Sporting News 2011 Projections

[FirstTimer]

AL East
Red Sox
Yankees
Blue Jays
Rays
Orioles

AL Central
White Sox
Tigers
Twins
Indians
Royals

AL West
Rangers
Angels
Athletics
Mariners


NL East
Phillies
Braves
Marlins
Mets
Nationals

NL Central
Reds
Cardinals
Brewers
Cubs
Astros
Pirates

NL West
Giants
Dodgers
Rockies
San Diego

Wild Card


World Series: Red Sox over Phillies


*Note* Projections were made before the Garza/Gorzo trades etc.

 

[Jntg4]

I think the Wainwright injury may move the Cubs to 2nd, and Milwaukee to 1st.

I don't think much of Cincinnati.

I just can't see them repeating with a tougher schedule than last year, I can't see Rolen repeating, I can't see Votto repeating to a full extent, etc.

 

[FirstTimer]

Honestly IMO the Brewers are my favorites(and have been). Followed by the Reds then the Cards after the Wainwright injury. The Cards will compete as LaRussa and Duncan are always able to find scrap heap pitchers when injuries hit.(At least it seems this way). Prior to the Wainwright injury I had the Cards second.

The Cubs in 4th seems about right to me. Maybe now they push for third with Wainwright down but I don't see them threatening the Brewers or Reds.

 

[Jntg4]

Honestly IMO the Brewers are my favorites(and have been). Followed by the Reds then the Cards after the Wainwright injury. The Cards will compete as LaRussa and Duncan are always able to find scrap heap pitchers when injuries hit.(At least it seems this way). Prior to the Wainwright injury I had the Cards second.

The Cubs in 4th seems about right to me. Maybe now they push for third with Wainwright down but I don't see them threatening the Brewers or Reds.

I don't see them threatening Milwaukee... but Cincy's success was built on beating the NL Central teams that were under .500, namely Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, and Pittsburgh. Milwaukee got a lot better, Chicago got better, Houston got better in the 2nd half of last season, and Pittsburgh got better. That takes a lot of the "easy" wins away from Cincinnati.

STL is always suspect to me... they really only have 2 good pitchers after Wainwright's gone, in Carpenter and Garcia (who could have a sophomore slump, or a decline of some sort), Berkman starting in the outfield, Theriot actually starting at Short, and no good 3B (Freese is coming off an injury, and I'm not sure who's starting now, is it still him? He doesn't even have a full MLB season though.)

I think the cubs have a good shot at 2nd. Especially since Ricketts said there will be flexibility at the deadline (and in the off-season).

 

[FirstTimer]

I don't see them threatening Milwaukee... but Cincy's success was built on beating the NL Central teams that were under .500, namely Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, and Pittsburgh.

And with the exception of Milwaukee I think there is a fairly good chance they are under .500 again.

STL is always suspect to me... they really only have 2 good pitchers after Wainwright's gone, in Carpenter and Garcia (who could have a sophomore slump, or a decline of some sort), Berkman starting in the outfield, Theriot actually starting at Short, and no good 3B (Freese is coming off an injury, and I'm not sure who's starting now, is it still him? He doesn't even have a full MLB season though.)

I think it's still Frese. But after ST who knows. As of now that's who I'm seeing projected there.

I think the cubs have a good shot at 2nd. Especially since Ricketts said there will be flexibility at the deadline (and in the off-season).

I guess but the issue there is the Cubs don't have a lot of tradeable assets right now. The Cubs best hope for this season, and going forward, is to have some guys like Soriano, Fukudome, Zambrano, Ramirez etc have some really nice starts make themselves more tradeable and the Cubs find ways to get rid of as much bad paper as possible.

I just can't really envision a scenario, barring injuries galore to the other top 3 teams, where the Cubs push for second place in the division.

 

[Jntg4]

And with the exception of Milwaukee I think there is a fairly good chance they are under .500 again.





I think it's still Frese. But after ST who knows. As of now that's who I'm seeing projected there.


I guess but the issue there is the Cubs don't have a lot of tradeable assets right now. The Cubs best hope for this season, and going forward, is to have some guys like Soriano, Fukudome, Zambrano, Ramirez etc have some really nice starts make themselves more tradeable and the Cubs find ways to get rid of as much bad paper as possible.

I just can't really envision a scenario, barring injuries galore to the other top 3 teams, where the Cubs push for second place in the division.

Eh, I can't see Cincy or St. Louis being that good either.

 

[FirstTimer]

Awards

MVP
AL: Miggy Cabrera
NL: Albert Pujols

Cy Young
AL: Jon Lester
NL: Clayton kershaw


Rookie of the Year:

AL: Dustin Ackley
NL: Aroldis Chapman

 

[Jntg4]

Awards

MVP
AL: Miggy Cabrera
NL: Albert Pujols

Cy Young
AL: Jon Lester
NL: Clayton kershaw


Rookie of the Year:

AL: Dustin Ackley
NL: Aroldis Chapman

Ackley over Helickson? Hmm...

