pedro
martinez
___________________________
Media predictions for the 2002 season
If you see any others (especially Red Sox), send them in.
April 16, 2002
Lindy's Baseball Scouting Report
American
League
National League
East
New
York
Atlanta
Central
Cleveland
St. Louis
West
Seattle
Arizona
Wild Card Boston
San Francisco
Pennant Winner New
York
St. Louis
World Series New York
Manager of Year Joe Torre
Dusty Baker
MVP
Alex
Rodriguez
Shawn Green
Cy Young Pedro
Martinez
Matt Morris
Rookie of Year Hank
Blalock
Sean Burroughs
Rookie Pitcher Ryan Drese
Josh Beckett
April 2, 2002
New York Times Baseball Writers
Murray Chass, Jack Curry, Tyler Kepner, Rafael Hermoso
MC JC
TK RH
AL East
Yankees
Yankees Yankees
Yankees
AL Central Minnesota
Minnesota
Chicago Minnesota
AL West
Seattle
Seattle
Seattle Seattle
AL Wild Card Oakland
Oakland
Oakland Oakland
AL Pennant
Yankees
Yankees
Yankees Yankees
NL East
Atlanta
Atlanta
Atlanta Atlanta
NL Central St. Louis St.
Louis St. Louis St. Louis
NL West
Arizona
Arizona San Francisco Arizona
NL Wild Card Houston Mets
Mets Mets
NL Pennant St. Louis St.
Louis St. Louis Mets
World Series Seattle
Yankees
Yankees Mets
Seattle
Times Staff Predictions
Bob Finnigan, Blaine Newnham, Steve Kelley, Bob Sherwin, Larry Stone
Bob Finnigan
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Seattle New York Houston Arizona
Boston* Cleveland Oakland Atlanta St. Louis* San Francisco
Toronto Chicago Anaheim Philadelphia Chicago Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Texas Florida Pittsburgh San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City Montreal Milwaukee Colorado
Cincinnati
ALCS: Seattle over Yankees
NLCS: Arizona over Mets
World Series: Seattle over Arizona
Blaine Newnham
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Chicago Seattle Atlanta Houston Arizona
Boston* Cleveland Texas New York St. Louis* San Francisco
Toronto Minnesota Oakland Florida Chicago Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Anaheim Philadelphia Milwaukee San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City Montreal Cincinnati Colorado
Pittsburgh
ALCS: Yankees over Seattle
NLCS: St. Louis over Houston
World Series: Yankees over St. Louis
Steve Kelley
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Chicago Seattle Atlanta St. Louis Arizona
Boston Minnesota Oakland* New York* Houston San Francisco
Toronto Cleveland Texas Philadelphia Milwaukee Los Angeles
Baltimore Kansas City Anaheim Florida Chicago Colorado
Tampa Bay Detroit Montreal Cincinnati San Diego
Pittsburgh
ALCS: Yankees over Seattle
NLCS: Atlanta over Arizona
World Series: Yankees over Atlanta
Bob Sherwin
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Chicago Oakland Atlanta St. Louis San Francisco
Boston Cleveland Seattle* New York Chicago Arizona*
Toronto Minnesota Anaheim Philadelphia Houston Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Texas Florida Cincinnati San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City Montreal Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
ALCS: Oakland over Yankees
NLCS: St. Louis over Arizona
World Series: Oakland over St. Louis
Larry Stone
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Seattle Atlanta St. Louis San Francisco
Boston Chicago Oakland* New York* Houston Arizona
Toronto Cleveland Texas Florida Chicago Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Detroit Anaheim Philadelphia Cincinnati San Diego
Baltimore Kansas City Montreal Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
ALCS: Seattle over Oakland
NLCS: St. Louis over Mets
World Series: Seattle over St. Louis
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Phil O'Neill
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Oakland New York St. Louis Arizona
Boston Chicago Seattle Atlanta Houston San Francisco
Toronto Cleveland Texas Philadelphia Cincinnati Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Anaheim Florida Chicago San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City Montreal Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
World Series: St. Louis over Yankees
Bill Ballou
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Seattle New York Houston San Diego
Boston Cleveland Anaheim Philadelphia Chicago Los Angeles
Toronto Chicago Oakland Atlanta St. Louis Arizona
Baltimore Kansas City Texas Florida Cincinnati San Francisco
Tampa Bay Detroit Montreal Pittsburgh Colorado
Milwaukee
American League Predictions BaseballProspectus.com
Link also includes extensive comments
American League East
First Second Third Fourth Fifth
Jeff Bower Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Clay Davenport Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Orioles Devil Rays
Jeff Hildebrand Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Gary Huckabay Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Rany Jazayerli Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Chris Kahrl Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Mat Olkin Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Orioles Devil Rays
Doug Pappas Yankees Blue Jays Red Sox Devil Rays Orioles
Dave Pease Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Joe Sheehan Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Greg Spira Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Orioles Devil Rays
Michael Wolverton Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Orioles Devil Rays
Keith Woolner Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Derek Zumsteg Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Orioles Devil Rays
Consensus Yankees Red Sox Blue Jays Devil Rays Orioles
Jeff Bower: The Yankees could be good for 105 wins after clearing out some of the deadwood late last fall. Grady Little holds things together in Boston despite Pedro Martinez's ailments, but the Bosox fall just short of winning the wild card. ...
