Tuesday, March 29, 2011

2011 Baseball Predictions

In the past (2009, 2008, and 2007) I have made predictions about the outcome of the baseball season. I based these on the previous year's record and then added in my own personal adjustment. It is a fairly simple formula.

Previous Years Wins +/- Off-season Moves.

This years predictions are below:

AL East
  1. 97 - 65 Boston Red Sox

  2. 88 - 74 New York Yankees

  3. 82 - 80 Tampa Bay Rays

  4. 74 - 88 Baltimore Orioles

  5. 69 - 93 Toronto Blue Jays
The Red Sox are far and away the class of the division with their staff. The Yankees have a lineup but a questionable rotation. The Rays will take a step back with the loss of key players. The Jays should stink it up.

AL Central
  1. 91 - 71 Minnesota Twins

  2. 87 - 75 Chicago White Sox

  3. 81 - 81 Detroit Tigers

  4. 77 - 85 Cleveland Indians

  5. 71 - 91 Kansas City Royals
The Twins have the tools to win this division. The White Sox will put up quite a fight though. The rest are just also rans.

AL West
  1. 87 - 75 Texas Rangers

  2. 85 - 77 Oakland Athletics

  3. 80 - 82 Los Angeles Angels

  4. 65 - 97 Seattle Mariners
The Rangers and As will duke it out for the playoff spot. The lineup of the Rangers should give them the edge.

NL East
  1. 98 - 64 Philadelphia Phillies

  2. 90 - 72 Atlanta Braves

  3. 80 - 82 Florida Marlins

  4. 70 - 92 New York Mets

  5. 66 - 96 Washington Nationals
What's not to love about arguably the best rotation ever. The Braves however will compete mightily in the NL. The Mets and their putrid rotation will fall back this year.

NL Central
  1. 89 - 73 Milwaukee Brewers

  2. 86 - 76 St. Louis Cardinals

  3. 82 - 80 Chicago Cubs

  4. 82 - 80 Cincinnati Reds

  5. 70 - 92 Houston Astros

  6. 69 - 93 Pittsburgh Pirates
This will be the hardest division to win this year. I can honestly see any of the top 4 teams pulling it out. I like the Greinke addition and the Prince contract year to pull it out.

NL West
  1. 91- 71 San Francisco Giants

  2. 83 - 79 Los Angeles Dodgers

  3. 81 - 81 Colorado Rockies

  4. 78 - 84 San Diego Padres

  5. 68 - 94 Arizona Diamondbacks
As usual, I am not sold on anything in this division except the Giants rotation.


AL Playoffs
Boston over Texas and Minnesota over New York
Boston over Minnesota

NL Playoffs
Phillies over Brewers and Braves over Giants
Phillies over Braves

World Series
Phillies over Boston