Kuzul

Don’t you feel like the San Francisco Giants just won the world series just yesterday? Well, it was four months ago, but it felt like yesterday.

But as we prepare for the 2011 MLB season, everyone makes their season predictions starting in mid-February. That’s just what I am doing.

I will be making my official MLB predictions very soon. But I just couldn’t wait to make my world series predictions. So here it is.

Coming out of the NL no doubt will be the Philadelphia Phillies (even though I want the New York Mets in it, but that’s not happening). Just looking up and down the Phillies roster is full of talent.

Starting with the starting rotation: They have the 2010 NL Cy Young award winner in Roy Halladay as their ace. They added Cliff Lee in the offseason. All the talk was that the Texas Rangers or New York Yankees would acquire Lee. But the Phillies made a run on the last day and got rewarded.

Roy Oswalt is a potential ace, but his career is on the downfall with age. Cole Hamels could be a solid No. 2 starter on another team. The only problem with the rotation is the No. 5 spot, where Joe Blanton will start with it.

The infield is also filled with talent. First Baseman Ryan Howard had a disappointing season last year, but he is one of the best out there. Second baseman Chase Utley had an injury-plagued season last year, so he isn’t 100 percent. ShortStop Jimmy Rollins also had an injury season and third baseman Placido Polanco has a ton of potential.

The outfield, though, could be interesting. Raul Ibanez had a great season last year, along with Shane Victorino. But in right field, they are going with young Dominic Brown to try to replace Jayson Werth.

They will win the division, with the Atlanta Braves losing manager Bobby Cox, Troy Glaus, Derrick Lee, and Billy Wagner. The Florida Marlins are on the rise, but they are not there yet. And forget about the Mets and Washington Nationals.

And just looking at all the other good teams in the NL. The Phillies matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Milwaukee Brewers.

The Phillies have the best team in the NL and will show that by making it to the world series.

The American League champion will also come out of the East. This time, it will be the Boston Red Sox. They also are full of talent.

Rotation is stocked as well. Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka. The only problem, in my opinion, with the rotation is Beckett. He is coming off a dreadful season last year. He has to have a great year, with around 15 wins and around a 2.50 to a 3.00 ERA. If he can do that, the Sox will make the world series.

Other players that have to step up are David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and new additions Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford. In my opinion, these four guys are the most important players for the Red Sox this upcoming season.

The only position that I have an issue with is catcher. The Red Sox lost their star catcher Victor Martinez. So to fill in the spot, they brought in Jarrod Saltalamachia and have veteran catcher Jason Varitek in a back-up role.

The division, though, could cause some problems. The Yankees are obviously a threat. The Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles are on the rise. And the Tamp Bay Rays could still cause some problems, even after losing Crawford, Rafael Soriano and Willy Aybar.

World Series Prediction: Red Sox win the series in seven games.

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Before the postseason started, I predicted that the Texas Rangers would make the World Series. I didn’t write an article about it, but I did tell my friends. Everyone thought I was crazy. I got comments like, “Are you serious? There is no way they are beating the Rays!” Yeah OK.

Throughout the ALDS against the Rays, where the road team won every game, I was second-guessing my prediction. But it turns out I was right.

Fast forward to the ALCS against the Yankees. Well just continue reading.

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Ever since I started following baseball and pretty much all four major sports, my favorite team has been the New York Mets. Why? I have no idea. But I have never been more disappointed with the Mets than the 2010 season. They have had so many bad memories and so few good ones.

The Mets have to make changes in the offseason and it starts off when Jeff Wilpon fires both Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel. These two alone have been absolutely awful for the franchise. Here is a list of the good players Minaya has gotten:

Johan Santana

Carlos Beltran and Delgado

Paul Lo Duca

Billy Wagner

That’s it. Now let’s look at the bad:

Luis Castillo

Oliver Perez

John Maine

JJ Putz

K-Rod (could go either way)

Kazuo Matsui

And there are plenty more. Omar has been brutal to the Mets over the past six seasons with having only one good season in 2006.

Now you can’t really blame Jerry for everything he has done. These are the players he has to work with. But you can blame him for a lot of things, whether it’s pulling Johan Santana out too early or bringing in the wrong guy from the bullpen. They have to make a managerial change whether it’s Joe Torre, Bobby V, or Wally Backman…Jerry has to go.

Next, get rid of either Beltran, David Wright, or Jose Reyes. I like all three of them and they try hard…not every night but most nights. Obviously they haven’t done anything together since 2006, and it has messed up the Mets’ chemistry. Of the three, I’d rather see Beltran go because, since his surgery, he has done nothing.

Next, get rid of Perez and Castillo. Probably the two worst moves Omar has ever made was signing these two god-awful players.

They can’t do anything right and none of them has had one good game. The Mets have good young pitching in the minors and Ruben Tejada can fill in the second base slot, even though I would want to see a more experienced player.

Next, keep the young guys up. Tejada, Josh Thole, Ike Davis, and Jon Niese. Give Jenrry Mejia more time in the minors.

And finally, get a new closer. K-Rod is screwed.

Here is a list of free agents I would love to see the Mets go after:

Cliff Lee

Aaron Miles

Carl Crawford

Magglio Ordonez or Jayson Werth

Ted Lilly

Jake Westbrook

Rafael Soriano 

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If you look in the National League, you see teams that have surprised many, such as the Braves, Reds, and Padres.

In the American League, it’s a whole other story.

The Yankees and Rays look like the best teams in the AL, maybe even baseball, but in this slideshow, I will tell you why the Rangers are going to edge them out and make the Fall Classic.

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