Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
OK ... this has been hinted at on Da Box previously, but it's time to make it happen. The first annual (usual disclaimer: nothing can really be "first annual" until after the second year) Batter's Box Predictions Contest.

No complicated "pick the order of finish of every team in the majors plus project the Toledo Mud Hens' team batting average" stuff. It's simple. Name the playoff teams, eventual champs and award winners, earn points for each correct prediction.

Everyone is invited to participate. All nine members of "The Lineup" are especially encouraged to cast their lots, and though not a requirement, those who don't will of course be considered a massive wuss.

And prizes? Oh YES, there are prizes. How would you like to be the proud owner of ...

... one hundred, I said ONE HUNDRED, that's 100 randomly selected Toronto Blue Jay baseball cards dating back to the glory days of Doug Ault and Garth Iorg to the more recent proud history of Eddie Zosky and Randy Knorr? [Cards donated courtesy "Shoeboxes in My Closet."]

To enter, you must publicly (here on Batter's Box, to avoid future disputes) post your predictions in the following categories. Include an e-mail address where you can be reached. Point values are as noted. They may seem random, but astute fans will figure out most of the reasons. To be fair, my own predictions will be included here shortly after the gauntlet is thrown. Trash talk is encouraged.

All entries must be received before each team has completed its first game (an uncertain deadline due to possible weather factors). If you post predictions, they can be changed until the deadline is passed if, for instance, someone blows out a knee or you get an epiphany about the Milwaukee Brewers.

CATEGORIES
AL West Champ: 4 points
AL Central Champ: 5 points
AL East Champ: 5 points
AL Wild Card: 11 points

NL West Champ: 5 points
NL Central Champ: 6 points
NL East Champ: 5 points
NL Wild Card: 13 points

AL Pennant Winner: 10 points
NL Pennant Winner: 10 points

World Series Champ: 12 points

AL MVP: 12 points
NL MVP: 12 points
AL Cy Young: 6 points
NL Cy Young: 6 points
AL Rookie: 15 points
NL Rookie: 15 points
Note: full credit will be given in case of a tie a la Keith Hernandez/Wille Stargell or John Castino/Alfredo Griffin, both of which, oddly enough, took place in 1979.

Tie Breaker: How many combined games will the Tigers, Devil Rays, Royals and Orioles lose this year?

Good luck to one and all. And in the immortal words of Larry Bird ... y'all are playing for second place.


Throwing Down the Gauntlet | 73 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Spicol - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 10:42 AM EST (#13193) #
Choosing the NL Wild Card team is worth more points than choosing the WS Winner?
_Mick - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 10:45 AM EST (#13194) #
Choosing the World Series winner is worth anywhere from 26 to 39 points. So, uh, no.
_Mick - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 10:46 AM EST (#13195) #
Whoops -- fatfingered that. 26 to 35 points.
_Mick - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 10:50 AM EST (#13196) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Anaheim

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Chicago
NL East Champ: Philadelphia
NL Wild Card: Cincinnati

AL Pennant Winner: New York
NL Pennant Winner: San Francisco

World Series Champ: Yankees win! Yankees win!

AL MVP: Jason Giambi
NL MVP: Jim Thome
AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina
NL Cy Young: Mark Prior
AL Rookie: Mark Teixeira
NL Rookie: Joe Thurston
Tie Breaker: 397
_Jurgen Maas - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 10:57 AM EST (#13197) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: Boston
AL Wild Card: New York

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Philadelphia
NL Wild Card: Chicago

AL Pennant Winner: Oakland
NL Pennant Winner: San Francisco

World Series Champ: San Francisco

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Marlon Byrd

Tie Breaker: 385
Craig B - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:06 AM EST (#13198) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Boston

NL West Champ: Arizona
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: St. Louis

AL Pennant Winner: Oakland
NL Pennant Winner: Houston

World Series Champ: Ladies and Gentlemen, your Houston Astros (!)

