MLB predictions reviewed
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
On March 29, I posted a column with all that I thought would happen in the then-upcoming '12 MLB season. I called it "A grand slam attempt
at predicting the '12 MLB season." Well, if it was a grand slam I was looking for … it wasn't this season as I consider my regular-season
predictions nothing but a strikeout swinging … let me show you.
Here were my division winners: AL — Rays, Tigers, Angels; NL — Phillies, Reds, Diamondbacks; Wild Card teams — Yankees, Indians, Cardinals and Giants.[[In-content Ad]]The actual division winners and wild card teams were: AL — Yankees, Tigers, A's; NL — Nationals, Reds, Giants; Wild Card teams — Orioles, Rangers, Cardinals and Braves.
So teams I correctly picked and made the playoffs was a grand total of five out of 10 … in baseball terms, that’s batting .500.
I did have the Tigers winning the AL East, but they won eight fewer games than I thought they would.
Another flop pick was the A's in third with 66 wins … I'm ashamed to admit this ... the A’s won 94 times.
In the NL East, the Phillies let me down big time (with that lineup, you just break even with 81 wins?) as they were third in the division standings, and well … sadly, I had them in the World Series. The Reds pick of winning the Central was correct, but again … too heavy on the losses. I had the Cards 87-75, second in the NL East … they finished 88-74.
There were a lot of other wrong choices as well … I still can get the World Series champ correct (Tigers), and maybe David Price could win the AL Cy Young.
Here are a couple sentences on each team. My prediction is listed second.
AL East
Yankees — 95-67 (93-69): Does this team ever have a bad year? Really … c'mon!
Orioles — 93-69 (70-92): In the words of Dr. Perry Cox from "Scrubs" I was "Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong …”
Rays — 90-72 (94-68): They would have won the AL Central by two games.
Blue Jays — 73-89 (67-95): These were some bad birds.
Red Sox — 69-93 (84-78): Never disliked a group of players as much as I did this one.
AL Central
Tigers — 88-74 (96-66): They were the best team in the worst division.
White Sox — 85-77 (80-82): Better than I expected. Robin Ventura was good for them.
Royals — 72-90 (81-81): Will this team ever be any good?
Indians — 68-94 (89-73): For a couple months, the Tribe was in first, then they were like their NFL counterpart.
Twins — 66-96 (85-77): Looks like the Minnesota magic has all but vanished the past two seasons.
AL West
A's — 94-68 (66-96): I wrote, "I don't see this team being relevant anytime in the near future." I'm dumb.
Rangers — 93-69 (88-74): I'm done picking against the Rangers.
Angels — 89-73 (94-68): It was nothing but preseason hype … all hype, but I like Mike Trout.
Mariners — 75-87 (64-98): What has happened to this once-productive franchise?
NL East
Nationals — 98-64 (83-79): I undervalued this team.
Braves — 94-68 (86-67): At least I had them in second place.
Phillies — 81-81 (93-69): Still mad at them for making me look so bad.
Mets — 74-88 (65-97): At least they have R.A. Dickey.
Marlins — 69-93 (85-77): The statue in the outfield of their new stadium was worse than their record.
NL Central
Reds — 97-65 (89-73): Hey, I had them in first at least.
Cardinals — 88-74 (87-75): This team always shows up when they need to earn a postseason spot. Could be dangerous if they win the wildcard game.
Brewers — 83-79 (81-81): Again, I was close … but that only counts in horseshoes, right?
Pirates — 79-83 (77-85): Wow, I'm scaring myself with these predictions. Not as scary as 20 straight losing seasons, though.
Cubs — 61-101 (70-92): They were even worse than what I thought they would be … sad.
Astros — 55-107 (74-85): Worst team in baseball. Period.
NL West
Giants — 94-68 (88-74): Good team, but their best player was suspended for 50 games … not sure what to think.
Dodgers — 86-76 (82-80): I think they are headed in the right direction.
Diamondbacks — 81-81 (89-73): What was I thinking?
Padres — 76-86 (69-93): Why even bother?
Rockies — 64-98 (77-85): At least the state of Colorado has Peyton Manning to watch.
Maybe I need to watch more baseball this postseason and into the '13 spring training.
