2009 MLB Predictions Gone Horribly Wrong: Hindsight Is 20/20

Portions of this article originally appeared on Vype.com and vype.com/dfw.

Sometimes, the best thing to do in life is admit defeat and try again next year. This is definitely one of those times. I made my baseball predictions waaaay back in April, with high hopes of making myself look smart by season's end. Well, the opposite effect took place. Instead of concealing these embarrassing baseball picks, however, I've decided to share with the bleacherreport community. For your own amusement, read on... 

AL East

1. Boston Red Sox
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. New York Yankees
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

This is probably the toughest division to pick when assessing the one-two-three spots. It is easy to make a case for any of the top three to win this division, but unfortunately one of these teams won’t make the playoffs and I’ve got the Yankees. With Alex Rodriguez injured and the Yankees pitching struggling for no apparent reason the last few years I wouldn’t be surprised to see CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett have down years. Boston has the best all-around team, and the Rays pitching with the eventual addition of David Price should put them over the hump for the wild card.

AL Central

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Minnesota Twins
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Twins

The White Sox will not enjoy a season like they did last year, especially with such a shaky rotation and not much batting besides Carlos Quentin (who’s coming off surgery) and up and coming shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Minnesota will overachieve as usual, and Cleveland will fare better than last year but their pitching is simply too weak to compete. Carl Pavano as your third pitcher means major trouble. Detroit will put the pieces together this year, as their batting is still superb and their rotation and relief pitching will slowly come along as Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney get healthy.

AL West

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Oakland Athletics
4. Texas Rangers

This division is basically a race to see who will be knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. With Los Angeles’s three best pitchers starting the year on the DL, other teams can make a run for the division, but it ultimately won’t matter. They are the only team with any sort of balance between batting and pitching. Expect Erik Bedard and Felix Hernandez to have much better seasons, which will put Seattle around 80 wins. Oakland picked up Matt Holliday, but can you name three of their starting pitchers? How about their Opening Day starter? Texas will out slug teams to win 70-75 games this year, but they have an unproven bullpen and one of the worst rotations in baseball.

NL East

1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Florida Marlins
4. Atlanta Braves
5. Washington Nationals

The Mets bolstered their bullpen enough to take the NL East this year. The Phillies won’t be repeat World Series champs, but assuming Cole Hamels gets healthy they will definitely contend for a Wild Card spot. Florida and Atlanta are solid teams, but not playoff worthy. The Nationals, are well, the Nationals.

NL Central

1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Houston Astros
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Cubs are simply too talented to lose this division. The Cardinals will be a surprise Wild Card contender with their improved pitching, and of course Albert Pujols. Pujols is in an elite class of players that can affect games by themselves, something very rare in such a team-oriented sport. Milwaukee will struggle without Ben Sheets and Sabathia, but look for Yovani Gallardo to have a good season. Cincinnati is making strides, but isn’t there yet. And congrats Pittsburgh, you will have the worst record in baseball.

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. San Francisco Giants
4. San Diego Padres
5. Colorado Rockies

Not much controversy this year for the Dodgers, as they should win this division. Arizona is a solid team that could be a dark horse if Justin Upton and Stephen Drew develop to help with the D-Backs batting. The Giants will get 20 wins from Tim Lincecum, but there’s not much else to be excited for in San Francisco.

AL Divisional Series

            Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

            Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Winners: Red Sox and Rays

Original? Not really. Likely? It would appear so. The AL East is simply head and shoulders above any other team in the AL, so Boston and Tampa Bay advance easily.

NL Divisional Series

            Chicago Cubs vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

            New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Winners: Cubs and Dodgers

The Cubs will avenge a disappointing playoff loss last season, while the Dodgers will surprise many and defeat the talent-loaded Mets.

AL/NL Championship Series

            Red Sox over Rays

            Cubs over Dodgers

Boston added enough to their bullpen this offseason to avoid another meltdown against the Rays this time around. Chicago is just far and away more talented than anyone else, and I can’t see them losing to the Dodgers.

World Series

 Cubs over Red Sox

I’m willing to pick what many are too afraid to jinx: the Cubs winning it all. On paper, they are one of the top three most talented teams in baseball. It’s been 101 years, but this is finally when Cubs fans get a championship.