Baseball Predictions for 2013

Call it early if you want, but it is very clear who the frontrunners will be in the upcoming 2013 MLB season. In the National League we have 2 teams who should win 100 games each in the Dodgers and the Nationals. Teams that could thwart their chances in the post-season will be the Phillies, Reds or Giants. The Phillies or Giants as a wildcard because there is little to zero chance of them winning their divisions over the two powerhouse teams mentioned above.

The American league holds similiar teams; the Angels and the Tigers. Both of them should win around 100 games and win their divisions going away. However, I see some exciting improvements in teams like the Indians and Royals in the North which could make for some interesting baseball in that division, at least in regards to contending for a wildcard. That will be made possible due to the parity in the East. All five teams are equal and should knock eachother off enough to make the wildcard a 88-90 win prize. So a surprising run by the Rangers in the West, or the A's, or the Royals/Indians, could notch a wildcard outside of the East with the last team standing representing the east being the (You heard it here first) New York Yankees. That's right. I am picking the Granderson-less Yankees to somehow put it together and win the East. You have to thank the bonehead move by the Rays for this because getting rid of James Shields was stupid, plain and simple. The Yankees have enough pitching in Sabathia, Pettite, Nova, Kuroda, Hughes, and an ample relief corps featuring the greatest closer of all time returning, to keep offenses in check and allow the Yankees to win 92 games.

However, the Angels are just too loaded this season and they will meet up with the Philadelphia Wildcard team in the World Series. The Phillies will get clutch starts in the playoffs and eek out wins over the Dodgers and Nationals in their playoff series. The Phillies will win the World Series as Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels shine, a revamped bullpen holds, and young-sters emerge as stars (Revere, Babe "Ruf", and the not so young YOUNG lol) all contribute to another World Series trophy for Philadelphia, their third in as many decades. Joke intended, but it's their year. The Nats won't hit enough in postseason, the Dodgers will be outpitched and the Angels will stall out and fail to overcome an early 2 games to 0 World Series deficit and fall in game 7 to Cliff Lee.