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero
AL Cy Young: Mike Mussina
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Brandon Larson
Dave Till - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:06 AM EST (#13199) #
AL West champions: Oakland
AL Central champions: Chicago White Sox
AL East champions: Yankees
AL wild card: Boston

NL West champ: San Francisco
NL Central champ: St. Louis
NL East champ: Philadelphia

AL Pennant Winner: Oakland (I can't pick the Yankees, I just can't)
NL Pennant Winner: San Francisco

World Series Winner (of Bay Area Series II): Oakland
(and there will be about 50000 earthquake-related articles
written in the space of about two weeks, and that's assuming
that a second World Series Quake doesn't happen)

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero
AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay
NL Cy Young: Matt Morris (The Big Unit finally gets hurt again)

AL Rookie of the Year: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie of the Year: Hee Seop Choi
Tie Breaker: 411
Dave Till - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:07 AM EST (#13200) #
forgot the NL Wild Card: that's Arizona.
Craig B - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:08 AM EST (#13201) #
Forgot my tie-breaker : 388.
Pistol - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:12 AM EST (#13202) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Boston
NL West Champ: Arizona
NL Central Champ: St Louis
NL East Champ: Philadelphia
NL Wild Card: Arizona
AL Pennant Winner: Oakland
NL Pennant Winner: St Louis
World Series Champ: St Louis
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Hee Seop Choi

Tie Breaker: 420

Can’t wait for the Rance Mulliniks 1984 Topps card!!
_benum - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:14 AM EST (#13203) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: Boston
AL Wild Card: New York

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Philadelphia
NL Wild Card: Atlanta

AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: Philadelphia

World Series Champ: The Curse is Over!!! (Red Sox)

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro
NL Cy Young: Unit
AL Rookie: Travis Hafner
NL Rookie: Marlon Byrd
Tie Breaker: 380
_Spicol - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:19 AM EST (#13204) #
Choosing the World Series winner is worth anywhere from 26 to 39 points. So, uh, no.

Well, not really. If I were to get every one of the team related categories right except for the WS Winner and you get every one right except the NL Wild Card, I'd still beat you. This despite the fact that choosing the WS Winner is really tough to do since it is subject to the ups and downs of a short series.

But it's your game and your rules...we're all playing by the same scoring categories so it's fair and not a big deal.
_Mick - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:31 AM EST (#13205) #
Hey, good point Spicol. My approach was to reward a wider variety of correct predictions rather than focusing on what is essentially one prediction (who will win the World Series) and rewarding it three times. It's almost a matter of breadth vs. conviction, if you see what I mean.

For the same reason, it would theoretically be possible for someone to get every single division winner wrong and still win this thing by predicting all the award correctly. (Unlikely, but possible.) In my opinion, the single hardest prediction each year is Rookie of the Year. (See "Blalock, Hank" and "Burroughs, Sean" for details.)

That said, I'm happy to change the scoring if there is strong feeling one way or the other, as long as it happens before the deadline and we stick to it. Nobody, presumably, would change their predictions based on possibly earning more or fewer points in a certain category. (The AL Wild Card is worth more now? I better go with ... Baltimore!)
_King Rat - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 11:45 AM EST (#13206) #
Al East Champ: New York
Al Central Champ: Minnesota
Al West Champ: Oakland
Al Wild Card: Boston
Nl East Champ: Philadelphia
Nl Central Champ: St. Louis
Nl West Champ: Arizona
Nl Wild Card: San Francisco
Al Champs: Oakland
Nl Champs: San Francisco
WS Champs: Oakland
Al MVP: Jason Giambi
Nl MVP: Jim Thome
Al Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
Nl Cy Young: Matt Morris
Al Rookie of the Year: Hideki Matsui
Nl Rookie of the Year: Xavier Nady
Tiebreaker: 395
_jason - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 12:24 PM EST (#13208) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: Boston

AL Wild Card: NY

NL West Champ: SF
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Los Angeles

AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: Los Angeles

World Series Champ: Boston

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Joe Thurston
_Spicol - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 01:19 PM EST (#13209) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: NY Yankees
AL Wild Card: Boston

NL West Champ: San Fran
NL Central Champ: St. Louis
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Houston

AL Pennant Winner: Oakland
NL Pennant Winner: San Fran

World Series Champ: San Fran

AL MVP: Eric Chavez
NL MVP: Lance Berkman
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Brandon Larson

Tie Breaker = 402
Mike D - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 01:19 PM EST (#13210) #
Barry Bonnell's smiling face is my inspiration.

