Category: 2008 Predictions

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

 

That’s it!  Hope you enjoyed our 2008 Prediction Series.  Feel free to comment on this (or any other) post. 

This is Part II of our 2008 MLB prediction series.  Today, we start on our picks for the MLB awards. 

2008 AL MVP Winner

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Robinson Cano
Shawn	Derek Jeter
DonS	A-Rod	“Still a punk”
Todd V	Vladimir Guerrero
Nicky V	Ordonez
Teddy Ballgame	V Guerrero
TBZ	Guerrero	“if he stays healthy”

 

2008 NL MVP Winner

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Hanley Ramirez	“He can do it all and who looks at defense when they’re voting”
Shawn	David Wright
DonS	Prince Fielder	“Should have been in 2007”
Todd V	Chipper Jones
Nicky V	Howard
Teddy Ballgame	Howard
TBZ	Prince Fielder

 

2008 AL Cy Young Winner

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Dice-K
Shawn	Dan Haren
DonS	Jered Weaver
Todd V	Justin Verlander
Nicky V	Verlander
Teddy Ballgame	Lackey
TBZ	Lackey

 

2008 NL Cy Young Winner

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Johan Santana	“National League hitters won’t know what hit them”
Shawn	Jake Peavy
DonS	Webb
Todd V	Dan Haren
Nicky V	Martinez	“Wow, nice comeback”
Teddy Ballgame	Cain
TBZ	Santana

 

2008 AL Homerun Leader

	Prediction	Comment
Brando
Shawn	Arod
DonS	Ortiz
Todd V	Manny Ramirez
Nicky V	Hafner
Teddy Ballgame	Ortiz
TBZ	Arod

 

2008 NL Homerun Leader

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Mark Teixeira
Shawn	Fielder
DonS	Fielder	“Unless the vegetables get him”
Todd V	Adam Dunn
Nicky V	Howard
Teddy Ballgame	Fielder
TBZ	Fielder

 

2008 AL Batting Champion

	Prediction	Comment
Brando
Shawn	Miguel Cabrera
DonS	Ichiro	“Best player in baseball”
Todd V	Ichiro
Nicky V	Ichiro
Teddy Ballgame	Ichiro
TBZ	Ichiro

 

2008 NL Batting Champion

	Prediction	Comment
Brando	Hanley Ramirez
Shawn	Pujols
DonS
Todd V	Chipper Jones
Nicky V	Hanley Ramirez
Teddy Ballgame	Todd Helton
TBZ	Pujols	“if he doesn’t have season-ending surgery”

 

 

Tomorrow, Part III with more awards predictions. 

I passed out a survey to everyone in the TBZ “office” and had them fill them out. The survey included 36 prediction questions about the upcoming 2008 baseball season.  Today’s installment compromises of predictions of division winners, losers, and who will take it all. 

Thanks to Teddy Ballgame, Shawn, Todd V, Don S, Nicky V and Brando for participating. 

-tbz

 

Who will be the AL East Winner?

Boston Red Sox	4 votes
New York Yankees	3 votes

 

Comments:  Brando says, “The young blood from last year and a rebound of JD Drew will put them over the top.”  Todd V notes: “It’s either them or the Yanks, right?  I don’t think the Yanks have the pitching.”  Nicky V who predicted the Sox as well simply exclaimed, “YUCK!” 

TBZ predicts: Boston Red Sox

 

Who will be the AL Central Winner?

Detroit Tigers	4 votes
Cleveland Indians	3 votes

 

Comments:  As it seems to be the pattern here, it was between two teams.  Brando says: “Pitching is still the key.”, though I don’t know if that bodes well for the Tigers or not.  Todd V expresses the same concern about pitching.  He predicts the Tigers “but I wouldn’t be surprised if Cleveland repeated.  Detroit’s bullpen worries me.”

TBZ predicts:  Detroit Tigers

 

Who will be the AL West Winner?

Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels	6 votes
Seattle Mariners	1 vote

 

Comments:  The only real clear favorite though that kinda surprised just a little.  Todd V just doesn’t “see how they can’t win this division.”   Brando thinks “Mike Scioscia will work his magic”.

TBZ predicts:  Los Angeles of Anaheim Angels

 

Who will be the NL East Winner?

New York Mets	3 votes
Atlanta Braves	3 votes
Philadelphia Phillies	1 vote

 

Comments: Our first tie.  You can thank TBZ co-blogger Teddy Ballgame who voted for the Phils for this.  Brando (as well as I) think that “Johan Santana will make the difference.”

TBZ predicts:  New York Mets

 

Who will be the NL Central Winner?

Chicago Cubs	3 votes
Cincinnati Reds	2 votes
Milwaukee Brewers	2 votes

Comments: This was the most hotly contested division.   I voted for the Cubs.  Call me a homer but I think it’s warranted.  Todd V, who predicts the Reds, says that the “upgrades in their pitching will put them on top over the injury plagued Cubs”.

TBZ predicts:  Chicago Cubs. 

 

Who will be the NL West Winner?

Arizona Diamondbacks	3 votes
Colorado Rockies	2 votes
Los Angeles Dodgers	2 votes

 

Comments: Another tough one to pick.  Brando, who is a Dodger fan (a Brooklyn Dodger fan) had a lot to say.  “With Joe Torre at the helm, and Japanese import, Hiroki Kuroda,  the Dodgers are ready.  Oh did I forget to mention Matt Kemp is going to have a big year?” 

As for the DBacks, Todd V was short and sweet.  “These kids can play.”

TBZ predicts:  Arizona Diamondbacks 

 

NL Worst Record 

Brando	Pittsburgh Pirates (70-92)
Shawn	Cardinals (60-102)
DonS	Giants 64-98	“Tough times on the Bay; A’s not much better.”
Todd V	Giants
Nicky V	Pirates 59-103
Teddy Ballgame	Pirates 62-100
TBZ	Giants 65-97

 

 

AL Worst Record 

Brando
Shawn	Cardinals (60-102)
DonS	Orioles 66-96
Todd V	White Sox	“Just did it to tick off my Chicago buddies”
Nicky V	Rays 62-100
Teddy Ballgame	Orioles 58-104
TBZ	Rays 68-94	“Still have talent”

 

World Series Prediction

Brando	Boston Red Sox
Shawn	New York Yankees	“Yankees over Mets in 7 games”
DonS	LAA Angels	“Veering from prediction to prayer”
Todd V	LAA Angels
Nicky V	Mets-Tigers
Teddy Ballgame	Reds over Red Sox
TBZ	Cubs	“What can I say? Our time is up.”

 

Tomorrow:  2008 Award Winner Predictions and more!