That's what I'll do. I’ll try again next season.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor. Contact Stephen at sforsha@gmail.com.
at predicting the '12 MLB season." Well, if it was a grand slam I was looking for … it wasn't this season as I consider my regular-season
predictions nothing but a strikeout swinging … let me show you.
Here were my division winners: AL — Rays, Tigers, Angels; NL — Phillies, Reds, Diamondbacks; Wild Card teams — Yankees, Indians, Cardinals and Giants.[[In-content Ad]]The actual division winners and wild card teams were: AL — Yankees, Tigers, A's; NL — Nationals, Reds, Giants; Wild Card teams — Orioles, Rangers, Cardinals and Braves.
So teams I correctly picked and made the playoffs was a grand total of five out of 10 … in baseball terms, that’s batting .500.
I did have the Tigers winning the AL East, but they won eight fewer games than I thought they would.
Another flop pick was the A's in third with 66 wins … I'm ashamed to admit this ... the A’s won 94 times.
In the NL East, the Phillies let me down big time (with that lineup, you just break even with 81 wins?) as they were third in the division standings, and well … sadly, I had them in the World Series. The Reds pick of winning the Central was correct, but again … too heavy on the losses. I had the Cards 87-75, second in the NL East … they finished 88-74.
There were a lot of other wrong choices as well … I still can get the World Series champ correct (Tigers), and maybe David Price could win the AL Cy Young.
Here are a couple sentences on each team. My prediction is listed second.
AL East
Yankees — 95-67 (93-69): Does this team ever have a bad year? Really … c'mon!
Orioles — 93-69 (70-92): In the words of Dr. Perry Cox from "Scrubs" I was "Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong …”
Rays — 90-72 (94-68): They would have won the AL Central by two games.
Blue Jays — 73-89 (67-95): These were some bad birds.
Red Sox — 69-93 (84-78): Never disliked a group of players as much as I did this one.
AL Central
Tigers — 88-74 (96-66): They were the best team in the worst division.
White Sox — 85-77 (80-82): Better than I expected. Robin Ventura was good for them.
Royals — 72-90 (81-81): Will this team ever be any good?
Indians — 68-94 (89-73): For a couple months, the Tribe was in first, then they were like their NFL counterpart.
Twins — 66-96 (85-77): Looks like the Minnesota magic has all but vanished the past two seasons.
AL West
A's — 94-68 (66-96): I wrote, "I don't see this team being relevant anytime in the near future." I'm dumb.
Rangers — 93-69 (88-74): I'm done picking against the Rangers.
Angels — 89-73 (94-68): It was nothing but preseason hype … all hype, but I like Mike Trout.
Mariners — 75-87 (64-98): What has happened to this once-productive franchise?
NL East
Nationals — 98-64 (83-79): I undervalued this team.
Braves — 94-68 (86-67): At least I had them in second place.
Phillies — 81-81 (93-69): Still mad at them for making me look so bad.
Mets — 74-88 (65-97): At least they have R.A. Dickey.
Marlins — 69-93 (85-77): The statue in the outfield of their new stadium was worse than their record.
NL Central
Reds — 97-65 (89-73): Hey, I had them in first at least.
Cardinals — 88-74 (87-75): This team always shows up when they need to earn a postseason spot. Could be dangerous if they win the wildcard game.
Brewers — 83-79 (81-81): Again, I was close … but that only counts in horseshoes, right?
Pirates — 79-83 (77-85): Wow, I'm scaring myself with these predictions. Not as scary as 20 straight losing seasons, though.
Cubs — 61-101 (70-92): They were even worse than what I thought they would be … sad.
Astros — 55-107 (74-85): Worst team in baseball. Period.
NL West
Giants — 94-68 (88-74): Good team, but their best player was suspended for 50 games … not sure what to think.
Dodgers — 86-76 (82-80): I think they are headed in the right direction.
Diamondbacks — 81-81 (89-73): What was I thinking?
Padres — 76-86 (69-93): Why even bother?
Rockies — 64-98 (77-85): At least the state of Colorado has Peyton Manning to watch.
Maybe I need to watch more baseball this postseason and into the '13 spring training.
That's what I'll do. I’ll try again next season.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor. Contact Stephen at sforsha@gmail.com.