 

[DewsSox79]

seems ok.

I dont see the orioles being last.

the nl central predictions are all fucked up. milwaukee is my division pick.

id flip flop the tigers and twins

i like oakland over angels

 

[Jntg4]

seems ok.

I dont see the orioles being last.

the nl central predictions are all fucked up. milwaukee is my division pick.

id flip flop the tigers and twins

i like oakland over angels

This... unless fatty goes down, then the Cubs win the division.

 

[DewsSox79]

This... unless fatty goes down, then the Cubs win the division.

no.

 

[Jntg4]

no.

Yes, because Cincy sucks, STL lost Wainwright, and Milwaukee would lose Fielder in that scenario.

 

[waldo7239117]

Yes, because Cincy sucks, STL lost Wainwright, and Milwaukee would lose Fielder in that scenario.

Since when does Cincy suck? Just curious.

 

[Jntg4]

Since when does Cincy suck? Just curious.

Since they only beat the Under .500 teams in the division and went 20-33 against above .500 teams, and that doesn't even include being swept in the playoffs. Compare those numbers to past division winners like the 08 Cubs and the 09 Cardinals and you'll see what I mean.

 

[waldo7239117]

Since they only beat the Under .500 teams in the division and went 20-33 against above .500 teams, and that doesn't even include being swept in the playoffs. Compare those numbers to past division winners like the 08 Cubs and the 09 Cardinals and you'll see what I mean.

But sayin' they suck, is just insane. They still won first place last season. Will they repeat? I say no. Will they be good? In some ways, yes. They do have a young team that can always surprise you. Saying they suck is like comparing them to the Pirates and their way above their level of play. So you have no justify reasons to say they suck.

 

[FirstTimer]

I guess I just don't see what Jntg see in the Cubs to have them improve. Ramirez is back for a full season but has been trending down for a few seasons. We lost Lily but picked up Garza. Could be a wash there IMO. Lost Lee and replaced him with a guy who had trouble batting .200 last season.

Sure you can say the reds beat up on bad teams in the division but they were supposed to and the Cubs were one of those bad teams and IMO didn't really improve much this offseason.

Saying Cincy sucks is ridiculous. The Cardinals are perennial winners and have a great and stable orgnaization and the Brewers may have made the most improvements this past offseason. It's a long season and predictions can be of little or no value but I can't see projecting the Cubs any higher than 3rd right now at best.

 

[Jntg4]

I guess I just don't see what Jntg see in the Cubs to have them improve. Ramirez is back for a full season but has been trending down for a few seasons. We lost Lily but picked up Garza. Could be a wash there IMO. Lost Lee and replaced him with a guy who had trouble batting .200 last season.

Sure you can say the reds beat up on bad teams in the division but they were supposed to and the Cubs were one of those bad teams and IMO didn't really improve much this offseason.

Saying Cincy sucks is ridiculous. The Cardinals are perennial winners and have a great and stable orgnaization and the Brewers may have made the most improvements this past offseason. It's a long season and predictions can be of little or no value but I can't see projecting the Cubs any higher than 3rd right now at best.

I have to talk that way or people complain about my pessimism and how me not thinking they win means I'm not a true fan and I am a terrible person, etc.

I'm trying to avoid hearing that bitching again.

When I say Cincy sucks, I mean I see them at .500, but not anything special. I use sucks different than other people.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Since they only beat the Under .500 teams in the division and went 20-33 against above .500 teams, and that doesn't even include being swept in the playoffs. Compare those numbers to past division winners like the 08 Cubs and the 09 Cardinals and you'll see what I mean.

So first sucking was being under .500. Now sucking is winning your division? Makes sense.

 

[Jntg4]

So first sucking was being under .500. Now sucking is winning your division? Makes sense.

No, sucking is being overrated. They aren't a great team.

Look at the splits, the Reds can not beat decent or above .500 teams. They went 20-33 against .500 and over teams.

They played more games against below .500 teams than any other team in baseball, and they capitalized.

They aren't repeating that anyway.

 

[Captain Obvious]

No, sucking is being overrated. They aren't a great team.

Look at the splits, the Reds can not beat decent or above .500 teams. They went 20-33 against .500 and over teams.

They played more games against below .500 teams than any other team in baseball, and they capitalized.

They aren't repeating that anyway.

I'm pretty sure that being overrated is being overrated. I could be wrong, though. No one is saying they are a great team, Jntg. What's to say they won't play 53 games vs. over .500 teams again? The NL Central isn't exactly looking like it'll be a powerhouse. Plus, they have really really really good young pitching. They will be pretty good.