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A Train’s MLB Picks for 2010

Well, it’s time  – Easter Sunday and the start of the season with, er, Opening Night (Selig’s folly). So we thought it was high time to lay down our markers with MLB-wide picks. So here goes. Yeah, they’re not worth the bytes we used to type ‘em, but what the heck – it’s baseball.

Jason’s Picks

AL EAST- Red Sox
AL CENTRAL – Twins (its a pick ‘em division in which a win by the Tigers or White Sox wouldn’t shock me, but I love the Twins line up)
AL WEST – Angels (are they really that much worse than last year?  A little, but the division is still weak. I know the Mariners are the hot pick, but their offense stinks and the back of their rotation is questionable)
WILD CARD- Yankees

AL Pennant- Yankees

NL EAST- Phillies (Is anyone else in the NL even close?)
NL CENTRAL – Cardinals (Is anyone else in the division even close?)
NL WEST – Dodgers (Yeah, they could fall off, but Torre’s the difference maker)
WILD CARD – Rockies (I’m a D-backs and Braves skeptic, and I kind of like the Marlins, wouldn’t be shocked if any of these 4 teams won the wild card, it’s not going to take that many wins in the NL, probably around 90, possibly fewer)

NL Pennant- Phillies

World Series – Yankees over Phillies

Tom’s Picks

AL EAST- Red Sox (loaded with more pitching than any other team, and will get enough hitting)
AL CENTRAL – Twins (agree with Jason on the Twins line-up and they’ll get enough pitching)
AL WEST – Mariners (ok, so I buy the hype and yeah the Angels are weaker)
WILD CARD- Rays (this team’s making a huge comeback in 2010 – huge talent depth)

AL Pennant- Twins

NL EAST- Phillies (Braves and Marlins battle for second)
NL CENTRAL – Cardinals (Pretty easy)
NL WEST – Rockies (Colorado has the deepest line-up in the league)
WILD CARD – Braves (Bobby Cox makes a final trip to the playoffs after a June signing of John Smoltz)

NL Pennant- Phillies

World Series – Twins over Phillies (Minnesota wins it all in its first year in Target Field)

Most Commented Posts

Posted in News, Yankees.

By Jason Chervokas
April 4, 2010

View Comments

  • tomwatson
    Re: the Twins pick:

    Yeah, Nathan's a loss but I'm assuming somebody will get 30-plus saves for the twinkies - I think closers are overrated in general.

    The rest of that team's more loaded than the other AL Central lineups - i love the new middle infield of Hudson and Hardy, perfect for Gardenhire's go-go style of offense. Mauer settles in as the long-term eminence, and Liriano has a terrific comeback year.

    I just like the vibe around the Twins, and the competition's not exactly fierce. And once the post-season starts, they're as good a bet as any. I don't see a team like the '09 NYY coming together this year.
  • Ballpark
    Tom I have alot of respect for the Twins,and like the way they run their org. I have a friend that is a scout for the twins. That said there are some things working against them.

    1)They have enjoyed the best home field advantage playing in the dome,teams had a hard time adjusting there. Thats gone.

    2) Hudson is overrated by fans,he lost his job to Belliard (not exactly Chase Utley)last year and nobody keeps the guy.

    3)HARDY was sent to the minors last year. I have seen him play this spring and the guy does not have SS actions,Cabrera was better.

    4) Nathan will be missed not only for his role as closer, but for the domino effect it will have on the rest of the bullpen. Check the 09 Rays, thats why they fell apart, they had too many bullpen meltdowns. Tom You should know about bullpen meltdowns your a Met fan,right?

    5) Dude its hard to tell a Yankee fan closers are overrated.

    6) If they have to count on Carl the American idol Pavano they will be let down.

    All that said I do believe they will challenge the Yanks for the best offense in Baseball and could make it intresting.
  • tomwatson
    Good points and i agree about the franchise, it's such a good one.

