MLB Midseason Update: Standings, Team MVPs, and Postseason Predictions

Now that I'm awake after sleeping following the five-hour torment that was the All-Star game, I thought I'd run through my end of the season predictions, forecasting the standings, team MVPs, and, of course, postseason predictions. 

(Team MVP in parentheses)

AL East

1. Boston Red Sox (J.D. Drew)

2. Tampa Bay Rays (Evan Longoria)

3. New York Yankees (Alex Rodriguez)

4. Baltimore Orioles (George Sherill)

5. Toronto Blue Jays (Roy Halladay)

The Red Sox simply have too much firepower to let first place slip away.  Jason Varitek can't keep hitting this poorly, and David Ortiz will be back on July 25, hopefully with no lasting pain in his wrist. 

Even if that occurs, look for the Sox to go out and acquire Mark Teixeria or Matt Holliday (who would make a spectacular replacement for Manny after the year).  If Drew can keep up his hot streak, the Sox should be in prime position to return to the postseason. He's been keeping the team going, earning him the MVP nod. 

The Rays will hold off the Yankees down the stretch.  I believe they will make a move within the next few weeks to acquire a right-handed outfielder (Xavier Nady or Jason Bay).  Brian Cashman's reluctance to give up Ian Kennedy will cost his team a postseason spot and his job.

AL Central

1. Chicago White Sox (Carlos Quentin)

2. Detroit Tigers (Curtis Granderson)

3. Minnesota Twins (Justin Morneau)

4. Cleveland Indians (Cliff Lee)

5. Kansas City Royals (Joakim Soria)

The White Sox pitching staff and surprising offensive outburst from Quentin should keep this team afloat in the disappointing AL Central.  Paul Konerko should rebound from a horrific first half. 

The Tigers will climb into second, but it's too little too late.  Granderson is the player who makes this team go, which is why he's my MVP.  Minnesota should drop to third, but that could change if they acquire Adrian Beltre (which has been rumored).  Matt LaPorta should be called up to get the Indians out of the dweller, giving Cleveland a killer tandem in LaPorta and Sizemore. 

AL West

1. Los Angeles Angels (Francisco Rodriguez)

2. Texas Rangers (Josh Hamilton)

3. Oakland Athletics (Justin Duchscherer)

4. Seattle Mariners (uh.....)

The Angles are the clear frontrunners in this division and should have no problem winning it.  Their pitching staff makes up for their lack of offensive production.  If this team can add a bat (How long have we heard that?), they could oust the Red Sox as the best team in the AL. Holliday,Teixeria, and Adam Dunn have all been rumored. 

My hometown Texas Rangers will begin their steady climb to a dynasty by finishing second just for this year.  Okay, so my dreams are high.  But with numerous pitchers returning from injury and the offense playing the way it is, look for the Rangers to make a surprise push to second place (unless GM Jon Daniels trades Milton Bradley, in which case I will publish a petition to have Daniels fired).

Ian Kinsler should get the MVP over Hamilton, but Hamilton's numbers (during the season and that outburst at the Home Run Derby) plus his story are too good to pass up. 

NL East

1. New York Mets (David Wright)

2. Philadelphia Phillies (Chase Utley)

3. Florida Marlins (Hanley Ramirez)

4. Atlanta Braves (Chipper Jones)

5. Washington Nationals (see Seattle Mariners)

The Mets are on a nine-game winning streak entering the break, and look for it to continue.  The team is heating up, and Fernando Tatis has resurrected his career while replacing the injured Moises Alou.

Ryan Church will (hopefully) return, and if not, look for top prospect Fernando Martinez to be called up now that Juan Rivera is off the market (although a trade is still a possibility).  The Phillies' pitching staff and Ryan Howard's gazillion strike outs should doom this team.  

NL Central

1. Chicago Cubs (Aramis Ramirez)

2. Milwaukee Brewers (CC Sabathia)

3. St. Louis Cardinals (Dave Duncan)

4. Houston Astros (Lance Berkman)

5. Cincinatti Reds (Edinson Volquez)

6. Pittsburgh Pirates (Nate McLouth)

The Cubs' subsequent move for Rich Harden after the Brewers acquired Sabathia solidifies their spot as division winners.  An easy second half schedule and the play of Sabathia (Ryan Braun and Ben Sheets could also be choices for MVP) will help the Brew Crew claim second place. 

The Cardinals are lucky to be at No. 3 and eventually will fall, as I don't see them making a splash big enough to move past Milwaukee.  Dave Duncan gets MVP honors for the ridiculously good job he's done turning relievers into starters.  Pittsburgh should move all the way down after they trade Bay and Nady. 

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (James Loney)

2. Arizona Diamondbacks (Brandon Webb)

3. San Francisco Giants (Tim Lincecum)

4. San Diego Padres (Adrian Gonzalez)

5. Colorado Rockies (Brian Fuentes)

This is easily the hardest division in the majors to predict.  Every team is hovering around .500. Three of the five have the talent to run away (LA, Arizona, and Colorado), but no team is showing that they even deserve to make the postseason. 

But as the Rockies showed last year, two good weeks at the end of the season can propel you to the World Series.  My guess here is that James Loney and the Dodgers catch on fire, beating out the Diamondbacks.

Tim Lincecum and the Giants have shown spurts of promise, and if they can put together some offensive pieces, they might be back on top in a few years.  Brian Fuentes gets my nod as MVP for the Rockies simply because I feel he will be the most talked about name NOT moved.

Postseason Predictions

Well, if you've stuck around to read the whole article, you'll probably read this last section as well, since you've had nothing better to do.  Here are my predictions for the 2008 postseason:

AL

Divisional Series:

Boston Red Sox over Chicago White Sox

Los Angeles Angels over Tampa Bay Rays (WC)

Championship Series:

Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Angels

NL

Divisional Series:

Chicago Cubs over Los Angeles Dodgers

New York Mets over Milwaukee Brewers (WC)

Championship Series:

Chicago Cubs over New York Mets

World Series

This selection is tearing me apart.  I absolutely love both of these teams.  The history surrounding the Cubs and the World Series is a story everyone around the world knows.  But the Red Sox have been absolutely dominant in the Word Series their past two trips, sweeping both the Cardinals and Rockies.

Ultimately, I think the baseball Gods will grant the wishes of Cubs fans all across the world, as the Cubs will win at Wrigley, behind dominating pitching performances from Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, and Ryan Dempster.