MLB Pick’em for Opening Day pt. 2

WINNER	LOSER	SCORE
Phillies	Astros	4 to 2
Pirates	Cubs	7 to 3
White Sox	Indians	3 to 2
Red Sox	Rangers	4 to 3
Rockies	D-Backs	14 to 4
Blue Jays	Twins	2 to 1
Rays	Orioles	8 to 2
Marlins	Mets	7 to 5
Angels	Royals	9 to 5
Athletics	Mariners	1 to 0
Giants	Dodgers	6 to 4

Top 5 Breakouts in Each League

AL

1. Ryan Raburn
2. Matt Wieters
3. Gio Gonzalez
4. Brett Gardner
5. Jarrod Saltalamachhia

JUST MIDDED: Kila Ka’aihue

NL

1. Brandon Belt
2. Jay Bruce
3. Madison Bumgarner
4. Chris Naverson
5. Freddie Freeman

JUST MISSED: Jason Motte

Predictions for 2011 MLB Leaders

AL
Home Runs: Adam Dunn- 44
RBIs: Miguel Cabrera- 144
Runs: Carl Crawford- 120
Stolen Bases: Rajai Davis- 64
Average: Miguel Cabrera- .348
On Base: Joe Mauer- .416
Hits: Ichiro Suzuki- 221
Doubles: Evan Longoria- 53
Triples: Carl Crawford- 14
OPS: Adrian Gonzalez- .929
Walks: Daric Barton- 106
Total Bases: Miguel Cabrera- 356
Slugging: Miguel Cabrera- .578
NL
Home Runs: Prince Fielder- 50
RBIs: Albert Pujols- 131
Runs: Albert Pujols- 116
Stolen Bases: Jose Reyes- 56
Batting Average: Albert Pujols- .342
On Base: Albert Pujols: .422
Hits: Martin Prado- 197
Doubles: Matt Holliday- 46
Triples: Stephen Drew- 11
OPS: Albert Pujols- .977
Walks: Albert Pujols- 111
Total Bases: Albert Pujols- 345
Slugging: Albert Pujols- .603
PITCHING- AL
Wins: Justin Verlander- 20
Strikeouts: Justin Verlander- 249
ERA: Jon Lester- 2.29
WHIP: Felix Hernandez- 1.00
Saves: Joakim Soria- 46
NL
Wins: Roy Halladay- 21
Strikeouts: Tim Lincecum- 233
ERA: Matt Cain- 2.19
WHIP: Cliff Lee- 1.02
Saves: Brian Wilson- 47

Bold Predictions for 2011

1. The Phillies will not win the NL East due to injuries, but get the Wild Card
2. Jay Bruce hits 35 HRs
3. The Marlins challenge for a playoff spot
4. The Brewers starters will be better than the Phillies
5. Edwin Encarnacion ios this year’s Jose Bautista (With less homers)
6. Matt Cain is a Top 3 NL starter
7. Prince Fielder hits 50 homers
8. The Rays challenge the Yankees for the Wild Card
9. JJ Putz, Johnathon Broxton, and Joe Nathan become top notch closers again
10. The Rangers lead the MLB in runs
11. The Mariners are the worst team in baseball
12. Justin Verlander win 20 games
13. Ian Kinsler goes 30-30 again
14. Evan Longoria’s power finally shows
15. The Dodgers come close to a playoff spot because of their starters
16. The A’s have the best pitching in the AL
17. Miguel Cabrera challenges for the Triple Crown

Opening Day Pick’em

WINNER	LOSER
Tigers	Yankees
Braves	Nationals
Reds	Brewers
Angels	Royals
Dodgers	Giants
Padres	Cardinals

Tigers at Yankees Preview and Opening Day

LINE-UPS
NYY

1. Brett Gardner- Will do awesome his first series as a leadoff man, he’s made for this role
2. Derek Jeter- He may do good and he will do good in this role
3. Mark Tiexeira- He may start off good or bad but he will have a decent season in this spot
4. Alex Rodriguez- You can expect a few homers and some good play from him
5. Robinson Cano- Could have a good opening day and another big season
6. Nick Swisher- He could either do great or terrible against the Tigers
7. Jorge Posada- He’s declining and will show it, especially in this series
8. Curtis Granderson- Could also have a big series and he will hit okay even with his oblique
9. Russell Martin- The Tigers will hold him

