The Oakland Athletics haven’t been much a factor in the American League West the past few seasons, but are coming of a 81-81 season where they finished second the division behind the Rangers. It was the first time in four seasons the A’s didn’t finish below .500. Oakland’s pitching staff finished with an MLB-best 3.47 ERA, but the offense was one of the worst in all of baseball, and kept this team from the making the postseason. The A’s are hoping a a few offseason additions...
Read more about 2011 Oakland Athletics Predictions 2011 Kansas City Royals Predictions - February 21, 2011The plea for patience is one of the only constants in Kansas City over the last generation. The other is losing, something that has been all too familiar for Royals fans to stay patient any longer. They went 67-95 in 2010 to finish last in the AL Central. The future does honestly look bright, but the immediate future in Kansas City is far less encouraging. GM Dayton Moore has put together what is considered the game’s best farm system. The proof behind that is that the Royals led all organizations...
Read more about 2011 Kansas City Royals Predictions 2011 Los Angeles Angels Predictions - February 21, 2011The Los Angeles Angels went just 80-82 in 2010, finishing third in the American League West. The Angels had been to the postseason six out of the previous eight seasons, including each of the last three, but were unable to overcome a midseason injury to first baseman Kendry Morales. If the Angels offense can get it going this season, there is no question they have the pitching staff to take back the division crown from Texas. Here is a closer look at the starting lineup and starting rotation, plus...
Read more about 2011 Los Angeles Angels Predictions 2011 Detroit Tigers Predictions - February 20, 2011Following a meltdown late in 2009 to miss the playoffs, the Detroit Tigers suffered a hangover in 2010. They had a poor second half once again and finished at 81-81 for third place in the AL Central division. They traded away Curtis Granderson last offseason, but got four key players (Max Scherzer, Austin Jackson, Phil Coke and Daniel Schlereth) in return who all made significant contributions. The move made the Tigers a younger and deeper team, and despite falling back in the standings, they are...
Read more about 2011 Detroit Tigers Predictions 2011 Cleveland Indians Predictions - February 18, 2011The Cleveland Indians can’t possibly be much worse than they have been each of the past two seasons. After going 65-97 in 2009, the Indians improved slightly in 2010 with a 69-93 mark. They once again finished in fourth place in the AL Central, and will have their work cut out for them to avoid finishing in the cellar in 2011. Grady Sizemore and Carlos Santana are coming off knee operations, and like Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera hasn’t been able to stay healthy for two years. Pitching actually...
Read more about 2011 Cleveland Indians Predictions 2011 Chicago White Sox Predictions - February 18, 2011Only four teams in the American League last season finished with at least four hitters with 70-plus RBIs. Three of those teams made the playoffs, but the Chicago White Sox were the one that didn’t. They finished 2010 with an 88-74 record which was good for second place in the AL Central, but not quite good enough to earn a wild card spot. With the addition of Adam Dunn in the offseason, the Sox should have an even more potent line-up. Throw in a rotation that is solid from top to bottom, and Chicago...
Read more about 2011 Chicago White Sox Predictions 2011 San Francisco Giants Predictions - February 18, 2011The San Francisco Giants took advantage of a late-season collapse by the San Diego Padres to win the National League West with a record of 92-70. The Giants rode that momentum all the way to the World Series, where they beat the Texas Rangers for their first-ever World Series title since the team moved to San Francisco. With an unbelievable pitching staff secured for years to come, the Giants are no question a threat to not only repeat as division winners, but to make it back to the World Series...
Read more about 2011 San Francisco Giants Predictions 2011 San Diego Padres Predictions - February 18, 2011The San Diego Padres will have to overcome a dismal finish to the 2010 season. The Padres had the best record in the National League at 76-49 on Aug. 25, but collapsed down the stretch, going just 14-23 to end the season. San Diego ended up finishing second in the NL West to the San Francisco Giants, who went on to win the World Series. The Padres will have to compete this season without All-Star fist baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who was traded to the Red Sox this past off-season. Still with a solid...
