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Predictions are fun to make, even if they're destined to look ridiculous in 15 days (or 15 minutes). Please provide your own picks in the comments.
American League
Yankees: Even if Pineda is a zero, they're sound everywhere
Rays: Offense could be tricky, but starting rotation is loaded
Red Sox: All I want from this season: the removal of Bobby V
Blue Jays: The biggest sleeper in the majors - I won't be surprised if they beat out Boston
Orioles: No shot under current ownership
Tigers: Messy infield defense or not, they win by 10 games
White Sox: A few of those 2011 flukes flip back
Indians: Bang the drum slowly, sha la la la
Royals: Probably a year away
Twins: Defense can't be that bad again, but so many injury concerns
Rangers: Not a Ron Washington fan, but organization is ridiculously loaded
Angels: Love Mike Scioscia and the staff, but not the bottom of the lineup
Mariners: Pretty city, nifty ballpark
Oakland: Wrecking ball can't come soon enough
Awards (Winner and sleeper)
MVP: Miguel Cabrera (Ian Kinsler)
Cy Young: Jered Weaver (C.J. Wilson, Derek Holland)
Rookie: Matt Moore (Jesus Montero)
First Manager Fired: Bobby Valentine (because I just bought the Red Sox and fired him)
Wild Cards: Rays, Angels
Pennant: Angels
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National League
Marlins: New park, new attitude, new hair color
Phillies: It's an old team, and offense could be a problem
Nationals: They'll be a monster in a year or two
Braves: Don't like the offense, don't like Freddi G
Mets: A last-place lock
Reds: Despite the madness of Dusty
Cardinals: They won't miss La Russa, but they will miss Duncan
Brewers: How are they going to score?
Pirates: Inching towards respectability, like Bedard and Burnett as sleepers
Cubs: Theo can't fix this overnight
Astros: Life will be better in the American League
Giants: With this rotation, you don't need a lot of runs
Diamondbacks: Clear overachiever from last year
Dodgers: Top heavy, don't trust the support guys
Rockies: No faith in Jim Tracy, hate the starting rotation (other than the No. 5 lefty)
Padres: Wonderful city, lengthy rebuilding project
Awards (Winner and sleeper)
MVP: Joey Votto (Pablo Sandoval, Jose Reyes)
Cy Young: Madison Bumgarner (Adam Wainwright, Josh Johnson)
Rookie: Trevor Bauer (Bryce Harper)
First Manager Fired: Terry Collins (not like it matters)
Wild Cards: Phillies, Cardinals
Pennant: Giants
World Series: Giants over Angels
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Some Other Random Predictions:
- Adam Dunn hits at least 30 home runs
- Daniel Bard winds up in the Boston bullpen
- A Houston pitcher wins 15 games
- Alex Rodriguez plays more games than Derek Jeter
- Jason Bay doesn't get it back, but Ike Davis is terrific
- Johnny Cueto has a 3.95 ERA
- Roy Oswalt pitches three months for a National League contender
- Miguel Cabrera sticks at third base all season and the world doesn't end
- Ichiro Suzuki hits .331
- Tim Lincecum is the third-best starter on the Giants
- David Freese makes the NL All-Star team
- Brennan Boesch scores 104 runs
- Jeff Francoeur, at minimum, goes 15-15
- Pedro Alvarez spends most of the year in the minors
- Wilson Ramos is better than Matt Wieters
- Chris Sale excels in the rotation
- Andrew Cashner has at least 10 saves
- Mark Teixeira hits at least .280
- Lorenzo Cain is legit
- Buck Showalter makes that punky face all season
- Troy Tulowitzki plays less than 130 games
- Dee Gordon steals at least 60 bases
- Yu Darvish is a significant disappointment
- Andy Behrens wins the Friends & Family League (everyone else ties for last)
That's enough for now. I'll be here all season. Let's see your crystal ball.