Revisiting my predictions

By Gary Hill

I think I will predict win totals next year just so I can look even worse when we review these.

National League

NL East
Phillies
Braves
Nationals
Marlins
Mets

NL Central
Brewers
Reds
Pirates
Cardinals
Cubs
Astros

NL West
Giants
Diamondbacks
Dodgers
Rockies
Padres

NL WC 1- Braves
NL WC 2- Diamondbacks

NLCS- Braves over Giants

NL MVP- Joey Votto- CIN
NL Cy Young- Yovani Gallardo- MIL
NL Rookie- Yonder Alonso- SD

Review: I nailed the bottom feeders and the Giants winning the NL West and the Braves taking the first Wild Card. My general impressions of the NL Central held true. I thought the top 4 teams in the division would pick on the bottom 2 which would make for a very competitive race. I predicted the Pirates would break-out (which they did until they fell on their face) and I thought the Reds would be much improved and compete for a playoff spot (they did more than compete for a playoff spot). I thought the Diamondbacks would use the bottom of their division to propel them to the wildcard, but the Padres and improved Dodgers made the division much more difficult. I whiffed on Philly and missed the Nationals charge to the top of the division. If the bullpen of the Brewers had not constantly melted down in the first month of the season they would securely be sitting in post season position.

American League

AL East
Tampa Bay
Boston
Toronto
New York
Baltimore

AL Central
Detroit
Kansas City
Chicago
Minnesota
Cleveland

AL West
Texas
Angels
Seattle
Oakland

AL WC 1- Angels
AL WC 2- Boston

ALCS- Tampa over Texas

WS- Tampa over ATL

AL Cy Young-David Price- TB
AL MVP- Evan Longoria- TB
AL Rookie- Yu Darvish- TX

Review: You can see I was bullish on Tampa Bay and I contend they would have a playoff spot firmly in their grasp had Even Longoria been available for most of the season. Coming into the season I felt that a traditional AL East power would collapse, but I predicted the wrong one. It feels good knowing that two teams I predicted to finish dead last in their divisions will probably make the playoffs. I think I was a year early on KC. Watch out for the Royals next year if they can figure anything out in terms of the rotation. The brutal start for the Angels this year has kept them out of a playoff spot thus far. I may very well have locked-down the AL Cy Young award. Tampa Bay will have a hard time winning the World Series if they don’t make the playoffs.

You can’t always count on me to revisit predictions even if they make me look really, really bad in several cases (thanks A’s and O’s).