I’m back, and so is baseball! Which of the two is more exciting? If you answered “Jacob coming back”, you have a problem! Every single match-up will be previewed (some more than the others), and every game will be predicted a winner, join in the comment section!
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees How fitting is this one? Two teams that will finish in the top half of their division, and have a great chance at winning it… The Yankees are going to be good this year, believe me, just not as good (rotation wise) as they have in previous seasons… This will make no difference at all in this game as CC Sabathia is pitching, against Justin Verlander. Derek Jeter is my sleeper pick this season, as he will hit .300 with 24 home runs! Home town Yankees win this one, 4-3. (NOTE: Numbers are not necessary in picks)
Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals According to CBS Sports, Stephen Strasburg is not on the Washington depth chart, per se he is in the minor leagues right now… Soon, he will be brought up, and that’s when the Nationals will start to shine (I pick them to make the playoffs)! Still though the Nationals’ pitching is decent, Livan Hernandez will get to the start this afternoon, against Derek Lowe. The hitting for both teams is something fans have been questioning, and today, the nay-say’ers will get their answer. Nationals win.
L.A. Angels at Kansas City Royals The loss of Zach Greinke hurts the Royals, but they have so much young talent, I have been trying to preach this for months! In two years, they will be in the playoffs, and this year, they have a shot at it [the playoffs], only Luke Hochevar (starting today) is no stud, he still throws accurately… The Angels should have a great season, only I am not a fan of their infield, Vernon Wells is my sleeper! Angels win!
Milwaukee Brewers at Cincinnati Reds In an earlier post, I had predicted these two teams to duel for the division’s top spot, henceforth I find it fitting that these two teams face off on opening day. Edison Volquez starts for the Reds today, I hate to admit it, but he is my favorite pitcher. This game should be high scoring, around 5-4, or so, the Brewers will win.
NOTE: The preview’s of the later games will come in a later post, stay tuned!
A conclusion to the “curse” will probably be in another hundred years. What curse? The curse that prevents the Chicago Cubs from winning a World Series, frankly, this title would suggest I believe that the Cubs will never win a World Series. In this, my second divisional breakdown, I touch on why the Cubs will not even make the playoffs! Feel free to vote in the poll, as well as comment!
Teams are in no order!
Chicago Cubs I have to admit, they did make a few impressive moves this off season by signing ex-Rays, Carlos Pena and Matt Garza, albeit Pena is a scratch since Derek Lee is now an Oriole. Also, shortstop Starlin Castro shows potential to be a Star in the MLB, unfortunate for the Cubs though is that so few others in their organization show this special quality!
Bright Spot: Lucky for the Cubs, everybody wins eventually (most of the time), and being a large sports market like Chicago, there is no way they can continue to have terror in not winning. New manager Mike Quade, finished the season terrifically for the Cubs last season, and with the new addition of Pena, the infield looks that much better!
Big Question: Will prodigy shortstop Starlin Castro prove consistent this year, unlike last year?
Cincinnati Reds The Reds have picked up right where they left off last year, now in Spring Training, with a record of 5-2. The reigning division winner, Cincinnati fans are wondering if pitching will be enough to propel them to another 90 win season. Certainly Volquez, Cueto, and Arroyo are impressive, but the infield lacks talent.
Bright Spot: Every good team needs pitching, and the Reds have a fantastic line-up, albeit at times they struggle keeping the runs off the scoreboard. Also, I have heard from numerous sources that their farm system is great, thats always good to hear as a fan. Really though, its hard to blog about the Cincinnati Reds, I mean, they have an infield that poses consistency questions, and their outfield lacks power, likewise, I do not think they will have a great season. So, what was the bright spot? The pitching.
Big Question: Will Edison Volquez stay healthy and have control this season?
Pittsburgh Pirates Ay mateee! Climb aboard! Many will climb aboard the Pirates bandwagon this year, as I predict the young talent will go around five hundred! Unlike the Reds, they have a question mark at the pitching rotation, and more thorough of a batting order. Andrew McCutchen hit for average last year, and again will this year.
Bright Spot Andrew McCutchen, as previously established, the Pirates do have a few players that can go deep at anytime, like Lyle Overbay, but the young team is yet to prove itself… Most of their players are no-namers, like Walker and Alvarez… I just see a good year coming for them! I do not know much about their farm system, albeit I saw one game of their AAA team… And they looked great! Pirates need some luck though!
Big Question: Is the young talent they have really as good as people say it is going to be?
St. Louis Cardinals The Cardinals seized to disappoint fans, and surprise sports writers last year after not making the playoffs. When Pujols trade rumors flew around this off-season, fans again were shocked…. Until Pujols was re-signed and all ended well…. Only it has yet to begun, as questions rise, whether the little-depth covered Cardinals can have a bounce back season or not… I think yes!
Bright Spot: After all the rumors, Albert Pujols is a Cardinal, and he reported to Spring Camp recently, putting a smile on numerous faces. With newly acquired Lance Berkman and Ryan Theriot, the Cardinals should win this division!
Big Question: Will Chris Carpenter have help from the rest of the rotation in St. Louis?
Houston Astros Speaking of trade rumors, many thought that Wandy Rodrigues would be delt recently, contrarily though, he re-signed for three more years! This news really helps out the Astros, who have a decent line up, with Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence.
Bright Spot: Hitting…. You can not win a ball game if you do not score runs, and the Astros should score plenty of them! With previously mentioned Lee and Pence, the Astros should have a few big name players who will come to join them in coming years!
Big Question: Will the young players around Carlos Lee contribute enough to win games?
Milwaukee Brewers Really, it is difficult to write about this division, mainly because there are so many question marks around it, none more than with the Milwaukee Brewers! Other than the top of the rotation, no one is aware of how the pitching will be, and a young team is always dangerous in a weak division.
Bright Spot: Zach Greinke may just have been the best pitcher in the American League last year, and now he is a Brewer! He will more than likely obtain a Cy Young award this year, seeing as its a pitchers division… Milwaukee still boasts the presence of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, making them a contender.
Big Question: Will the bull-pen be as good as it needs to be?
Predictions on who will win the division (below are standings):
Milwaukee Brewers
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Chicago Cubs
Pittsburgh Pirates
Houston Astros
Thanks for reading! Vote on the poll! Always purchase music through authorized retailers!
Baseball is in full go, and starting May 20th, this blog will be as well!
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees How fitting is this one? Two teams that will finish in the top half of their division, and have a great chance at winning it… The Yankees are going to be good this year, believe me, just not as good (rotation wise) as they have in previous seasons… This will make no difference at all in this game as CC Sabathia is pitching, against Justin Verlander. Derek Jeter is my sleeper pick this season, as he will hit .300 with 24 home runs! Home town Yankees win this one, 4-3. (NOTE: Numbers are not necessary in picks)
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