2013 MLB Preseason Predictions

Hello from Kauai!  I'm off getting tan, drinking mai tais, and having just a glorious time.  However, today is the first day of the baseball season!!!  I'm actually super excited.  Spring Training a few weeks ago got my baseball juices flowing!  Also, both the A's and the Dodgers should be fun to watch this season.  Always helpful.

So, with that in mind, its time to make my predictions! Last season, I got 3 of 5 AL playoff teams correct (AL Central, AL East, and the 1st Wild Card), although my lack of faith in the AL WEST CHAMPION ATHLETICS was disturbing.  In the NL, I got 2 of 5 playoff teams correct (NL Central and the 1st Wild Card). My predicted World Series participants missed the playoffs...but since I hate both Anaheim and Philly, fine by me!  I missed all of the postseason awards, but whatever, I had a pretty good prediction year overall.

So, yeah, let's get to it!

Division and Wild Card Winners:

AL West: Oakland (2nd: Anaheim, 3rd: Texas, 4th: Seattle, 5th: Houston)

AL Central: Detroit (2nd: Kansas City, 3rd: Chicago, 4th: Cleveland, 5th: Minnesota)

AL East: Tampa Bay (2nd: Toronto, 3rd: Baltimore, 4th: New York, 5th: Boston)

Wild Card: Anaheim

Wild Card: Toronto

OK, fine, I'm doing it.  I'm going full homer and predicting the A's win back to back division titles!  First, the A's have the pitching that no one else in the division has.  Anaheim's rotation is a patchwork after Weaver.  Oakland also upgraded its offense in the offseason.  They look primed to rock.  Detroit should take the Central easily.  The East is interesting, as the usual powers look weak and uninspiring.  I'll take Tampa, but its a toss up between them and Toronto...and Baltimore surprised us all last season, so they could make a run too!  Anaheim and Toronto will take the wild cards in this scenario.   

NL West: Los Angeles (2nd: San Francisco, 3rd: Arizona, 4th: San Diego, 5th: Colorado)

NL Central: Cincinnati (2nd: St. Louis, 3rd: Pittsburgh, 4th: Milwaukee, 5th: Chicago)

NL East: Washington (2nd: Atlanta, 3rd: Philadelphia, 4th: Miami, 5th: New York)

Wild Card: Atlanta

Wild Card: St. Louis

The West should be interesting, with LA loading up with their new found wealth, the Giants coming off another World Series win, and Arizona not looking awful.  I'll take LA...so much talent there (and I'm a homer), in what should be a fun race with their rivals.  Cincy and St. Louis should be in a dogfight for the Central, with the loser being good enough for a wile card.  Same with Washington and Atlanta in the East.  Should be good races all around!

Playoffs

Anaheim def. Toronto

St. Louis def. Atlanta

Detroit def. Anaheim

Oakland def. Tampa Bay

Washington def. St. Louis

Los Angeles def. Cincinnati

Oakland def. Detroit

Washington def. Los Angeles

Washington def. Oakland

Gah!  So close to my dream World Series!  I'd be way too much of a homer to pick an A's vs Dodgers World Series, though.  I'll take the A's and their pitching and depth on offense in the AL, though.  Washington is my champion, as they are stacked in the rotation AND on offense.  I mean, its absurd.  And they'll have Strasburg to lead that rotation into the playoffs.  Strasburg-Gio-Haren-Zimmerman...that's and insane rotation.  Give em the title...and break my heart in the process.

Season Awards:

AL MVP: Jose Bautista - TOR

NL MVP: Joey Votto - CIN

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander - DET

NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw - LAD

AL RoY: Wil Myers - TB

NL RoY: Jedd Gyorko - SD

And, I'll steal this disclaimer from Gregg Easterbrook: "All predictions wrong or your money back!"