I am very excited about season!! Here are my winners, based on team-by-team analysis. Full team-by-team analysis here.

AL East: Red Sox

AL West: Angels

AL Central: Tigers

NL East: Braves

NL Central: Cubs

NL West: Diamondbacks

NL Wildcard Contenders: Phillies, Mets, Dodgers

AL Wildcard Contenders: Indians, Mariners, Chisox

Al East: Red Sox

Al Central: Indians

AL West: Angels

NL East: Mets

NL Central: Cubs

NL West: Diamondbacks

NL Wildcard Contenders (in likely order): Braves, Phillies, Padres

AL Wildcard Contenders (in likely order): Blue Jays, Tigers, Mariners, White Sox, and Yankees

I think the O's will finish with around 70 wins again. This time in the AL East cellar.

I was totally off last year, but what the hell:

AL East: Red Sox

AL West: Angels

AL Central: Tigers

NL East: Phillies

NL Central: Reds

NL West: Rockies

AL East: Yankees

AL West: Angels

AL Central: Tigers

NL East: Phillies

NL Central: Brewers

NL West: Diamondbacks

AL East: Red Sox (Yawn), Surprising Blue Jays make July interesting

AL Central: Tigers (World Series Champs)

AL West: Mariners

Wild Card: Indians

NL East: Braves

NL Central: Brewers

NL West: Diamondbacks (NL Pennant Winner)

NL Wildcard: Cubs (Two teams out of the central??)

> Surprising Blue Jays make July interesting

I thought so too but their set up man is out for year.

That could hurt.

It will really hurt. With BJ Ryan back, that should offset some damage.

A.L East - Red Sox

A.L. Central - Indians

A.L West - Mariners

Wildcard - I'd like to say the Angels or Tigers, but the Yankees will get in again.

N.L. East - Phillies

N.L. Central - Brewers

N.L. West - Diamondbacks

Wildcard - Mets

Indians vs Brewers in World Series with the Indians victorious.

A.L. MVP - Grady Sizemore

A.L. Cy Young - Justin Verlander

A.L. Rookie - Joba Chamberlain

N.L. MVP - Ryan Howard

N.L. Cy Young - Joann Santana

N.L. Rookie - Ross Detwiler

> Wildcard - I'd like to say the Angels or Tigers, but the Yankees will get in again.


Hmmm. I'm gonna say Tigers are closest thing to a postseason lock I've seen in some time.

The Tigers are a very trendy pick right now, probably rightfully so.

I just don't like something about them though. I see plenty of realistic things that could happen to keep them out of the postseaosn.

The Tigers bullpen is dreadful and their starting pitching after Verlander is overrated. So they are going to have to score a lot of runs to win. i thought Bonderman would be a good pitcher some day, but he is the O's Daniel Cabrera, only not as much of a disappointment.

I'd like to see the Tigers get in ahead of the Yankees.

Good luck on your picks. I guess we will look back in October to see how well or how bad we were.

