2008 MLB Predictions, Take I

By Rick Morris

These predictions will probably be readdressed just prior to the start of the 2008 MLB season. The only proviso below is that the Erik Bedard trade to Seattle is being assumed to happen for these purposes.

AL EAST
X-Boston 94-68
Y-New York Yankees 89-73
Tampa Bay (!!!) 80-82
Toronto 77-85
Baltimore 64-98

AL CENTRAL
X-Detroit 93-69
Cleveland 88-74
Minnesota 81-81
Chicago White Sox 78-84
Kansas City 77-85

AL WEST
X-Los Angeles Angels 95-67
Seattle 88-74
Oakland 73-69
Texas 72-90

NL EAST
X-New York Mets 95-67
Atlanta 86-76
Philadelphia 85-77
Washington 68-94
Florida 60-102

NL CENTRAL
X-Milwaukee 86-76
Chicago Cubs 85-77
St. Louis 82-80
Cincinnati 78-84
Pittsburgh 75-87
Houston 70-92

NL WEST
X-Arizona 88-74
Y-Colorado 87-75
Los Angeles Dodgers 86-76
San Diego 85-77
San Francisco 65-97

DIVISION SERIES
Los Angeles Angels over New York Yankees in 4
Boston over Detroit in 5
New York Mets over Colorado in 4
Arizona over Milwaukee in 4

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
Los Angeles Angels over Boston in 6
New York Mets over Arizona in 7

WORLD SERIES
Los Angeles Angels over New York Mets in 6

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Ian Kennedy
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Colby Rasmus
AL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL CY YOUNG AWARD: John Lackey
NL CY YOUNG AWARD: Johan Santana
AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Mike Scioscia
NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Ned Yost

In terms of the strength of the different divisions, here's how they rated in 2007 in terms of collective games over or under .500:

1. NL West: +17
2. AL West: +9
3. AL East: +3
4. NL East: Even
5. AL Central: -1 (NOTE: I predicted on many shows all over SportsTalkNetwork.com that the AL Central would be a hugely overrated division in '07).
6. NL Central: -27 (!!!)

In terms of my projected records for teams in '08, here's how the strength of the different divisions would rate this year:

1. AL Central: +12 (very improved)
2. NL West: +6 (poorer record as the good teams will beat each other up and the Frisco offense will drag their last-place status even lower)
3. AL West: +4 (slightly poorer record, but general stability collectively from last year)
4. AL East: -1 (see AL West)
5. NL Central: -10 (slight rebounds for St. Louis, Cincy and Pittsburgh bring this division up from its historically-bad status of a year ago)
6. NL East: -11 (Florida's preemptive surrender accounts for most of the division's collective decline)