AL East: New York
AL Central: Minnesota
AL West: Oakland
Wild Card: Anaheim

NL East: Philadelphia
NL Central: Houston
NL West: San Francisco
Wild Card: St. Louis

AL Pennant: Anaheim, improbably
NL Pennant: Philadelphia

World Series Champs: Anaheim, with a stunning repeat

AL MVP: Jason Giambi
NL MVP: Jim Thome
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Marlon Byrd

Tie Breaker: 368
_LMK - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 01:19 PM EST (#13211) #
Al East Champ: Boston
Al Central Champ: Chicago
Al West Champ: Oakland
Al Wild Card: New York
Nl East Champ: Atlanta
Nl Central Champ: Houston
Nl West Champ: San Francisco
Nl Wild Card: Los Angeles
Al Champs: Boston
Nl Champs: San Francisco
WS Champs: San Francisco
Al MVP: Nomar Garciaparra
Nl MVP: Barry Bonds
Al Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
Nl Cy Young: Randy Johnson
Al Rookie of the Year: Mark Teixeira
Nl Rookie of the Year: Hee Seop Choi
Tiebreaker: 376
_mathesond - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 01:30 PM EST (#13212) #
AL East -Yankees
Central - Twins
West - Angels
Wild Card - A's

NL East - Braves
Central - Astros
West - Giants
Wild Card - Cardinals

AL Pennant - Twins
NL Pennant - Astros

World Series - Twins

AL MVP - Garret Anderson
NL MVP - Lance Berkman
AL CY - Mike Mussina
NL CY - Roy Oswalt
AL ROY - Hideki Matsui
NL ROY - Hee Seop Choi

Tiebreaker - 389
_snellville jone - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 01:41 PM EST (#13213) #
AL West Champ: Seattle
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Boston

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Arizona

AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: San Francisco

World Series Champ: Boston

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: ALbert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Kurt Ainsworth

Tiebreaker: 372
_Tuna - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 02:07 PM EST (#13214) #
AL West Champ: Seattle
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Oakland

NL West Champ: SF
NL Central Champ: St Louis
NL East Champ: Philly
NL Wild Card: Arizona

AL Pennant Winner: Sea
NL Pennant Winner: Philly

World Series Champ: Sea

AL MVP: Ichiro
NL MVP: Pujols
AL Cy Young: Mussina
NL Cy Young: Prior
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Byrd

Tiebreaker: 398
_Jacko - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 02:08 PM EST (#13215) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minny
AL East Champ: Yankees
AL Wild Card: Red Sox
NL West Champ: Giants
NL Central Champ: Cards
NL East Champ: Phillies
NL Wild Card: Houston
AL Pennant Winner: Minny
NL Pennant Winner: Phillies
World Series Champ: Minny
AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Burrell
AL Cy Young: Halladay
NL Cy Young: RJ
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Xavier Nady

Tie Breaker: 388
Gitz - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 02:25 PM EST (#13216) #
AL West: Oakland
AL Central: Minnesota
AL East: New York
Wild Card: Boston

NL West: San Francisco
NL Central: Houston
NL East: Philadelphia
Wild Card: Arizona

AL Champ: Minnesota
NL Champ: Arizona
WS Winner: Minnesota

AL MVP: Eric Chavez
NL MVP: Pat Burrell
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Travis Hafner
NL Rookie: Xavier Nady

Tie breaker: 560
Mike D - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 02:53 PM EST (#13217) #
Wait -- 560, Gitz??? You think those four teams will lose FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTY games? Four 22-140 seasons?
_Cristian - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 02:56 PM EST (#13218) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota (they win although Puckett embarrasses the franchise on a weekly basis)
AL East Champ: Boston (Bill James is given the team MVP)
AL Wild Card: NY Yankees (late Blue Jay charge builds to a division title in 2004)

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Chicago (best of a bad lot)
NL East Champ: Atlanta (Hampton is reborn and Phillies bullpen costs them)
NL Wild Card: San Diego (this year's Angels)

AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: San Diego

World Series Champ: San Diego (Kevin Towers is a genius and Sox fans are denied again)

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez (take that for not renegotiating my contrat)
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson (although it will be taken away when it is found out that he is a robot)
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui (although not a real rookie)
NL Rookie: Xavier Nady (someone has to take the Padres to the WS)

Tie Breaker: 4x162=648. For real I'm going with 413

*did I just pick the Padres to win the WS?*
_Mick - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 03:03 PM EST (#13219) #
Oh, c'mon Gitz. The Orioles are good for 48 wins by accident. (Probably literally.) Larrupin' Lou is going to scream the Rays to at least 25 wins. And Runelvys Hernandez has "nine-game winner" written all over him.

That leaves the Tigers at 6-156. Do you really think they'll be that good?

P.S. Alan Trammell is one of my favorite players of all time and I think be belongs in the Hall of Fame. So I hope he bucks the odds and wrangles a full dozen wins out of the Motor City Kitties.
Coach - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 03:05 PM EST (#13220) #
Under any scoring rules, it's a lottery, but for a chance at a 1987 George Bell card, I have to guess...