Read more about 2011 San Diego Padres Predictions 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions - February 18, 2011It was a disappointing final season under manager Joe Torre in 2010. The Dodgers weren’t terrible at 80-82, but finished just fourth in the division. Taking over for Torre is Don Mattingly, who will try and get the Dodgers back to the postseason for the first time since 2006. A lot will have to go right for the Dodgers if they are going to contend for the National League West this season, as they just didn’t do a whole lot to improve their roster from a year ago. Here is a closer look...
Read more about 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions 2011 Toronto Blue Jays Predictions - February 17, 2011The fact that the Toronto Blue Jays managed a winning record (85-77) in the tough AL East last season was an accomplishment in itself. Still, it doesn’t appear that they will end a near-two decade postseason drought which extends back to the Joe Carter home run to clinch the 1993 World Series. Toronto led the Majors with a jaw-dropping 257 home runs last season, but they can’t expect to get that kind of production again. Plus, their rotation lacks a shutdown Ace even though Brandon Morrow and...
Read more about 2011 Toronto Blue Jays Predictions 2011 Colorado Rockies Predictions - February 17, 2011The Rockies were unable to make it back to the postseason for a third time in four years, as they finished 2010 third in the National League West with a record of 83-79. Colorado however has the talent to make it back to the playoffs in 2011, as they have a ton of young talent in the field and on the mound. This team should contend for their first division crown in team history. Here is a closer look at the Rockies starting lineup and starting rotation for the 2011 season, plus our MLB predictions...
Read more about 2011 Colorado Rockies Predictions 2011 Tampa Bay Rays Predictions - February 17, 2011The Tampa Bay Rays captured their second AL East title in three seasons in 2010 by posting a 96-66 record. A quick exit in the Divisional Round at the hands of the Texas Rangers would soon follow, and after what took place this offseason the Rays went from being one of baseball’s most skilled and vibrant teams back to a small-market wannabe. On December 8 within 24 hours of each other, the Rays lost Carl Crawford (their best player ever) to Boston, Carlos Pena (their best home run hitter) to the...
Read more about 2011 Tampa Bay Rays Predictions 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Predictions - February 17, 2011For a second straight season the Arizona Diamondbacks finished in last place in the National League West. The Diamondbacks went just 65-97 in 2010, their worst finish since going 51-111 in 2004. Arizona is putting its trust in general manager Kevin Towers, who was signed in September of last year. Towers wasted little time renovating the Diamondbacks roster, but it could take some time for the results to show. Here is closer look at the Diamondbacks starting lineup and starting rotation for the 2011...
Read more about 2011 Arizona Diamondbacks Predictions 2011 Washington Nationals Predictions - February 17, 2011While the Nationals improved on their disastrous 2009 season where they went 59-103, they still found themselves in the basement on the National League East in 2010 with a record of 69-93. Washington wasn’t able to bring back slugging first baseman Adam Dunn, but were able to bring in Adam LaRoche and outfielder Jason Werth. With pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg out until at least September, the Nationals simply don’t have the pitching or hitting to contend. Here is a closer look at...
Read more about 2011 Washington Nationals Predictions 2011 New York Mets Predictions - February 17, 2011The New York Mets spent a bunch of money last offseason in hopes that it would land them a National League East title, but instead it completely backfired and the Mets finished fourth in the division at 79-83. New York kept quite this offseason, and in order for them to contend, they will need a big improvement from a number of players. If the Mets are out of the race by the trade deadline, don’t be surprised if they unload a lot of their talent to start fresh in 2012. Here is a look at the...
Read more about 2011 New York Mets Predictions 2011 New York Yankees Predictions - February 16, 2011The New York Yankees are coming off a 95-win season in which they led the Majors in runs scored. They earned the wild card spot with a second-place finish in the AL East, but they have plenty of questions coming into 2011. They still have a good chance of making the playoffs for a 16th time in 17 seasons. But considering key veterans like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada and Alex Rodriquez are past their prime, the Pin Stripes will need the rest of their lineup to step up while getting production out of...
Read more about 2011 New York Yankees Predictions 2011 Boston Red Sox Predictions - February 16, 2011The Boston Red Sox finally outdid their biggest rivals this offseason. While the New York Yankees seemed content with the roster at hand, the Red Sox made the big splashes this time around. Bringing in Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford makes Boston an instant World Series contender. They also expect to get several key players healthy and sport a revamped bullpen. Now it’s up to the starting rotation to have a bounce-back season if they are going to win their third championship since 2004. Check...
