2006 Predictions

April 2, 2006

Give or take. There might be less. You do the math.

Anyway. Here are approximately 2006 things that will almost certainly happen this year. Probably:

The New York Yankees will come oh-so-close, but miss making the playoffs. Joe Torre will tire of George Steinbrenner’s criticism, and call it a career…

Brian Cashman will tire of George Steinbrenner’s criticism, consider calling it a career, but stay…

With Alex Rodriguez in the running for his second straight American League MVP Award, critics will doubt his qualifications to be tabbed even the most valuable Yankee. They’ll be wrong…

Derek Jeter, David Wells and Nomar Garciaparra will appear on “Saturday Night Live."

Trade rumors will swirl around Manny Ramirez…

Larry Lucchino will become part owner of a team looking for a new stadium deal…

Mark Loretta will be a top-ten finisher in the A.L MVP voting, quickly becoming legend in Boston. It’ll take him exactly one season…

Contrary to expectations, the Toronto Blue Jays will not benefit greatly from their winter activity, and the Baltimore Orioles will be the most improved team in the division…

Biggest free agent bust: A.J. Burnett. Jarrod Washburn, a close second…

Anna Benson will get more ink than Kris...and score more often…

The American League East will finish this way: Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, Devil Rays…

“Expert” consensus pick for a booming comeback season who will not actually have one: Jim Thome…

A.L. Cy Young Award: Mark Buehrle, followed closely by Johan Santana and John Lackey…

Several prominent major leaguers will miss action, due to “flu-like symptoms” and “visa problems.”

As usual, the World Series will be a better, truer, more spontaneous event than the Super Bowl, with actual crowd shots of real fans, but the commercials won’t be nearly as good…

A.L. Central: White Sox, Indians (Wild Card), Twins, Tigers, Royals…

12 victories for Roger Clemens…

As Mike Piazza plays more often and runs up greater triple crown category numbers while catching in Petco Park than Frank Thomas does DHing and playing first base in Oakland, Billy Beane will regret choosing Thomas over Piazza…

A.L. MVP: Michael Young…

Bud Black will decline an opportunity to be interviewed for a managerial position. Chris Chambliss will not get one…

Stung by perceived harassment from local officials, Arte Moreno will threaten a move from Anaheim. Not Los Angeles. Anaheim…

Southpaw hurlers such as Jamie Moyer will be referred to as ”crafty” on a regular basis. No right-handers will be so labeled even as much as once…

Adrian Beltre’s numbers: .275, 30, 100…

A.L. West: Rangers, Athletics, Angels, Mariners…

The Atlanta Braves finally miss the playoffs. All fifty states celebrate, including Georgia...

Mid-season discussions concerning the Washington Nationals capacity to increase payroll in order to compete in the National League East will take place, but nothing will be done about it, and the team will play the entire season without an owner…

A Gold Glove Award winner will lead his position in errors…

"Five-tool player" will continue to reign as the most overused phrase in baseball. “We all have to be on the same page," “you do the math,” "anything can happen in a short series," “back in the day,” "intestinal fortitude" and "it’s only May" will contend…

Countless players, play-by-play guys, and color commentators will refer to a just completed game with the word "tonight," even though it was a day game...

N.L. East: Mets, Phillies, Braves, Nationals, Marlins…

World Series home field advantage goes to the American League for the final time, as Major League Baseball drops the All-Star Game brainchild and goes back to the every-other-year scenario…

N.L. Cy Young Award: Roy Oswalt. Breakout pitchers Carlos Zambrano and Brandon Webb will be among the top five vote getters…

Free agent surprise of the year: Preston Wilson…

N.L. MVP: Albert Pujols. Yeah, we’re really going out on a limb…

Rick Ankiel will retire as an outfielder to concentrate on pitching…

Zambrano will lead the Cubs in ERA for the third straight year, totaling more wins, innings pitched and strikeouts than Mark Prior and Kerry Wood combined…

Ken Griffey, Jr. will pass Mickey Mantle with home run number 537 on Opening Day, then eclipse Mike Schmidt in June and Reggie Jackson in late summer, moving into tenth place on the all-time list; sixth, if you don’t count guys in front of him who played under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs…

Baseball’s first manager to be fired will be Jerry Narron, who will be replaced by Bucky Dent. Additional managers seeking employment elsewhere will be Dusty Baker, Buddy Bell, Mike Hargrove, Clint Hurdle and Ken Macha…

Jim Tracy will be a force in Pittsburgh, and the Bucs will surge to a record of 74-88…

N.L. Central: Astros, Cardinals, Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Pirates…

In Eric Gagne’s final season in Los Angeles, Danys Baez will lead the Dodgers in saves…

After back-to-back seasons of “M-V-P” and “Hee-Seop-Choi,” Dodger Stadium attendees will be frustrated in their attempts to find a three-syllable chant to their liking, and settle on either “Bill-Muel-ler” or “Na-var-ro.”

Kenny Lofton will appear in more games, while stealing more bases and hitting for a higher average than Milton Bradley…

Two ex-Dodger catchers in the All-Star Game. Jason Phillips will not be one of them…

After notching career save number six, 20-year veteran Terry Mulholland will retire on a high note…

San Diego will record the exact same record as its 2005 division winning club, 82-80, and finish third…

Most dramatic fall to earth after a 2005 midseason trade which lead the acquiring team to pay considerably more than the player’s actual worth to bring him back as a free agent: Randy Winn…

Starting 3 or 4 games per week and pinch hitting often, Barry Bonds will pass Babe Ruth with home run number 715 quickly, around April 20, before being sidelined by injury or baseball can act, and will conclude his career short of Henry Aaron’s cherished record. Bonds final line: .325, 20 and 50...

N.L. West: Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Giants, Rockies…

Remember, glove conquers all….

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