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pan6467 · 03-21-2004, 01:10 AM

My forecast..............

we'll go with the easiest divisions first.............

NL West........

1) I see the Diamondbacks running away with it. Dessens is a stronger pitcher than his record shows and should have a breakout year. Webb is the real deal and will be the #1 ace by the end of the season. JohnsonI think will have a strong comeback season and call it quits afterward. Shane Reynolds could spark and become a very strong pitcher. Sparks, is a knuckleballer and in the NL could thrive and revive his once decent career. For relief Valverde/Villareal are great setup men and Mantei will be one of the top closers this year.

As for offense the D'backs are loaded. Cintron will dominate SS in this league. He may not have power but he'll get on base and have the clutch hits. Sexson will hit close to 40 and drive in 100+, Hillenbrand now accustomed to the NL will return to his .300 BA and will show some power I look for 25-30 homers from him. Finley and Gonzalez should have great years age is catching up but they have 1 or 2 more years left before mediocrity. Alomar maybe the biggest surprise, I see him coming back bigtime for his final year with Baerga's help.

Arizona takes the division. San Diego finishes second but probably 7 games back. LA makes an early run but the pitching falters and Gagne comes down to Earth. Colorado and SF vie for the basement. Bonds will have a crappy year with all the pressure and may "get injured" early and sit out. SF just has no Offense besides Bonds. Colorado has the offense as always but no pitching.

AL EAST.............

1) With Boston and NY beating up each other and smoothing over egos I see Toronto sneaking in and winning.

Boston and Tampa Bay will fight for second AND the Wild Card. Baltimore finishes 4th and the NY Yankees face a total meltdown and the firing of Joe Torre as they finish 5th.

NL EAST.................

1) Seems all the mags want to take Philly, but they truly lack the pitching. I see Fla. going almost wire to wire with it.

Philly will contend for the Wild Card early but by late August maybe dropping all the way to 4th, their season will be over. Atlanta and NY will fight fiercely for 3rd and NY may even finish 2nd. NY is loaded with youth and Lieter, Glavine, and Trachsel aren't finished yet. Jae Wong Seo may surprise and Looper is a fast rising closer ready to breakout. Montreal, well, they will showcase talent and trade it all away by July proving to all they are nothing more than the owners farm team.

AL WEST..................

1) Oakland the pitching takes them to 110 wins and the offense makes sure they score 1 more run than the opponent. Zito, Hudson, Mulder, Redman and Harden have WS written all over their pitching ability.

Anaheim will take second (Colon doesn't have the mental attitude to be a team's ace pitcher, he'll fall apart by midseason and drop to a more comfortable 2nd starter, it's something we learned in Cleveland), Seattle will falter all seasonbut at least they have better pitching than the lowly Rangers who will finish with 100 losses and will have traded anyone of value away (look for Blalock to be traded but an overhyped Texiera to stay). Welcome to John Hart's leftover world Texas. Like Cleveland after Hart it'll take years to rebuild what he destroyed (the farm system).

That leaves the 2 hardest to pick divisions and probably the 2 most exciting divisions left.

NL CENTRAL................

1) Chicago and Houston have done what Boston and NY tried to do and that is better their teams without in anyway hurting the team. (Boston destroyed Garciaparra's pride and he's now "hurting" and NY will have serious ego problems). Houston and Chicago will take 1st and 2nd and the Wild Card. The biggest question in Baseball is who's staff will be stronger? Chicago's could have the edge BUT Zambrano and Cruz are still young, Clement is shaky at times and Prior's ankle has to be a question over 162 games. Houston has the same problem Pettitte and Clemens are getting old, Oswalt's groin has to be a concern and Miller and Redding are shaky but steady. That leaves me to choose by the bullpen and offense. But then that is cloudy also with Dotel closing for the first time and Borowski trying to prove he is a closer. Chicago's offense on paper appears stronger but not by much. So Chicago takes it and Houston gets the Wild Card.

I'd like to say the REDS will take advantage of those question marks and trounce to win the division but as with ST. Louis the REDS just don't have the pitching to even compete. But the REDS will take 3rd with a healthy JR., Dunn, Kearns, Casey, and all. I see tremendous years for the 4 listed and they have great yuoths in Larue, Wlliy Mo, Larson, Castro, Jimenez. By '06 the REDS will be the hottest team out there, with some offseason moves they may compete next year. St. Louis will have a decent year but as with Cincy they will have terrible pitching. Morris is overrated and Williams is a headcase with injuries waiting to happen. Pujols, Renteria and a disgruntled Edmonds can only carry so much before they break. Both teams will finish around .500.

