BBD Writers Make Their 2009 Predictions

Preseason predictions are fun, if for no other reason than you can look back at what ESPN’s Steve Phillips chose and you can see how stupid he really is.

Although in reality it is nearly impossible for anyone to make their picks this early. Unforeseen injuries, trades, and breakouts always have a way of rearing their heads. Nevertheless it is fun. So here at BBD we are borrowing the crystal ball from The Voice of the Yankee Universe and making our own predictions:

Over/Unders

Lenny Neslin

Yankees victories: over (96)
Mark Teixeira home runs: under (30)
Mark Teixeira RBI: over (129)
Derek Jeter batting average: under (.289)
Johnny Damon batting average: over (.310)
CC Sabathia wins: over (22)
A.J. Burnett wins: over (17)
Joba Chamberlain wins: over (15)
Mariano Rivera saves: under (32)

Jimmy Dugan

Yankees victories: 95.5 (over)
Mark Teixeira home runs: 32.5 (over - I had him at 33)
Mark Teixeira RBI: 115.5 (over)
Derek Jeter batting average: .303 (push)
Johnny Damon batting average: .287 (over)
CC Sabathia wins: 16.5 (over)
A.J. Burnett wins: 14.5 (under)
Joba Chamberlain wins: 13.5 (under)
Mariano Rivera saves: 37.5(under)

Chris Barrows

Yankees victories: 95.5 Under
Mark Teixeira home runs: 32.5 Over
Mark Teixeira RBI: 115.5 Over
Derek Jeter batting average: .303 Over
Johnny Damon batting average: .287 Under
CC Sabathia wins: 16.5 Over
A.J. Burnett wins: 14.5 Over
Joba Chamberlain wins: 13.5 Over
Mariano Rivera saves: 37.5 Over

Heather Zwillenberg

Yankees victories: 95.5- under (i think they will have 95 wins)
Mark Teixeira home runs: 32.5- over
Mark Teixeira RBI: 115.5- over
Derek Jeter batting average: .303- over
Johnny Damon batting average: .287- under
CC Sabathia wins: 16.5-over
A.J. Burnett wins: 14.5-over
Joba Chamberlain wins: 13.5-under (innings limit will hurt him)
Mariano Rivera saves: 37.5-over

Mike Rook

Yankees victories: 95.5 O
Mark Teixeira home runs: 32.5 O
Mark Teixeira RBI: 115.5 O
Derek Jeter batting average: .303 U
Johnny Damon batting average: .287 O
CC Sabathia wins: 16.5 O
A.J. Burnett wins: 14.5 O
Joba Chamberlain wins: 13.5 O
Mariano Rivera saves: 37.5 O

Rob Abruzzese

Yankees victories: 95.5 Over
Mark Teixeira home runs: 32.5 Over
Mark Teixeira RBI: 115.5 Over
Derek Jeter batting average: .303 Over
Johnny Damon batting average: .287 Over
CC Sabathia wins: 16.5 Over
A.J. Burnett wins: 14.5 Under
Joba Chamberlain wins: 13.5 Under
Mariano Rivera saves: 37.5 Under

Division Winners

Lenny Neslin

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Angels
AL Wildcard: Rays
NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wildcard: Cubs

NL World Series rep: Dodgers
AL World Series rep: Yankees
World Series winner: Yankees

Chris Barrows

AL East Yankees
AL Central Twins
AL West Angels
AL Wildcard Sox
NL East Phillies
NL Central Cubs
NL West Dodgers
NL Wildcard Mets

NL World Series Rep: Dodgers
AL World Series Rep: Yankees
World Series winner: Yankees

Jimmy Dugan

AL East (Yankees)
AL Central (Twins)
AL West (Angels)
AL Wildcard (Rays)
NL East (Phillies)
NL Central (Cubs)
NL West (Dodgers)
NL Wildcard (DBacks)

NL World Series Rep (Cubs)
AL World Series Rep (Yankees)
World Series winner (Yankees)

Heather Zwillenberg

AL East-Yankees
Al central-twins
Al west-Angels
Al Wildcard-Tampa
Nl east-Phillies
NL Central- Cubs
NL West-Dodgers
NL WIldcard- Mets

2009 Wold series- Yankees Vs. Phillies with the Yankees wining in six.

Mike Rook

AL East Yankees
AL Central Twins
AL West Angels
AL Wildcard Rays
NL East Mets
NL Central Cubs
NL West Arizona
NL Wildcard Phillies

NL World Series Rep Cubs
AL World Series Rep Yankees
World Series winner Yankees

Rob Abruzzese

AL East Yankees
AL Central Indians
AL West Athletics
AL Wildcard Red Sox
NL East Phillies
NL Central Cubs
NL West Dodgers
NL Wildcard Braves

NL World Series Rep: Dodgers
AL World Series Rep: Yankees
World Series winner: Yankees