Clay Davenport: New York 104, Boston 95,
Toronto 73, Baltimore 69, Tampa Bay 68
There are two really good teams here, two really bad ones, and one in the
middle that looks to me like it's dropping down towards the bad ones. The
Yankees are going to be very tough to beat this year, absolutely loaded
all over the field. The Red Sox desperately need a healthy Pedro Martinez
and Nomar Garciaparra if they are going to have any chance of taking the
Yankees or even the wild card. ...
Jeff Hildebrand: Ho hum, another year, another Yankees division title. They've reloaded, and no one else has stepped up to match them yet. For the Red Sox to have any chance at all, Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra both have to be back at full strength, which seems like a tall order. Given the state of the farm system and the circus accompanying the new ownership, this looks like a team that is a year or two away from a massive decline. ...
Gary Huckabay: The Yankees blow their division wide open by the All-Star break, making it look something like the 2001 version of the AL West, but without the kick-ass team in second place. Grady Little does a masterful job handling Pedro Martinez, keeping him healthy for 28 starts and 195 innings, while Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez come back at either 80% effectiveness or 80% health each. Trot Nixon is the best hitter in the league against righties, and it's all still not enough to do anything more than hang on the fringes of the wild-card race. ...
Rany Jazayerli:
New York 100-62
Boston 88-74
Toronto 82-80
Tampa Bay 65-97
Baltimore 63-99
Exactly zero surprises here. The Yankees are the best team in baseball, a tribute to their willingness to proactively fix holes before they develop. The Red Sox simply don't have the offense to give New York a challenge.
Chris Kahrl: This boils down to the Yankees and the two pairs. The Red Sox should finish ahead of the Blue Jays, but the Sox are terribly combustible. Whoever finishes third is going to be closer to #2 than the second-place finisher will be to the Yanks ...
Mat Olkin: New York Yankees: Men on base all over the place. Boston Red Sox: Pedro Martinez is mostly healthy, good enough to give the A's a run for the wild card.
Greg Spira: The AL East is pretty clear. ... Anybody who doesn't pick the Yankees to win this division has more than just a screw loose. The Yankees have a bigger edge going into 2002 than they've had in any season since the early 1960s, thanks to the offseason overhaul of their offense. Assuming at least some of their players stay healthy, the Red Sox are clearly the second most talented team in the division, and while they won't threaten the Yankees they could contend for the wild card if Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez are healthy all season. ...
Michael Wolverton: The easiest division to call. The Yankees will shock the baseball world by winning the division handily. The Red Sox have second pretty much locked up; whether they contend for the wild card will depend not so much on the health of Pedro Martinez, but on how well Tony Cloninger is able to fill Joe Kerrigan's shoes as pitching coach. Martinez can be a great pitcher with any coach, but John Burkett can't, Dustin Hermanson can't, and Darren Oliver certainly can't.