Milwaukee and Pittsburgh will be carbon copies of Montreal and be trading anything they have of value by July. With Milwaukee on the market and Selig stepping down Milwaukee may at least pull out a 70 win season, bettering Pitt by 10 games.

Finally, the most surprising of the divisions.............

AL CENTRAL.......................

1) Debated long and hard with this one. I see a very close race by 4 of the 5 teams with a surprise Cleveland taking it. Bradley, Martinez, Gerut, Brousard, a comeback from Omar in his walk year, Blake and the pitching they have is unbelieveable. Cleveland win barely 86 but it's enough to win the division....... this year.

KC has the talent and the offense but their SP is suspect as is the relief corps. KC also lacks my deciding factor and that was the Jake in Cleveland. When the Tribe is winning NO STADIUM IN PRO SPORTS HAS AN ATMOSPHERE AND A FAN BASE LIKE THE CLEVELAND INDIANS. Just look at the 90's what the fans and that stadium did. There's a magic when that place starts rocking and in August and September that place will rock like it did in 95-97.

Minnesota somehow finds ways to win, but their luck just won't get them there this season. Chicago has to many mental patients on the team and for some reason just can't get a team attitude in their clubhouse.

Detroit is the AL's Montreal and Pudge, Dimitri Young and Carlos Pena will be gone by July.

ALDS

Oakland sweeps Boston
Cleveland battles Toronto but Toronto wins 3-2

ALCS

Oakland sweeps Toronto

NLDS

Chicago sweeps Arizona
Houston and Fla. battle for 5 with Fla. taking it 3-2

NLCS
Chicago wins 4-1 with Wood getting beat by Beckett. No curse this year.

THE WORLD SERIES.......................

Oakland and Chicago have total pitching duels. RECORD LOWS ARE SET IN RUNS, BA, ERA, BB AND A RECORD HIGH FOR K'S BY BOTH TEAMS. Oakland takes it in 7 with Zambrano taking 2 losses and Clement taking 1, the final game will see Borowski blow the save and lose what was the WIN of the century.

There you have it read it now, look back in October after game 7 and see how accurate I am........... damn close I'm sure, BUT IT IS BASEBALL THE GREATEST SPORT ON EARTH AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

