While all of these baseball analysts list the teams they think will take the division title, we’d prefer to go the glass half empty route and chose the teams that we think will be occupying the cellar in their respective divisions.
AL East - Baltimore Orioles
While the usual pick in this division would be the Tampa Bay Rays after all they’ve only had one season where they came in fourth in their entire history, but this year we’re thinking the Rays have done just enough during the off season that the Baltimore Orioles will capture fifth place. After trading Miguel Tejada and Erik Bedard in the off season and placing Brian Roberts, Kevin Millar and anyone else they can send out on the block, it’s looking like a huge rebuilding year down in Baltimore.
AL Central - Kansas City Royals
Going along with trends is usually a boring way to do things, but we don’t really see Kansas City rallying their way into fourth place this season. Yes, the Twins lost Torii Hunter and traded Johan Santana and pretty much anyone else they could find to get a replacement for Torii Hunter and it’s never a good sign when your manager is already telling people he’s willing to get the ax if his team doesn’t do well during SPRING TRAINING, Chicago, but we see Kansas City trudging along to another sub-par season.
AL West - Texas Rangers
Fire sale is the name of the game in Oakland after trading Nick Swisher and Dan Harren in the off-season. We mean, they weren’t that great last season, and we don’t see them roaring back this season. And even with Texas’ crop of hitters earning another year of experience their pitching is still lack luster and could once again prove to be their Achilles’ heel. With the Angels and Mariners looking as playoff contenders, the A’s and Rangers will be fighting for number three, but we think the Rangers may lose that battle.
NL East - Florida Marlins
This may be one of the tougher divisions to figure out. Yeah the Mets, Phillies and Braves will once again be in contention for the divisional crown; however the Nationals and Marlins may not be too bad off. I know what you’re thinking, the Marlins gave up their two best players Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to Detroit and now rest their hopes squarely on Hanley Ramirez’s shoulder but two years ago they were a group of young nobodies with no expectations and they surprised a lot of people. Plus they could have Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller leading the charge of the new and improved Florida team. Or they could completely fall a part. And the Nationals have two other unknowns in Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes. Both are talented players but they both have off the field issues that made them easy trade bait this off season. Not to mention that stud over on the hot corner Ryan Zimmerman who according to John Kruk will blast 50 homers this year. (take that as you will) See our decision is torn because there are so many variables but we’re thinking if the Nats could win 73 games last season after people thought they’d be vying with the 62 Mets for worst season of all time, they can do it again. So sorry Florida, but we’re picking you to hang out in the cellar this season.
NL Central - Pittsburgh Pirates
This division is always up for grabs. Six teams playing just well enough to get themselves a spot in the playoffs, it’s like mediocrity is God in the Central making this pick pretty hard as well. Pittsburgh will probably have another losing season, but will it be good enough to put them in last place? Have the Reds improved at all from last season? What about the Astros, they’ve got one hell of a centerfielder, but he just learned he cannot walk through glass. The Brewers are featuring a good young core of hitters in Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun that could put them in the hunt for the title and the Cubs are pretty similar leaving the Cardinals whose pitching staff is currently spending more time in the doctor’s office than they are on the mound. So who to pick…hmm we’ll go out on a limb and go with the Pirates. It’s called being conservative, you don’t always have to have novel ideas!
NL West - San Francisco Giants
Ok, so this division is supposed to be stacked with the young Diamondbacks looking to repeat as divisional title holders while the Rockies are hoping to punch another ticket to the World Series. Then there are the Dodgers who are currently looking for a third baseman that does not have hand problems and the Padres are always in need of good hitting and then there are the Giants. This is one of the easiest divisions to pick, it’s the Giants. The one thing that they got going for them, well two things they got going for them are Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain and they did sign Aaron Rowand but that’s where it ends, Omar Vizquel is injured (although he could be back in mid-April), most of the team hovering around the 30 year mark and I think they could pull a kayaker from McCovey Cove that could be a better fill in than some of their bench players. All we can say is it’s going to be a rough season in the Bay Area.
It's been fun blogging with you,
Kate
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