TigersMAN

After one month of the season, here are the top pitchers in both leagues.  Some are surprises, obviously, and some are not.  It'll be interesting to see how many will still be Cy Young candidates at the end of the season.

National League:

1. Brandon Webb, Arizona;  6-0, 1.98 ERA, 41 IP, 34 Ks.
2. Ben Sheets, Milwaukee;  4-0, 1.64 ERA, 33 IP, 26 Ks.
3. Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati;  4-0, 1.23 ERA, 29.1 IP, 33 Ks.
4. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco; 4-1, 1.73 ERA, 36.1 IP, 40 Ks.
5. Carlos Zambrano, Chicago;  4-1, 2.21 ERA, 40.2 IP, 32 Ks.
6. Dan Haren, Arizona;  4-1, 3.13 ERA, 37.1 IP, 29 Ks.
7. Jake Peavy, San Diego; 3-1, 2.09 ERA, 43 IP, 38 Ks.
8. Ryan Dempster, Chicago; 4-1, 3.16 ERA, 37 IP, 22 Ks.
9. Adam Wainwright, St. Louis; 3-1, 2.79 ERA, 38.2 IP, 28 Ks.
10. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia; 3-3, 2.70 ERA, 43.1 IP, 36 Ks.

     Honorable Mention: Micah Owings, Arizona 4-0, 3.48, 31 IP, 28 Ks;  Mark Hendrickson, Florida 4-1, 3.68, 36.2 IP, 17 Ks.

American League:

1. Cliff Lee, Cleveland;  5-0, 0.96 ERA, 37.2 IP, 32 Ks.
2. Joe Saunders, LA Angels; 5-0, 2.08 ERA, 43.1 IP, 20 Ks.
3. Ervin Santana, LA Angels; 5-0, 2.48 ERA, 40 IP, 29 Ks.
4. Chien-Ming Wang, New York; 5-0, 3.23 ERA, 39 IP, 27 Ks.
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Boston; 4-0, 2.52 ERA, 35.2 IP, 32 Ks.
6. Zack Greinke, Kansas City; 3-0, 1.25 ERA, 36 IP, 19 Ks.
7. James Shields, Tampa Bay; 3-1, 2.54 ERA, 39 IP, 28 Ks.
8. Felix Hernandez, Seattle; 2-1, 2.22 ERA, 44.2 IP, 41 Ks.
9. Fausto Carmona, Cleveland; 3-1, 2.60 ERA, 34.2 IP, 13 Ks.
10. Javier Vazquez, Chicago; 3-2, 3.72 ERA, 38.2 IP, 37 Ks.

     Honorable Mention: Andy Sonnanstine, Tampa Bay 4-1, 4.42, 38.2 IP, 21 Ks.

In the AL East, it'll be the "usual suspects" fighting for the top spot and I think it depends on which SP staff remains the healthier.  Both the Red Sox and Yankees have some injury issues (Beckett, Schilling; Pettitte) plus they both are counting on some young, unproven arms to come through for them.  I think the Sox have a stronger bullpen, overall, and I give the edge to the Sox.  The Jays and Rays will be improved this year, though they won't be in the race for the East Division crown.  They will, however, cut into the number of wins that the Bosox and Yanks finish with, and only one team from the East will make the playoffs.  No Wild Card from the East this year.

Here's how I see the AL East:

1. Red Sox   93-69
2. Yankees  90-72
3. Blue Jays 86-76
4. Rays         75-87
5. Orioles     65-97

In the Central, it will also be a two-team race between the Indians and Tigers, of course.  If the Tigers are to win the Central, Willis will need to pitch better than he has this Spring, as far as locating his fastball better, getting ahead of the hitters and limiting the walks.  Granderson starting the season on the DL will hurt, as he is an integral part of their offense - getting on base ahead of the big guns.  Hopefully, his finger injury won't effect his offensive production after he comes back.  The Tigers bullpen is another issue.  The Indians bullpen (setup Ps) is better, but I don't like their closer - he's worse than Jones.  Overall, I believe the Tigers SP has the edge on the Indians.  After Sabathia and Carmona, the 3,4, & 5 starters are average or worse.  Verlander is as good or better than CC and will be a top candidate for the Cy Young.  Bonderman, if he stays healthy, will match Carmona in wins.  The Twins won't win as many games as last year, with the loss of Santana, but they will win more than the White Sox and remain in the 3rd spot.  KC will bring up the rear, as usual.

