MUD.com’s 2008 Predictions
Last year the writers at Mop Up Duty had uncanny success with their 2007 predictions. This year’s predictions include Tampa Bay finishing ahead of New York in the AL East, Chase Headley as NL Rookie of the Year and Grady Sizemore as AL MVP. Check them out and see where you think they were right and were wrong.
Calman’s Predictions:
AL East
Boston
Toronto
Tampa Bay
New York
Baltimore
AL Central
Detroit
Cleveland
Chicago
Kansas City
Minnesota
AL West
Los Angeles/Anaheim
Seattle
Texas
Oakland
Wild Card – Toronto
NL East
New York
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Florida
Washington
NL Central
Milwaukee
Chicago
St. Louis
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
Houston
NL West
Arizona
Los Angeles
San Diego
Colorado
San Francisco
Wild Card – Chicago
AL
MVP – Miguel Cabrera
CY – Roy Halladay
ROY – Evan Longoria
Comeback Player – Francisco Liriano
NL
MVP – Prince Fielder
CY – Johan Santana
ROY – Jay Bruce
Comeback player – Andruw Jones
Early’s Predictions:
AL East
Boston
NYY
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
AL Central
Detroit
Cleveland – WC
Minnesota
Kansas City
Chicago
AL West
Los Angeles
Seattle
Texas
Oakland
NL East
New York Mets
Atlanta – WC
Philadelphia
Washington
Florida
NL Central
Milwaukee
St.Louis
Chicago
Pittsburgh
Cincinnati
Houston
NL West
San Diego
Los Angeles
Colorado
Arizona
San Franscisco
AL MVP – Curtis Granderson
AL Cy – Beckett
AL Comeback – Gussy Chacin
NL MVP – Pujols
NL Cy – Jeff Francis
NL Comeback – Zito
Kman’s Predictions:
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Rich Harden
AL ROY: Jacoby Ellsbury
AL Cy: Josh Beckett
AL MVP: Grady Sizemore
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Nick Johnson
NL ROY: If voters are legit to the rules than Fukudome. Otherwise Andy LaRoche (Dusty factor negating Bruce)
NL Cy: Brandon Webb
NL MVP: Prince Fielder
AL East
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
AL Central
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota Twins
AL West
Seattle Mariners
LA Angels
Oakland
Texas
AL Wild Card: Cleveland
NL East
Atlanta
NY Mets
Philadelphia
Washington
Florida
NL Central
Milwaukee
Chicago
Houston
Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
LA Dodgers
San Diego
Colorado
San Francisco
NL Wild Card:
NY Mets
41st Wraith’s Predictions:
American League
EAST
New York Yankees
Toronto Blue Jays
Boston Red Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
Baltimore Orioles
CENTRAL
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Chicago White Sox
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
WEST
Seattle Mariners
Los Angeles Angels
Texas Rangers
Oakland A’s
WILDCARD = Toronto Blue Jays
National League
EAST
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
Washington Nationals
Florida Marlins
CENTRAL
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinatti Reds
Houston Astros
St.Louis Cardinals
Pittsburgh Pirates
WEST
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Francisco Giants
WILDCARD = San Diego Padres
A.L. AWARDS
MVP = Ichiro
CY Young = C.C Sabathia
ROY = Evan Longoria
Comeback Player of the Year = Jason Giambi
N.L. AWARDS
MVP = David Wright
CY Young = Johan Santana
ROY = Chase Headley
Comeback Player of the Year = Nick Johnson
As always, feel free to tell us where we went right and wrong and provide your own predictions in the comment section below.
Give Harden the award already…
Kman, Calman, how do you guys predict the NL West race shaping out? All teams within 5 games? I think Zona played out of their element last year and it looks like they didn’t do anything to improve. They actually had a losing pythagorean record but the best record in the NL. Guys fill me in on what you think their record might be…
Did nothing to improve? The addition of Danny Haren was one of the blockbuster trades of the offseason. With Randy Johnson healthy this year along with perennial Cy candidate Brandon Webb, it makes for one of the deepest rotations in the NL. They also strengthened their bullpen with the addition of Chad Qualls. I expect Micah Owings to improve upon his rookie season both pitching wise and offensively and could be an impact bat off the bench. I agree with you Earl that it will be close yet again.
I predict another season of parity espeically in the NL. In the AL, the playoff teams should be considerably better than the non-playoff teams. Otherwise, parity.
The Diamondbacks were outscored by their opponents by 20 runs last season, but so far this season, Arizona has outscored the Rockies alone by 28 runs. The D-backs have hit the most home runs and are the highest-scoring team in the majors.