2008 MLB Preview

Alright, we got through all the teams individual stats, so lets get to some real meat and potatoes--predictions. Check back here in October to see if our soothsaying skills can really compare.

In fact, to make that easy, I have compiled a list of other expert predictions from around the World Wide Web.

AL East Winner: Boston Red Sox
AL Central Winner: Cleveland Indians
AL West Winner: Seattle Mariners
Wild Card: Detroit Tigers

First off, I know in the division previews I said the Angels would win the West. Then they lost Kevim Escobar for what looks like, forever. And missing your top two pitchers for 6 to 8 weeks and for the whole season will make an impact. Look at the last couple of World Series winners. The White Sox won in 2005 with dominant pitching. They didn't even use a reliever in the AL Championship series, and got career years out of Burhle and Garland. The Tigers won the AL in 2006 with a strong pitching staff that somehow forgot to field in the World Series. And last year, Beckett reached new levels as a post game performer.

So one of my main factors in these picks where the 1-2 pitchers on each team. And it doesn't get much better than Bedard-King Felix in Seattle, so I bumped them ahead of the Angels. Just know that if Lackey comes back for Los Angeles and dominates, I have the password to come back and edit this post.

AL Champions: Detroit Tigers

Sure, they may have lost their first game of the year to the Royals. But it was in extra innings. (In all seriousness, the Red Sox started last year with a loss to the Royals as well). The Tigers lineup is too good to be denied, and the Tigers pitching is anchored by Verlander, who very well may now be the best pitcher in the AL.

NL East Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central Winner: Chicago Cubs
NL West Winner: Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: New York Mets

I think the NL West division race will be the best of the year. Its going to be an all out brawl and will be decided in the last week or two. Sadly, the Phillies and Mets will have a lead over all of them, all but sealing the Wild Card before the West is won (ha!).

NL Champions: New York Mets

While I think that the back end of the rotation and random injuries (especially in the outfield) will hold them back enough during the regular season, can you think of any playoff team that would want to face a shortened rotation of Santana, Pedro, and Maine? Downright scary.

World Series Champion: Detroit Tigers

I have typed both teams in now and deleted them. On paper, these are the best teams in baseball. But the Mets lineup has some holes, whereas the Tigers are just nasty 1 to 9.

AL Cy Young: Eric Bedard
AL Darkhorse: Dustin McGowan

NL Cy Young: Johan Santana
NL Darkhorse: Dan Haren

Is the NL Cy Young the easiest prediction ever?

AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera
AL Darkhorse: Nick Swisher

NL MVP: David Wright
NL Darkhorse: Mark Texeira

AL ROY: Evan Longoria
AL Darkhorse: Clay Buchholz

NL ROY: Chase Headley
NL Darkhorse: Johnny Cuento

And for some other well known picks:

Tom Verducci of SI:

AL: New York, Detriot, LA (WC: Boston)
NL: New York, Chicago, Colorado (WC: Arizona)
Champ: Detroit over Chicago
MVP: Miguel Cabrera (AL), Matt Holliday (NL)
Cy Young: Felix Hernandez (AL), Johan Santana (NL)
ROY: Evan Longoria (AL), Clayton Kershaw, (NL)

Peter Gammons of ESPN:

AL: Boston, Detriot, LA (WC: Cleveland)
NL: Atlanta, Chicago, Arizona (WC: New York)
Champ: Cleveland over Atlanta
MVP: Manny Ramirez (AL), David Wright (NL)
Cy Young: Justin Verlander (AL), Johan Santana (NL)
ROY: Evan Longoria (AL), Cameron Maybin, (NL)

Dan Shanoff of Sporting News:

AL: Boston, Detriot, LA (WC: New York)
NL: New York, Milwaukee, Colorado (WC: Chicago)
Champ: Detroit over New York
MVP: Miguel Cabrera (AL), David Wright (NL)
Cy Young: Francisco Liriano (AL), Johan Santana (NL)
ROY: Clay Buchholz (AL), Geovany Soto, (NL)

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN the Mag:

AL: Boston, Cleveland, LA (WC: New York)
NL: New York, Chicago, LA (WC: Philadelphia)
Champ: Red Sox over New York
MVP: Miguel Cabrera (AL), Chase Utley (NL)
Cy Young: Justin Verlander (AL), Brandon Webb (NL)
ROY: Evan Longoria (AL), Cameron Maybin, (NL)