03-21-2004, 01:10 AM	#38 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	My forecast.............. we'll go with the easiest divisions first............. NL West........ 1) I see the Diamondbacks running away with it. Dessens is a stronger pitcher than his record shows and should have a breakout year. Webb is the real deal and will be the #1 ace by the end of the season. JohnsonI think will have a strong comeback season and call it quits afterward. Shane Reynolds could spark and become a very strong pitcher. Sparks, is a knuckleballer and in the NL could thrive and revive his once decent career. For relief Valverde/Villareal are great setup men and Mantei will be one of the top closers this year. As for offense the D'backs are loaded. Cintron will dominate SS in this league. He may not have power but he'll get on base and have the clutch hits. Sexson will hit close to 40 and drive in 100+, Hillenbrand now accustomed to the NL will return to his .300 BA and will show some power I look for 25-30 homers from him. Finley and Gonzalez should have great years age is catching up but they have 1 or 2 more years left before mediocrity. Alomar maybe the biggest surprise, I see him coming back bigtime for his final year with Baerga's help. Arizona takes the division. San Diego finishes second but probably 7 games back. LA makes an early run but the pitching falters and Gagne comes down to Earth. Colorado and SF vie for the basement. Bonds will have a crappy year with all the pressure and may "get injured" early and sit out. SF just has no Offense besides Bonds. Colorado has the offense as always but no pitching. AL EAST............. 1) With Boston and NY beating up each other and smoothing over egos I see Toronto sneaking in and winning. Boston and Tampa Bay will fight for second AND the Wild Card. Baltimore finishes 4th and the NY Yankees face a total meltdown and the firing of Joe Torre as they finish 5th. NL EAST................. 1) Seems all the mags want to take Philly, but they truly lack the pitching. I see Fla. going almost wire to wire with it. Philly will contend for the Wild Card early but by late August maybe dropping all the way to 4th, their season will be over. Atlanta and NY will fight fiercely for 3rd and NY may even finish 2nd. NY is loaded with youth and Lieter, Glavine, and Trachsel aren't finished yet. Jae Wong Seo may surprise and Looper is a fast rising closer ready to breakout. Montreal, well, they will showcase talent and trade it all away by July proving to all they are nothing more than the owners farm team. AL WEST.................. 1) Oakland the pitching takes them to 110 wins and the offense makes sure they score 1 more run than the opponent. Zito, Hudson, Mulder, Redman and Harden have WS written all over their pitching ability. Anaheim will take second (Colon doesn't have the mental attitude to be a team's ace pitcher, he'll fall apart by midseason and drop to a more comfortable 2nd starter, it's something we learned in Cleveland), Seattle will falter all seasonbut at least they have better pitching than the lowly Rangers who will finish with 100 losses and will have traded anyone of value away (look for Blalock to be traded but an overhyped Texiera to stay). Welcome to John Hart's leftover world Texas. Like Cleveland after Hart it'll take years to rebuild what he destroyed (the farm system). That leaves the 2 hardest to pick divisions and probably the 2 most exciting divisions left. NL CENTRAL................ 1) Chicago and Houston have done what Boston and NY tried to do and that is better their teams without in anyway hurting the team. (Boston destroyed Garciaparra's pride and he's now "hurting" and NY will have serious ego problems). Houston and Chicago will take 1st and 2nd and the Wild Card. The biggest question in Baseball is who's staff will be stronger? Chicago's could have the edge BUT Zambrano and Cruz are still young, Clement is shaky at times and Prior's ankle has to be a question over 162 games. Houston has the same problem Pettitte and Clemens are getting old, Oswalt's groin has to be a concern and Miller and Redding are shaky but steady. That leaves me to choose by the bullpen and offense. But then that is cloudy also with Dotel closing for the first time and Borowski trying to prove he is a closer. Chicago's offense on paper appears stronger but not by much. So Chicago takes it and Houston gets the Wild Card. I'd like to say the REDS will take advantage of those question marks and trounce to win the division but as with ST. Louis the REDS just don't have the pitching to even compete. But the REDS will take 3rd with a healthy JR., Dunn, Kearns, Casey, and all. I see tremendous years for the 4 listed and they have great yuoths in Larue, Wlliy Mo, Larson, Castro, Jimenez. By '06 the REDS will be the hottest team out there, with some offseason moves they may compete next year. St. Louis will have a decent year but as with Cincy they will have terrible pitching. Morris is overrated and Williams is a headcase with injuries waiting to happen. Pujols, Renteria and a disgruntled Edmonds can only carry so much before they break. Both teams will finish around .500. Milwaukee and Pittsburgh will be carbon copies of Montreal and be trading anything they have of value by July. With Milwaukee on the market and Selig stepping down Milwaukee may at least pull out a 70 win season, bettering Pitt by 10 games. Finally, the most surprising of the divisions............. AL CENTRAL....................... 1) Debated long and hard with this one. I see a very close race by 4 of the 5 teams with a surprise Cleveland taking it. Bradley, Martinez, Gerut, Brousard, a comeback from Omar in his walk year, Blake and the pitching they have is unbelieveable. Cleveland win barely 86 but it's enough to win the division....... this year. KC has the talent and the offense but their SP is suspect as is the relief corps. KC also lacks my deciding factor and that was the Jake in Cleveland. When the Tribe is winning NO STADIUM IN PRO SPORTS HAS AN ATMOSPHERE AND A FAN BASE LIKE THE CLEVELAND INDIANS. Just look at the 90's what the fans and that stadium did. There's a magic when that place starts rocking and in August and September that place will rock like it did in 95-97. Minnesota somehow finds ways to win, but their luck just won't get them there this season. Chicago has to many mental patients on the team and for some reason just can't get a team attitude in their clubhouse. Detroit is the AL's Montreal and Pudge, Dimitri Young and Carlos Pena will be gone by July. ALDS Oakland sweeps Boston Cleveland battles Toronto but Toronto wins 3-2 ALCS Oakland sweeps Toronto NLDS Chicago sweeps Arizona Houston and Fla. battle for 5 with Fla. taking it 3-2 NLCS Chicago wins 4-1 with Wood getting beat by Beckett. No curse this year. THE WORLD SERIES....................... Oakland and Chicago have total pitching duels. RECORD LOWS ARE SET IN RUNS, BA, ERA, BB AND A RECORD HIGH FOR K'S BY BOTH TEAMS. Oakland takes it in 7 with Zambrano taking 2 losses and Clement taking 1, the final game will see Borowski blow the save and lose what was the WIN of the century. There you have it read it now, look back in October after game 7 and see how accurate I am........... damn close I'm sure, BUT IT IS BASEBALL THE GREATEST SPORT ON EARTH AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"