Welcome back to The Big Fly. Over the past six weeks, we’ve given you a preview of each team and each division in baseball. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading up on each team. In this entry, we’ll recap our division winners, then make our playoff predictions and postseason award predictions.
AL Playoffs
· AL East Champion: Boston Red Sox (AL Champion)
o Even with the pitching questions, the offense went to another level with the additions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. A definite World Series contender and arguably the most complete team in baseball.
· AL Central Champion: Minnesota Twins
o This is contingent on a healthy Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. Even if these two miss time, the Twins always find a way to win games and stay in the divisional race. Looking to get over the hump in the playoffs.
· AL West Champions: Texas Rangers
o Even without Cliff Lee, the starting rotation is solid and the addition of Adrian Beltre brings firepower to an already feared offense. Lack of postseason experience is no longer a question. Dangerous team once again.
· AL Wild Card Winner: New York Yankees
o Predictable? Maybe. The starting rotation definitely has questions, but the offense is too powerful to expect a serious drop off. Always a scary club.
· AL Playoff Dark Horses: Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics
o It wouldn’t be surprising to see the White Sox win the Central or the Wild Card. Solid at the plate and on the bump. The Athletics only need their young pitchers to remain consistent all season to make a run in the West.
NL Playoffs
· NL East Champion: Philadelphia Phillies
o Dominant pitching staff will make this team tough to beat. The lineup is productive but aging. If the position players remain healthy, arguably the best team in the league. But that’s a big if.
· NL Central Champion: Cincinnati Reds
o Don’t let last year’s quick playoff exit fool you. This team is built for the long haul. Best offense in the NL in 2010 and decent pitching staff will be enough to repeat. This team will win the NL sometime soon.
· NL West Champion: San Francisco Giants (NL Champion)
o An extremely well-balanced club. Offense won’t scare anyone but gets the job done, while the pitching staff will once again frustrate opposing hitters. Very good chance to return to the World Series.
· NL Wild Card Winner: Atlanta Braves
o If the Phillies battle injuries, they could win the East. Solid at the plate and on the mound but not great defensively. Nobody will want to play them in the postseason.
· NL Playoff Dark Horses: Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers
o If the Giants suffer a letdown, the Rockies will make them pay provided they find some consistency. The Brewers are all-in this season and their offseason pitching upgrades make them a feared squad.
World Series
· Red Sox vs. Giants
o This would be quite a series, which would match up baseball’s best offense with one of baseball’s best pitching staffs. By this point, the Red Sox pitching staff will have answered any questions posed earlier in the season. This will be the year where good offense defeats good pitching.
- Prediction: Red Sox in six games
Postseason Awards
· AL Most Valuable Player
o 1. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees
- Cano really busted out in 2010, and he will continue to be a major run producer hitting in such a deep lineup.
o 2. Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox
- Hitting in the middle of a powerful Boston lineup, Youkilis will set career highs in homers and RBI’s.
o 3. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
- As long as he defeats his personal demons, the sky is the limit for his offensive numbers.
· AL Cy Young
o 1. Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox
- He won’t be lacking for run support. He’s one of the best lefties in the game, but this year, he joins the discussion about the best pitcher in baseball.
o 2. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
- He won it last year while winning 13 games, so if Seattle improves, his numbers could be even more frightening.
o CC Sabathia, New York Yankees
- The big guy is as consistent as they come. Is always a threat to win 20 games with the team he has around him.
· AL Rookie of the Year
o 1. Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays
- He pitched like an old veteran during his September call-up. He still has a solid offense to score some runs for him.
o 2. Kyle Drabek, Toronto Blue Jays
- Like Hellickson, will receive run support. Jays are excited about his potential.
o 3. Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
- Still in the minors, but has the power potential to inject some life into the Royals’ season.
· NL Most Valuable Player
o 1. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
- Extremely boring pick, but who cares? Swirling rumors about his departure aren’t going to distract him because he’s that good.
o 2. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
- If he avoids any early-season slumps and fluky injuries, don’t be shocked if he walks away with this award.
o 3. Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers
- In the walk year of his contract. Hitters tend to do crazy things in their walk year. Always a threat for 40 homers.
· NL Cy Young Award
o 1. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies
- Like Pujols, a bit of a boring choice. But he’s the most consistent pitcher in baseball and he played the NL like a fiddle after moving over before last season.
o 2. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
- He’s always in the discussion due to pitching in the slightly offensively-challenged NL West. His nasty stuff doesn’t hurt either.
o 3. Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves
- He’ll receive the run support in 2011 that was sometimes lacking last season. This is the year he becomes an annual contender for this award.
· NL Rookie of the Year
o 1. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
- Won’t face too much pressure due to hitting near the bottom of a good lineup. Braves are excited about his potential.
o 2. Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
- The Giants’ offense isn’t the most powerful, and Belt should force his way in early.
o 3. Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
- Still qualifies as a rookie. Arguably some of the best stuff in the majors. Could be closing by the end of the year.
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