Major League Baseball 2009 Predictions
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By The SB Independent Sports Section Baseball fans are prepping for what looks to be an exciting 2009 baseball season. Throughout the weekend, the Stony Brook Independent has analyzed how each division will break down. Check out our past previews on the AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL East, NL Central, and NL West. Now the sports section makes their final predictions for the season and gives the one thing they will be watching for heading into 2009. Chris Monahan's Predictions American League National League World Series What to Watch For: In my opinion the NL East is the best division in the National League. The Phillies and Mets are ahead of the pack but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Braves or Marlins made things interesting. The Phillies and Mets are building one of the best rivalries in the game and this will be another great division to watch in 2009. Gregory Bernardi's Predictions American League National League World Series What to Watch For: I think, and hope, that baseball’s dark era is behind it. The home run will no longer be expected, and will be more like a happy accident when it does happen. Baseball will return as America’s pastime, instead of its crazy cousin who’s a little screwed up in the head and most likely on several controlled substances. Remember when scores of games were 1-0 and 2-1? I barely do, either. But I would love to see the pitcher’s duel return to Major League Baseball. I hate it when the final score of a game pitched by two Cy Young contenders adds up to 20. I hate that hitters are judged by their home run totals, rather than the number of RBI they finish with, or their batting average with runners in scoring position. More than anything, though, I hate the dark cloud surrounding every good individual season. If a player has a good year, he is automatically assumed to be on the juice. I hope this is the year when the MVP gets to accept his award without denying steroid use. I hope no player hits more than 45 home runs. I hope. I hope… Chris Hessel's Predictions American League National League World Series What to Watch For: I had my reservations about how each of the new stadiums would come out. However, both stadiums look great. The teams talked about what adjustments they have to make after their preseason games at their new homes. It would be really cool to see both teams go deep into the postseason with brand spanking new ballparks. Michael Kelly's Predictions American League National League World Series What to Watch For: Everyone has anointed the Angels as the winner of the West, and nobody seems to think it will even be close. Well, I am telling you they will not win the division- and may even finish in the basement of this division. Why? Simple. They lack pitching—John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar are all starting the year off on the DL—and do not have a great batting order either. Vlad Guerrero is on the decline, Howie Kendrick can never stay healthy and Torii Hunter is aging. They lost Mark Teixiera and Francisco Rodriguez, their two best players from last year. Could you imagine if this team played in New York and the media that would surround them? If this was a New York team, all we would be hearing about is how this team is old with no pitching. Instead, they’re out west so nobody cares to do their homework about them. Forget first place. They will struggle to win 80 games. Daniel Aldarondo's Predictions American League National League World Series What to Watch For: If I had to put my money on one team that could sneak its way into the playoff picture, it would be the Kansas City Royals. There are question marks throughout the division, like the injuries to Joe Mauer for Minnesota, or if the Detroit Tigers will be bounce back from their heavily disappointing season. The latter half of the pitching rotation will be critical for the Royals if they want to push their way up the AL Central race. Other teams I’m looking forward to watching: Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Bay Rays You may be asking yourself “The Rays? Weren’t they the Cinderella story last year?” Well yes they were, but a lot of experts are thinking they can't keep up with Boston and New York. Tampa Bay will look to show those naysayers they’re here to stay. |