Derek Zumsteg: Boring. The Yankees aren't going to reel off more than 100 wins as has been predicted in some circles, and they're finally going to face some injuries that will hurt them, but they've got the depth and adaptability to fix issues as they go. The Red Sox won't put together a good enough staff and lineup to chase the Yankees down, but should be within five games at season's end.
American League Central
First Second
Third Fourth Fifth
Jeff Bower White Sox
Twins Cleveland Royals Tigers
Clay Davenport White Sox Cleveland
Twins Tigers Royals
Jeff Hildebrand White Sox Twins
Cleveland Tigers Royals
Gary Huckabay White Sox Twins
Cleveland Tigers Royals
Rany Jazayerli White Sox Twins
Cleveland Tigers Royals
Chris Kahrl Twins
White Sox Cleveland Royals Tigers
Mat Olkin Twins
White Sox Cleveland Tigers Royals
Doug Pappas White Sox
Twins Cleveland Tigers Royals
Dave Pease White Sox
Twins Cleveland Tigers Royals
Joe Sheehan White Sox
Cleveland Twins Tigers Royals
Greg Spira White Sox
Twins Cleveland Tigers Royals
Michael Wolverton White Sox Cleveland Twins
Tigers Royals
Keith Woolner White Sox Twins
Cleveland Royals Tigers
Derek Zumsteg Twins
White Sox Cleveland Tigers Royals
Consensus White Sox
Twins Cleveland Tigers Royals
American League West
First Second
Third Fourth
Jeff Bower Athletics
Mariners Rangers Angels
Clay Davenport Athletics Mariners
Rangers Angels
Jeff Hildebrand Athletics Mariners
Rangers Angels
Gary Huckabay Athletics Mariners
Rangers Angels
Rany Jazayerli Mariners Athletics
Rangers Angels
Chris Kahrl Athletics
Mariners Rangers Angels
Mat Olkin Mariners
Athletics Rangers Angels
Doug Pappas Athletics
Mariners Rangers Angels
Dave Pease Athletics
Mariners Rangers Angels
Joe Sheehan Mariners
Rangers Athletics Angels
Greg Spira Mariners
Athletics Rangers Angels
Michael Wolverton Athletics Mariners Rangers
Angels
Keith Woolner Mariners Athletics
Rangers Angels
Derek Zumsteg Athletics Mariners
Rangers Angels
Consensus Athletics
Mariners Rangers Angels
National
League Predictions
BaseballProspectus.com
Link also includes extensive comments
National League East
First Second
Third Fourth Fifth
Jeff Bower Atlanta
Marlins Mets Phillies Expos
Clay Davenport Atlanta Mets
Phillies Marlins Expos
Jeff Hildebrand Atlanta Phillies
Mets Marlins Expos
Gary Huckabay Atlanta
Marlins Mets Phillies Expos
Rany Jazayerli Atlanta Phillies
Mets Marlins Expos
Chris Kahrl Atlanta
Phillies Mets Marlins Expos
Mat Olkin Atlanta
Mets Phillies Marlins Expos
Doug Pappas Atlanta
Mets Phillies Marlins Expos
Dave Pease Atlanta
Phillies Mets Marlins Expos
Joe Sheehan Atlanta
Marlins Phillies Expos Mets
Greg Spira Atlanta
Mets Phillies Marlins Expos
Michael Wolverton Atlanta Marlins
Mets Phillies Expos
Keith Woolner Atlanta
Marlins Mets Phillies Expos
Derek Zumsteg Phillies Atlanta
Mets Marlins Expos
Consensus Atlanta
Mets tie w/Phillies Marlins Expos
National League Central
First Second
Third Fourth Fifth
Sixth
Jeff Bower Cardinals
Astros Reds Cubs
Pirates Brewers
Clay Davenport Astros Cubs
Cardinals Brewers/Pirates Reds
Jeff Hildebrand Astros Cardinals
Cubs Reds Brewers Pirates
Gary Huckabay Cubs
Astros Cardinals Reds Brewers Pirates
Rany Jazayerli Astros Cubs
Cardinals Reds Brewers Pirates
Chris Kahrl Astros
Cubs Cardinals Reds
Brewers Pirates
Mat Olkin Astros
Cardinals Cubs Reds
Brewers Pirates
Doug Pappas Astros
Cardinals Cubs Reds
Brewers Pirates
Dave Pease Astros
Cardinals Cubs Reds
Brewers Pirates
