Jay Wrizight's 2010 Predictions

As far as predictions go, I will preface this by saying: I can talk baseball  all day but I’m not a big fan of predicting an entire season. Why? There are too many variables.  Injuries that are kept quiet.  Players on the trading block. And so on and so forth, but the King BL said he wanted predictions, so here they are:

National League:

MVP: Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins.  The safe choice would be Pujols, but if Ramirez stays healthy, he’ll win it. Don’t worry though; Pujols will still be in the MVP talks. He’ll be the one complaining because the Marlins missed the playoffs

Cy Young: Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies. I know this is the safe choice, but it’s also the only choice. He’s the best pitcher on the planet on the best team in the league. Easy decision.

Rookie of the Year: Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves.  He’s a Beast. Period. I’d like to show love for Steven Strasburg, but he got sent to the minors. I heard he considered it a promotion over playing for the Nationals. Or even Mike Leake, but it seems even pitchers are an afterthought for this award, just ask JA Happ.

Biggest Surprise: Garrett Jones HR total. I’m thinking he hits 45-50. Mostly because the Pirates lineup is so bad, opposing pitchers won’t be afraid to challenge him in blowouts.  He’ll only end up with 72 rbi’s.

Breakout Performer: Everth Cabrera, San Diego Padres.  He may only hit .260 but will get 60 steals.  I don’t imagine he’ll get many more than that if he hits for a higher average, because he’ll get moved to the top of the lineup and may be used to create confusion and a bigger hole for the left handed Adrian Gonzalez. Of course that means he’ll score a 100 runs.

Biggest Bust: Edwin Jackson, Arizona Diamondbacks. He was considered a premier pitcher last season with Detroit. I thought he stunk when he was with the Dodgers, and was god awful with the Rays. Last season was a mirage, he won’t win 10 games and his ERA will be over 4.50.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies. It’s a great time to be a Phillie’s fan.

NL Central: St Louis Cardinals. Tony LaRussa, Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright should be good for 60 wins the rest of the team can come up with 27 more.

NL West: San Francisco Giants.  I think is an extremely close division.  All but the Padres can contend. Injuries and trades will make the difference. When all else fails go with pitching.

NL Wild Card: Atlanta Braves.  They made some nice acquisitions over the last year. Jair Jurrjens is the best pitcher that no one knows how to say his name.

NL Pennant: Philadelphia Phillies. They will be the first NL team to advance to the World Series three consecutive years since the 40’s. They will do this by disposing of the Giants in the NLDS and relaying on playoff experience to best the Braves.

American League:

MVP: Evan Longoria, Tampa Rays. He will go ape shit this year. I don’t know a better way to put it.

Cy Young: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners.  Maybe my toughest choice.  I belive Zack Greinke is the best pitcher in the AL, but his ERA will be a little higher this year and his lack of wins will be too much for the voters to overlook this year.

AL Rookie of the Year: Lou Marson, Cleveland Indians.  This is how the Phillies fans will turn on Ruben Amaro Jr.  Trading Cliff Lee and then a guy we gave up to get Lee becomes an absolute stud. Just kidding. Austin Jackson will win it. I just didn’t have anything to say about him.

Biggest Surprise: CC Sabathia’s win total.  He’ll only mange 11 this season.  He’s been an absolute horse the past 3 seasons. I’d imagine his 300-pound frame would say enough is enough.

Breakout Performer: Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals. Sooner or later one of these Royals hitting prospects will turn out. Why not the big fat guy?

Biggest Bust: Boston Red Sox. It is my guess that being content with having Tim Wakefield in your starting rotation for the 34^th consecutive season is enough to say they will miss the playoffs. Other than Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia, this team could get really old really fast. Just look how grumpy David Ortiz is already.

AL East: NY Yankees. I hate them with a passion, but they can sure buy talent.

AL Central: Minnesota Twins. Another tough decision. I could have just as easily said the White Sox.  Without Joe Nathan, either Jon Rauch will need to step up or the Twins will need go out and find a closer…. wait who am I kidding the Twins only trade away talent. The White Sox will win the central.

AL West: Texas Rangers.  If the pitching can at least duplicate last year and not progress they will win. Their offense will carry them. Ending the Angels stranglehold on the division.

AL Wild Card: Tampa Bay Rays. Look out if what they say comes true for Wade Davis and Davis Price.

AL Pennant: Tampa Bay Rays.  They still won’t sell out their ALDS home games as they beat the White Sox, and will give the Yankees and nice showcasing of Carl Crawford’s talents in the ALCS.

World Series: Philadelphia Phillies.  Not the rematch Bud Selig was rooting for but this Phillies team will cement themselves as the greatest team in Philadelphia sports history.

Miscellaneous Awards:

Best Comeback: (tie) Adrian Beltre, who will batter the Green Monster taking out the years of frustration he built up in playing in the pitcher friendly Safeco Field.  And the San Diego Chicken. After they trade away Adrian Gonzalez, Padres management will bring back the Chicken in hopes to boost attendance above 7,500 per game.

Most Likely to Bang Anna Benson: Rodrigo Lopez.  Hoping to revive her modeling career. Benson will take aim at the man keeping who is the roadblock to Kris Benson’s return to the majors. Rodrigo and his Amigo’s will be heartbroken when Anna dumps him when she realizes he is Mexican and not Latin American.

The Storyline that won’t die (AKA the Farve Award): Where is Adrian Gonzalez going to end up? Although it has already started, it will hit full stride when the Padres are 5 games out….so next week. And won’t End until July 30^th.

Most Likely to get Popped for Roids: Placido Polanco. It will become evident when his gigantic melon explodes.

Thanks for Listening,

Jay Wrizight