Late Innings

Each year, something I enjoy doing is projecting the entire MLB season. I usually try to guess conservatively. This year there aren’t going to be any 100 game winers, nor are there going to be any 100 game losers. I also keep the races loose, and hate guessing which team will go down to the wire (no division is more than two games out of first.) Starting off with the final season standings:

American League

AL East

Team	W	L	PTG	GB
New York	96	66	0.593	–
Boston	94	68	0.580	2.0
Toronto	85	77	0.525	11.0
Tampa Bay	74	88	0.457	22.0
Baltimore	66	96	0.407	30.0

AL Central

Team	W	L	PTG	GB
Detroit	97	65	0.598	–
Cleveland	95	67	0.586	2.0
Minnesota	73	89	0.451	24.0
Chicago	71	91	0.438	26.0
Kansas City	67	95	0.414	30.0

AL West

Team	W	L	PTG	GB
Seattle	93	69	0.574	–
Los Angeles	88	74	0.543	5.0
Texas	71	91	0.438	22.0
Oakland	64	98	0.395	29.0

National League

NL East

Team	W	L	PTG	GB
New York	94	68	0.580	–
Atlanta	88	74	0.543	6.0
Philadelphia	84	78	0.519	10.0
Washington	72	90	0.444	22.0
Florida	65	97	0.401	29.0

NL Central

Team	W	L	PTG	GB
Chicago	94	68	0.580	–
Milwaukee	89	73	0.549	5.0
Cincinatti	79	83	0.488	15.0
St. Louis	71	91	0.438	23.0
Houston	69	93	0.426	25.0
Pittsburgh	65	97	0.401	29.0

NL West

Team	W	L	PTG	GB
Los Angeles	95	67	0.586	–
Arizona	93	69	0.574	2.0
Colorado	85	77	0.525	10.0
San Diego	84	78	0.519	11.0
San Francisco	69	93	0.426	26.0

Division Series

• New York over Seattle in 3
• Detroit over Cleveland in 5
• New York over Chicago in 4
• Los Angeles over Arizona in 4

Championship Series

• Detroit over New York in 6
• Los Angeles over New York in 6

World Series

• Los Angeles over Detroit in 5

So I love the Dodgers this year, I think they’re the team to beat. They have a wealth of talent, and I see Andy LaRoche and Clayton Kershaw coming up with huge contributions for the team. I also like the Cubs and Mets as favorites for their division. In the AL, it’s the same suspects, but I do see Seattle slipping into the playoffs. I also see the Yankees advancing to the ALCS for the first time in a while. Moving onto some personal achievements:

Personal Awards

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez. I don’t see why he shouldn’t win this thing again. Honorable Mentionings: David Ortiz, Magglio Ordonez, Grady Siezmore

NL MVP: David Wright. He gets the nod since his team will be playoff bound. Honorable Mentionings: Johan Santana, Matt Holliday, Andruw Jones

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander. He’ll be the top pitcher in the AL come season close. Honorable Mentionings: Erik Bedard, C.C. Sabathia

NL Cy Young: Santana. He’ll have a NL trophy to put up with the other ones he got in the AL. Honorable Mentionings: Chad Billingsley, Brandon Webb, Carlos Zambrano

AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria. The way he’s playing so far in Spring Training, he’s apparently after this award. Honorable Mentionings: Clay Buchholz

NL Rookie of the Year: Joey Votto. It’s a toss up between him and his teammate Jay Bruce, but I think Votto will make the earlier impact. Honorable Mentionings: Bruce, Colby Rasmus

AL Manager of the Year: Joe Girardi. He advances the dormant Yankees into the ALCS. That gets some recognition. Honorable Mentionings: Jim Leyland

NL Manager of the Year: Lou Pinella. His Cubs look good in 2008. Honorable Mentionings: Joe Torre

Miscallaneous

All-Star Game MVP: Chase Utley. Not sure why I chose this one, but the NL will win it this year.

World Series MVP: Derek Lowe. Just feeling it with this choice.

Bounce Back: Bill Hall. A drop in 20 home runs in 2007… there was an injury in there.

Season Home Run Champs: Ortiz, Howard

Wins Leaders: Verlander, Santana

Surprise Call Up: Clayton Kershaw. Joe Torre loves him, he’ll be what Ryan Braun was to the Brewers in 2007.