Joe Sheehan Cardinals Astros
Cubs Reds Pirates Brewers
Greg Spira Astros
Cardinals Cubs Reds
Brewers Pirates
Michael Wolverton Astros Cardinals Cubs
Reds Brewers Pirates
Keith Woolner Cubs
Astros Reds Cardinals Pirates Brewers
Derek Zumsteg Cardinals Astros
Cubs Reds Pirates Brewers
Consensus Astros
Cardinals Cubs Reds
Brewers Pirates
National League East
First
Second
Third
Fourth Fifth
Jeff Bower Diamondbacks Giants
Padres Rockies
Dodgers
Clay Davenport Giants
Diamondbacks Padres Dodgers
Rockies
Jeff Hildebrand Giants
Rockies Diamondbacks Padres
Dodgers
Gary Huckabay Padres
Diamondbacks Rockies Giants
Dodgers
Rany Jazayerli Padres
Giants Rockies
Diamondbacks Dodgers
Chris Kahrl Padres
Diamondbacks Giants Dodgers
Rockies
Mat Olkin Diamondbacks Giants
Padres Dodgers
Rockies
Doug Pappas Giants
Padres Diamondbacks Rockies
Dodgers
Dave Pease Padres
Giants Diamondbacks Rockies
Dodgers
Joe Sheehan Padres
Diamondbacks Rockies Giants
Dodgers
Greg Spira Rockies
Giants Diamondbacks Padres
Dodgers
Michael Wolverton Giants Rockies
Diamondbacks Padres Dodgers
Keith Woolner Padres
Giants Diamondbacks Dodgers
Rockies
Derek Zumsteg Giants
Rockies Diamondbacks Padres
Dodgers
Consensus Giants
Padres Diamondbacks Rockies
Dodgers
San Francisco Chronicle Henry Schulman
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Seattle New York St. Louis Arizona
Boston Chicago Oakland Atlanta Houston San Francisco
Toronto Cleveland Anaheim Florida Chicago Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Detroit Texas Philadelphia Cincinnati San Diego
Baltimore Kansas City Montreal Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
Crystal
ball sees Giants, A's finishing 2nd
Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York
Chicago Seattle
Atlanta St. Louis
Arizona
Boston
Cleveland Oakland New
York Chicago
San Francisco
Toronto Minnesota
Anaheim Philadelphia
Houston Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit
Texas
Florida Cincinnati San
Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas
City
Montreal Milwaukee
Colorado
Pittsburgh
March 31, 2002
These are the new Red Sox. Pedro and Nomar are still there -- and they have been pronounced healthy, along with Jason Varitek -- but the owners are new, the top executives in the front office are new and the manager is new. Gone is Dan Duquette, the general manager, who three Cy Young awards ago pronounced Roger Clemens in the ''twilight of his career'' and who alienated Mo Vaughn, too. Gone is Joe Kerrigan, the novice manager Duquette appointed last August; Kerrigan couldn't figure out how to overcome adversity, as his predecessor, Jimy Williams, had done. Grady Little is the new manager, a major league rookie after trying out in the minors for 16 years. He comes highly recommended. Rickey Henderson, at 43, is a new player, the holder of three career records: stolen bases, runs scored and walks.
Key to season: The amount of help Burkett and Hermanson, among others, give Pedro Martínez in the starting rotation will determine how far the new Red Sox go.
New York
Boston
ROOKIE TO WATCH: RH Juan Pena.
STRENGTHS: Improved speed with the addition of Damon and Henderson; healthier and younger starting rotation; Pedro Martinez, the game's best pitcher when healthy; stronger middle of the lineup; double-play combination.
WEAKNESSES: Defense at the infield corners; lack of lefty starter, which will hurt against New York, Seattle and Oakland; absence of proven No. 2 starter.