AL West: Seattle
AL Central: Minnesota
AL East: Boston
AL WC: Oakland
NL West: Arizona
NL Central: St. Louis
NL East: Atlanta
NL WC: San Francisco
AL Pennant: Seattle
NL Pennant: Arizona
World Series: Seattle

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Randy Johnson (sorry Dave, he gets hurt in 2004)
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Mark Teixeira
NL Rookie: Brandon Larson

Tiebreaker: 399

(Gitz cleverly considered the 0-162 Tigers and 19-143 Royals to come up with his tiebreaker number)
_Steve Z - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 03:42 PM EST (#13221) #
AL West: Oakland
AL Central: Chicago
AL East: New York
Wild Card: Toronto (I'm wearing rose-coloured glasses today)

NL West: LA
NL Central: Houston
NL East: NYM
Wild Card: Atlanta

AL Champ: Oakland
NL Champ: Houston
WS Winner: Oakland

AL MVP: Carlos Delgado
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Travis Hafner
NL Rookie: Joe Thurston

Tie breaker: 388

And now, I'll provide you some random Jays-related quotes/tidbits from my obsessive daily googlejaysing:

1) It throws fastballs, curves, sliders, cutters, splits, changeups, sinkers and an occasional brushback pitch.

"It's got a mind of its own," Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon said. "I wear a helmet."

And he digs in.

"The filthiest stuff you've ever seen in your life," Nixon said. "No one there throws a curveball like that. Maybe Halladay on a really good day."

As good as he is, Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay doesn't have the same repertoire as the pitcher Nixon faced during the winter.

At a baseball academy near his home in North Carolina, Nixon took batting practice against a simulated pitching machine that features a video screen of a lefthander.
- from the Hartford Courant

2) "Blue Jays' camp has a real Maine feel" -- an article Portland Press Herald

3) Asked about a solid Minnesota Twins team, J.P. quipped:
They're like Louisville, or any team Rick Pitino coaches. ... They press. You know they're going to press. And it works for 'em. - from Ken Rosenthal's latest column
_bob mong - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 03:58 PM EST (#13222) #
AL West Champ: Seattle (Not as good as 2001, not as bad as 2002. Edgar/Colbrunn much better than Edgar/Sierra.)
AL Central Champ: Minnesota (Minnesota young and bound to improve. Chicago old(er) and bound to regress. But this will be the best race of 2003.)
AL East Champ: New York (This won't be the best race since the loser gets into the playoffs as the...)
AL Wild Card: Boston (...wild card.)

NL West Champ: San Francisco (Offense about the same, pitching slightly improved. Arizona's offense not strong enough to keep up. Dodgers run hard but come up winded at the end.)
NL Central Champ: St. Louis (I am skeptical about Houston's offense. If Bagwell, Kent, and Biggio have any kind of significant decline, there's almost nothing left. Don't think it will happen? See: Mets, 2002)
NL East Champ: Philadelphia (Big O and enough pitching beats Atlanta's average offense and average (!) pitching and Mets' graybeards. Expos make a strong push for the WC, though they can't quite keep up with...)
NL Wild Card: Houston (...the 'Stros, who perservere to achieve the final glory of the Killer Bs.)

AL Pennant Winner: Boston (Unbeatable in short series...)
NL Pennant Winner: San Francisco

World Series Champ: San Francisco (...except by Barry Bonds and His Merry Men.)

It's all nonsense, of course. What the heck do I know? It makes a fun story, though. Moving on...

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez (Rangers will finally top .500, getting Rodriguez his long-overdue award.)
NL MVP: Vlad Guerrero (Bonds has same season as 2002 minus 50 points of BA - and .320 with 45 HR isn't going to beat Vlad's .335 with 45 HR and 40 SB, no matter how many walks Bonds has)
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson (300 Ks again, though he may not reach 20 wins with Arizona's lackluster offense.)
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui (easily beats those young whippersnappers)
NL Rookie: Marlon Byrd (playing time, playing time, playing time. Being on a division winner won't hurt (though does it help?))

Tie Breaker: How many combined games will the Tigers, Devil Rays, Royals and Orioles lose this year? Why, 400, of course.

