Philadelphia Sports Blog

by John Leon

In March I made somewhat bold predictions and as sure as I sit here at my computer, they have for the most part been laughable. I’ve left the original thoughts below and now at the almost half way point, there seems to be a need of some revision.
So here we go…
But there’s one word that means so much and can be the heartbreak of all teams….IF. Here then lies one scribes’ predictions, IF, everything goes the right way.

THE AL WEST:
SEATTLE- They look to be the favorite here. Plenty of pop, defense and leadership, plus a proven closer in J.J. Putz
IF: Eric Bedard and Felix Hernandez stay healthy
JUNE 9: This is a car accident. You don’t want to look but you can’t help yourself. Who really knows what happened here?
SEPT.20- See above and now comes word that Pat Gillick may return as team President. Good Luck!

L.A. ANGELS- Great manager in Mike Scoscia, plenty of speed and long balls aplenty.
IF: The pitching holds up, they already have 2 guys headed for the DL and they’re not getting any younger. Vlad and Garrett are about 100 years old aren’t they?
JUNE 9: Still the best manager and they’re playing really well. This is their division to lose right now.
SEPT. 20 – Prediction comes true. They clinched before anyone else and K-Rod may get Cy votes. Breaks Thigpen’s record for saves in a season.

OAKLAND- Moneyball strikes again. Once again the smartest GM in baseball has the A’s younger and hungrier and could be a sleeper.
IF: They mature faster than usual and Beane can make another deal (which we all know he will), the A’s will make a run late.
JUNE 9: They’ve made their run earlier than expected and will be a handful now.
SEPT. 20- they used all their gas. Maybe Moneyball doesn’t work all the time?

FOOT NOTE: Texas’ Josh Hamilton is becoming a fan favorite and how can you NOT root for this kid. Great season but ran out of gas.

THE AL CENTRAL:
CLEVELAND- WOW! What else can you say when they may be the best team in the division and may not even get to the playoffs. This division is brutal and whoever survives may win the whole thing. They’re deep, talented, and fairly young and will be right there.
IF: Closer Joe Borowski doesn’t implode.
JUNE 9: What happened to the offense? Offensive is the word.
SEPT. 20 – They trade C.C. and have to rebuild or re-tool. Too much talent here not to compete.

DETROIT- The trade that made the Tigers even filthier. The pitching depth is ridiculous and just try and get an out with that lineup. Ivan Rodriguez bats 8th!
IF: Dontrelle Willis regains his form and the bullpen can get some help for Todd Jones. Injuries here could spell doom, even for this lineup.
JUNE 9: Along with Seattle, the most disappointing team this season and it’s not gonna get better. Bonderman is out for the year and Verlander starts 2-9. Ouch!
SEPT. 20 – Ugly is the optimum word here. I-Rod is gone and so may be others. Sheffield anyone?

WHITE SOX- Five players that can bang 30 or more homers, and Ozzie Guillen. Bobby Jenks is arguably the best closer today.
IF: They can swing a trade for Paul Konerko, they could make a run…next year.
JUNE 9: Ozzie’s tirade woke up the sleeping giant. Look out below!
SEPT. 20 – They swung a trade for Griffey AND kept Konerko who’s healthy again. Tough middle of the lineup with Thome, Dye, Konerko and Griffey. Playoff bound. It’s just a matter of holding off the Twins.

THE AL EAST:
YANKEES- The last year for The Stadium and promises of Kennedy, Chamberlain and Hughes. Cashman had better pray that he made the right move by keeping them instead of the Santana trade. Power, some speed, lefties galore but getting a little long in the tooth.
IF: Girardi can lead, and the youngsters prove right, they will be right there. Of Course if not, there’s always the Yanks farm team…the Royals.
JUNE 9: They just lost 2 of 3 to the Royals and Kennedy’s lost, Hughes is hurt and Chamberlain will be a good starter. Now about that 8th inning Joe….
SEPT. 20 – Heck of a way to end the stadium but that’s not the worst part. Giambi, Matsui, Damon may all be gone. Cano is here, physically but mentally? Posada’s been hurt and the list goes on. Expect the wallet to be open for Sabathia and maybe Sheets too.

RED SOX- Younger, deeper and Manny’s in his walk year. Look Out!
IF: The Yanks falter this could get ugly.
JUNE 9: The kids are stepping up and it’s already ugly. Lester’s no-no, Ellsbury, Bucholz and Masterson, AND they still have some studs waiting to crack the starting 8. The Red Sox are just getting started and this might be a runaway.
SEPT. 20 – They trade Manny and don’t miss a beat. Those pesky Rays won’t go away!

BLUE JAYS- Any other year they’d be right there, but not with 1 and 1A in front of them. Alex Rios’s breakout year is now. This is the AL version of the Braves. Keep an eye on them.
IF: Scott Rolen stays healthy and the top 2 slip, they could steal this. Good balance all the way through.
JUNE 9: They need just little more O to go with that pitching and they could make the Yanks make their tee times a bit earlier than planned.
SEPT. 20 – Maybe they can play through on the same course as the Yankees.

FOOTNOTE: If anybody saw the Rays coming they are flat out liars! Joe Madden is the Manager of the Year and they will be a handful in the playoffs. They have some live arms and bats. Team of Destiny? The networks DO NOT want to see a Cubs/Rays Series do they?

