Five predictions for baseball’s 2009 season
Even though Opening Day is five months away and it’s hard to even think of picking up a glove in twenty degree weather, here are five predictions about what will take place over the course of the winter and during the upcoming season.
1. The Opening Day starter for the New York Yankees will be CC Sabathia: Some have speculated that Sabathia may spurn New York’s mega deal and opt for the warmer climates and designated hitter-free environment offered by the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, money and titles speak more than the chance to hit once every five days, and Sabathia will be hard pressed to find a team and a fan base who crave his ability to eat up innings (and everything else in front of him) and pitch in big games more than in the Bronx.
2. The Chicago Cubs will not win the World Series for the 101st straight year (Unless they start looking at the right players): While the Cubs go fishing for arms to shore up their bullpen and starting rotation (See: closer Kevin Gregg, possibly Jake Peavy), they are turning a blind eye on what cost them a run at the championship last year: A lack of hitting. Chicago needs to focus on the dead spots in their lineup, particularly in center and right field. Only then can this team focus on taking a serious shot at the title that has eluded it for over a century.
3. The Rays will prove that last season was no fluke: Because Tampa Bay is built around rising young stars instead of aging veterans, you can expect that this team will only improve over the next five years. Last year’s American League pennant run showed all of baseball that Tampa’s combination of speed, defense and relief pitching could overcome a minute pay roll, and that the Rays could play with the big boys. The skills of youngsters such as B.J. Upton, Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria and James Shields will only be improved next season, so look for Tampa to have another shot at a World Series title.
4. The Dodgers will win the National League: In their first season under Joe Torre, the Dodgers exceeded everyone’s expectations but their own in reaching the NLCS. Once there, they fell to the red hot Phillies, but the same thing will not happen this year. Los Angeles will resign Manny Ramirez, who will not be able to turn down the short yet sweet contract the team is offering him. Other members of the team, from first baseman James Loney to second year pitcher Clayton Kershaw, will come into their own. The Dodgers played great baseball down the stretch last year, and will play that way for the majority of next season.
5. …But the Angels will win the World Series: That Anaheim did not win it all last year remains a mystery to me. Like the Cubs, the Angels, so dominant during the regular season, did not show up against the Red Sox during the Division Series. This team is too good to let that happen again. With a top of the line rotation, a powerful batting order and a good bullpen, the Angels are a force to be reckoned with. Manager Mike Scioscia will not let his team forget its October collapse. Granted, this team might be somewhat diminished if it does not sign closer Francisco Rodriguez and first baseman Mark Texiera, who could surprise the world by signing with his hometown Baltimore Orioles. Nonetheless, owner Arte Moreno and company will find a way to plug the holes and the thunder sticks will be banging again come October 2009.
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Predictions for the 2009 season already! Give me a break! We’re not even a month removed from the World Series and we’re talking about ‘09? Come on now, this is just ridiculous.
jw
November 19, 2008 at 1:08 am
I beg to differ jw. As a baseball junkie I avidly follow the offseason. What takes place in the 3 1/2 months between the world series and spring training typically sets the course for the subsequent season.
David
November 19, 2008 at 10:20 am
My predictions:
Some players will be better, some will be worse.
Alternately, some teams will win more games then expected and some teams will lose more. It’s possible that the World Series winner will be a fluke, or it is possible that it could be a team we all thought would be good.
Jeremy Gordon
November 19, 2008 at 11:34 am
I like these predictions. Even if they’re completely wrong, it’s nice that we’re talking baseball again. We’ll need it in order to get through the complete bore of the sport of basketball. I agree with predictions 1 & 3, however I think the Cubs have a shot, the Dodgers won’t win the NL (but they will win their division again) and the Angels are not a lock to win it all.
Look out for The Tribe and Manuel’s Mets in 2009.
Mark
January 2, 2009 at 11:40 pm
boston red sox will win their 3rd championship in 6 yrs 2004-2009.the yankees are too old,damon,matsui,jeter,posada,mariano rivera,etc.despite all the $ spent the sox will beat the yankees head to head contests 2009. boston pitching is solid.matsuzaka wins 20,lester,beckett,penny,wakefield.smoltz is a money pitcher.he will be another curt schilling in the playoffs.hitting is good,fielding good, baldelli,lugo,kotsay strengthen bench.bullpen is the best in al.boston may win 100 games in 2009
dan albano
February 1, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Cubs are hurting in hitting? With the best hitting team in the NL, what more do you want? Just .003 behind the Cardinals for best Average in the NL (.278), lead the league in slugging (.443), lead the league in on base percentage (.354), drew more walks than any other team in the NL (636), had the most total bags (2,457), most RBIs (811, almost 50 more than Phillies, who were #2), second in hits by less than thirty to the Cardinals, most doubles (329), and most importantly, the most runs (855, the only team over 800 in the league). Granted the Cubs are fifth in home runs (behind the Reds in HRs…how did the Reds end up again?), and second to last in triples, but it is not the long ball that wins games, it’s runs. This is real baseball, not the AL 17-15 home run derby every day. The Cubs are sure to take NLC and with the quality being put on the field expect to see the Cubs in the World Series this year.
John
February 22, 2009 at 10:46 am
cubssssssssss
jonathan
April 8, 2009 at 12:23 pm