I notice that I am one of few to predict that Oakland gets shut out of the playoffs. Erubiel Durazo misses 1/3 of season with injury and outfield of midgets cause them to fall short.
_Shrike - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 04:35 PM EST (#13223) #
AL West: Seattle
AL Central: Minnesota
AL East: Boston
AL WC: New York
NL West: San Francisco
NL Central: St. Louis
NL East: Philadelphia
NL WC: Arizona
AL Pennant: Seattle
NL Pennant: San Francisco
World Series: San Francisco

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Mark Teixeira
NL Rookie: Brandon Larson

Tiebreaker: 402
_Matthew Elmslie - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 05:17 PM EST (#13224) #
My predictions are supposed to appear on Blue Jay Way pretty soon. I'll post them here once they're up there.
_The Amazing ... - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 05:59 PM EST (#13225) #
AL West: Oakland
AL Central: Chicago WS
AL East: NY Yankees
AL WC: Boston

NL West: San Francisco
NL Central: Houston
NL East: Philadelphia
NL WC: Arizona

AL Pennant: Oakland
NL Pennant: San Francisco

World Series: Oakland

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Jim Thome
AL Cy Young: Roy Halladay!
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Mark Teixeira
NL Rookie: John Patterson

Tiebreaker: 422
_Jordan - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 06:22 PM EST (#13226) #
Anything for the Boys in Powder Blue....

AL West: Oakland
AL Central: Minnesota
AL East: Boston
AL WC: Anaheim

NL West: Los Angeles
NL Central: St. Louis
NL East: Philadelphia
NL WC: Houston

AL Pennant: Minnesota
NL Pennant: Houston

World Series: Minnesota

AL MVP: Nomar Garciaparra
NL MVP: Shawn Green
AL Cy Young: Mark Mulder
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson (until proven otherwise)
AL Rookie: Mark Teixeira
NL Rookie: Joe Thurston

Tiebreaker: 390
_Jonny German - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 06:46 PM EST (#13227) #
AL West: Oakland
AL Central: Minnesota
AL East: Yankees
AL WC: Boston

NL West: L.A.
NL Central: St. Louis
NL East: Philadelphia
NL WC: San Fran

AL Pennant: Oakland
NL Pennant: Philadelphia

World Series: Oakland

AL MVP: Eric Chavez
NL MVP: Albert Pujols
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Hee Seop Choi

Tiebreaker: 399

Mick, how about throwing Neyer / Gammons / Griffin / etc into the mix? The winner of that pool could get something like 3 months without a discouraging word from the Batter's Box.
robertdudek - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 06:51 PM EST (#13228) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Boston
NL West Champ: Arizona
NL Central Champ: St. Louis
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Houston
AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: Arizona
World Series Champ: Arizona
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Tim Hudson
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Jesse Foppert

Tie Breaker: How many combined games will the Tigers, Devil Rays, Royals and Orioles lose this year? 393
_Rob Andrew - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 07:04 PM EST (#13229) #
AL West: Oakland
AL Central: White Sox
AL East: Yankees
AL WC: Boston

NL West: San Francisco
NL Central: St. Louis
NL East: Philadelphia
NL WC: Arizona

AL Pennant: Yankees
NL Pennant: Philadelphia

World Series: Yankees

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Vlad Guerrero
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Hee Seop Choi

Tiebreaker: 385
_Mike H. - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 07:27 PM EST (#13230) #
http://filebox.vt.edu/users/mjhansen/baseball.htm
AL East: New York
AL Central: Minnesota
AL West: Oakland
AL Wild Card: Seattle

NL East: Atlanta
NL Central: St. Louis
NL West: San Francisco
NL Wild Card: Arizona

AL Champ: Oakland
NL Champ: Arizona

World Series Champ: Oakland

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Tim Hudson
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie of the Year: Hideki Matusi
NL Rookie of the Year: Kurt Ainsworth

Tiebreaker: 397
_M.P. Moffatt - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 07:33 PM EST (#13231) #
http://premium.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1739
We could also compete against the Baseball Prospectus guys. Click on my name to see.
_Daniel MacKinno - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 07:59 PM EST (#13232) #
Long time reader, first time poster...

AL East - Yankees
AL Central- Minnesota
AL West- Oakland
AL Wild Card- Anaheim
NL East - Atlanta
NL West - Giants
NL Central - Cardinals
NL WIld Card - Houston
AL Pennant - Yankees
Nl Pennant - Giants
WS - Giants
AL MVP - Manny Ramirez
NL MVP - Barry Bond
AL Cy Young - Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young - Randy Johnson
AL Rookie of The Year - Francisco Rodriguez (can the hype carry a middle reliever to the award ???)
NL Rookie of The YEar - Larson
_Harry Heatherin - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 08:10 PM EST (#13233) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: Boston
AL Wild Card: New York

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Chicago
NL East Champ: Philadelphia
NL Wild Card: Arizona

AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: San Francisco

World Series Champ: Boston (no, really!)

