Early Season View

   The biggest story of the first week of baseball has been the Boston Red Sox.  The predicted World Series Champions have had a completely healthy lineup and pitching staff, but still have an 0-6 record.  Being swept in Texas is nothing to be ashamed of, but losing all three games to a Cleveland Indians team, who is more than likely the worst team in baseball, is simply unacceptable.  The Adrian Gonzalez-led lineup for the most part has been hitting but the pitching staff has the worst ERA in the whole league.  Jon Lester was shelled in Texas, and still got another loss last night despite giving up only one run in seven innings.  This pitching staff is something that most experts said was the small weak spot on a seemingly invincible Red Sox team.  However, no one saw it being this bad to start the season. Entering play on Thursday, Boston had lost its first five games and its starting pitchers had an 8.53 ERA (worst in the AL) while six of its nine everyday players were batting .222 or below.    There is no real reason to worry, although no team has started 0-6 and won the World Series.  No 0-6 team has ever even reached the World Series, but this team will be around for the whole stretch run; it is just off to a slow start.  The Red Sox pitching, while not great, is way better than an ERA over eight.  The Red Sox are just too talented to be held to last place in the American League East, look for them to bounce back in a big way.

Predictions

Well it’s that time of year again.  Opening Day was yesterday so it is time to make some predictions for this year’s playoff teams and awards.

 First, I will start in the AL East.  In a two horse race, I believe that the Boston Red Sox will edge out the New York Yankees for the division crown.  Boston put together the best offseason out of any team in baseball this year.  As much as their pitching is a concern, I will take Lester, Buchholz, Beckett, Lackey and Dice-K over Sabathia, Burnett, Hughes, Ivan Nova, and Freddy Garcia.  Don’t worry Yankees fans.  Whoever loses this race is a lock for the wild card.  In the AL Central, I like the Detroit Tigers to find a way, even though the Twins and the White Sox will be right with them.  The Tigers have a very underrated pitching staff, led by all-star Justin Verlander and rising stud Max Scherzer.  Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez will carry them to the division title this year.  In the AL West, I believe the Rangers will hold of the Oakland Athletics in probably the closest division race all season.  The Rangers just have enough pitching to overcome the A’s terrible hitting.  If the Athletics can get absolutely any run support for their stud rotation, they have a great chance of upending the Rangers in the West.

In the National League East, I still like the Phillies’ wily veterans over the Atlanta Braves, but it’s going to be very close.  The Phillies have serious age and injury concerns, but that pitching staff will keep them in it all year.  The Braves will be the wild card winners for the second year in a row.  I like the Milwaukee Brewers to surprise the Reds and Cardinals in the NL Central this season.  The Brewers finally have the combination of pitching and hitting that can carry them to the postseason with the additions of Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum.  In the NL West, I like the Colorado Rockies to win.  The Rockies are always baseball’s best second half team, but expect Troy Tulowitzki to finally be healthy and lead the Rox to a NL West crown.

My World Series prediction is The Red Sox over the Phillies in six games, which pains me as a Phillies fan.  The Sox are just too well rounded to lose this season and the once mighty Phils’ lineup will not be scratch up enough support for their Big Four.