[dohtml]<table border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1">
<tr>
<td colspan="10"><div align="center" class="style1">2008 Predictions</div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span class="style1">&nbsp;</span></td>
<td><span class="style1">World Series</span></td>
<td colspan="3"><span class="style1">American League</span></td>
<td colspan="3"><span class="style1">National League</span></td>
<td colspan="2"><span class="style1">Wild Cards</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td><p class="style1">East</p> </td>
<td><p class="style1">Central</p> </td>
<td><p class="style1">West</p> </td>
<td><p class="style1">East</p> </td>
<td><p class="style1">Central</p> </td>
<td><p class="style1">West</p> </td>
<td>AL</td>
<td>NL</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span class="style1">Jayson Stark</span></td>
<td valign="top"><span class="style1">&nbsp;</span></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Red Sox (96-66)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Yankees (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Blue Jays (84-78)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rays (76-86)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Orioles (63-99)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Indians* (93-69)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Tigers (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">3 White Sox (85-77)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Twins (78-84)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Royals (74-88)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Mariners (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Angels (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Rangers (76-88)</p>
<p class="style1">4 A's (75-87)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Braves (93-69)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Mets (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Phillies (88-74)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Nationals (72-90)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Marlins (70-92)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Cubs (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Brewers (87-75)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Reds (84-78)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Astros (75-87)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Pirates (73-89)</p>
<p class="style1">6 Cardinals (67-95)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Rockies (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Diamondbacks (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Padres (85-77)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Dodgers (81-81)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Giants (61-101)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">Tigers</p> </td>
<td valign="top">Mets</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span class="style1">Buster Olney</span></td>
<td valign="top"><span class="style1">Indians</span></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Yankees (93-69)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Red Sox (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Blue Jays (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rays (75-87)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Orioles (56-106)</p>
<p class="style1">&nbsp;</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Indians (97-65)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Tigers (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">3 White Sox (82-80)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Royals (76-86)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Twins (71-91)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Mariners (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Angels (84-78)</p>
<p class="style1">3 A's (78-84)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rangers (68-94)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Braves (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Mets (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Phillies (86-76)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Nationals (74-88)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Marlins (68-94)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Cubs (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Brewers (86-76)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Reds (78-84)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Pirates (75-87)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Cardinals (70-92)</p>
<p class="style1">6 Astros (69-93)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Rockies (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Diamondbacks (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Dodgers (84-78)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Padres (83-79)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Giants (60-102)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">Red Sox</p> </td>
<td valign="top">Mets</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span class="style1">Tim Kurkjian</span></td>
<td valign="top"><span class="style1">&nbsp;</span></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Red Sox (95-67)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Yankees (93-69)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Blue Jays (86-76)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rays (75-87)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Orioles (65-97)</p>
<p class="style1">&nbsp;</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Indians (94-68)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Tigers (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">3 White Sox (82-80)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Twins (81-81)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Royals (74-88)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Angels (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Mariners (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">3 A's (73-89)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rangers (72-90)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Mets (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Phillies (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Braves (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Nationals (75-87)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Marlins (64-98)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Cubs (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Brewers (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Reds (81-81)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Astros (77-85)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Cardinals (76-86)</p>
<p class="style1">6 Pirates (63-99)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Dodgers (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Diamondbacks (88-74)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Rockies (87-75)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Padres (83-79)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Giants (63-99)</p></td>
<td valign="top">Yankees</td>
<td valign="top">Phillies</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span class="style1">Keith Law</span></td>
<td valign="top"><span class="style1">&nbsp;</span></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Red Sox (96-66)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Yankees (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Blue Jays (86-76)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rays (81-81)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Orioles (65-97)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Indians (94-68)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Tigers (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">3 White Sox (77-85)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Twins (73-89)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Royals (70-92)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Angels (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Mariners (82-80)</p>
<p class="style1">3 A's (77-85)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rangers (73-89)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Mets (95-67)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Braves (85-77)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Phillies (83-79)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Nationals (72-90)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Marlins (68-94)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Cubs (91-71)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Brewers (89-73)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Reds (80-82)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Cardinals (75-87)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Astros (72-90)</p>
<p class="style1">6 Pirates (68-94)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Dodgers (87-75)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Diamondbacks (85-77)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Rockies (83-79)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Padres (82-80)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Giants (69-93)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><span class="style1">&nbsp;</span>Tigers</td>
<td valign="top">Brewers</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><span class="style1">Steve Phillips</span></td>
<td valign="top"><span class="style1">&nbsp;</span></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Red Sox (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Yankees (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Blue Jays (88-74)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rays (76-86)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Orioles (64-98)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Tigers (94-68)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Indians (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">3 White Sox (84-78)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Twins (74-88)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Royals (72-90)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Mariners (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Angels (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">3 A's (68-94)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Rangers (64-98)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Mets (94-68)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Braves (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Phillies (88-74)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Nationals (72-90)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Marlins (66-96)</p> </td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Cubs (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Brewers (86-76)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Reds (78-84)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Cardinals (76-86)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Astros (72-90)</p>
<p class="style1">6 Pirates (64-98)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">1 Dodgers (92-70)</p>
<p class="style1">2 Diamondbacks (90-72)</p>
<p class="style1">3 Rockies (88-74)</p>
<p class="style1">4 Padres (84-78)</p>
<p class="style1">5 Giants (64-98)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p class="style1">Indians</p> </td>
<td valign="top">Braves/Diamondbacks</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>betfirms.com</td>
<td valign="top"><p>Tigers</p>
<p>(Mets v. Tigers)</p></td>
<td valign="top">Yankees</td>
<td valign="top">Tigers</td>
<td valign="top">Angels</td>
<td valign="top">Mets</td>
<td valign="top">Cubs</td>
<td valign="top">Diamondbacks</td>
<td valign="top"><p>Red Sox</p>
<p>(Tigers v. Red Sox</p>
<p>Yankees v. Angels</p>
<p>Tigers v. Yankees)</p></td>
<td valign="top"><p>Phillies</p>
<p>(Mets v. Diamondbacks</p>
<p>Phillies v. Cubs</p>
<p>Mets v. Cubs)</p></td>
</tr>
</table>[/dohtml]

there are other sources to add to the picks, so this is a work in progress.

* i'm going with stark's projected W/L, though on the "Campaign 2008" page, he has the Indians finishing 2nd (93-69 2nd in AL Central) and the Tigers finishing 1st (92-70 1st in AL Central)

American League:
East: Red Sox (Orioles finish in 4th)
West: Angels
Central: Indians
Wild Card: Mariners

National League:
East: Mets
West: Rockies
Central: Cubs
Wild Card: Brewers

sometime in mid-August, most of the New England area will find itself in a tizzy because manny will not be being manny, but, rather, "manuel." it is at this point the Os make their move from the basement to 4th.

Th only thing certain is uncertainty.

Just like to look at these now and again and realize that I am not the only one who is clueless.

PUMA

no kidding.

how 'bout those Mariners? and Indians? no one had TB, tho we still need to see what happens down the stretch here.

and Detroit! what a joy that series was this weekend.

i do like what the Brewers have been doing.

i also like what the Yankees were doing. hehe

and even though we look like we'll be 5th, i'd have to say this season has been one of the most exciting for me to watch in so long.

In fairness, this is a pretty exciting last place team so that has helped. I'm torn on Tampa Bay. While I like to see new teams win, I can only imagine all the band wagon Rays fans filling up Camden and pretending that they have always been there... I hope not but if they win it all they could become the next fan base to drive me nuts.

PUMA

Well you could argue I got five of eight playoff teams right.

Coulda been worse.

Boy the Tigers screwed the pooch and then some. Last place? C'mon. Nobody said that.

Nobody else proclaimed them as a lock for the postseason either. :P

A few did say the Tigers weren't getting in. But yeah, just about the whole baseball world expected better from the Tigers.

Well, at least you didn't have the Indians winning the Central.

congrats to the phillies and to bark, milt and escambia for at least choosing them to win the NL east :)

Ironic that the Phillies, led by the Red Devil Charlie Manuel beat the un-Devil Rays. Charlie Manuel got that nickname while playing in Japan. Look at his numbers in Japan and they are quite impressive.

Well, I got 2 out of 6 right. The other picks were pretty awful in retrospect.

In any case, congrats to the Phillies and we will have to redo this thread in March 2009.