2011 Thoughts and Predictions

I realize that there are numerous "what if's" out there and everything can be "up for debate" but c'mon it wouldn't be baseball without some good ol' fashion predictions right? Reading many other bloggers and writers predictions I felt the need to come up with my own, that's the best part of baseball anything can happen and everyone has an opinion, so here we go...



#1 - Miguel Cabrera will crush it this year again. It doesn't seem to matter if this guy's drunk/sober or overweight/underweight he can flat out rake. Cabrera will continue to put up MVP numbers despite off field distractions.

#2 - Brandon Morrow is the real deal and is finally starting to show why he was drafted ahead of Kershaw and Lincecum. Morrow will win 15 games this year despite possibly being shut down at 175 innings.

#3 - Kansas City Royals will finish the season with at least 75 wins. Not enough for a division title or wild card birth but enough that teams will surely be taking the Royals more seriously.

#4 - Texas just doesn't have the stones to repeat as division champs. They can't compete with Oakland and LA's rotation.

#5 - Brian Wilson's beard will go missing. He will meet a Delilah, she will shave it while he sleeps and Wilson will lose his mojo for the 2 days it takes him to grow it back. You heard it here first.

#6 - Since we're on the NL West, the Padres are going to be brutal again this year. They were 28th out of 30 teams in total hits and that's with A-Gon, you need some runs to win games. Latos will be good but you need runs to get wins... ok, you get the point.

#7 - The Brewers will have a rough start (both Greinke and Marcum have potential injuries). It will plague the team and carry on throughout the season with everyone pointing the finger at GM Doug Melvin. He has made some ballsy moves and left his team with one of the worst farm systems in baseball.

#8 - The Cardinals blow everyone away and trade Pujols. Honestly, think about it, is it that hard to believe? You totally restock your farm system and get a couple players that can step in NOW and play. Not only do you get a heck of a haul in return but you avoid a ridiculous contract. The Cards weather the storm this year and come back next year with vengeance. Pujols is incredible in every sense, but no man is worth 300 million - get real.

#9 - Since we're talking crazy... Carlos Silva and Zambrano decide to join forces and retire to chase down the WWE tag team titles. A dream come true, maybe Lou comes out of retirement to manage the dynamic duo?

#10 - Red Sox trade Papelbon. Wait for it... now you've calmed down and thought about it, makes total sense for the Sox. Having both Jenks and a more than capable Bard pushing Paps to have a fantastic season that hikes his trade value, allowing Epstein to get something good in return and not hurt the club. wooo, Brilliant.

#11 - We'll see a triple crown winner this year. It's been close the past few seasons and while it hasn't happened since 1967, this will be the year. The question is who? Pujols, A Gon, Car Go or maybe a healthy Hamilton, who knows? but it'll happen.

#12 - Jose Bautista is for real and while he won't hit 54 home runs, he'll boost his average and crack 35+. Disappointment? no way, I'd rather have a player belt 35+ with a .290 BAA than 54 bombs and .260 BAA.

#13 - A -Rod has a monster season. People are counting this guy out left and right sighting a decline in power and steals. Rodriguez dropped 10 pounds this summer (thanks Cameron Diaz) and is out to prove something this year (already batting .412 this spring). Hey, I hate the guy too but there's lots of baseball left in that tank.

#14 - San Francisco win another division title and challenge the Phillies for best rotation bragging rights. Already possessing a dominating rotation (see 2010 post season) and a line-up that is getting better and better. There's just too much there to expect anything less.

#15 - Speaking of the Giants, Lincecum will have an impressive 2011 campaign. Every year the powers that be predict around 16 wins for this kid. Why? Give me a break, this year I see Timmy racking up 18+ wins.

#16 - Mets continue to struggle and extremely regret even talking to JP Ricciardi. Ricciardi quickly becomes "he who must not be named" in New York.

#17 - The Cincinnati Reds won't make the playoffs. Yeah they have flame thrower Chapman and NL MVP Joey Votto, but who else? Arroyo? the guy is not an ace, look at the numbers. What? the Cardinals have some serious injury problems, and the Brewers rotation is in queston... hmmm maybe then...

#18 - Who the F knows what's going to happen in the NL Central - I changed my mind, I think the Brewers can pull it out.

#19 - The Atlanta Braves win the AL East. I know everyone is hyped on the Phillies 4 horseman but their aging line-up is in trouble with often injured Utley, Rollins and Polanco. The Braves have a great line-up and a really nice rotation led by work horse Tommy Hanson.

#20 - Jayson Werth won't be near as effective as the National's had hoped. He lacks the protection he had in the Phillies rotation and I don't think he's as good as some folks think. Honestly he's 32 and for the money, I just can't see it.

#21 - Hellickson will have a great 2011. Hellickson and Price will go on to form an extremely effective 1-2 punch for years to come.

#22 - Speaking of Rookies, I believe this years crop to be very exciting and although it lacks the names (Strasburg, Heyward, Posey etc.) there's certainly no shortage of young talent floating around the big leagues this year. Going to be a great race for ROY in both NL and AL.
AL - Hellickson or Moustakas
NL - Chapman (still eligible) or Dominic Brown

#23 - Everyone thinks it's weird to see Prior back trying to revive his career. The guy is only 31 and was once the toast of the league. Prior couldn't have picked a better team to land on. Given the Yankees rotation struggles, don't be surprised to see Prior log a few big league innings, especially with a fastball that has hit 94 this spring.

#24 - Since we're on the Yankees again, how about CC Sabathia turning his back on the captain? I wonder who he'll shack up with next? Tony the Tiger? Frosted Flakes are better for you then Captain Crunch right?

#25 - Grady Sizemore will return, yet he'll be a fraction of the Sizemore we were treated to 3 seasons ago. This is one that I'm honestly hoping to be wrong about.

Bonus - #26 - It wouldn't be a list of predictions without including my post season predictions would it?

NL Champs - San Francisco Giants. The Giants take out the Braves in what will be an epic NLCS.
AL Champs - Boston Red Sox. Lester carries the load, Beckett rekindles his post-season magic and the bats do the rest. They beat a worn out White Sox team.

World Series Champs - Boston Red Sox

There you have it, the 2011 MLB season in a nutshell. I'm sure I'll be wrong on some and on the money on others, it's baseball and anything can happen during the long season. Lincecum could get his hair caught in a food garburator and miss the last half while he waits for his hair to grow back?

Either way, right or wrong, I believe we are in for an exciting 2011 that will include some of the tightest divisional races we have seen in awhile. In the words of Sam Jackson's character from Jurassic Park, "hold onto your butts" it's going to be a wonderful season.