We had a snowstorm here in the northeast the other day. Rather than get high or sit in front of a television letting my estrogen levels soar, I wrote two articles: this one and another on why President Donald J. Trump should fire kangaroo court jester Robert Mueller.
I was going to post the Trump article first. However, Trump’s signing today of the most ridiculous spending budget thinkable stole my mood to fight for the President who did not fight for me or the rest of his base today.
Mr. President, we have prayed for, fought for and defended you to the point of driving wedges in our own families and personal relationships. Some have bled at the hands of ANTIFA terrorist; yet today you did the exact opposite of what we put you in the White House to do.
I am still pulling for the President with hope that he has a plan. He has always been proficient in getting off the deck. But as I have said in prior articles your real friends and allies will tell you when you screw up while the cheerleaders will run and hide when it really gets tough.
Trump looked like a modern day permissive parent today with the empty threat that he won’t sign another bill like this again. I was waiting for him to start counting to f*****g 3!
Okay, on to baseball. Last year I did some predictions on the season. I got all the division winners right but only 1 of the 4 wildcards. My Yankees overachieving and the San Francisco Giants falling on their faces blew up my postseason predictions.
But just for fun, let’s do it again. As always these predictions are predicated on the fallacy of assumed health which is becoming more and more of a fairytale every year, thanks in my opinion to over-participation in youth leagues and players falling in love with their fitness magazine physiques that are not really conducive to baseball; players unwilling to play less than 100% doesn’t help either.
Anyway, let’s get to the predictions.
American League East
Readers know I hate the Yankee acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton but I think that this is a team over 162 games that will slug and relieve its’ way to 95-100 wins and the division title. J.D. Martinez will be a better fit for the Boston Red Sox than Stanton for New York. I expect Boston to challenge the Bombers and get the first wildcard. The Tampa Bay Rays will play well fundamentally and pitch well as always but miss Evan Longoria. Toronto and Baltimore have enough talent to have their moments when you don’t want to play them but not enough to keep pace with the traditional big boys this year.
American League Central
Everyone seems to have forgotten that the Cleveland Indians were the best team in baseball last year with the exception of a week in October, and have the best manager. They will miss Carlos Santana and Jay Bruce but will take the division. I look for a young but talented Chicago White Sox team to do what the Minnesota Twins did last year and steal the second wildcard. The Detroit Tigers are headed toward having to tear it down completely and rebuild. I expect Miguel Cabrera to be traded before August along with possibly Michael Fulmer. Look for the Kansas City Royals to unload Mike Moustakas and wouldn’t Danny Duffy look sharp in pinstripes?
American League West
The Houston Astros are the defending champs and if healthy the team that can win more regular season games than the Yankees. Tough call but I will go with Houston for best record in the AL. The Anaheim Angels (they don’t play in LA) are improved and will contend for a wildcard. Seattle I will believe when I see it. Oakland may be improved and it will bother me in the coming years to see Jorge Mateo, Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian in green and gold rather than pinstripes (I still don’t like the Sonny Gray trade). I think the Texas Rangers have taken a major step back.
National League East
The Washington Nationals may have the most talent in the NL this year and the record will say so. The Mets have a good enough NL lineup and killer starting pitching if healthy. However, I look for the Philadelphia Phillies to be the White Sox of the NL and heist the second wildcard. The Atlanta Braves have a loaded system but are not yet ready to contend. Derek Jeter should prepare for being booed and losing in Miami with his Marlins.
National League Central
This might be the most evenly stacked division talent-wise. The Chicago Cubs have the pedigree and will take the division. The Milwaukee Brewers surprised last year and I will go with them for the first wildcard. The St. Louis Cardinals always get the most out of the least but they, the Pittsburg Pirates and Cincinnati Reds will fall short of the postseason.
National League West
The Los Angeles Dodgers still have the most talent but I will go with the Colorado Rockies to take the next step and dethrone them off a World Series heartbreak. The San Francisco Giants should be improved; the Arizona Diamondbacks will miss Martinez. The San Diego Padres are still as soft as cotton.
AL Postseason
Wildcard Game: Call me a hater but Chicago clips their old buddy Chris Sale in a battle of Sox in Fenway.
Division Series-1: Houston puts the White Sox in their place in 3.
Division Series-2: Cleveland was a better team last year from top to bottom but the Yanks were better for a week. This year the Tribe returns the favor to remind us in the Bronx that all-star lineups of sluggers with high strikeout rates rarely translate to October success. Cleveland in 4.
ALCS: Cleveland had Houston’s number last year and I could see that championship hangover catching up to the Astros. Cleveland in 6.
NL Postseason
Wildcard Game: Jake Arietta pushes the Phils into the Division Series over the Brew crew.
NLDS-1: They have a terrific team but I will believe in Washington in the postseason when I see it. Philly in 5.
NLDS-2: I never trust Colorado on the road and I can see the Cubbies grabbing one in Coors Field. Chicago in 4.
NLCS: The clock strikes 12 on the Cinderella Phillies. Cubs in 5.
World Series
In a 2016 rematch Cleveland has the better pitching from the starters through the pen. Indians in 6.