On today's podcast, I talk about how futile making predictions can be, then I make them anyway!
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 31, 2013
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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 31, 2013
On today's podcast, I talk about how futile making predictions can be, then I make them anyway!
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 31, 2013
Subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast on iTunes.
Official Sully Baseball Picks for 2013
So that time of the year is upon us again...
The season is about to begin and I feel obliged to make my picks.
They are never right... yet sometimes bold (last year I picked the Pirates to win the Central. For a while I looked pretty smart.)
It is an unusual practice that doesn't really take into account the fact that the teams we are picking now are going to change throughout the season.
Marco Scutaro won the NLCS MVP for the Giants and became their spiritual leader last October. He spent most of 2012 with the Rockies. I would be hard pressed to find a single forecast for the Giants last season that would mention Scutaro.
But I will make the predictions anyway. Why?
Because they are fun.
THE OFFICIAL SULLY BASEBALL PICKS FOR 2013
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST CHAMPION
The Rays can pitch and will add Chris Archer to the mix with defending Cy Young winner David Price. Evan Longoria is back and Wil Myers will make his long overdue big league debut. Joe Maddon is the best manager in the game and the time is right for the Rays.
The Blue Jays have a lot of talent but so did the 2012 Marlins. I will believe it when I see it. The Yankees are falling apart and it is tough to restock when you can't spend money and your farm system stinks. The Orioles might take a step back from their startling post season finish last year. That being said, they are stacked with pitching talent and Buck Showalter can push the right buttons. The Red Sox are going to be bad. But with young players like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Will Middlebrooks, at least they will give Red Sox Nation hope for the future.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL CHAMPION
Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander have at least three more seasons together as teammates. This is their window of opportunity to bring a World Series title to Detroit. They have holes on the team, the most obvious one being their bullpen. But they have pitching depth, firepower, a Hall of Fame manager and three legit superstars. This is their division to lose.
The rest of the division is a "your guess is as good as mine" grab bag. The Royals could be improved or they can flop. The White Sox nearly won the division last year but are unpredictable. They could be a Wild Card team or a 90 loss club. Terry Francona is a nice fit for the Indians who are a few years away. The Twins could be a disaster or maybe they stay healthy and shock everyone.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST CHAMPION
Once again I find myself picking the Angels. They have the lineup. They have the pitching. They have the resources. Any lineup that has Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton at its core will do well. And Jered Weaver will win a Cy Young one of these years. Maybe this is the year.
Welcome to the best division in baseball. The A's won the division last year and have their core back. They should be a year better. The Rangers fell apart down the stretch. The team that looked like a lock for three straight pennants wound up blowing the Wild Card. They still have talent and will be solid all year. The Mariners are loaded with talent and could be the surprise team of the league. The Astros will be the punching bag of the division and inflate some win totals.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARDS
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
TEXAS RANGERS
The A.L. West will bring about three playoff teams. The A's have too much talent and enthusiasm to go away and Profar and company will give the Rangers one last gasp as they hold off the Yankees, Blue Jays and Royals to become the first third place playoff team.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST CHAMPION
Nothing brave with this pick. And no picking the Braves either. The Nationals can hit, pitch, slug, field and now they have a deep bullpen and no restraints on Stephen Strasburg. They were an out away from the NLCS last year. This year, they have something to prove. And Davey Johnson could have his Cooperstown ticket punched.
The Braves will be more than an Upton family reunion. They are a deep club that will challenge the Nationals all year long. After Atlanta, the Division looks weak. The Phillies window is closing as the team's age is showing. The Marlins will be fielding an AAA team but those kind of clubs can be dangerous. The Mets are a disaster and should be playing kids all year.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL CHAMPION
Underestimate the Cardinals at your own peril. Sure they have injury issues and lack of depth up the middle. They also have a gaggle of young excellent pitchers being added to the mix. And by mid season, Oscar Tavares will be electrifying Cardinals fans everywhere.
The Reds could easily win the Division and have one of the best overall teams in baseball. The Pirates have talent. Can they PLEASE win 82 games this year? The Brewers will have the Ryan Braun PED mess hanging over their heads all season. The Cubs will flop and flounder and take over the Astros role in the division: They will stink and trade away all of their good players.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST CHAMPION
What role will Tim Lincecum play? Will he return to his role as Cy Young contender? Or will he be the super reliever again? Either way, the defending World Champions seem poised for another deep October run, provided Buster Posey stays healthy and avoids collisions at the plate.
For all of their spending, the Dodgers still have some massive question marks. But the potential for the LA/San Francisco rivalry to spark again is remarkably exciting. The Padres have a lot of young talent and could sneak up on people after their solid second half in 2012. The Diamondbacks made a serious blunder dealing Justin Upton. We will see if grit trumps talent as Kirk Gibson wants clones of his spirit but not ability. The Rockies are a fascinating train wreck.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARDS
ATLANTA BRAVES
CINCINNATI REDS
The Wild Card Game for the National League will probably be a better match up than the ALCS. The Braves and the Reds have the talent to beat out the Dodgers for the one game playoff.
And if you thought picking Division Winners was futile, wait until you see my post season picks!
