OTM Staff: Predicting the 2009 season
by Randy Booth on Apr 6, 2009 10:01 AM EDT
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PrintTake a deep breath, folks. Just take it all in because later today (pending rain) the Red Sox will be playing a real baseball game. Opening Day. The greatest day of the sports calendar year.
With the new season upon us, your friendly contributors here at Over The Monster decided to put some predictions together for the upcoming 2009 Major League Baseball season. We have both Red Sox-related predictions and MLB predictions for you to chew on.
But before we go any further, I think we should dip into the history books for predictions. I decided to go back and see what I predicted for the last couple of seasons. To start, apparently I had no thoughts prior to the 2007 season, because I can't find that post. My thoughts for 2008 were pretty bad and Allen's weren't much better (everyone thought the Tigers were going to be great, but we pegged that as crap. But we both thought the Mariners would win the West ... WTF were we thinking?!)
In 2006, I was actually pretty good in my award predictions. I completely booted the NL side, but I pegged Johan Santana and Justin Verlander correctly for Cy Young and Rookie of the Year. Two out of six ain't bad.
2005? Eh. Don't even look. Please. Don't look (yet I link to it. I'm so sad).
But hey, it's 2009, folks. It's the year of Change. That means every prediction below is going to be right. Even though we all contradict each other, somehow we will all be right when the season ends. Don't ask me how that works, just have faith in it. Or, Hope.
Without any more hesitation, enjoy. Feel free to give us your thoughts in the comments.
| QUESTION | BOOTH | CHACE | 0157H7 | DEVIL | LTRAIN |
| How many games will the Red Sox win this season? | 96 | 98 | 95 | 93 | 96 |
| How will finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the AL East? | 1 - Red Sox 2 - Yankees 3 - Rays |
1 - Red Sox 2 - Rays 3 - Orioles |
1 - Rays 2 - Red Sox 3 - Yankees |
1 - Red Sox 2 - Rays 3 - Yankees |
1 - Red Sox 2 - Yankees 3 - Rays |
| Who will be the Red Sox's MVP in 2009? | Dustin Pedroia | Beckett | Jason Bay |
Kevin Youkilis | Jon Lester |
| Who will be the Red Sox's LVP in 2009? | Tim Wakefield | Jason Varitek | Varitek | Varitek | J.D. Drew |
| AL Cy Young? | Josh Beckett | Beckett | Matt Garza | Roy Halladay | Lester |
| AL MVP? | B.J. Upton | Grady Sizemore | Bay | Josh Hamilton |
Miguel Cabrera |
| NL Cy Young? | Cole Hamels | Hamels | Hamels | Tim Lincecum | Johan Santana |
| NL MVP? | David Wright | Carlos Beltran | Chase Utley | Albert Pujols | Wright |
| Which team will be the surprise of baseball? | Yankees - Just because they will not win 162 games like some think | Cardinals - the pitching will keep them involved until the deadline | Angels - they will finish third in the AL West | D-Backs - Will win the NL West | Royals - will contend for AL Central crown |
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0157H7
Has Pedroia as team MVP but Bay as league MVP.
by Gnick on Apr 6, 2009 11:06 AM EDT reply actions
I’d say that’s possible. Because statistically, Bay could have the better stats but Pedroia might be the “glue”, ya know? More like an unsung MVP, I guess…
Did I really?
