate since he is already a well-established player, but in the BOB he will lead the league in HR
Mark Kotsay, CF A's
just watch. will explode in Oakland and with Mike Cameron gone to the NL Kotsay will win a gold glove. He is every bit Torii Hunter's equal and is better than (hugely under-rated) Johnny Damon.
Jesse Crain, RP Twinkies
a Canadian; will be closing in Minny before the end of the year, with Joe Nathan setting up. 97 four-seamer, quality slider, sick sick sick curve ball. 11.50 K/9 in the minors.
Carlos Lee, LF White Sox
40 homers and 130 RBI coming this year. what a line-up, with Lee, Big Hurt, Magglio and Konerko in the middle, and Crede and Valentin can hit a little too. expect ALL these guys to be playing in LA next year as DePodesta re-tools his club at Kenny Williams' expense.
CC Sabathia, P Indians
hard to believe he is only 23. good K rates, improving walk rate, doesn't give up the long ball. will put up an ERA below 3.50, and win 17-18 games.
Rafael Soriano, RP Seattle
he'll be closing by the end of the year. filthy, filthy stuff.
Jacque Jones, OF/DH Minny
i picked him last year and he disappointed. won't happen again. 30 homers and 110 RBIs.
Placido Polanco, 2B/3B Phillies
he's Luis Castillo with more power, a better glove, and better baserunning. he will emerge this year to national recognition the same way Castillo did on the Marlins last year. Cardinals must be kicking themselves for letting him go, though they did get Rolen back.
Jake Peavy, P Padres
kid was born in 1981 (jeezus i'm old...); has 246ks in 292 major-league innings before his 23rd birthday. has peripherals almost as good as Josh Beckett, though has a modest problem with the long ball. Wade Miller is his best comp; should be good for 15-18 wins and a 3.50-ish ERA this year.
Well, that's it for your season preview. no need to play the games, of course......
Cheers |