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Sammy Sosa
AL Cy Young: Roy Halliday
NL Cy Young: Curt Schilling
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Marlon Byrd

Tie Breaker: 406
_Cristian - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 09:25 PM EST (#13234) #
For the most part, the Prospectus gang picks the Blue Jays as their surprise team. However, they unanimously pick the Jays to finish third in the division. What could possibly be so surprising? How the Jays go about finishing third?
_Alex - Tuesday, March 25 2003 @ 09:37 PM EST (#13235) #
AL West Champ: Angels
AL Central Champ: White Sox
AL East Champ: Red Sox
AL Wild Card: Twins

NL West Champ: Giants
NL Central Champ: Reds
NL East Champ: Mets
NL Wild Card: Phillies

AL Pennant Winner: Red Sox
NL Pennant Winner: Mets

World Series Champ: Mets

AL MVP: Nomah Gahciaparah
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Bartolo Colon
NL Cy Young: Tom Glavine
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Ty Wigginton

Tie Breaker: 375
_King Rat - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 12:29 AM EST (#13236) #
In my entry, I didn't include an email address. In the astronomically unlikely event that I win, it's above.
Craig B - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 09:09 AM EST (#13237) #
Tallies so far (up to and including Alex... gotta love those Mets, eh Alex?):

ALW Oak 24 Sea 5 Ana 2
ALC Min 19 Chi 12
ALE NY 19 Bos 12
AWC Bos 11 NY 8 Ana 4 Oak 3 Chi 1 Tor 1 Sea 1 Min 1

NLW SF 23 Arz 5 LA 3
NLC StL 15 Hou 12 Chi 3 Cin 1
NLE Phi 17 Atl 12 NY 2 (no, really! The Mets! Heehee...)
NWC Ari 11 Hou 6 SF 3 StL 3 LA 2 Cin 1 Chi 1 SD 1 Phi 1

ALP Oak 11 Bos 9 Min 4 Sea 3 NY 3 Ana 1
NLP SF 12 Phi 6 Ari 5 Hou 4 StL 1 LA 1 SD 1 NY 1 (I'm dyin' here)

WS Oak 7 SF 6 Bos 4 (heh) Min 4 NYY 2 Sea 2 Hou 1 StL 1 Ana 1 SD 1 Ari 1 NYM 1 (This is beyond humor now, really.)

ALMVP A-Rod 11 Manny 7 Chavez 4 Big G 3 Nomah 3 Anderson 1 Ichiro 1 Delgado 1
NLMVP Barry 13 Vlad 5 Thome 4 Pujols 3 Berkman 2 Burrell 2 Green 1 Sosa 1 Johnson 1
ALCy Pedro 18 Halladay 4 Moose 4 Mulder 2 Hudson 2 Colon 1
NLCy Randy 15 Oswalt 8 Prior 2 Schilling 2 Morris 2 Glavine 1
ALRook Matsui 21 Teixeira 6 Hafner 3 KRod 1
NLRook Byrd 6 Larson 5 Choi 5 Nady 4 Thurston 4 Ainsworth 2 Williams 1 Patterson 1 Wigginton 1

As for the Mets, I kid... I shouldn't pick on Alex, anyway... especially since four people think Eric Chavez will be the AL MVP, and three think the Cubs will win the NL Central. I do think the Mets will finish fifth, though.
_Mick - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 10:03 AM EST (#13238) #
Wow, Craig, thanks for putting that together. I was gonna do something like that after the deadline, but I'm clearly not proactive enough. Here's another interesting stat, combining some of what you've done above.

So far, according to Boxers, this is ...


New York Yankees 27
Oakland A's 27
San Francisco Giants 26
Boston Red Sox 23
Minnesota Twins 20
Houston Astros 18
Philadelphia Phillies 18
St. Louis Cardinal 18
Arizona Diamondbacks 16
Chicago White Sox 13
Atlanta Braves 12
Anaheim Angels 6
Seattle Mariners 6
Los Angeles Dodgers 5
Chicago Cubs 4
Cincinnati Reds 2
New York Mets 2
San Diego Padres 1
Toronto Blue Jays 1

So we have collectively forecast 19 different teams to make the playoffs. Hope springs eternal.
_Jurgen Maas - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 12:56 PM EST (#13239) #
If it comes to a tie-breaker vote, I think Gitz should win.
_Mick - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 02:14 PM EST (#13240) #
Prize update ...
Please note the change to the prize, originally listed as
100 randomly selected Toronto Blue Jay baseball cards dating back to the glory days of Doug Ault and Garth Iorg to the more recent proud history of Eddie Zosky and Randy Knorr ...

