2010 MLB Season Projections

Talkin’ Baseball with Johnny Crash: 2010 MLB Season Outlook

The time has come. Spring is in the air, and baseball is finally back! America’s pastime! It’s the time of hope for all 30 Major League teams because everybody has the same record, 0 – 0. Each team has made their off-season moves, and currently shaping their rosters. After assessing a lot of the moves made by teams to improve (and sometimes steer their teams down the toilet) I am offering my outlook on how I see the 2010 MLB season shaking down. First I will start with what I like to call “the league with the extra chromosome” aka, the National League.

- National League East: Philadelphia Phillies
It would be blasphemous for me to not give the Phillies the best odds to run away with this division, and here is why. The New York Mets are like a Jenga set made out of round pieces, they just can’t keep it together. Their entire team is falling apart. Their most athletic player has an overactive thyroid. Is he a 70 year old woman? Did he star in “Murder She Wrote”? Jeez! Other than the Mets, I didn’t see any upgrades from the Braves, Nationals, or Marlins that will convince me they can take down the Phillies. Oh yeah and the Phils just acquired the best pitcher in baseball Roy “Doc” Halladay to put a cherry on their back-to-back pennant sundae.

- National League Central: St Louis Cardinals
Two words. ALBERT PUJOLS Yes, the Latino Babe Ruth (what would that be, El Ruth De Babe?) is probably the only reason you need to go with the Cardinals to take the Central considering he is the greatest player on the planet…but wait, there’s more! They re-signed one of the best hitting left fielders in the game in Matt Holliday, and have arguably two of the best pitchers in all of baseball (Carpenter and Wainwright). Betting against the Cardinals here is like betting against Michael Jackson in a boy touching contest. Look for the Wild Card probably coming out of this division this year though.

- National League West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Even though they have the biggest scumbag player on the planet Manny Ramirez, the Dodgers are stacked with a very potent, powerful young lineup, and pretty decent pitching anchored by stud closer Jonathan Braxton. Add to the fact that they are being run by Joe Torre (4 Rings, show respect) and a mustache-less Don Mattingly, they are taking this division. I need to add that seeing Don Mattingly in a non-Yankee jersey is sadder than the end of the Notebook, which I will admit, made me tear up. (Please return my balls when you are done with them).

NL WILD CARD: Chicago Cubs

…and now for the real show, the American League.

- American League East: New York Yankees
If you were even thinking about betting against the World Series Champs then close this browser. If you have a PC, go to Start, shut down. Once complete, take your monitor and smash yourself in the face. The Yankees have added starting pitching depth with Javier Vazquez who led the NL in strikeouts last year. They have also gotten younger by saying goodbye to Johnny “I negotiated myself out of the Bronx” Damon, and Hideki Matsui (can’t say anything bad, the dude slaughtered the ball in the World Series and made Pedro cry as if he just watched the Notebook…….dammit, again?). The Red Sox will undoubtedly take the Wild Card though, this is pretty much the AL standard over the last decade with both teams going to the postseason.

- American League Central: Minnesota Twins
I gotta go with the Twins to repeat as division champs. They have a new Stadium, a new fresh outlook, the best average hitter/Catcher in the sport, and a healthy Justin Morneau coming back. Sure closer Joe Nathan is probably done for the season, but I think the Tigers got worse, and the other teams in the division just can’t tread water right now in my opinion. Let’s face it, the last time the Indians won the World Series was in a movie (don’t think too hard, the answer is Major League), the Royals are a Royal joke for lack of a better play on words, and I don’t see the White Sox doing all that much.

- American League West: Seattle Mariners
The Mariners spent straight up cash this winter! They made some excellent moves and signings, most notably stealing Chone Figgins from the Angels, and trading for Cliff Lee (2008 AL Cy Young Award Winner). The Angels lost in the same way the Mariners gained, so it is time for them to finally be dethroned. The Athletics are too young, and the Rangers have a coked out manager (literally) and suspect pitching at best so either teams chances of winning the division are as good as Heidi Montag’s chances of not melting when standing next to a lit candle. Ken Griffey Jr. will finally get his chance to go back to the playoffs.

AL WILD CARD: Boston Red Sox

So there you have it folks, my picks for the 2010 MLB playoff teams. Who is going to win the World Series?…..well the Yankees of course! Number 28 is on its way. It will be fun to look back at the end of the year and see how I did anyway, Cheers!

Play ball!

- Johnny Crash