Opening Day 2010 – MLB Predictions

Enough about Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. Baseball is back and the Phillies look better than they have to start a season in either of the past two years. They’re starting off with a certified ace and an even better lineup than before.

So here are my predictions for this season:

NL Division Series: Phillies over Rockies, Giants over Cardinals
NL Championship: Phillies over Giants

AL Division: Red Sox over White Sox, Mariners over Yankees
AL Championship: Red Sox over Mariners

World Series: Phillies over Red Sox

2009 MLB Playoff Scheduling Screws Phillies and Rockies Fans Again

In scheduling the Phillies vs. Rockies Division Series games to start with two 2:37 PM games only to be followed by a 9:30 PM night game that won’t end until around 1 AM EDT, Major League Baseball has told us fans don’t matter. When Major League Baseball, Fox, and TBS signed the last television contract, they essentially decided that for money, the MLB will do whatever the networks want regardless of the concerns of the paying fan. We’re that annoying gum on the sole of the MLBs shoe.

At some point someone needs to represent the paying fan. 3.6 million fans supported the Phillies fans this year by buying tickets for this team. This is despite a recession, escalating unemployment rates, and an economy that doesn’t look to get better for some time. The Phillies sold more tickets that at any point in their history even though though Veterans Stadium held 17,000 more fans per game. Someone needs to represent us.

It’s never a good idea for businesses to entirely disregard the wishes of their customers. When times get tough, businesses rely on loyal customers to get them through. All it would have taken is just one evening game to satisfy most fans – but the fact that both games come during the work day on the east coast is a slap in the face.

Hopefully the MLB will hear their customers/fans on this and make changes going forward.

All-star teams announced: Phillies 3 -Mets 4 (players)

The all-star team was announced yesterday and for those that are keeping count, the Phils have 3 players on the team to the Mets’ 4. The fans have a chance to add an additional player in the Final vote (more on that in a second). As expected Ryan Howard was selected to join the team by Charlie Manuel to join Raul Ibañez and Chase Utley. Howard’s numbers aren’t as great as they’ll be, but one of the problems with the All-star game being played in the summer is that players that put up numbers when it counts get screwed. Based on what Howard does year after year, he deserves to be there.

I think Shane Victorino will end up replacing Carlos Beltran anyway, but why not make the point moot? You have a chance to put him in yourself by voting in the Final Vote. Shane versus 4 other high profile snubs: Christian Guzman of the Nationals, Matt Kemp of the Dodgers, Mark Reynolds of the Diamondbacks, and Pablo Sandoval of the Giants. All have great cases, but I think Shane’s value goes beyond the numbers he puts up. When the team is going well, he’s in the middle of everything; he’s turned himself into the consummate pain in the ass player; that’s a good thing. Growing up, the best example of those types of players were Pete Rose and Lenny Dykstra (in his pre-Phillie/steroid days especially). If you get a chance you should ask C.C. Sabathia what he thinks.

Anytime I hear Shane’s name in trade rumors, I cringe; there’s a reason why so many teams want him. Shane deserves to go to St. Louis just as much as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, or Raul Ibañez – so put him there.