Sombrero Staff Prognostications: Ryan’s 2011 Predictions
AL EAST
1 – Boston Red Sox
2 – Tampa Bay Rays (Wild Card)
3 – New York Yankees
4 – Toronto Blue Jays
5 – Baltimore Orioles
AL CENTRAL
1 – Chicago White Sox
2 – Minnesota Twins
3 – Detroit Tigers
4 – Kansas City Royals
5 – Cleveland Indians
AL WEST
1 – Texas Rangers
2 – Oakland Athletics
3 – Los Angeles Angels
4 – Seattle Mariners
NL EAST
1 – Atlanta Braves
2 – Philadelphia Phillies
3 – Florida Marlins
4 – New York Mets
5 – Washington Nationals
NL CENTRAL
1 – St. Louis Cardinals
2 – Milwaukee Brewers (Wild card)
3 – Cincinnati Reds
4 – Chicago Cubs
5 – Houston Astros
6 – Pittsburgh Pirates
NL WEST
1 – Colorado Rockies
2 – San Francisco Giants
3 – Los Angeles Dodgers
4 – San Diego Padres
5 – Arizona Diamondbacks
ALDS
Rays over Rangers in 5
Red Sox over White Sox in 4
ALCS
Red Sox over Rays in 5 (MVP – Adrian Gonzalez)
NLDS
Braves over Brewers in 4 (MVP – Dan Uggla)
Rockies over Cardinals in 5 (MVP – Troy Tulowitzki)
NLCS
Braves over Rockies in 6 (MVP – Freddie Freeman)
World Series
Red Sox over Braves in 6 (MVP – Jon Lester)
NL Rookie of the Year
Hitter – Brandon Belt
Pitcher – Aroldis Chapman
AL Rookie of the Year
Hitter – Mike Moustakas
Pitcher – Jeremy Hellickson
Reliever of the Year
NL – Carlos Marmol
AL – Mariano Rivera
MVP
NL – Albert Pujols
AL – Miguel Cabrera
Cy Young
NL – Roy Halladay
AL – Jon Lester
NL Batting Champion – Albert Pujols
AL Batting Champion – Miguel Cabrera
NL HR Leader – Albert Pujols
AL HR Leader – Adam Dunn
NL Strikeout Leader – Tim Lincecum
AL Strikeout Leader – Jon Lester
How does this work? You really expect the Cardinals to take home the Central title?
Let’s assume this is true. The NL Central really, really sucks, so they could probably do it with 86 wins.
But the there is the Brewers, who you expect to take home the wildcard, with, let’s say, 82-88 wins.
That beats the Phillies, apparently.
I hate the Phillies, but you really underrate them. Their offense may be average, or even below average, but with that rotation 90 wins is still not only possible, but likely. And don’t discount the probability of a trade for a bat at the deadline.
And then… White Sox? really?
I agree, not picking the Phillies as the NL Wild Card was an oversight. I was most likely blinded by my intense hatred for that team (and the fans). But I honestly believe the Cardinals can take the division because the division is, honestly, pretty damn weak. I’m also from St. Louis, so I went with my hometown team (forgive my homerism). And although Matt Holliday is out for about a week as of this moment, I think Colby Rasmus will continue to develop so long as La Russa makes the right decision and doesn’t platoon him with Craig/Jay. Maybe La Russa wasn’t paying attention, but Rasmus showed in 2010 that he can hit lefties. Rasmus/Pujols/Holliday looks good to me.