Awards

Lenny Neslin

AL MVP: Evan Longoria
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez
AL CY: CC Sabathia
NL CY: Tim Lincecum
AL ROY: Elvis Andrus
NL ROY: Cameron Maybin

Chris Barrows

AL/NL MVP:
AL: Vlad Guerrero
NL: Manny Ramirez
AL/NL Cy Young
AL: Francisco Liriano
NL: Cole Hamels
Rookie of the Year:
AL: David Price TB
NL: Cameron Maybin FL

Jimmy Dugan

AL/NL Cy Young (Sabathia/Santana)
AL/NL Roy (Wieters/Dexter Fowler)

Heather Zwillenberg

AL MVP- Mark Teixeira
NL MVP- Jimmy Rollins
AL CY Young- Sabathia
NL CY Young- Cole Hamels
Al Rookie- Brett Anderson
NL Rookie-Cameron Maybin

Mike Rook

AL/NL MVP A-roid / Reyes
AL/NL Cy Young CC/ Santana ( I know that’s risky huh)
AL/NL Roy Gardner/ Cameron Maybin

Rob Abruzzese

AL MVP: Grady Sizemore
NL MVP: Manny Ramirez
AL CY: Chien-Ming Wang
NL CY: Cole Hamels
AL ROY: Matt Weiters
NL ROY: Cameron Maybin

AL East Division Standings

Lenny Neslin

Yankees 96-66
Rays: 92-70
Red Sox: 91-71
Blue jays: 76-86
Orioles: 64-98

Chris Barrows

Yankees 94-68
Sox: 90-72
Rays: 87-75
Blue Jays: 75-87
Orioles: 66-96

Jimmy Dugan

Yankees 99-63
Rays 96-66
Red Sox 95-67
Blue Jays: 82-82
Orioles: 59-103

Heather Zwillenberg

Yankees 95-67
Tampa Bay 94-68
Boston 93-69
Toronto 75-87
Orioles- 62-100

Mike Rook

Yankees 99-63
Rays 95-67
Red Sox 94-68
Blue Jays: 80-82

Orioles: 75-87

Rob Abruzzese

Yankees 98-64
Red Sox: 95-67
Rays: 90-72
Blue jays: 81-81
Orioles: 69-93

Other Predictions

Lenny Neslin

Yankees MVP: CC Sabathia
Yankees CY: CC Sabathia

Yankees vs. Red Sox: 11-7
Yankees vs. Mets: 2-4
First hit in new Yankee Stadium: Derek Jeter
First home run in new Yankee Stadium: Jorge Posada

Phil Hughes wins: 6
Ian Kennedy wins: 2

Other: Brett Gardner will NOT be the starting center fielder at the end of the season.

Chris Barrows

Yankees MVP: Mark Tex
Yankees Cy Young: Rivera

Yankees head-to-head record against the Red Sox (Yankees 10 Red Sox 8), Mets (Yankees 4 Mets 2).
First hit in the new stadium: (They play Cleveland first)
First home run in the new stadium: Matsui

How many wins Phil Hughes will have: 7
How many wins Ian Kennedy will have: 1

Jimmy Dugan

Yankees MVP? (Cano)
Yankees Cy Young? Sabathia)

Yankees head-to-head record against the Red Sox (10-8), Mets (4-2).
First hit in the new stadium.(Jeter)
First home run in the new stadium (Ryan Garko)

Predict How many wins Phil Hughes will have (10)
Predict How many wins Ian Kennedy will have (3)

Other: ARod hits more HRs than Teixeira. 25 Starts for Burnett.

Heather Zwillenberg

Yankees MVP- The one and only Mariano Rivera
Yankees Cy Young- C.C
Yankees 10 - Boston 8
Yankees 4- Mets 2
First hit in Yankee Stadium- Derek Jeter
The First home run- Jorge Posada
Phil Hughes- 6 wins
Ian Kennedy 1 win
First pitcher (reliever) called up Mark Melancon

Mike Rook

Yankees MVP? Tex
Yankees Cy Young? CC

Yankees head-to-head record against the Red Sox (18 games), Mets (six games). Sox 11-7 Mets 4-2
First hit in the new stadium.(They play Cleveland first) Damon
First home run in the new stadium. Gardner just kidding Matsui

Wins Phil Hughes will have: 9
Wins Ian Kennedy will have: 0

Rob Abruzzese

Yankees MVP: Mark Teixeira
Yankees CY: Chien-Ming Wang

Yankees vs. Red Sox: 11-7
Yankees vs. Mets: 4-2
First hit in new Yankee Stadium: Johnny Damon
First home run in new Yankee Stadium: Jorge Posada

Phil Hughes wins: 8
Ian Kennedy wins: 4

Alex Rodriguez will play 120 games. Nick Swisher will get 425 at bats. Xavier Nady’s OPS > Swisher’s.