2011 MLB Season Predictions: Division Breakdowns and Major Award WInners

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After an amazing 2010 season last year, which included unforgettable moments like Armando Gallaraga's near perfect game, Jose Bautista ripping a league-high 54 Homers, Roy Halladay's playoff no-hitter and a perfect Mother's Day for Dallas Braden, fans everywhere are anxiously awaiting 2011, which they hope will be even more special.  

AL EAST

Brian Matusz
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Boston Red Sox (96-66)

New York Yankees (89-73)

Baltimore Orioles (80-82)

Tampa Bay Rays (79-83)

Toronto Blue Jays (79-83)

 

The Red Sox made some key moves this offseason, bolstering their lineup to support an already staggering rotation.

The Yankees have a great lineup but were unable to acquire a much needed pitcher for the back of their rotation.

The Baltimore Orioles had a phenomenal off-season and boosted their lineup to support their young and up-coming pitching staff.

The Rays couldn't afford to keep any of their free agents and therefore suffered heavy damage to their lineup and pitching staff.

The Blue Jays have a powerful lineup but don't have the pitching to compete with the Sox and Yanks.

 

Breakout Player: Brian Matusz 

AL CENTRAL

Gordon Beckham
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Minnesota Twins (90-72)

Chicago White Sox (90-72) [wildcard]

Detroit Tigers (88-74)

Kansas City Royals (74-88)

Cleveland Indians (63-99)

 

The Minnesota Twins have one of the best lineups in baseball. If their starting pitchers can perform in 2011, they should have no problem winning the division.

The White Sox have a great pitching staff but their lineup lacks youth. If they want to win another World Series anytime soon, they better do it soon.

The Tigers have a good pitching staff but don't have enough pop in their lineup to support them in this division.

The Royals aren't good right now, but in two or three years, they will be one of the best in baseball.

The Indians are just awful. 

 

Breakout Player: Gordon Beckham

AL WEST

Daric Barton
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Oakland Athletics (88-74)

Texas Rangers (87-75)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (80-82)

Seattle Mariners (70-92)

 

With a much improved lineup and the best pitching staff baseball has ever seen, if the Swingin' A's can stay healthy, they might just have enough to win this division.

The reigning AL Champion Texas Rangers have one of the best lineups in the game but Cliff Lee's departure from an already mediocre pitching staff could prove devastating.

The Angels have great pitching but don't quite have the lineup to win this division.

The Mariners are re-building. Give 'em a couple of years and they might be competitive. 

 

Breakout Player: Daric Barton

NL EAST

Drew Storen
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Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)

Atlanta Braves (90-72) [wildcard]

Florida Marlins (82-80)

Washington Nats (76-86)

New York Mets (75-87)

 

While the Phillies rotation is really really good, don't believe the hype that they're the best of all time. They are good enough to win the division but they're no match for the Atlanta Braves of the mid 90s. Speaking of the Atlanta Braves, a great pitching staff and a young lineup might be enough to propel the Bravo's to the playoffs.

The Marlins have a good rotation and a good lineup but just not good enough to compete for a division title.

The Nats went out and spent a whole lot of cash this off-season, but until Strasburg recovers from TJ surgery, their pitching staff will remain one of the worst in the league.

The Mets have absolutely no pitching and a lineup full of injury prone stars. If they can put the injuries behind them and acquire a few pitchers, they have a shot to be competitive, but until then, they remain at the bottom of the pack.

 

Breakout Player: Drew Storen

NL CENTRAL

Vote for Pedro
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Cincinnati Reds (85-77)

Milwaukee Brewers (85-77)

St. Louis Cardinals (81-81)

Chicago Cubs (81-81)

Pittsburgh Pirates (70-92)

Houston Astros (69-93)

 

While the Reds are in no way an elite team, their solid lineup and young pitching staff should be enough to win in a not-so-great division.

The Brewers boosted their pitching staff but I don't think they have enough to win down the stretch.

With Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals are one of the best teams in baseball, but his injury could cost them 8-10 much needed victories.

The Cubs need to let their veterans go and start their rebuilding process ASAP.

If the Pirates don't trade away their young stars, McCutchen and Alvarez, and instead build around them, they could end their huge losing streak soon.

Much like the Mariners, the Astros are rebuilding. They wont be competitive this year.

 

Breakout Player: Pedro Alvarez

NL WEST

Dexter Fowler
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Colorado Rockies (95-67)

SF Giants (89-73)

LA Dodgers (85-77)

Arizona DBacks (77-85)

San Diego Padres (69-93)

 

The Rockies have the best lineup in baseball and a pitching staff that isn't great, but should be good enough to propel them to a division title.

The Giants still have an elite pitching staff, but I doubt their lineup will perform as well as it did down the stretch last year.

The Dodgers have all the peices to be a great team, but somehow they just can't seem to put it together. Maybe Don Mattingly will be the missing piece.

The DBacks are young, but in a few years, they could be great.

The Padres said goodbye to their best hitter and second best pitcher. Without them, they cannot be competitive.

 

Breakout Player: Dexter Fowler 

THE PLAYOFFS

Coco Crisp
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

NLDS

Braves Defeat Phillies (5 games)

Rockies Defeat Reds (3 games)

ALDS

White Sox Defeat Red Sox (5 games)

Athletics Defeat Twins (4 games)

NLCS

Braves defeat Rockies (7 games) [MVP: Jason Heyward]

ALCS

Athletics defeat White Sox (6 games) [MVP: Cliff Pennington]

WORLD SERIES

Athletics defeat Braves (5 games) [MVP: Coco Crisp]

MAJOR AWARDS

Mike Minor
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MVP  (projected stats)

NL: Buster Posey (.322 33 HR 106 RBI)

AL: Evan Longoria (.310 35 HR 102 RBI)

Cy Young

NL: Clayton Kershaw (17-2, 3.01 ERA, 251K)

AL: Jon Lester (22-6, 3.20 ERA, 240K)

Rookie of the Year

NL: Mike Minor (13-8, 3.30 ERA)

AL: Jeremy Hellickson (11-5, 3.52 ERA )