    The closer thing - well, only the Yanks have Rivera. There's only one closer who has come close during his career to Mo and that's Trevor Hoffman. Still, I like the Twins pick - we'll see, it's always a crapshoot picking all the teams this time o' year!
  • Ballpark
    Very true Tom and if the twins had a little better pitching and didn't loose Nathan they would be an easy pick. The division will not make it to difficult to win and all the teams in the Central have flaws.I really like Punto he is a scrappy sob and when the Yanks were after him last year I was happy.To bad they didn't get him.
  • tomwatson
    Yeah, I like Punto - you know, he's a Gardenhire type of guy. We Mets fans have a real place in our hearts for G'hire, who's turned into one helluva major league manager, top five in the game, I'd say.
  • JasonChervokas
    A lot of interesting stuff...First, I actually think closers are underrated, I mean, you have a guy like Bill James arguing that there's no such thing as a closer and anyone can pitch one inning, but, as BP says, hard to tell that to a Yankee fan. Having a shut down closer is a difference maker. Might not make a bad team good. But it can make a good team a champion.

    Second, I'm not convinced that the Rays pitching is as good or as deep as proponents believe. I like Garza, but the other guys still have to show me. Plus their middle relief is bad. The Sox and the Yanks each have more quality and more depth as well as the resources to add more quality and depth as the year goes on, that's why I think they'll leave the Rays behind in the end. Rays have an excellent offense tho.

    Third, good point about the Twins home field advantage. We'll have to see how the new stadium pans out. No one it going to like playing outside in Minny in April or Sept.
  • Ballpark
    Jason injuries will always play a part in the actual season.When predicting outcomes its hard to factor the unknown. The 2 things that stand out for me when it comes to predicting outcomes due to injury are.

    1)The team with the best depth and most money can usually overcome injury setbacks to their roster. This is where the Rays can't compete with the big boys. If all goes well (no major injuries)the Rays will beat out the Sox.They are a more complete team with better atheletes,their offense has the best speed/power combination in the game. I think 1-5 their pitching is as good as the top heavy 1-3 of Boston. DiceK is not very good and definitly not dependable.Wakefield will be hurt the 1st time he has to cover 1st base. Buckholtz is inconsistent and unproven.

    2)There are certain players that I red flag to get hurt due to age, track record and position.

    Yanks;NJ-History,Posada-age/position,Andy-age+H,Burnett-H,Marte-H,Moe-age,but has a great track record.

    RedSox;Wake-Age+H,Drew-H+Age,Lowell-everthing,Lackey-H,Beckett-H,
    Papi-age,V-mART h+position,

    The Rays don't really have older players with health concerns so its hard to red flag their guys, but that doesn't mean they can't or won't have injuries its just harder to predict.

    Duke what a special place. I have been their many times your wife must be very proud to say she went there.
  • Ballpark
    Tom your pick of the Twins seems off to me. They are weak in the starting rotation and the loss of Nathsn will be devestating to their bullpen. They do have a great lineup but will be susceptible to LHP's. That said the White Sox could have a great pitching staff maybe better than the Yanks or RedSox.

    I don't watch enough NL games to have a real opinion on your picks.I would be just guessing.

    Jason did you see the final spring training game the Yanks had with their farm system?
  • JasonChervokas
    I'm a Rays skeptic. Not that they're not very talented--they are (although their rotation is not terribly deep). But it is going to take around 100 wins to win the AL East. Are the Ray's 15 games better than they were last year? I don't think so. Red Sox won 95 games last year and with better pitching, defense, and a full season of Victor Martinez I think they're definitely 5 games better than last year. The Yanks, well, they won't win as many walk offs, but they'll win more games on their pitching with Vazquez and a more clearly defined quality bullpen. Still, it's hard to win 100 games in back to back seasons. I just figure they'll fall off a coupla games.

    It's definitely possible that any of the big three in the AL east come in at around 95 wins and any two will certainly make the playoffs while the third will not (despite probably being the third best team in the league). I actually think the Yanks have the best roster on paper of the three. The Sox the best pitching. The Rays possibly the best player in Longoria. Injuries may wind up telling the tale in the AL East.

    Didn't see the baseball game v the prospects--running around with family this weekend (though I did see the second half of the Duke v West Va game--that's a family deal in our house because my wife is a Duke Law grad). Looking forward to tonight, hope I'm back for first pitch from dropping my daughter at the airport--if not it's gonna be Sterling and Waldman on the radio. But I love baseball on the radio, even with Sterling doing the games. Play ball!
  • Ballpark
    Jason your take on the AL is very good.I have a change in the east. The Yanks will win the division and the Rays will win the WC. The Sox have made to many changes to their starting 9 and history shows that it takes time to gel into a championship team, especially when your in a division like the AL east.
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