the 08 midsummer classic was a thoroughly entertaining game, regardless of the problems it faced (ie running out of players). so now we're ready for the second half or the remaining 70 games or so. four games are already in the books and the mets have gone from 7.5 games back to tied for the nl east lead in a matter of a couple of weeks. i'll list my predictions for the rest of the season below:
American League:
East: Tampa Bay Rays - they have the starting pitching, the bullpen and defense to compete. even though they had a rough stretch right before the all-star break, they have more than enough prospects to make a move before the trade deadline for another bat to help their inconsistent offense. plus, they have the best minor league pitcher waiting to be this year's version of joba chamberlain (in david price). (runner-up, the red sox who with the injury concerns of ortiz and the likely regression of matsuzaka will fall a game or two short)
Central: Chicago White Sox - they have a 6.5 game lead over the only other team i can see winning the division (tigers). their offense is good and they have decent starting pitching. it really comes down to the fact that i don't have any faith in the twins and the tigers are too far back and need some serious pitching help. (runner-up, the tigers who will beat out the twins, but still trail the sox by about 5 games)
West: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - their good record does not reflect their poor run differential, but they have the talent to overcome that in the second half. they also have some prospects in case they want to add a bat. the A's are selling off their parts and have played above their heads in the first half anyway. and the rangers are the rangers, with or without josh hamilton, at least for 2008. (runner-up, the athletics who have probably the deepest farm system in the majors after their trades of harden and blanton)
Wild-Card: Boston Red Sox - the team is too good and too deep to lose a 5 and 6 game lead over their two biggest threats, the A's and Yanks, respectively. the plethora of young pitchers will help their bullpen and starting pitching depth and the return of ortiz next week should be a big lift to the team, as long as he comes back healthy. now if only jason varitek didn't suck so much. (runner-up, the Yankees, who will miss the playoffs for the first time in god-knows-how-long; maybe the number of pastel Yankee caps will start their decline this year)
Playoffs: Red Sox over the Angels; Rays over the White Sox
AL Champ: Red Sox - their the best run organization in american team sports.
National League:
East: New York Mets - they have some holes, esp in corner outfield, but they have arguably the best starting pitching in baseball. they also have the win-now attitude to make a trade toward the deadline for a lethal leftfield bat (barry bonds anyone?). also, the marlins are not for real, the braves are in limbo and the phillies, regardless of joe blanton, have terrible starting pitching and no chips to trade for any sort of difference-maker. (runner-up, the phillies who have the offense to still win a bunch of games; the mets won't let their five game lead in september disappear this year)
Central: Chicago Cubs - they have the most complete team in the national league and with or without a healthy rich harden, they have a 5 game lead over the brewers. cc sabathia makes the brewers legit contenders, but enough to overcome a 5 game head-start? i wouldn't bet on it. (runner-up, the brewers, who now have the offense and starting pitching to win the world series)
West: Los Angeles Dodgers - the Dbacks were once considered the darlings of baseball, the young up and coming team, the next dynasty perhaps. it's somewhat apparent, however, that star prospects who don't show up in their first couple of years usually don't EVER live up to expectations (see Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson, Chris Young AND delmon young, alex gordon, et al). anyway, the dodgers have the talent, the balanced offense, starting pitching to win a terrible division (runner-up, the dbacks by default)
Wild-Card: Milwaukee Brewers - Ben Sheets and CC Sabathia and a stacked line-up. (runner-up, the phillies, whose fans should stop talking trash and think about how long it's been since they've even sniffed a championship)
Playoffs: Mets over Brewers; Cubs over Dodgers
NL Champ: the Mets (it's called loyalty in the Manuel-era)
WORLD SERIES: it's all about new york beating up on boston this year - METS OVER SOX IN 6
AL mvp: Ian Kinsler. I love Josh Hamiton also, but 150 runs? 100 rbis? 330/400/550 with 25 home runs and 45 stolen bases? WOW
AL cy young: Roy Halladay. He's the most consistent and least-pubbed pitchers in baseball... and maybe the best to boot.
NL mvp: does 305/395/540, with 30 hr/130 rbis/25 steals win the mvp this year? i think so, especially when that player is on a winning team: David Wright wins the mvp award he so deserved last year
NL cy young: Brandon Webb. he's got 13 wins. 22-6? with santana and peavy having sub-par seasons and injuries to other up and coming stars and the eventual decline of edinson volquez. it's his to lose.
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I take exception to a lot of what you just said. But one stuck out as deserving a response.
it's somewhat apparent, however, that star prospects who don't show up in their first couple of years usually don't EVER live up to expectations (see Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson, Chris Young AND delmon young, alex gordon, et al).
(see M.Schmidt, G.Brett, D.Ortiz, S.Sosa, B.Bonds et al)
plus Stephen Drew is ranked 6th in OPS among MLB SSs. Conor Jackson is 9th among 1Bs, what expectations exactly were you setting? And how does this translate to the Dbacks not staying in 1st place? They needed one of their young players to turn into the dominant impact bat in the middle of that lineup. Hasnt happened, but if theres any team with a farm system capable of swinging for Mark Teixeira, its this one.
Tell me where I'm wrong:
Both D-backs & Dodgers have a solid but unspectacular offense, with a lot of above average hitters, but no superstar. Both D-backs & Dodgers have a good bullpen that is deep enough to weather an injury. The Dodgers have solid starting pitching that isnt too deep, but the D-backs have 1.5 aces and a rotation that isnt too deep. I like the D-Backs and their starting pitching to carry them over the Dodgers any day.
The team that makes a move before this month ends, or the team that gets hot for a 2 week stretch. Thats the team that wins the west. You are letting personal opinion cloud your judgement too much. I cant believe you said the Mets have the best starting pitching in baseball. It boggles my mind how someone could think that. Quick comparison:
Mets: Starter ERA = 4.15
D-Backs: Starter ERA = 3.92
and i dont think we need a lesson in park factors to drive the stake through this one.
Also, the Phillies are infinitely better than what you give them credit for.
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