AL WILD CARD GAME: Athletics def. Rangers
NL WILD CARD GAME: Braves def. Reds
AL DIVISION SERIES: Tigers def. Athletics - Rays def. Angels
NL DIVISION SERIES: Nationals def. Braves - Cardinals def. Giants
ALCS: Rays def. Tigers
NLCS: Cardinals def. Nationals
WORLD SERIES: St. Louis Cardinals defeat Tampa Bay Rays, 4 games to 2.
For good measure, here are my award picks:
AL MVP: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
NL MVP: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds
AL CY YOUNG: Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
NL CY YOUNG: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Chris Archer, Tampa Bay Rays
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Oscar Tavaras, St. Louis Cardinals
AL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays
NL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants
So there you have it. My picks are in before the season starts.
Do NOT take these to the bank. My picks tend to not work out. But I made them, and that is all that matters.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 30, 2013
While on an airplane, I sang the praises of the Astros and the Red Sox, two teams that I think will be lousy in 2013.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 30, 2013
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Friday, March 29, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 29, 2013
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I talk about the contract extensions of Buster Posey and Justin Verlander and why I want them both to become Hall of Famers. Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 29, 2013
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Thursday, March 28, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 28, 2013
Just when you thought the Mets couldn't dig a deeper hole for themselves, they grabbed a shovel and kept on digging.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 28, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 27, 2013
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I say "I told you so" regarding the Justin Upton trade and I discuss the retiring Tim McCarver.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 27, 2013
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Monday, March 25, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 25, 2013
There is some bad news for Cardinals fans all over the world. I'm picking the Cardinals to win the World Series in 2013, and my picks are almost always wrong!
But I have a good feeling about this Cardinals team and that is the topic for today's episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 25, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 24, 2013
They can not seem fill in a single spot on an injury plagued team even on an interim basis.
Why not give the likes of Addison Maruszak a shot?
Meanwhile, I remember my Weston, Massachusetts Little League teammate Huckleberry Keys on today's episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 24, 2013
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Saturday, March 23, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 23, 2013
Are upsets good for baseball? Or is it better to see some of the great teams of all time have their crowning moment?
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I ponder those questions.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 23, 2013
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Friday, March 22, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 22, 2013
On today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I discuss the bizarre legacy of the Colorado Rockies and what is shaping up to be a fascinatingly terrible year in Denver for 2013.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 21, 2013
On today's episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I answer the question "Why should anyone root for the Astros in 2013?"
To be cool, of course!
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 21, 2013
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Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 20, 2013
In today's podcast, I bring up "We Are The World", "Top Chef" and Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 while talking about the WBC.
Then I wonder why the White Sox don't get more love.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 20, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 18, 2013
While looking for a carpet, I discussed why I am not so quick to jump on the Toronto Blue Jays' bandwagon.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 18, 2013
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Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 17, 2013
On The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast for St. Patrick's Day, I make a suggestion to the Red Sox to develop an Irish born star.
I also pay tribute to Joe Cleary, the last Irish born player in Major League History.
Contribute to Irish Baseball at Field O'Dreams HERE.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 17, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 16, 2013
I look for a new baseball glove and wish a happy birthday to my mom while at Dick's Sporting Goods.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 16, 2013
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Friday, March 15, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 15, 2013
On today’s edition of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I make the connection between the WBC and the band Gwar while driving home from the airport.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 15, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 13, 2013
While driving along the 101 heading to San Jose, I decided to talk about Johan Santana, the Mets, the trade block and Manny being Manny in Taiwan.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 13, 2013
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Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 12, 2013
While waiting for files to download, I realized that there are more than one way to enjoy baseball.
If you are a traditional fan or a stat head, as long as the game is loved, that is all that matters.
Normally being frustrated at the office doesn't lead to such a calming point of view.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 12, 2013 Subscribe to The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast on iTunes.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 10, 2013
I complain about the World Baseball Classic.
I offer solutions about the World Baseball Classic.
And somehow a squirrel is involved.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 10, 2013
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Saturday, March 09, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 9, 2013
The WBC stinks, we can all agree on that right? The players going at 50%, the rules to make sure that they don't work too hard and things like "Mercy Rules" and "Runners on base to start extra innings" show that it is lame with a capital lame.
But as Bud Selig and company try to sell this lemon, they are also pricing out little leagues to use their uniforms.
Is there ANYTHING more short sighted than that?
That is the topic for today's Sully Baseball Daily Podcast. Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 9, 2013
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Thursday, March 07, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 7, 2013
The Washington Nationals seem to be the trendy pick to win the 2013 World Series. If the past few years are any indication, that is bad news for the Nats and their fans.
That’s the topic for today’s podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 7, 2013
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 6, 2013
Ryan Westmoreland retires before he ever played a game for the Red Sox. That is sad. Francisco Rodriguez wants to return to the Mets. That's crazy. And those are the topics for today's podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 5, 2013
It is the birthday of my twin boys, so what better way to celebrate my love for them than having them do a podcast with me?
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 5, 2013
Monday, March 04, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 4, 2013
There are a lot of dumb baseball stories today. How dumb are they? The uproar over Mike Trout's contract is the SECOND dumbest story of the day.
The worst belongs to Brian Cashman breaking his ankle while skydiving.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 4, 2013
Sunday, March 03, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 3, 2013
I went to Disneyland with my family and did not have time to record a new podcast.
So instead I played the parts of my interview with Nick Stevens that did not make it to air.
Follow Nick on Twitter HERE.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast - March 3, 2013
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