Read more about 2011 Boston Red Sox Predictions 2011 Florida Marlins Predictions - February 16, 2011The Florida Marlins finished 80-82 in 2010, good enough for third place in the National League East. Florida has decided to keep Fredi Gonzalez as manager, after he stepped in for Edwin Rodriguez last season. Like normal, the Marlins are full of potential with young talent all over the field, but it is going to be hard for this team to jump the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. Here is a closer look at the Marlins 2011 starting lineup and starting rotation, plus our MLB predictions on where...
Read more about 2011 Florida Marlins Predictions 2011 Atlanta Braves Predictions - February 16, 2011While the Atlanta Braves didn’t win the National League East in the final year under manager Bobby Cox, they were able to finish second in the division and grab the wild card spot with a 91-71 record. Atlanta will open the 2011 season under new manager Fredi Gonzalez, and with pretty much the same team back, plus the addition of second baseman Dan Uggla, the Braves have a great shot at making it back to the postseason. Here is a closer look at the Braves starting lineup and starting rotation...
Read more about 2011 Atlanta Braves Predictions 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions - February 16, 2011There hasn’t been a lot to cheer about if you are a Pittsburgh Pirate fan. The Pirates went 57-105 for their 18th consecutive losing season. It was also the worst record the Pirates produced since going 42-112 in 1952. Pittsburgh won’t contend for the National League Central this season, but they are hoping that a young core of talent will show improvement under new manager Clint Hurdle, who took the Rockies from the basement of the NL West to a World Series in 2007. To get a better idea...
Read more about 2011 Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions 2011 Houston Astros Predictions - February 16, 2011The Houston Astros finished fourth in the National League Central last season with a record of 76-86, it was the first time since the 1990-91 seasons that the Astros posted back-to-back losing records (74-88, 2009). While Houston traded away Roy Oswalt to the Phillies last season, they still have high expectations for their pitching staff in 2011. With the additions of shortstop Clint Barmes and second baseman Bill Hall, they are hoping one of the worst offenses of last year can turn things around,...
Read more about 2011 Houston Astros Predictions 2011 Milwaukee Brewers Predictions - February 15, 2011The Brewers lack of pitching proved to be too much for them to overcome in 2010. Milwaukee finished up the season third in the National League Central at 77-85. With the additions of Zach Greinke and Shaun Marcum this past offseason, the Brewers head into the 2011 with a ton of optimism. Here is a quick look at the starting lineup and starting rotation for Milwaukee, plus our a look at where we think they will finish the year in our 2011 MLB predictions. Starting Lineup Jonathan Lucroy (Catcher)...
Read more about 2011 Milwaukee Brewers Predictions 2011 Baltimore Orioles Predictions - February 15, 2011The Baltimore Orioles suffered through their 13th straight losing season in 2010 and finished with a 66-96 record. They put themselves in a huge hole from the start, opening 2-16 out of the gate. The Orioles went through three different managers last year, and finally found their man in Buck Showalter. The team responded very well when he took over, posting a 34-23 record over their final 57 games. If only he had the payrolls of the Yankees and Red Sox, he could put a contender on the field. There...
Read more about 2011 Baltimore Orioles Predictions 2011 Cincinnati Reds Predictions - February 15, 2011The Cincinnati Reds ended a 14-year postseason drought by winning the NL Central with an overall record of 91-71. The Reds regular-season success didn’t carry over to the playoff, as they were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. The Reds biggest offseason move was adding veteran shortstop Edgar Renteria, but he isn’t expected to take over the starting job from Paul Janish. For a better idea of what the Reds will look like this season, here is a breakdown of their projected...
Read more about 2011 Cincinnati Reds Predictions 2011 Chicago Cubs Predictions - February 15, 2011It was a season to forget for the Chicago Cubs in 2010, as they once again failed to deliver on high expectations. Chicago finished fifth in the NL Central at 75-87. It was so bad for the Cubs, manager Lou Piniella stepped down with just 37 games left on the schedule. Mike Quade replaced Piniella down the stretch, and was given the head coaching job for good after leading the Cubs to a 24-13 finish. Also gone from last season are first baseman Derrek Lee, starting pitcher Ted Lilly, and infielders...
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