One of the most exciting days of the year for baseball fans, especially Cubs fans. This is the time when there are no records, just hope. Maybe this will be the year that’ll be different from the last hundred. Maybe, just maybe.
I have to say that I’ve not been this excited about the Cubs in a while. For the first time in a while we spent loads and loads of money in the off season, and we really have a star studded lineup. For the first time in a while we have a manager who is as passionate and serious as his record. For the first time in a while we’re not relying on Kerry Wood and Mark Prior to not suffer freak injuries. For the first time in a while I don’t feel ridiculous saying that the Cubs will make the playoffs.
So here we go, here’s some predictions that I’ll no doubt be way off on.
NL Central Final Standings:
1 – Milwaukee Brewers (crazy pick I know)
2 – Chicago Cubs
3 – St. Louis Cardinals
4 – Houston Astros
5 – Pittsburgh Pirates
6 – Cincinnati Reds
Random Cubs Predictions:
Most Wins – Carlos Zambrano (obviously) (19)
Most Saves – Ryan Dempster (34)
First Pitcher Win – Carlos Zambrano
First HR – Matt Murton (today, second at bat)
First Stolen Base – Alfonso Soriano (I can’t think of anyone else)
First Error – Also Alfonso Soriano
First RBI – Aramis Ramirez
First Freak Injury – Michael Barrett, tripping on the way into the dugout
Most HRs – Derrek Lee (46)
Most RBIs – Aramis Ramirez (119)
MVP – Derrek Lee
Since I don’t follow baseball close enough to really make picks for the rest of the divisions, I’ll just do division winners and playoff predictions.
AL East – NY Yankees (I really don’t want this to come true)
AL Central – Cleveland Indians
AL West – LA Angels
AL Wildcard -Â Detroit Tigers
NL East – Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central – Milwaukee Brewers
NL West – LA Dodgers
NL Wildcard – Chicago Cubs
ALDS – Cleveland Indians over NY Yankees, LA Angels over Detroit Tigers
NLDS – Philadelphia Philles over Milwaukee Brewers, LA Dodgers over Chicago Cubs
ALCS – Cleveland Indians over LA Angels
NLCS – Philadelphia Philles over LA Dodgers
World Series -Â Philadelphia Philles over Cleveland Indians
So there we go. I’m going to be ridiculously wrong, but a bunch of my random Cubs picks will either come true or not today, so that’ll be a fun little tally for me to keep.
And for now I’ll live in the joy and ignorance of pure hope. Go Cubs!!!
I dunno, you were pretty darn excited when the cubs traded for garciaparra a few years back. I think you had them more or less a lock to go deep in the playoffs, or at least more than penciled in to a playoff spot. That was only a few short years ago.
I haven’t been as skeptical about the white sox’ chances to be decent since, uh, well I was pretty skeptical going into 2005. Oh yeah, and then something crazy happened. Although, I was sort of skeptical in 2004 and 2003 and 2002 and 2001 too. . .