2013 MLB Predictions

As promised, here are my picks for how the season will shape up.

AL East

1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. New York Yankees
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Boston Red Sox

I'm a Red Sox fan, but even I can't fool myself into thinking they have any legitimate shot at the playoffs this year. The Yankees don't look nearly as scary as they have in the past and I can't name anyone other than Sabathia on their pitching staff. The Blue Jays are my pick for most improved in the division and the Rays are still the team to beat.

AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Minnesota Twins

This is the hardest division to call 2-5. My vote for the worst division in baseball has the Tigers winning by more than 10 games. The new look Indians with Terry Francona at the controls will be the team to watch for, but probably not this year.

AL West

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Houston Astros

The loss of Josh Hamilton to the Angels will have an affect on Texas as they begin their inevitable digression. The Angels are nasty this year and are probably the best team in the AL as they are loaded with talent. Welcome to the American League Astros. I think they'd finish last no matter what division you put them in. They stink.

AL Playoff Teams:

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Oakland Athletics
5. Toronto Blue Jays

NL East

1. Washington Nationals
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Miami Marlins
5. New York Mets

This is an interesting division. The Phillies could go either way depending on its team's health. If healthy they could be 2nd, but I'm giving it to the Braves who seem to be the model of consistency. The Marlins aren't very good this year, and the Mets... well they're awful. Just awful.

NL Central

1. Cincinnati Reds
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Pittsburgh Pirates
5. Chicago Cubs

The Reds should win this division but it will be very close. The Cardinals are no joke and will be within 5 games. Milwaukee should rename itself to Mediocre, the Pirates need another big bat to go with McCutchen, as well as a bit more pitching, and the Cubs are almost as bad as the Mets. Almost.

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. Colorado Rockies

Los Angeles seems to have put together TWO very good baseball teams. The Dodgers and Giants will be trading 1st place back and forth I predict, but I'll give the edge to the Dodgers by 2 games. They will score a lot of runs with that offense, and San Fran's pitching is very tough. Should be an exciting battle between these two teams. The rest of them, put in any order you want. None of them have a chance at the playoffs.

NL Playoff Teams

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Washington Nationals
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. San Francisco Giants
5. St. Louis Cardinals

There you have it. Can't wait for the season to start. Meanwhile, on the fantasy front, following my disappointing football showings, my NBA team won its regular season by 16 games, and has been on a bye this week. My playoff starts Monday. My free baseball team has been selected, and my two NCAA brackets (one free one for money) haven't gone to shit yet. My fantasy baseball team for money drafts on Thursday. There are 18 teams in the league. 18! Yikes! Stay tuned for those draft results as well as my NBA playoff predictions coming soon! Till then...