DET

1. Austin Jackson- Should start this season like he did last year
2. Will Rhymes- He won’t struggle at all, even against Sabathia
3. Magglio Ordonez- Could start the season off with a bang
4. Miguel Cabrera- He will have the best series of anyone in it
5. Victor Martinez- He will have some big hits versus the Yankees
6. Ryan Raburn- He won’t slump and get some extra base hits
7. Jhonny Peralta- Good spot for now, some pop at the bottom
8. Brandon Inge- Could hit a homer or two but not too much more in this series
9. Alex Avila- He is probably going to start off a bit slow

STARTERS
VERLANDER VS. SABATHIA- I think Verlander can easily outpitch Sabathia but both should be hard to hit and give up a few runs but I really think Verlander could win this one
PENNY VS. BURNETT- They will both give up a few runs but Burnett is a bit too wild.  it will be anybody’s game but I will say advantage Penny
SCHERZER VS. TBA(MOST LIKELY HUGHES): Scherzer is awesome and so is Hughes so I will just call this one a draw, the offense will win it
BOTTOM LINE: Tigers win 2 of 3

Team Preview- Toronto Blue Jays

LINE-UP

1. CF Rajai Davis- Will have another decent season
2. SS Yunel Escobar- He could finally start living up to his potential
3. RF Jose Bautista-  Will still hit for more power
4. 1B Adam Lind- Has a shot for another big season
5. DH Juan Rivera- Starting to decline but will still do okay
6. 3B Edwin Encarnacion- 30 Homers could happen this year
7. LF Travis Snider- Starting to get a lot better
8. C JP Arenciba- Will breakout big this season
9. 2B Aaron Hill- Hitting?, eh.  Power?, Huge.

STARTING ROTATION

1. RHP Brandon Morrow- My Prediction- 200 K, 15 W, 3.20 ERA, if he returns quick enough…
2. LHP Ricky Romero- Decent number 2 guy
3. LHP Brett Cecil- Could follow-up on last year and will do decent
4. RHP Kyle Drabek- Top ROY contender, big season ahead
5. LHP Jo-Jo Reyes- Not a big believer in him
6. RHP Jesse Litcsh- Can do good and bad but will be a good 5 guy

Marc Rzepczynski needs a shot he could capitalize, he isn’t a bullpen guy.

Bullpen
CL: Frank Francisco
SU: Jon Rauch
7: Octavio Dotel
S: Jason Frasor
M: Casey Janseen
L: Shawn Camp
U: Marc Rzepczynski
Bench
C Jose Molina
UT Mike McCoy
IF John McDonald
OF Corey Patterson
ANALYSIS
Line-up: It looks okay but too many of the guys hit for a low average so it could have some outbursts and terrible games.  They will have an okay season with tons of homers but it’s nowhere near good enough to compete
Rotation: Even without Marcum they have plenty of good, young arms which will have their struggles but they will have more good games and they could have one of the best rotations in the league for a while
Bench: McDonald supplies defense, McCoy is a great utility player and Molina will be an awesome back-up but Patterson will struggle and not be worth it even though he has speed.  It’s an okay bench that’s pretty much average
Bullpen: It fits right with in with the rotation and won’t be a concern at all.  They should have a great 2011 and with Dotel-Rauch-Francisco in the seventh through ninth they will succeed not to mention they still have Jason Frasor.
IMPACT ROOKIES
Kyle Drabek- Will be awesome all season for these guys
JP Arenciba- His hitting could slump at times but he will do great at times
Brett Lawrie- He will do just as good as he did in the spring when he gets the call
Anthony Gose- His speed will come around and if gets the call he should do good
OFFSEASON GRADE: C
QUESTIONS
Will Jose Bauista Repeat?- He has a great shot to especially with his new swing, that he got before 2010.  He can hit around 40 homers again.  He will have a small decline of course but everything should go good this season and I expect him to get some MVP votes to go along with his numbers.  He will do better in the second half just like last season even though.  Expect a lower batting average.
Can Morrow be an ace?- After he returns he can take a step to being one.  I feel he will breakout big this season and he might not be elite yet but he will show that he can be this season and he could be one of the best pitchers in the MLB for a while after that.
Can Francisco hold down the closer’s job?- For now I think he has just enough stuff and he  will get a lot least 30 saves without blowing a ton.  I think he’s a great option and he will never be elite but he could be a the top of the mid-tier and always do really good.
Can Rajai Davis hit 15 HR? Yes, but I think he will fall a bit short this year.  He will be very productive though and will be a great lead-off hitter.  he will also play some very good defense at the Rogers Centre.
How good can Arenciba do?- If you can deal with some ups and downs throughout the year and a lower batting average for right now but he will seriously have some big power and do an awesome job for most of the season.
AWARD PREDICTIONS
MVP: Jose Bautista
CY Young: Brandon Morrow
ROY: Kyle Drabek
WIN RANGE: 73-80

