My picks? You say you want my picks? Listen, we'll get to my picks... you see, sonny, I know this game. I know the number of granules of sand in the infield. EVERY infield. I know the density of every blade of grass in every outfield in this country - that's right, this country. I don't accept that baseball plays north of the border - yes, i count the stats and records of the game up there, but i'm not going to clutter this gem of a brain with details about that wonky retractable roof monstrosity up there in Toe Rahn Toe...
But what I know that you don't, kid, besides all my picks this season, is the secret history of the game. Let me give you an example - you know how all these games get played at night these days, right? That wasn't always the case. Oh you know that? You know that, do ya? Look at you, tellin the old man what he knows and doesn't know.
Well ok, so you know they used to play only during the day. Well did you ever hear the story about Ed Coleman? Wasn't a great player by any means, but has some solid years for the Atheletics (and i still call them that... what's this "A's" business... they're the Atheletics, gawddammit!) in the early 30's. But then 1935 hits, and night games start, this guys career drops off almost immediately. What's that about, I ask you?
See, the problem with Coleman was that he was a werewolf. That's right, a werewolf. Couldn't keep his shit together in night games, always thought the full moon would come out... Day games, he could keep it together just fine - he'd play his game, get to the hotel, lock himself in his room with a bottle of booze and soothe his inner demons... but the night games meant he had to play under moonlight... wouldn't ya know it, within a year, he'd skeedaddled his way out of the league...
Bullshit? Bullshit, you claim? Oh, how would you know, little man, with your internets and your pda's and all that nonsense... always believe what you read, eh?
Just get to the picks??? That's all i'm good for... i get it. Here they are... now beat it and let me get back to my game on the radio...
My Picks
American League
East:
1. Boston
2. New York
3. Tampa
4. Toronto
5. Baltimore
Central:
1. Chicago
2. Minnesota
3. Detroit
4. Kansas City
5. Cleveland
West:
1. Texas
2. Oakland
3. Seattle
4. Los Angeles
AL Wild Card: Yankees
National League
East:
1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Florida
4. Washington
5. New York
Central:
1. Cincinnati
2. Milwaukee
3. St. Louis
4. Chicago
5. Pittsburgh
6. Houston
West:
1. San Francisco
2. Colorado
3. Los Angeles
4. San Diego
5. Arizona
NL Wild Card: Braves
First round playoff winners:
AL: Boston, Texas
NL: Atlanta, Philadelphia
AL Champs: Boston
NL Champs: Philadelphia
World Series Champs: Philadelphia
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, Bos
NL MVP: Jay Bruce, Cin
AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
NL Cy Young: Cliff Lee
HR Leader:
AL: Miguel Cabrera
NL: Jay Bruce
AVG Leader:
AL: Ichiro Suzuki
NL: Albert Pujols
ERA Leader:
AL: Felix Hernandez
NL: Roy Halladay
K's Leader:
AL: Jon Lester
NL: Tim Lincecum
Questions:
1. More Wins: Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee? Cliff Lee
2. Who leads the league in OPS+? Adrian Gonzalez
3. Which league has a greater percentage of teams with winning records, American or National? National
4. Over/Under on number of different Yankees who start a game this season at 7.5? Over
5. Worst Stafff ERA in the Major Leagues? Cleveland
6. When will Jeter get 3,000? June 18
7. Over/Under on Ichiro's XBH at 37.5? Over
8. How many starts by Erik Bedard? 20
9. More Runs by Pedroia or Cano? Pedroia
10. Better Stats, Lincecum or Felix (W, K, ERA, WHIP, SO, CG, HR allowed)? Felix
