MLB predictions

On our 3.26.10 show Ryan and I through out our predictions for the upcoming MLB season. You can find those here along with Loren's expanded predictions. Enjoy.

Derek
AL West
Seattle

AL Central
Minnesota

AL East
New York

AL Wild Card
Los Angeles Angels

NL West
Colorado

NL Central
Milwaukee

NL East
Philadelphia

NL Wild Card
Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers

Ryan
AL West
Seattle

AL Central
Minnesota

AL East
New York

AL Wild Card
Boston Red Sox

NL West
San Francisco

NL Central
St. Louis

NL East
Philadelphia

NL Wild Card
Los Angeles Dodgers

World Series
New York Yankees

Loren
AL West
Seattle – Competitive last year and only got stronger in the off-season. Biggest threat will be from the Rangers who are on their way back to respectability.

AL Central
Minnesota – Riding a wave of good will and have good young talent at the plate and on the field. Plus, they just know how to get it done.

AL East
New York – Duh. They may very well have purchased another championship. Yawn. I sincerely hope that the Rays or Red Sox take the division, but smart money is on the Yanks.

AL Wild Card
Boston – Their rotation should propel them into the post-season where it’s a bit easier to win a string of 1 and 2 run games. Wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the AL Championship or World Series.

NL West
LA – I really want to take the Rockies here and they finally have a team that could make it possible, but the Dodgers have the confidence and the bats to take the division. Pitching is a little suspect, but that probably won’t bother them, again, until the post-season.

NL Central
Milwaukee – This is the year the Brewers leap the punchless Cards for the division win. They have a lot of good young players that have now lived through a season of heightened expectations. They won’t be fazed by pressure.

NL East
Philadelphia – Another no-brainer, though I expect the Marlins to be dangerous this year. The Phillies are just too strong top to bottom and, barring serious injuries to multiple players, they’ll walk away with the division.

NL Wild Card
Colorado – I had to put them somewhere, but with their live arms and good young bats, it’s not a stretch for them to make it to the playoffs again.

ALDS
Yankees over Twins 3-2
Mariners over Red Sox 3-2

NLDS
Phillies over Rockies 3-1
Dodgers over Brewers 3-1

ALCS
Mariners over Yankees 4-2
Phillies over Dodgers 4-3

WS
Phillies over Mariners 4-2

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Blazers remaining games

With ten games to go in the NBA season the Portland Trail Blazers stand at 43-29 and in a virtual tie with the San Antonio Spurs. As mentioned on the show a couple weeks ago the number the Blazers should be looking for is 49, as in 49 wins to end the regular season. Looking at the competition and remaining schedule, 49 wins should put the Blazers in the 6th or 7th spot, and hopefully a match up with the Dallas Mavericks, a hope that was cemented last night.

Blazers remaining schedule:
At New Orleans
At Oklahoma City
Vs New York
At Denver
At Sacramento
At LA Clippers
Vs Dallas
At LA Lakers
Vs Oklahoma City
Vs Golden State

The Blazers need to go 6-4 to reach the 49 win mark. Going 6-4 in 10 games should be achievable for a team 14 games over .500. However there aren’t 6 gimmie games remaining. They SHOULD win the games against, New Orleans, New York, Sacramento, Clippers and Golden State. That’s 5. Could they pull a 6th out of the remaining 5 games? Sure. But let’s forget about the 49 wins for a second, if this team wants to be considered a serious threat once the playoffs start then they need to go on a tear entering the playoffs, think last year.

1. No losing the above five games that the Blazers SHOULD win.
2. Must take 2 out of the 3 remaining games against division opponents. Two against OKC and one against Denver.
3. No giving up games late.

If the Blazers can follow these three objectives, coupled with last years experience and the addition of veteran toughness, we could see a nice playoff run this year.

Derek

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Top 5 in review

Last episode, Loren and I picked our Top 5 possible Cinderella teams for the NCAA tourney. Below you'll find a list of our predictions and what has taken place after the first two rounds. Remember we picked these teams before the seeding was announced and we chose to include only teams that might be a 10 see or lower.

Loren
5. Virgina Tech - Did not make the tournament field.
4. Utah State - Made the tournament as a 12 seed. Lost first round to Texas A&M by the score of 69-53.
3. Marquette - Made the tournament as a 6 seed. Did not qualify for the list. Lost first round to Washington 80-78.
2. Florida - Made the tournament as a 10 seed. Lost first round to BYU in double OT 99-92.
1. Washington - Made the tournament as a 11 seed. Beat Marquette 80-78 in the first round and beat New Mexico 82-64 in the second round. Will pay West Virgina on 3.25.10 in the Sweet 16.

Derek
5. Cornell - Made the tournament as a 12 seed. Beat Temple in the first round 78-65. Beat Wisconsin in the second round 87-69. Will play Kentucky on 3.25.10 in the Sweet 16.
4. Virgina Tech - Did not make the tournament field.
3. Florida - Made the tournament as a 10 seed. Lost first round to BYU in double OT 99-92.
2. St. Mary's - Made the tournament as a 10 seed. Beat Richmond 80-71 in the first round and beat Villanova 75-68 in the second round. Will play Baylor on 3.26.10 in the Sweet 16.
1. Washington - Made the tournament as a 11 seed. Beat Marquette 80-78 in the first round and beat New Mexico 82-64 in the second round. Will pay West Virgina on 3.25.10 in the Sweet 16.

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