OUTLOOK: As goes Pedro, so go the Red Sox. The team is far healthier than the end of last season, but if Martinez is injured, so too are any chances the Sox have of making the post-season.
Toronto
Baltimore
Tampa Bay
Minnesota
Cleveland
Chicago
Detroit
Kansas City
Seattle
Oakland
Anaheim
Texas
Strengths: With new ownership and a new manager, the Red Sox are sporting a more positive attitude. Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez are superstars who, if they remain sound, make the Red Sox contenders. OF Damon and Henderson add a dose of speed.
Weaknesses: As great as Martinez is, new Manager Grady Little still has to send four pitchers to the mound between his starts. Burkett, who will open the season on the disabled list, and Hermanson were brought in, but other teams in the division are hardly quaking. Garciaparra must prove he's healthy and durable after playing only 21 games last season because of a torn wrist tendon.
Outlook: The Red Sox have a shot at the wild card if Martinez, Garciaparra and Ramirez remain injury-free.
AL
East AL Central AL
West NL East
NL Central NL West
New York
Chicago Seattle
Atlanta St. Louis
Arizona
Boston
Minnesota Oakland New
York Houston
San Francisco
Toronto Cleveland
Anaheim Philadelphia
Chicago Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit
Texas
Florida Pittsburgh San
Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas
City
Montreal Milwaukee
Colorado
Cincinnati
Baltimore Sun Baseball Reporters Predictions
Joe Christensen
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Seattle New York St. Louis San Francisco
Boston Chicago Oakland* Atlanta Houston* Arizona
Toronto Cleveland Anaheim Philadelphia Chicago Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Texas Florida Cincinnati San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City Montreal Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
World Series: Oakland over St. Louis
Roch Kubatko
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Chicago Seattle Atlanta St. Louis Arizona
Boston Cleveland Oakland* New York* Chicago San Francisco
Toronto Minnesota Texas Florida Houston Los Angeles
Baltimore Kansas City Anaheim Philadelphia Cincinnati Colorado
Tampa Bay Detroit Montreal Milwaukee San Diego
Pittsburgh
World Series: New York Yankees over St. Louis
Peter Schmuck
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Cleveland Seattle Atlanta St. Louis San Francisco
Boston Minnesota Texas* New York* Chicago Arizona
Toronto Chicago Oakland Florida Houston Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Anaheim Montreal Cincinnati San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City Philadelphia Pittsburgh Colorado
Milwaukee
World Series: St. Louis over New York Yankees
American
League East Capsules
Mitch Rubin, Washington Post
Boston Red Sox
For the Defense: After a season in which star SS Nomar Garciaparra played only 21 games and emerging star C Jason Varitek only 51, simply getting them back and healthy will dramatically improve the defense. With Garciaparra's wrist fully healed, he can once again dazzle defensively and the acquisition of SS-turned-2B Rey Sanchez will quickly enable Boston fans to forget the less-than-dynamite middle infield combo of Mike Lansing-Jose Offerman. The free agent signing of Johnny Damon dramatically improves the outfield in a couple of ways. CF Damon is an outstanding fielder despite his average arm, and it allows Trot Nixon to return to right field, where he is much more comfortable and has played very well in the past.
Bottom Line: New owner. New GM. New manager. The Red Sox have undergone a personality makeover this offseason. Will it translate to a clubhouse that was ready to explode late in 2001? Little, who is universally portrayed as a players' coach, takes over a team that can hit top to bottom, but still has pitching problems -- after its number one starter, Pedro Martinez (7-3, 2.39). They signed RHP John Burkett from the Braves (12-12, 3.04) and traded for Cardinals RHP Dustin Hermanson (14-13, 4.45). Burkett, who will start the season on the DL because of shoulder inflammation, is 32-35 in the AL (109-84 in the NL) and Hermanson is a .500 pitcher (61-61). Derek Lowe (5-10, 3.53) and Frank Castillo (10-9, 4.21) fill out a rotation that -- for the 84th consecutive year -- Boston fans hope will bring them a World Series championship.
