for the only two people interested in the baseball thread: Now that we are approaching September, what are you post-seasons predictions? Mine are
AL East Champions - At this point its a close call but, If I had to chose, it would be the Red Sox. They have a team whose moral and chemistry are sky high and I wouldn't be surprised if they go all the way this year and become World Series champions.
Al Central Champions - You'll think that this one its pretty much decided and the chosen team, the Detroit Tigers, lead by our god and savior Miguel Cabrera, will simply roll on to the World Series and get what the dirty dang Giants wrongfully took from them last year (Thats how ESPN saw it btw). However, if Cleveland gets hot at the right time, it could very well come down to the wire. Its a stretch I know, but don't be surprised if it happens.
AL West Champions - This is basically a two teams league, so the choice here boils down to a coin toss. Both the Rangers and the A's have what it takes to win the World Series. My prediction: The A's versatility will prevail over the Rangers star power.
NL East Champions - The Braves, case closed. Can you really argue that at this point, 15 games on top of the Nationals, they wont make it to the post-season? Hell, they could very well sweep the NLCS. They are the best team the National League has, even better than the ridiculously hyped Dodgers.
NL Central Champions - This is probably the tightest pennant race in the MLB right now, which is really surprising, considering that one of the teams contending are... the... Pirates... The Pirates? THE PIRATES!? Yes, I too am astonished by the fact that the Pirates are approaching September with their eyes poised on a post-season slot and at least for me, will probably get it.
NL West Champions - As a Giants fan, it hurts me to say it, but, just as the Braves did, the Dodgers took first place on the division and ran away with it, even though they are something like 8 games on top of the second place Diamondbacks, the way they are playing right now makes it unforeseeable that they won't make it to the post-season. My obviously biased opinion against them wants them to be swept in the NLDS just to shut up the people who think Puig is the second coming of Ken Griffey Jr, and you know, given how big the egos on that team are (Specially Hanley Ramirez's) They'll think that the team that faces them (Probably the Pirates) will be so frightened of their star studded lineup, that they'll simply turn tail and run at the sight of Adrian Gonzales.
Predictions for my team, The San Francisco Giants: A disappointing season indeed, much more so than 2011. Sure, 2011 was rough, but at least they had the Posey excuse. Now in 2013, with basically the same team that won the World Series last year (Stunning everyone by embarrassing the Tigers) Played at the Astros level. Yes Pagan got hurt, Yes Affeldt got hurt, Yes Vogelsong got hurt, but I still thought that the Giants would be breathing down the Dodgers neck at least until Affeldt and Vogelsong got back and they could really start to get streaky and put LA on the rear-view mirror. Alas none of that happened and now, the Giants are fighting the Padres just to stay out of last place. My prediction? Finishing up with a winning season seems like a far cry at this point. I don't even mind them finishing buried in last place if that means they learn from this debacle, get hungry for 2014 and become a sort of "on and off" dynasty of World Series champions.
