THT 2006 Staff Predictions
The Hardball Times has been previewing individual teams for the past two weeks and now that Opening Day is finally here it’s time to put our money where our collective mouths are. Below you’ll find predictions from a dozen THT writers, including divisional standings, major awards, and what happens in October. Within a week we may all look like idiots, but that’s the beauty of baseball.
American League West
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH Brian Borawski OAK SEA LAA TEX John Brattain OAK LAA TEX SEA Maury Brown LAA OAK SEA TEX Craig Burley OAK TEX LAA SEA David Gassko OAK LAA TEX SEA Aaron Gleeman OAK LAA SEA TEX Ben Jacobs OAK LAA TEX SEA Lee Sinins OAK LAA TEX SEA Dave Studeman OAK TEX LAA SEA Steve Treder OAK LAA SEA TEX Bryan Tsao OAK LAA TEX SEA John Walsh OAK LAA TEX SEA CONSENSUS OAK LAA TEX SEA
American League Central
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH Brian Borawski CLE MIN CHW DET KAN John Brattain CLE CHW DET MIN KAN Maury Brown CLE CHW MIN DET KAN Craig Burley CHW CLE DET MIN KAN David Gassko DET CLE MIN CHW KAN Aaron Gleeman CHW CLE MIN DET KAN Ben Jacobs CHW CLE MIN DET KAN Lee Sinins CLE CHW MIN DET KAN Dave Studeman MIN CHW CLE DET KAN Steve Treder CLE CHW MIN DET KAN Bryan Tsao CLE MIN CHW DET KAN John Walsh CLE CHW DET MIN KAN CONSENSUS CLE CHW MIN DET KAN
American League East
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH Brian Borawski NYY TOR BOS BAL TAM John Brattain NYY TOR BOS TAM BAL Maury Brown NYY TOR BOS TAM BAL Craig Burley BOS TOR NYY BAL TAM David Gassko BOS TOR NYY BAL TAM Aaron Gleeman BOS NYY TOR BAL TAM Ben Jacobs BOS NYY TOR BAL TAM Lee Sinins NYY TOR BOS BAL TAM Dave Studeman NYY BOS TOR TAM BAL Steve Treder BOS NYY TOR BAL TAM Bryan Tsao BOS NYY TOR TAM BAL John Walsh BOS NYY TOR TAM BAL CONSENSUS BOS NYY TOR BAL TAM
National League West
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH Brian Borawski SFG LAD SDP ARI COL John Brattain LAD SDP SFG ARI COL Maury Brown LAD SDP ARI SFG COL Craig Burley LAD COL SFG SDP ARI David Gassko LAD SDP SFG ARI COL Aaron Gleeman SFG LAD SDP ARI COL Ben Jacobs LAD SDP SFG ARI COL Lee Sinins SFG SDP LAD ARI COL Dave Studeman LAD SDP SFG ARI COL Steve Treder LAD SDP SFG ARI COL Bryan Tsao LAD SDP SFG ARI COL John Walsh LAD ARI SDP SFG COL CONSENSUS LAD SFG SDP ARI COL
National League Central
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH Brian Borawski STL MIL CHC HOU CIN PIT John Brattain STL MIL CHC HOU CIN PIT Maury Brown STL MIL HOU CHC CIN PIT Craig Burley HOU STL MIL CIN CHC PIT David Gassko STL MIL CHC HOU CIN PIT Aaron Gleeman STL MIL HOU CHC CIN PIT Ben Jacobs STL MIL CHC HOU PIT CIN Lee Sinins STL CIN HOU MIL CHC PIT Dave Studeman STL CHC MIL HOU PIT CIN Steve Treder STL MIL HOU CIN CHC PIT Bryan Tsao STL MIL CHC HOU PIT CIN John Walsh STL MIL HOU CHC CIN PIT CONSENSUS STL MIL HOU CHC CIN PIT
National League East
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH Brian Borawski NYM PHI ATL FLA WAS John Brattain ATL NYM PHI FLA WAS Maury Brown NYM ATL PHI FLA WAS Craig Burley ATL NYM PHI WAS FLA David Gassko NYM PHI ATL FLA WAS Aaron Gleeman ATL PHI NYM WAS FLA Ben Jacobs NYM ATL PHI FLA WAS Lee Sinins ATL NYM PHI WAS FLA Dave Studeman PHI ATL NYM FLA WAS Steve Treder ATL NYM PHI FLA WAS Bryan Tsao ATL NYM PHI FLA WAS John Walsh ATL NYM PHI WAS FLA CONSENSUS ATL NYM PHI FLA WAS
American League Wild Card & Awards
WC MVP CY YOUNG ROOKIE Brian Borawski TOR Gary Sheffield Johan Santana Justin Verlander John Brattain TOR Travis Hafner Roy Halladay Justin Verlander Maury Brown TOR Alex Rodriguez Randy Johnson Kenji Johjima Craig Burley CLE David Ortiz Rich Harden Jon Papelbon David Gassko CLE Eric Chavez Jeremy Bonderman Justin Verlander Aaron Gleeman NYY Alex Rodriguez Johan Santana Justin Verlander Ben Jacobs NYY David Ortiz Johan Santana Kenji Johjima Dave Studeman CHW Bobby Crosby Johan Santana Francisco Liriano Steve Treder NYY Jhonny Peralta Johan Santana Kenji Johjima Bryan Tsao LAA David Ortiz Rich Harden Francisco Liriano John Walsh LAA David Ortiz Rich Harden Francisco Liriano CONSENSUS NYY David Ortiz Johan Santana Justin Verlander
National League Wild Card & Awards
WC MVP CY YOUNG ROOKIE Brian Borawski PHI Albert Pujols Jake Peavy Josh Willingham John Brattain NYM Carlos Delgado Pedro Martinez Jeremy Hermida Maury Brown ATL Derrek Lee Dontrelle Willis Ryan Zimmerman Craig Burley STL Albert Pujols Eric Gagne Josh Barfield David Gassko MIL Carlos Delgado Pedro Martinez Jeremy Hermida Aaron Gleeman PHI Albert Pujols Jake Peavy Prince Fielder Ben Jacobs ATL Albert Pujols Jake Peavy Prince Fielder Dave Studeman CHC Ryan Howard Carlos Zambrano Jeremy Hermida Steve Treder NYM David Wright Roy Oswalt Prince Fielder Bryan Tsao SDP Albert Pujols Chris Carpenter Jeremy Hermida John Walsh NYM Albert Pujols Jake Peavy Josh Willingham CONSENSUS NYM Albert Pujols Jake Peavy Jeremy Hermida
Postseason
AL CHAMPS NL CHAMPS MLB CHAMPS Brian Borawski New York Yankees New York Mets New York Mets John Brattain Toronto Blue Jays St. Louis Cardinals Toronto Blue Jays Maury Brown New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals New York Yankees Craig Burley Oakland A's Houston Astros Oakland A's David Gassko Oakland A's New York Mets New York Mets Aaron Gleeman Oakland A's St. Louis Cardinals Oakland A's Ben Jacobs Oakland A's New York Mets Oakland A's Dave Studeman Chicago White Sox Chicago Cubs Chicaco Cubs Steve Treder Cleveland Indians St. Louis Cardinals Cleveland Indians Bryan Tsao Oakland A's Los Angeles Dodgers Oakland A's John Walsh Boston Red Sox St. Louis Cardinals Boston Red Sox CONSENSUS Oakland A's St. Louis Cardinals Oakland A's