2009 MLB Predictions

Well the Phillies stumbled in their home opener last night versus Derek Lowe and the Atlanta Braves. They get Monday off before finishing the three game set on Tuesday and Wednesday.

I did a short Phillies preview before the game last night but what about the rest of the league? What does my completely pointless and most likely incorrect forecast look like? Who are the best performers in '09? Here are my sure-to-be-wrong predictions for the 2009 baseball season.

STANDINGS
American League
East
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees (WILD CARD)
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays
Baltimore Orioles

Central
Minnesota Twins
Cleveland Indians
Kansas City Royals
Detroit Tigers
Chicago White Sox

West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Oakland Athletics
Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners

National League
East
Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets (WILD CARD)
Atlanta Braves
Florida Marlins
Washington Nationals

Central
Chicago Cubs
St. Louis Cardinals
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates

West
Los Angeles Dodgers
Arizona Diamondbacks
San Francisco Giants
Colorado Rockies
San Diego Padres

BEST CHANCE TO CHOKE
American league
New York Yankees

National League
New York Mets

SLEEPERS
American League
Kansas City Royals

National League
Cincinnati Reds

AWARDS
Rookie of the Year - American League
Matt Weiters, C, Baltimore Orioles
Another Possibility - David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Rookie of the Year - National League
Cameron Maybin, CF, Florida Marlins
Another Possibility - Jason Motte, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Cy Young - American League
Roy Halladay, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Another Possibility - C.C. Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees

Cy Young - National League
Johan Santana, SP, New York Mets
Another Possibility - Brandon Webb, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Most Valuable Player - American League
Miguel Cabrera, 3B, Detroit Tigers
Another Possibility - Grady Sizemore, CF, Cleveland Indians

Most Valuable Player - National League
Chase Utley, 2B, Philadelphia Phillies
Another Possibility - David Wright, 3B, New York Mets

My MVPs and N.L. Cy Young candidates are unchanged from 2008. I'm expecting big things from Matt Wieters, ya know, as soon as Baltimore makes the no-brainer and calls him up. Same goes for Maybin. He could have a great yeaf for the Marlins. Both East divisions are tough and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see any of the top three teams from those divisions in the World Series. I still think the Phillies squeak vy New York and Atlanta, with Florida hot on their tails. I wanted to include the Rays but I just couldn't overlook the improvements New York made. I think the A.L. West remains a joke and the A.L. Central is completely up for grabs. Could we see the Royals in meaningful October baseball?

I did reasonably well last year, hitting 5 of the 8 playoff teams. Hopefully I can jump to 6 or 7 in '09.