MLB Wins Predictions: Looking at The Over/Under

Everybody feels like they have a chance during spring sraining.

As Opening Day draws closer, let's find out if you're team is going to be one of the pleasant surprises or a dud of epic proportions.

The win totals come from TheGreek.com and are current as of March 31.

American League East

Boston Red Sox: Over/Under 94.5 Wins

A season ago, the Red Sox won 95 games on their way to the American League Wild Card. This season, they return everyone of importance from that team.

The youngsters in Ellsbury, Pedroia, Lester and Lowrie all have another year of experience, and Boston will suffer no more Manny headaches for a whole season.

Prediction: OVER

New York Yankees:  Over/Under 95.5 Wins

Another spending spree, another disappointing year?  That seems to be the mantra for the Yankees in the oughts.

The Yankees will be inthe hunt once again this season, but when you put your pitching hopes into a guy like C.C. Sabathia who struggles early, and A.J. Burnett who struggles in life, you are playing catch-up all season long.

Prediction: UNDER

Tampa Bay Rays: Over/Under 87.5 Wins

The darling of 2008 seems to have the world by the jockstrap. Everybody expects this young, exciting and talented team to keep up with their amazing run to the World Series.

Unfortunately, it is much easier to fall back to the pack than to maintain it.

Eleven walk-off wins are not going to happen again this season.

Prediction: UNDER

Toronto Blue Jays: Over/Under 80.5 Wins

If anybody was supposed to surprise last season in the AL East, it was the Blue Jays.

Though they did win 86 games a year ago, most expect a step back from Toronto. Too many questionable starting pitchers make me go along with this line of thinking.

Prediction: UNDER

Baltimore Orioles: Over/Under 73.5 Wins

The most excitement coming out of Orioles camp is for a catching prospect, Matt Wieters, that isn't starting the season on the Major League roster.

Uh-oh.

Can a rotation with Kori Uehara, Adam Eaton, Mark Hendrickson and Hayden Penn win 74 games? Doubtful.

Prediction: UNDER

American League Central

Minnesota Twins: Over/Under 83.5 Wins

The Twins seem to creep up on the AL Central on a yearly basis.

Last season, the Twinkies scored runs by hitting great with runners in scoring position. They won't keep up at the rate they set a year ago, but they will be in contention until the end. 

Prediction: OVER

Cleveland Indians: Over/Under 85.5 Wins

Injuries derailed what was supposed to be "the year" for Indian fans in 2008. Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, and Fausto Carmona were huge losses at throughout the season, and the Indians still won 81 games.

The Indians not only went out and picked up some solid veterans in Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa, but they are solid throughout the lineup, with many former prospects coming into their own.

Prediction: OVER

Chicago White Sox: Over/Under 79.5

It seemed as though manager Ozzie Guillen took the 2008 White Sox to the playoffs with smoke and mirrors.

Will the crazy Guillen's blackmagic stay fresh, or will this be the implosion that everybody has been waiting for?

Prediction: UNDER

Detroit Tigers: Over/Under 82.5

Before 2008, most expected the Tigers to be the '39 Yankees reincarnated.

Instead, this group looked like an aging slow-pitch softball team. Miguel Cabrera will mash, but the bullpen will fall apart again.

Prediction: UNDER

Kansas City Royals: Over/Under 74.5

Will the Royals finally show signs of improvement in the third year of the Dayton Moore era? They did win 74 games a season ago.

Coco Crisp, Mike Jacobs, Juan Cruz...oh hell yeah.

Prediction: OVER

American League West

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Over/Under 89.5

The Angels won 100 games last season, running away from an awful division.

This year, the division at least appears to be improving across the board, with the Angels taking a step back.

The bullpen may be lights-out once again, but with all of its injuries, can the starting rotation even get them to the sixth inning with a lead?

Prediction: UNDER

Oakland Athletics: Over/Under 81.5

It appears as though Billy Beane expects this team to contend. He is taking the Warren Buffet mantra of spending when everybody else is selling.

The key will be if his young arms can come through once again.

Prediction: OVER

Texas Rangers: Over/Under 73.5

As everybody has witnessed for the last two decades, the Rangers are going to hit. 

Runs will be no problem.

And along with that, the starting pitching is going to suck.

But, the bullpen may be good enough to give their sticks a chance to come back.

Prediction: OVER

Seattle Mariners: Over/Under 72.5

The Mariners were the girl with the curl going into the 2008 season in the AL West.

But 101 losses later and many people were asking themselves "What in Gods' name was I thinking?"

They finally get rid of Richie Sexton and replace him with Russell Branyan?  Goo!

Prediction: UNDER

National League East

New York Mets: Over/Under 88.5

Will the stink of the past two seasons' collapses evaporate as they move to Federal Bailout Field?