THE NL WEST:
D-BACKS- When Randy Johnson’s your #3 guy, when your young players have a year under their belt in a race, when you get 20+ homers from Eric Byrnes, why not do it again.
IF: Brandon Lyon closes like Valverde, if not….
JUNE 9: Brandon Webb is Cy Young, Dan Haren is a quality #2 and The Unit is still the Unit. Pencil them in for the playoffs.
SEPT. 20 – Not so fast my friend. Once the Dodgers got Manny they went from 5 up to 3+ behind.

ROCKIES- Did you think they were going away? Last year was not a fluke and they’ll be there again. Good young arms and future HOF shortstop Tulowitzki will keep them there for a long time.
IF: They can find a 2B with Matsui gone.
JUNE 9: Injuries have really hurt this team and they may not recover.
SEPT. 20 – They didn’t.

DODGERS- Torre at the helm will be an upgrade, Matt Kemp is a stud and they will be a force.
IF: Nomar can stay healthy and they can hold leads. Penny will HAVE to stay healthy or they’re done.
JUNE 9: They may be done now. The kids need to grow up some more, and Nomar’s done probably.
SEPT. 20 – Amazing how one man can make a difference. Manny makes everyone else better, they have a filthy bullpen and they are going to the playoffs.

THE NL CENTRAL:
CUBS- Is this the year? Probably not.. Ridiculously good offensively but they need Brian Roberts at 2B. Unfortunately he plays for the Orioles.
IF: Wood can stay healthy and close consistently. After Zambrano they need help in the rotation.
JUNE 9: Dempster and Lilly gave them the help they needed and Theriot has given them a lift at short. Soriano, Lee and Ramirez have Sweet Lou smiling…a lot.
SEPT. 20 – Playoffs here they come.

BREWERS- The Wallbangers are back, and Ryan Braun may hit 40, which means Fielder hits…60?
IF: The starters hold up and Eric Gagne returns to his Dodger form closing.
JUNE 9: They still have time but something’s missing here.
SEPT. 20 – Yes there is…Ned Yost. Another end of the year implosion and they might not even get in the wildcard. Sheets and Sabathia will both be gone after the year. Infusion of some heart here would be nice.
REDS – No laughing here, they actually have a shot. Dusty Baker will bring a nice change of attitude here and Junior will benefit from it. Francesco Cordero got big bucks to close; they think they can do it too.
IF: They can find a shortstop, and the farm system helps out. The minors are very deep.
JUNE 9: Junior’s closing in on 600 and Jay Bruce looks like Junior 15 years ago. The Volquez for Hamilton trade worked out for both teams huh?
SEPT. 20 – Junior’s gone to Chi Town and they are rebuilding…again.

ASTROS- Ed Wade is the GM. enough said.
JUNE 9: Nope
SEPT. 20 – They made a short run but they’re going to come up short. Look for Oswalt to be somewhere else next year.
And last but not least….

THE NL EAST:
METS – Santana will win 20 in the new league, Pedro gets 12-15, and they are still pissed about the el foldo last year. However, after Reyes, Wright and Beltran…..Nobody scares me here.
IF: HEALTH…that’s all they need because they are not young and Delgado, Martinez and Wagner could all be gone by July.
JUNE 9: If there was another manger around Willie would be gone. Time to rebuild.
SEPT. 20 – There IS a new manager but same old story. They need to find some heart. Maybe they can shop with the Brew Crew. They’ll get in, but won’t go far.

PHILLIES- They will score about 1,000 runs, that’s a given. But questions abound with Myers returning to the rotation and Lidge being able to bounce back. They have Flash who will close if need be, but can he stay healthy? They won’t miss Rowand as much as I thought.
IF: Kendrick, Moyer and Eaton give them some innings and 10 wins apiece they take the whole thing. Lidge’s health is the key.
JUNE 9: So far, so good. Contributions from everybody and Myers looks like he’s out of the funk. This just in….Hamels is a STUD!!! Lidge has been “Lights Out Lidge” again, and there are no words to accurately describe Utley right now, just letters…MVP!
SEPT. 20- They’re on their September roll again and Howard is ridiculous! Utley’s hurt but won’t admit it, but Werth has been a revelation and Victorino has been dangerous as well. Hamels and Myers at the top are going to be very tough.

BRAVES- Yeah they’re still hanging around and the top 2 better not sleep on them. They can still hit, they are younger, and they have the best manager in Bobby Cox. But God, do I hate the tomahawk chop!
IF: Hampton and Glavine have anything left in the tank. Soriano closing is nasty.
JUNE 9: If Chipper wasn’t hitting .420 this team would be a mess…wait, they are! No Smoltz, No Hampton and the bullpen looks worse than the Mets.
SEPT. 20 – Re-loading for next year. Thanks for the memories Glavine and Smoltz.

NATIONALS & MARLINS- They will give everybody problems, especially Washington. They are getting real close…real fast.
JUNE 9: The Nationals are where I thought they’d be, but those Fish are very dangerous. They can hit and getting some quality pitching. They’re gonna hang around till the end. Instead of the Mets giving the Phils a run, it’s South Beach.
SEPT. 20 – Both teams playing spoilers and they’re giving the Phils and Mets fits.