Here's my AL Central prediction:

1. Tigers        93-69
2. Indians      92-70
3. Twins         75-87
4. White Sox  74-88
5. Royals       70-92

In the West, another two-team race.  With the addition of Bedard (if he is healthy all year), Seattle will give the Angels a run for their money and could even overtake them if the Angels pitching (Lackey, Escobar) does not get, and stay, healthy.  However, the Angels' offense is much better than the Mariners, especially if Sexson has the same type of year that he had last year.  The bullpens are comparable but I give the Angels SP (overall, 1-5) a little bit of an edge, if healthy.  Oakland and Texas won't be in the mix at all and will fight each other to stay out of the cellar.

Here's my AL West prediction:

1. Angels       92-70
2. Mariners    90-72
3. Athletics     73-89
4. Rangers    70-92

The Indians win the Wild Card.

The Tigers win the AL pennant and meet the Mets in the World Series.

Tigers beat the Mets in six games.

With the addition of Santana, if Pedro stays healthy all season, Maine continues to pitch as he has this Spring, and Perez pitches a little more consistently (or even the same as last year), the Mets will win the East.  The 5th starter is a question at present but the 1-4 are better than any other team in the East.  Their bullpen, of course, is also a concern (what team's isn't) but I think it will be good enough that they will be on top at the end of the season.  The Phils and Braves will stay close and make it a very competitive, interesting race but the Mets will prevail.  I don't believe the Phils or Braves pitching, especially starting pitching, can match the Mets.  The Phils pen is as bad or worse than the Mets.  Smoltz and Glavine are past their prime but still have some wins in their arms (though there's rumblings about Smoltz's arm) and I think the Braves have the best pen of the three, but after the "old two," I'm not sold on the Braves other SPs.

Here's how I see the NL East:

1. Mets  93-69
2. Phils 89-73
3. Braves 88-74
4. Nats  71-91
5. Marlins 69-93

In the Central, it'll be a two-team race between the Cubbies and the Brewers.  The Cubs will prevail and I even like them to win 90 games, edging out the Brew Crew on the last day of the season.  The Cards and 'Stros will fall in the standings and I see the Reds improving and almost winning as many as they lose.  They've got some good young arms but, unfortunately, they'll be pitching in hitter-friendly Cinci's ballpark.  I'm pulling for Jr. to stay healthy all year and have a big offensive year.  The Bucs will...."be the Bucs" but they could possibly finish ahead of either St. Louis or Houston...but I doubt it.

Here's my NL Central prediction:

1. Cubs  90-72
2. Brewers 89-73
3. Reds  80-82
4. Cards 70-92
5. Astros 69-93
6. Pirates 68-94

In the West, it could be any of 4 teams that win it but my money is on Arizona.  With the addition of Haren, it can only help them.  The one BIG question is their closer.  Lyon has been handed the job at the beginning of Spring but he has been "lit up" just about every time he's pitched this Spring.  The big flame thrower, Pena, may get the job by default once the season starts if Lyon keeps on as he has this Spring.  I think the Dodgers will be improved and the Rockies and Padres will hang in there and make it interesting.  The Giants have some good young pitching but no offense to go with it.  Their pitchers could have the best ERAs with losing records.

Here's how I see the NL West:

1. D-Backs  94-68
2. Dodgers 90-72
3. Rockies  87-76
4. Padres   86-77
5. Giants   68-94

The Dodgers will win the Wild Card. 

The Mets will win the NL pennant and go to the World Series. 

I'll be posting my AL predictions, hopefully tomorrow (maybe even later tonight), so you can see who the Mets will be playing then.

Just finished a live draft on CBS.  It's probably my last draft before the season starts.  I have so many teams now, I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep them straight.  This league is a 10-team, H2H league.  Unfortunately, I had the #1 draft position again.  I hate drafting first because it's so long before you get to draft again in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc. rounds.  So here's my team.  I'm not real happy with my pitching staff but maybe I'll be lucky and some young upstart will have a great start and I'll be able to pick him up on the waiver wire....or maybe I'll be able to make a trade somewhere along the line.  Any recommendations/suggestions are appreciated.

Here's my team, by round drafted:

• C - Ivan Rodriguez (12th round)
• 1B - James Loney (11th round)
• 2B - Brandon Phillips (3rd round)
• 3B - Alex Rodriguez (1st round)
• SS - Edgar Renteria (13th round)
• OF - Magglio Ordonez (2nd round)
• OF - Manny Ramirez (4th round)
• OF - Hunter Pence (10th round)
• U - Corey Hart (16th round)
• SP - Roy Oswalt (6th round)
• SP - Felix Hernandez (7th round)
• SP - John Maine (8th round)
• SP -