For me, Spring doesn't officially start until I hear Vin Scully describe a weak ground ball back to the mound as a "Lil' Nubber". I haven't paid any attention to the Dodgers' (or anyone else's) exhibition games this year, so I didn't get to hear Vin's magic words until tonight, during the broadcast of the Red Sox-Dodgers charity game at the LA Coliseum. Yay Spring, yay Vin...
I've always been fascinated by the Dodgers' four-season tenure at the Coliseum, while they were waiting for Dodger Stadium to be completed. Woefully ill-suited for baseball, the site of the 1932 Olympics was nonetheless outfitted with a regulation diamond that featured both a frighteningly vast right-centerfield and a left field so tiny that the third baseman could practically lean back and touch the wall. I really wanted to be there tonight to see this freakish arrangement recreated, but I'm now kinda glad I wasn't; about the only exciting thing about the event was James Loney's "moon shot" over the sixty-foot screen in left, which happened long after the Red Sox had put the game out of reach. Still, over 115,000 other baseball fans showed up and raised millions for cancer research, so I guess my presence wasn't particularly missed.
As I've said, this was the first time I watched the Dodgers this year, but tonight they looked pretty much like the Dodgers of last year: lotsa talent, little cohesion. That faux-redneck Jeff Kent is, unfortunately, still around, but I'm glad the team didn't try to placate him by trading away one of the promising youngsters — say, Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp — who allegedly failed to show Kent "proper respect" last season. But seeing as how they're starting the season with four starting outfielders (Ethier, Kemp, Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre) and nobody at third (both Nomar and Andy LaRoche are injured), I don't see the Dodgers winning the NL West without seriously re-jiggering their concept between now and the All-Star break. Which leads me to my annual predictions...
NL West: Colorado Rockies
The Dodgers have a really strong pitching staff, but there are too many question marks surrounding the starting eight. The West will be a tough division again this year, but I don't see anyone besting Colorado. Besides, the Rockies' emphasis on "quality" (i.e., Christian) players means that they've got Jeebus on their side — because of course he has nothing better to do than bestow his blessings upon a bunch of over-paid athletes.
NL Central: Chicago Cubs
Yeah, I know, I'm a diehard Cubs fan. But if the team stays healthy, and Soriano doesn't wait until August to start hitting, they should take the Central in a sprint. The Brewers had a great season last year, but I think a lot of their players were playing above their heads; they're also entrusting the closer spot to steroids poster boy Eric Gagne — and by the time they realize their horrible mistake, it will be too late to salvage the season. And the Cardinals will completely suck this year, which will of course be a lot of fun to watch.
NL East: New York Mets
Sorry, Will — I loved seeing your Phillies take the division last year, but Mets + Johan Santana is going to be a pretty brutal combination. Plus, after choking worse than Mama Cass last year, the Mets have something to prove. Phillies could easily be the wild card, though.
AL West: California Angels (or whatever the fuck they're calling themselves this year)
I've said it before, I'll say it again — the AL West is a total fucking JOKE. Can we just skip the formalities and give the Angels the division title now?
AL Central: Cleveland Indians
I love the Tigers, and the addition of Miguel Cabrera gives them one of the most fearsome lineups in the bigs, but the bullpen is an utter nightmare. (Todd Jones is STILL the closer?!?) I'm guessing the Indians will take the division again, but Detroit will be the wild card. And the White Sox will make things difficult for everyone, especially their fans.
AL East: New York Yankees
This is will be the year where old age really starts to take its toll on the Red Sox; they will still be tough, but not tough enough to hang with the Yankees, who will play shockingly well under new manager Joe Girardi. Not that Girardi's a genius, or anything; but the Bronx clubhouse needed some fresh air after a decade-plus of Joe Torre, and the players will respond well (at least for this season) to Girardi's intensity.
Toronto's got a tough pitching staff, but I don't see them coming close.
No picks for the playoff or world series winners, but look to be inundated with non-stop "100 years since the Cubs' last World Series championship" hype starting NOW...
Broadly in agreement, although I think the NL West is just impossible to call: Giants aside, those look like four very evenly matched teams to me. And while Philadelphia could top the Mets if all the breaks go their way (translation: if they trade for pitching in the next few days and Santana blows out his arm against the Marlins on Monday), it wouldn't surprise me to see the Phils in third behind the Braves.
Posted by: Will | March 30, 2008 at 01:32 AM
Since you foolishly called for the Evil Empire to take the AL East, I have to post my predictions:
NL West: LA Dodgers
NL Central: Cubs
NL East: NY Mets
Wild Card: Atlanta Braves
AL West: California/Anaheim/LA Angeles
AL Central: Cleveland Indians
AL East: Boston Red Sox
Wild Card: NY Yankees
These lists are always fun, but entirely laughable by seasons end.
Posted by: Chris Perry | April 01, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Correction: the Mets have choked the last TWO years in a row. What were you looking at in 2006, Mr. Beltran?
Posted by: Maura | April 06, 2008 at 12:15 PM