Chicago
Tribune -- American League Picks
and
Chicago
Tribune -- National League Picks
Rick Morrissey, Phil Rogers, Paul
Sullivan, Teddy Greenstein
RM
PR
PS TG
AL East
Yankees Yankees Yankees
Yankees
AL Central
Cleveland Minnesota
Chicago Chicago
AL
West
Oakland
Oakland
Seattle Seattle
AL Wild Card
Seattle
Seattle Boston
Boston
NL
East
Mets
Atlanta
Atlanta Atlanta
NL Central St.
Louis St. Louis St.
Louis Houston
NL
West
Arizona San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco
NL Wild Card
Atlanta
Houston
Arizona Mets
AL Pennant
Yankees
Oakland
Seattle Yankees
NL Pennant St.
Louis Atlanta San
Francisco St. Louis
World Series
Yankees
Atlanta
Seattle Yankees
AL
MVP
ARodriguez MOrdonez MOrdonez
Garciaparra
NL
MVP
THelton GSheffield CJones
GSheffield
AL Cy Young PMartinez
MMussina PMartinez
MMussina
NL Cy Young RJohnson
RJohnson KWood
TGlavine
AL Rookie
CPena HBlalock
NJohnson CPena
NL Rookie
MPrior CHernandez JBeckett
JBeckett
AL Manager JTorre
RGardenhire LPinella GLittle
NL Manager TLaRussa
FRobinson DBaker
JTorborg
AL Batting Champ PKonerko ISuzuki
ISuzuki MSweeney
NL Batting Champ CJones
THelton BAbreu
LGonzalez
Cleveland
Plain Dealer Staff Predictions
Roger Brown, Burt Graeff, Paul
Hoynes, Bill Livingston, Dennis Manoloff, Bud Shaw
RB BG PH BL DM BS AL East Yankees Yankees Yankees Yankees Yankees Yankees AL Central Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago Chicago AL West Texas Oakland Seattle Seattle Oakland Oakland AL Wild Card Seattle Seattle Oakland Boston Boston Seattle NL East Mets Atlanta Mets Mets Atlanta Atlanta NL Central St. Louis St. Louis Houston St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis NL West Los Angeles San Francisco Arizona Arizona San Francisco Arizona NL Wild Card San Francisco Arizona St. Louis Atlanta Cubs Mets AL Pennant Yankees Yankees Seattle Yankees Oakland Yankees NL Pennant Mets St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis San Francisco Arizona World Series Mets Yankees Seattle Yankees San Francisco Yankees AL MVP ARodriguez JGiambi ARodriguez JGiambi MRamirez ISuzuki NL MVP MPiazza APujols SSosa SSosa MPiazza GSheffield AL Cy Young MMussina RClemens MMussina THudson MMulder MMussina NL Cy Young MMorris RJohnson CSchilling CSchilling ROswalt CSchilling AL Manager JNarron JManuel GLittle GLittle GLittle JManuel NL Manager JTracy TLaRussa TLaRussa DBaylor DBaylor DBaker
The upside: Despite turmoil and injuries to Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra, the Red Sox were leading the wild-card race into August last season. This year, there is calm, not chaos, in the clubhouse and Martinez and Garciaparra are healthy.
The downside: It's tough to overcome the Yanks in the AL East with John Burkett and Dustin Hermanson as your No. 2 and 3 starters.
Need a big year from: Martinez. If he's Pedro, he'll win the Cy Young and the Red Sox will contend. If he goes down, the Red Sox are done.
American
League and National
League
Marty Noble, Newsday
American League National League
East
Central
West
East
Central West
New York
Chicago
Seattle
Atlanta St.
Louis San Francisco
Boston
Minnesota Oakland New
York Houston
Arizona
Toronto Cleveland
Anaheim Florida
Chicago Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Kansas City Texas
Philadelphia Cincinnati San Diego
Baltimore Detroit
Montreal
Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
Red Sox: Even with all the change - ownership, the general manager, the manager, Johnny Damon, Tony Clark, John Burkett, Dustin Hermanson, Rickey Henderson, Jason Varitek healthy again and no more Coney, Sabes or Carl Everett - it's the same for the Sox. Nomar Garciaparra and Pedro Martinez are the pivotal players.