A team made up of studs and scrubs has one problem...too many scrubs.

And Livan Hernandez epitomizes a scrub.

Prediction: UNDER

Philadelphia Phillies: Over/Under 87.5

Fans outside the city of Philadelphia finally don't have to hear the whining about not having a championship in any major sport in 25 years.

Unfortunately, the fans will still talk.

Getting Raul Ibanez was a steal, but can the starting pitching keep this team in ball games? Cole Hamels' innings-pitched a year ago worry me in a big way.

Prediction: OVER, barely

Atlanta Braves: Over/Under 83.5

One of the greatest regular season teams for over a decade has finally hit a funk.

The youngsters have to come together in a big way and show Braves believers that they are going to be the next Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones, not the next Francisco Cabrera or Tim Spooneybarger.

Prediction: UNDER

Florida Marlins: Over/Under 76.5 Wins

Young arms coming into their own, a bonafide superstar in Hanley Ramierez, and an offense with a punch. What's not to like?

Outside of their lack of fans, nothing.

Prediction: OVER

Washington Nationals: Over/Under 71.5 Wins

Getting Adam Dunn's 40 home runs was a nice coup for the franchise, but more signs are needed to see if this team wants to scare teams for more than a series at a time.

Will Ryan Zimmerman become a star? Will Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes do anything else ridiculous to make headlines?

Prediction: OVER

National League Central

Chicago Cubs: Over/Under 91.5 Wins

A team with clubhouse wrecking balls like Carlos "I punch teammates" Zambrano and Alfonso "I whine about batting third even if it's best for my team" Soriano brings in Milton "I'm clearly a psychopath" Bradley.

Good one Cubbies, good one.

Luckily, the rest of the Central is nothing to write home about this season, so beating up on the Pirates', Astros', and Brewers' pitching should be no problem.

Prediction:  OVER

St. Louis Cardinals: Over/Under 82.5 Wins

Tony LaRussa knows how to put a good product on the field, even if there doesn't appear to be much there.

If Chris Carpenter can get over his injuries—and that is a huge if—the Cards should be right there going into September.

Prediction: OVER

Milwaukee Brewers: Over/Under 80.5 Wins

While Sabathia received most of the press for the Brewers' first playoff appearance in 25 years, Milwaukee has been building a solid team all the way around.

Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, and Mike Cameron have plenty of talent. They just need to put it out on the field every day.

If that happens, look out.

Prediction: OVER

Cincinnati Reds: Over/Under 80.5 Wins

The Reds are becoming a sheik pick to be a surprise team of 2009. This usually means that the team is an even bigger disappointment.

And for the love of Dr. James Andrews, get Dusty Baker out of there before Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez end up in Alabama with an appointment.

Prediction: UNDER

Houston Astros: Over/Under 74.5 Wins

The 'Stros are perhaps one of the most interesting teams of the 2009 season.

They have the names on the roster: Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Pudge Rodriguez, Hunter Pence and Jose Valverde.

Will those names be enough? Color me confused with this number.

When that's the case, go the other way. 

Prediction: UNDER

Pittsburgh Pirates: Over/Under 69.5 Wins

Somebody has to lose games in this division, and a lot of them.

I mean, seriously. Just give up.

Prediction: UNDER

National League West

Arizona Diamondbacks: Over/Under 86.5 Wins

This team has been doing things the right way.  The biggest questions are: Who is going to get at-bats in the outfield, and will the loss of Randy Johnson big a big one?

Josh Byrnes has shown the ability to make the right moves. I expect it to continue.

Prediction: OVER

Colorado Rockies: Over/Under 77.5 Wins

Most people take a look at the loss of Matt Holliday and figure the Rockies are punting this season.

Don't fall into that trap.

The pitching staff is solid, the hitting is good, and Clint Hurdle is goofy. Don't sleep on that combination.

Prediction: OVER

Los Angeles Dodgers: Over/Under 82.5 Wins

On just the opposite side of the Rockies, most people see the re-signing of Manny and think the division is theirs.

The Manny honeymoon is over.

He'll put up numbers and drive the youngsters nuts since he is, well. you know...nuts!

Prediction: UNDER

San Francisco Giants: Over/Under 80.5 Wins

A team that is building to win this season, the G-Men have put the right young guys out there and brought in the right free agents.

Watch the Giants contend for the NL West title.

Prediction: OVER

San Diego Padres: Over/Under 71.5 Wins

After a wonderful run to the playoffs in consecutive years, and then getting screwed by umpire Tim McClelland in a one-game playoff against Colorado, it has been dreadfully downhill for the Fathers.

Youngsters are getting shots all over the diamond.

Maybe in 2012, Padre fans.

Prediction: UNDER