My Predictions for 2011

AL EAST
TEAM W L
BOS 99 63
NYY 96 66
TB 91 71
BAL 75 87
TOR 74 88
AL CENTRAL
TEAM W L
DET 92 70
CHW 90 72
MIN 86 76
KC 74 88
CLE 68 94
AL WEST
TEAM W L
TEX 96 66
OAK 84 78
LAA 80 82
SEA 63 99
NL EAST
TEAM W L
ATL 96 66
PHI 95 67
FLA 86 76
WAS 74 88
NYM 70 92
NL CENTRAL
TEAM W L
CIN 94 68
MIL 92 70
STL 86 76
CHC 75 87
PIT 73 89
HOU 67 95
NL WEST
TEAM W L
SF 96 66
COL 90 72
LAD 84 78
SD 79 83
ARZ 73 89
PLAYOFFS
ALDS: BOS over DET in 5     TEX over NYY in 4
NLDS: SF over PHI in 5     CIN over ATL in5

ALCS: TEX over BOS in 7
NLCS: CIN over SF in 7

WORLD SERIES CHAMP: Rangers in 6

AL MVP: 1B Miguel Cabrera
NL MVP: 1B Albert Pujols
AL CY Young: Jon Lester
NL CY Young:Roy Halladay 
AL ROY: SP Jeremy Hellickson
NL ROY: 1B Freddie Freeman
AL Manager of The Year: Jim Leyland
NL Manager of The Year: Bruce Bouchy

Brewers acquire Nyjer Morgan

I think this deal is good for the Brewers.  Morgan can be a great leadoff hitter and with Carlos Gomez being a platoon/bench guy they could get some more production out of him.  The Brewers only gave up Cutter Dykstra who could be good but won’t ever be an all-star or anything.  The Nationals needed to make this deal though because Rick Ankiel will do better and Morgan wouldn’t get any playing time.  I think in Milwaukee Morgan is better off as far as stats and production and it makes the Brewers more of a contender.  Both teams got something they needed but the Brew Crew is the winner of the deal by far.  Morgan will also play great defense and with he outfield the Brewers have now they are something to watch because all of those guys should have great years.  The Brewers line-up also benefits from the deal.
NEW NATIONALS LINE-UP
SS Desmond
2B Espinosa
3B Zimmerman
RF Werth
1B LaRoche
LF Morse
CF Ankiel
C Rodriguez/Ramos
That still mlooks just as good
BREWERS NEW LINE-UP
CF Morgan
3B McGehee
LF Braun
1B Fielder
RF Hart
2B Weeks
C Lucroy
SS Bentancourt/Counsell
It looks betetr except for the very bottom but it getting Morgan makes the Brewers a whole ot better.

Tigers Cuts

Tomorrow I will focus on who made the final roster spots…

ADAM WILK: I think he’s a bit overrated and he might not have the best season if he pitches for the Tigers this year but he will do decent.  His stuff can be beat a little to easily right now so he needs to season himself and he would hurt the club a little more than anyone else right now.  He could come up later this season and have a good season.  He will do his job well but I don’t think he’s cut out for the majors yet and he was a good cut
ANDY DIRKS: FOr right now he’s not better than the other outfielder but when the opportunity comes up he will mash at first and then steadily do good for a while.  He will make a good bench player at some point this year.  His tools are pretty good and he can put up numbers that are play but for right now they needed to cut him for a bit of season
DANNY WORTH: He could have some good moments when hitting but nothing special and what he did at the plate this spring isn’t real.  His defense will be awesome but he’s a boarderline major leaguer so he will do pretty average when up this year and will make for a good guy to have around later.
RANK OF THE GUYS CUT WHO WILL DO BEST

1. Andy Dirks
2. Danny Worth
3. Adam Wilk