MLB Predictions Part IV: the Rest

This is the final installment of our 2008 MLB prediction series. Flops, Comebacks, injury issues and the top stories are the big topics here.

Once again, thanks to Brando, Shawn, DonS, Todd V, Nicky V and Teddy Ballgame for baring their souls. Maybe we’ll check back after the season and see how we all did.

2008 AL Flop of the Year

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Gary Sheffield
Shawn	David Eckstein
DonS	Asdrubal Cabrera
Todd V	J.D. Drew
Nicky V	J Dye
Teddy Ballgame	Jason Giambi
TBZ	D Young

2008 AL Flop of the Year

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Andruw Jones	“He’s not going to hit at Dodger Stadium just hope he plays solid defense.”
Shawn	Kosuke Fukudome
DonS	Pie or Dempster
Todd V	Kosuke Fukodome
Nicky V	A Rowand/ R Braun
Teddy Ballgame	Eric Gagne
TBZ	A Jones

2008 AL Comeback Player of the Year

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	J. D. Drew	“Only if he stays healthy.”
Shawn	Keith Foulke
DonS	Harden	“Maybe Mauer”
Todd V	Justin Duchscherer
Nicky V
Teddy Ballgame	Rich Harden
TBZ

2008 NL Comeback Player of the Year

	Prediction	Comment
Brando
Shawn	Marcus Giles
DonS	Furcal	“No bias on either of these”
Todd V	Jason Bay
Nicky V	Pedro Martinez
Teddy Ballgame	Pedro Martinez
TBZ	P Martinez

First Manager Fired in 2008

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Yankee Manager	“George will hire Kirk Gibson to everyone’s surprise”
Shawn	Ozzie Guillen
DonS	Hurdle
Todd V	Jim Leyland
Nicky V	Guillen
Teddy Ballgame	Bruce Bochy
TBZ	Yost	“on a limb here; high expectations in Milw.”

First key AL player to end his season because of injury

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Curt Schilling	“His career will be over and he can retire with Randy Johnson”
Shawn	Rocco Baldelli
DonS	J.D. Drew
Todd V
Nicky V	Alex Rodriguez	“Hopefully”
Teddy Ballgame	JD Drew
TBZ	Schilling

First key NL player to end his season because of injury

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Randy Johnson	“The D-Backs drop to third in their division”
Shawn	Kerry Wood
DonS	Stephen Drew
Todd V
Nicky V	Pujols
Teddy Ballgame	Saito
TBZ	Kerry Wood

Most truly exciting story of the 2008 season

	Prediction
Brando	Tampa Bay makes the playoffs for the first time in their history
Shawn	Yankee Stadium’s final season
DonS
Todd V
Nicky V	Yankees-Red Sox brawl(s)
Teddy Ballgame	Troy Percival
TBZ	Cubs win World Series!

Most over-hyped story of the 2008 season

	Prediction
Brando	The continuing saga of Barry Bonds
Shawn	Canseco’s new book
DonS
Todd V	Red Sox-Yankees; “It’s always the most over-hyped story.”
Nicky V	Leyland smoking in dugout (on camera)
Teddy Ballgame	Joe Torre & LAD
TBZ