To this:
100 randomly selected baseball cards from the team of your choice dating back to the glory days of Doug Ault and Champ Summers to the more recent proud history of Eddie Zosky and Archi Cianfrocco.

Also, bonus picks in the following categories are invited, but will not earn anyone extra points:

AL Comeback Player of the Year:
Ben Grieve remembers how to hit because he is scared of Lou Piniella: >297/26/97.

NL Comeback Player of the Year:
David Cone, nicely filling the role of Major League's Eddie Harris, connives his way to a 13-8 season, and leads the fourth-place Mets in wins.

Feel free to fill in other bonus categories such as "first manager fired" and "first player other than Carl Everett to be suspended for believing that aliens and dinosaurs are responsible for his outfield defense."
Mike D - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 05:25 PM EST (#13241) #
When I saw "aliens and dinosaurs," I was immediately set to nominate Rick Ankiel. But then I saw the "outfield defense" clause. Back to the drawing board...
Gitz - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 06:11 PM EST (#13242) #
Aliens and dinousaurs? Helluva movie, if I recall ...

And Mick ... I don't what's gotten into the water in Texas, but Messirs Grieve and Cone are finished, mi amigo. Of course, it took three years of having Grieve on my fantasy squad for this realization to occur, but here we are.

And to all those who doubt my sagaciousness in making predictions, as well as in using pointless words like sagacious, lest I remind everyone that in 2001 I picked Miguel Tejada to win the AL MVP last year. Not that he "deserved it," but why bother with the truth in these trying times?
_Jurgen Maas - Wednesday, March 26 2003 @ 11:09 PM EST (#13243) #
I might disagree with some of your choices, but I wasn't doubting. I love that 560 loss prediction. In the event of a tie, that should automatically over the top.
Coach - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 08:08 AM EST (#13245) #
Why is everyone shouting?
Coach - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 08:15 AM EST (#13246) #
Yo, Simon! (I mentioned Batter's Box at one of our two UFA practices yesterday, and it's gratifying to see at least one player listens to my yammering.)

One more category: Best gratuitous means of extending the busiest BB thread ever? Mick's adding categories. Give me Catalanotto and Griffey in the comeback spots, and (because I've predicted a slow start and it would make me happy) Bowa as first sacked skipper.
_Mick - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 09:41 AM EST (#13247) #
(In my best Jim Mora "playoffs?" voice ...)

Gratuitous? Gratuitous??
I'm just trying to participate here!
_Jurgen Maas - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 10:21 AM EST (#13248) #
I'll second that Bowa vote.
_R Billie - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 11:40 AM EST (#13249) #
CATEGORIES

AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Boston

NL West Champ: San Fran
NL Central Champ: St Louis
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Arizona

AL Pennant Winner: Oakland
NL Pennant Winner: San Fran

World Series Champ: San Fran

AL MVP: Magglio Ordonez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Travis Hafner
NL Rookie: John Patterson
_Dan - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 11:40 AM EST (#13250) #
AL West Champ: A's
AL Central Champ: White Sox
AL East Champ: Yankees
AL Wild Card: Mariners

NL West Champ: Dbacks
NL Central Champ: Cards
NL East Champ: Braves
NL Wild Card: Astros

AL Pennant Winner: A's
NL Pennant Winner: Astros

World Series Champ: A's

AL MVP: Eric Chavez
NL MVP: Lance Berkman
AL Cy Young: Tim Hudson
NL Cy Young: Greg Maddux
AL Rookie: Joe Borchard (F-Rod will be a bust, Matsui .260, 23hr)
NL Rookie: Hee Seop Choi
_R Billie - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 11:51 AM EST (#13251) #
Forgot my tiebreaker: 381
Gitz - Thursday, March 27 2003 @ 12:42 PM EST (#13252) #
SHOUTING? WHO'S SHOUTING?

