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Predictions for the 2005 season
[Editor's Note: This column was received April 7, just a few days into the season. It's taken me a week and a half to get it up on the site.]
"I couldn't have done it without my players." Aaahhh yes, the words of the "old perfessor" Casey Stengel on winning the 1958 World Series. That's what you will need this year to make it to the October Classic. Players, not money; it's about the players. Yes there is a black cloud over baseball this year. Not since the great Black Sox scandal of 1919 has there been such scandal in America's pastime. That's right, you second tier sports guys (NBA, PGA Golf, NASCAR and NFL), baseball is America's pastime! Well not everyone is using the "roids" so lets just get to it. (Check last year's picks, I had everyone correct in the AL and nobody in the NL. Go figure. I have not watched an AL game in years.)
The National League
N.L. East — Last year as always I predicted with my heart instead of my head. Going with the Phils really makes me look bad this year, so this year I'm going with… the PHILS. Solid hitting, with a non-steroid one-two punch of Thome and Burrell and a strong bullpen led by Billy Wagner could prove the difference down the stretch. Hotlanta, which has won the division every year since Zell Miller was Governor of Georgia, will end along with Zell's time as the Republican keynote speaker. The Braves, led by the Jones brothers (Chipper and Andruw), Smoltz and Mondesi and a lineup more overrated then the cast of Gigli will end this year as did Kobe Bryant's Lakers in the NBA. Florida, with some strong pitching and savvy veterans, should be a formidable foe for the Phillies and the Braves. The Mets, well if the past holds true, look for more excuses on why they finished in third place than Ralph Nader had in the past two elections for President. Yes Washington has a team (hence my quips on DC) and will finish last just like the Senators did in 71.N.L. Central — The Cards will try to hold off the rest of this top-heavy division of Goliath like teams in the pennant holding NL Central. The Cards have improved their pitching staff and Edmonds and Rolen have one thing on their mind — get back to the series, a series where they went 1 for 32. Ouch! The Cubs without the Sosa baggage could stay in it till September. The Stros, led by the Killer B's (Bagwell and Biggio) and crafty veterans Pettitte and Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, almost had the pennant last year and will also be in it till the end. The Pirates and the Brew Crew, whose payrolls are lower then the purse on the Pro Bowlers tour, will once again fight it out for the bottom. The Reds are the dark horse here. If Ken Griffey Jr. and Casey at the Bat stay healthy, they could turn this into a great race down the stretch.
N.L. West — Again the Giants should win this race, despite the loss of Barry "I steal quotes from Richard Nixon" Bonds. Long gone are the glory days of the Dodgers, (had a nice run to win the flag in last year's fluke race) and though the chic pick here is the Padres (Pope John Paul II's favorite team), the Giants should run break away by Labor Day. 'Zona and the Rocks will find out fast how bad they are come August when the stands are emptier than a gas tank on Route 66 since prices are getting close to $2.50 a gallon. Thanks Congress!
The American League
Here are my picks in the Diaper League (the DH rule is still the worst).A.L. East — Well, looks to be the Red Sox and the Crankees trying to spend more to beat each other and forgetting about the rest of the division. Baltimore with Sammy "I Not Take Steroids" Sosa, and Rafael "I point my finger at you like President Clinton" Palmeiro have a shot at the title. With the Jays and Rays in the cellar, the top teams have a chance to win 100 games.
A.L. Central — The Twins have been America's underdog warriors since the new millennium and will be the pick of most experts this year. However, I'm not an expert. Like Harry Truman said, "I don't like experts — they're afraid of learning anything new." So I'm going with the Detroit Tigers! The Tigers are strong behind the plate with Pudge Rodriguez and he led the Marlins to a series title two years ago. Look for the "worst to first" happening here with feeble foes like the Royals, Chi Sox, and the Indians. It will be a battle between the Twins and the Tigers.
A.L. West — Here's another division that has a problem with winning in October. I'll take the Los Angeles Angels. Vladimir Guerrero should get yet another MVP here. Ichiro Suzuki and the Mariners will be a close second in the MVP voting and division race. The A's will be graded with Cs by year's end. President Bush likes to say "Don't mess with Texas." But Texas will be messed with, as are the other sports teams in our leader's home state — the Spurs, Rockets, Mavs, Cowboys, and Astros. See you at the All-Star game.
— Johnny "Prime Time" Maz