I meant Bay as the team MVP too. Pedroia must’ve pulled a fast one, or something.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
My picks
97 Wins
Red Sox/Yankees/Rays (Rays and Yankees tie, but Yankees with the playoff)
Team MVP — Youk
Team LVP — Penny
Cy — Halladay (Beckett is the runner-up)
AL MVP — Migueal Cabrera
NL Cy Young — Linecum
NL MVP — Utley
Surprise — the A’s will make it to the ALCS (and lose to the Red Sox)
Because I barely agree with anyone:
99 Wins
1.Red Sox 2.Rays 3.MFY
Team MVP: DP
Team LVP: Lugo
AL Cy Young: Felix
AL MVP: DP
NL Cy Young: Lincecum
NL MVP: Hanley
Surprise: The MFY barely beat out the Blue Jays for 3rd
I liked Devil's picks overall. Here's mine:
94 wins
1. Red Sox, 2. Yankees, 3. Rays
Team MVP: Bay
Team LVP: Lugo
AL Cy Young: Halladay
AL MVP: Miggy Cabrera
NL Cy Young: Santana
NL MVP: Hanley Ramirez
Surprise: A’s win the West (stolen from argo0)
Yeah
I like the A’s and Reds to surprise this year, and you’re right…I had a hard time picking between Wright and Hanley…
Just ltrain2 being ltrain2
Quo usque tandem abutere, Tomilina, patientia nostra?
Quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet?
Quem ad finem sese effrenata, iactabit audacia?
Nihilne te nocturnum praesidium Red Soxium, nihil urbis vigiliae, nihil timor populi Bostoniensis, nihil concursus bonorum omnium, nihil hic munitissimus habendi senatus locus, nihil horum ora voltusque moverunt?
Patere tua consilia non sentis, constrictam iam horum omnium scientia teneri coniurationem tuam non vides?
Quid proxima, quid superiore nocte egeris, ubi fueris, quos convocaveris, quid consilii ceperis, quem nostrum ignorare arbitraris?
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
You didn't speak French?
You spoke in imparfait, or past imperfect (parlais). Sorry, but my teacher was drilling that into our heads a few weeks ago.
I was wondering who would get it.
It’s fitting that you did.
I’m guessing you Et tu’d me because I predicted the Rays to finish first. When I wrote this, I hadn’t looked much at the 2009 team. In hindsight, picking them to win was probably a bad call, especially since I’ve questioned the strength of their pen and offense over here. I dunno. The Rays scare me more. If I were completely rational and optimistic, I’d pick the Red Sox to be first, like all of my colleagues did.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
The Rays are pretty scary.
Especially considering that Pena, Crawford, and Upton all had down years last season, and Longoria missed a good chunk of time.
But picking them over the Sox? On Opening Day?
Manny ain't the only bad man.
yeah
I’ve been hearing/reading a lot of talk about Crawford having a huge year in 2009…let’s hope not!
Just ltrain2 being ltrain2
I almost picked the Rays to finish first
I just don’t think their bullpen will have the same success as they did last year, and I think the Sox’ pen is much improved. That was the deciding factor for me. I think the Red Sox are built better for the playoffs, with starting pitchers who have a better history of giving dominating performances. The Rays rotation may be equal or better to the Red Sox over the course of the entire season, but I like ours in a single series.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
Only if he has a negative range rating and makes easy plays look difficult.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
I was joking about how the Rays, their fans, and the media complain about how he hasn't won one.
Besides the fact that they are horrible excuses for awards, they are usually still pretty good indicators of who is a good fielder.
My take.
96 Wins
Red Sox/Rays/Yanks
Team MVP — I love it when you call me Big Papi
Team LVP — MDC.
AL Cy Young — King Felix earns his crown
AL MVP — I LOVE it when you call me Big Papi
NL Cy Young — Johann
NL MVP — Matt Kemp
Three Surprises — 1. The Reds make the WS. 2. Tek hits 20 HRs. 3. The Baltimore Orioles come in fourth, with Markakis and Jones leading the way.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
Matt Kemp was one of the top prospects in the game
and is one of the best young players. He could certainly do it.
"It's just a tiny little nick, but it hurts when I get champagne in there."
- Jason Bay, on getting spiked scoring the winning run in ALDS Game Four.
Andre Ethier may put up better numbers.
Ethier has a better spot in the line-up.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
Ethier is very good.
But I think Kemp is better. Higher upside, and he’s younger. Once he hits his stride, I see the lineup being adjusted accordingly.
Manny ain't the only bad man.
I think Felix Hernandez needs a lot more seasoning before he (ever?) reaches his potential.
"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.
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