I'm into making bold predictions here on the website. Often times I'm right, but there are also a good number of times where I'm wrong. That's fine, I own up to it and take the beating if I need to. It's all in the nature of willing to stick my neck out for something I believe in, and that won't change.
The 2011 Major League Baseball season is upon us. And unlike in year's past where I'd stay up until 4 a.m. to see a team play in Japan, I get to wake up at a decent time and see the games on television when it's convenient for me. My beloved Detroit Tigers are opening up ESPN's season against the New York Yankees Thursday at 1 p.m. It's going to be a great game, and one I think the pitchers will do well in. It's hard for lineups to kind of get geared up in the early weeks of the regular season because it's so damned cold at many of the sites. I don't think that will be any different in New York Thursday. I like pitcher's duels and I think this one has the makings of what could be one.
With that out of the way, it's time to make some BOLD predictions for this MLB season, which is going to be a lot of fun. My Tigers are contenders again and that helps make the long season much more enjoyable. Here they are:
The Oakland Athletics will win the AL West. Crazy, I know, with a very lackluster lineup out there in Oakland, but have you seen this rotation? The A's are going to be serious contenders this year and it seems they always have a good rotation. This year, however, it's going to be REALLY good. Trevor Cahill has the best young arm in baseball while Gio Gonzalez, Brett Anderson will eat innings. Anyone remember Dallas Braden? He only threw the 19th perfect game in MLB history last season. Look for them to be very good this season. They are going to need guys like David DeJesus, Hideki Matsui and Coco Crisp to have good seasons for this team to win.
Miguel Cabrera will win the American League MVP. Yes, the drunk man himself is going to win the American League Most Valuable Player's award. Why, you ask? Because he's motivated. This isn't the first time he's let his team down and it probably won't be the last, but he's the savior in Detroit. He knows it. He'll have a healthy Magglio Ordonez in front of him. He'll have a healthy Victor Martinez behind him. The opportunity to drive in runs will be there. I'd be shocked if he didn't finish .300/35/120 this season.
Quick hits:
AL East: Boston Red Sox
AL Central: Detroit Tigers
AL West: Oakland Athletics
Wild Card: New York Yankees
NL East: Atlanta Braves
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds
NL West: Colorado Rockies
Wild Card: Philadelphia Phillies
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit
AL Cy Young: John Lester, Boston
NL MVP: Hanley Ramirez, Florida
NL Cy Young: Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado
AL Best Record: Boston Red Sox 95-67
NL Best Record: Atlanta Braves 93-69
AL Champion: Boston Red Sox
NL Champion: Philadelphia Phillies
World Series Champ: Boston Red Sox
Let me know what you think! (Obviously I'm crazy).