I just wanted to be the 50th thread. Don't I get free tickets to Supertramp or something?
_Hannah Rasmusse - Friday, March 28 2003 @ 02:19 PM EST (#13254) #
http://economics.about.com
My picks:

NL East: New York
NL Central: Houston
NL West: L.A.
NL Wild Card: San Fran

NLCS: L.A.
NL MVP: Lance Berkman
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
NL ROY: Hee Seop Choi

AL East: Boston
AL Central: Chicago
AL West: Oakland
AL Wild Card: Seattle

ALCS: Oakland
AL MVP: A-Rod
AL Cy Young: Tim Hudson (because his name sounds like Tim Horton)
AL ROY: Hideki Matsui

WORLD SERIES: 1988 Repeat -- Dodgers over A's

Tiebreaker = 380
_Daniel MacKinno - Friday, March 28 2003 @ 05:05 PM EST (#13255) #
I forgot my tiebreaker.....402
_M.P. Moffatt - Friday, March 28 2003 @ 05:40 PM EST (#13256) #
http://economics.about.com
There's a mistake in my entry. I have both Arizona and San Fran winning the West. I meant to write that SF will win the West, and Arizona will win the wild card.

MP
_Scott Lucas - Sunday, March 30 2003 @ 12:46 PM EST (#13257) #
AL West Champ: Seattle
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Boston

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Philadelphia
NL Wild Card: Arizona

AL Pennant Winner: New York
NL Pennant Winner: Arizona

World Series Champ: New York Yankees

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Hee Sop Choi

Combined Losses: exactly 400
_Mick - Sunday, March 30 2003 @ 04:27 PM EST (#13258) #
Since there's still time under the deadline to change picks, in light of LA's decision to send Joe Thurston to AAA -- hey, he was hitting .140, what do you want? -- I shall jump on the Choi Ride and change my selection to Hee-Man for NL Rook.

I will stick with Teixeira for AL Rook, even though my Yanks' Matsui appears to be the clear favorite. And you know what? He's probably going to win. But I can't bring myself to pick a Japanese League All-Star as a "rookie," cosing myself points on principle.
_Zing - Sunday, March 30 2003 @ 05:39 PM EST (#13259) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Chicago
AL East Champ: Boston
AL Wild Card: New York

NL West Champ: San Fran
NL Central Champ: St. Louis
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Los Angeles

AL Pennant Winner: Boston
NL Pennant Winner: St. Louis

World Series Champ: Boston (!)

AL MVP: Ramirez
NL MVP: Pujols
AL Cy Young: Halladay
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Matsui
NL Rookie: Ainsworth

Tie Breaker = 420 (heh heh)
_Zing - Sunday, March 30 2003 @ 05:46 PM EST (#13260) #
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Derek Bell returns to Pittsburgh and wows everyone with his .920 OPS and clubhouse leadership.
_Best_Mate - Monday, March 31 2003 @ 08:56 AM EST (#13261) #
AL West Champ: Oakland
AL Central Champ: Minnesota
AL East Champ: New York
AL Wild Card: Chicago

NL West Champ: San Francisco
NL Central Champ: Houston
NL East Champ: Atlanta
NL Wild Card: Philadelphia

AL Pennant Winner: Oakland
NL Pennant Winner: Houston

World Series Champ: Oakland

AL MVP: Manny Ramirez
NL MVP: Lance Berkman
AL Cy Young: Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt
AL Rookie: Travis Hafner
NL Rookie: Brandon Larson

Tie Breaker: 392

AL Comeback: Jermaine Dye (if he really counts as "comeback)

NL Comeback: Mike Piazza (ditto)

First Managerial Departure: Jeff Torburg
Gerry - Tuesday, April 01 2003 @ 04:18 PM EST (#13262) #
Getting in under the wire....

AL West Champ: A's
AL Central Champ: Twinkies
AL East Champ: Yankees
AL Wild Card: White Sox

NL West Champ: Dodgers
NL Central Champ: Cardinals
NL East Champ: Braves
NL Wild Card: Giants

AL Pennant Winner: A's
NL Pennant Winner: Cardinals

World Series Champ: A's

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez
NL MVP: Barry Bonds
AL Cy Young: Tim Hudson
NL Cy Young: Randy Johnson
AL Rookie: Hideki Matsui
NL Rookie: Marlon Byrd

Tie Breaker: How many combined games will the Tigers, Devil Rays, Royals and Orioles lose

this year? 379
Pistol - Saturday, September 20 2003 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#13263) #
Well, my AL playoff teams look good, my MVPs look good, but the rest....not so good.
Craig B - Saturday, September 20 2003 @ 02:48 PM EDT (#13264) #
Looks like I nailed the AL, and at least my World Series pick... the Astros... are still alive.
Throwing Down the Gauntlet | 73 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.