Martinez can be the best pitcher in the game. But the Sox don't have a legit No. 2. Burkett and Hermanson are 3's, maybe. Frank Castillo is a No. 5, Derek Lowe a displaced reliever and Tim Wakefield an unwanted option.
With No. 3 hitter Garciaparra and No. 4 Manny Ramirez and Damon leading off - when Henderson doesn't - teammates will pay to bat No. 2. First baseman Clark isn't much protection for Ramirez unless he regains his 1997-99 form.
Baseball
Preview
Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
American League National League
East
Central
West
East
Central West
New York Minnesota Oakland
New York St.
Louis San Francisco
Toronto Cleveland
Seattle Atlanta
Chicago Arizona
Boston Chicago
Texas Philadelphia Houston
Los Angeles
Baltimore Detroit Anaheim Florida
Cincinnati San Diego
Tampa Bay Kansas City
Montreal
Milwaukee Colorado
Pittsburgh
Red Sox have new ownership, a new general manager and a new manager but face the same old question: Can they overtake the Yankees? Doubtful. And that will change to "impossible" if Martinez, who has spent time on the disabled list in each of the past three seasons, goes down again. ... Primarily because Garciaparra hurt his wrist and had only 83 at-bats, they were 15-23 against left-handed starters. ... Ramirez hit just .259 after the All-Star break. ... Damon, who had a subpar season in Oakland, was a solid offensive performer with Kansas City before going to the Athletics. He'll have Rickey Henderson to teach him about being a leadoff hitter.
The
Guy in the Stand's Predictions
Steve Ziants, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
AL East: New York Yankees -- Repeat in the
AL East and return to the World Series.
AL Central: Chicago White Sox
AL West: Oakland Athletics
AL wild card: Seattle Mariners -- They not only won't win 116 games, they
won't win 100. But they'll win enough to beat out Boston.
NL East: Atlanta Braves
NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals -- Look for them to be playing a
home-and-home with the Yankees in October.
NL West: Arizona Diamondbacks
NL wild card: Houston Astros
Baseball
Preview
John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle
Outlook: The team was sold. GM Dan Duquette was fired. Mike Port became the interim GM. Manager Joe Kerrigan was fired. Mike Cubbage became the interim manager. Little replaced Cubbage. Little dumped pitching coach Ralph Treuel and hired Tony Cloninger. And it all happened in one lively spring training. The following lineup includes Henderson, but he might start between two and four games a week, usually against lefties. When he's out, Brian Daubach will be the DH.
March 30, 2002
Red
Sox Preview
Art Martone, Providence Journal
Where will they finish? Second.
Why second? Why not first? I just think the Yankees are too strong. Their starting rotation, top to bottom, might be the best in baseball. Their closer is the best in baseball. They added one of baseball's best hitters in Jason Giambi ...
Is it possible for the Sox to beat out the Yankees? Oh, sure. New York's rotation is pretty long in the tooth, and breakdowns by one or more of their key people aren't out of the question. ... Plus, the Yanks are overdue for the type of catastrophic-injury lightning bolt that struck the Sox three times last year.
Forget the division. What about the wild-card? I think the Sox will be in the thick of the wild-card race. Their main competition figures to come from the A.L. West, either Seattle or Oakland.
What are the Sox' strengths? One of the best outfields in baseball. Dramatically improved defense up the middle. What should be a solid if unspectacular starting rotation. A deep bullpen. They have a little bit of speed. The Garciaparra-Ramirez-Clark-Nixon middle of the order can carry the offense, particularly with Damon (and, against lefties, Henderson) setting the table.
What are their weaknesses? If Pedro Martinez isn't Pedro Martinez, their rotation goes from being a strength to something of a neutral factor . . . or worse, if, as last year, the lack of innings-eaters puts too much stress on the bullpen. (It's hoped, of course, that Lowe and Hermanson will go deeper into games than the pitchers they replaced, Cone and Nomo. That may also depend on managerial philosophy, and we don't yet know how quick Grady Little's hook will be.)
They figure to be below-average offensively at second base, no matter what, and the best they can probably hope for at third base is league-average production.
Are the weaknesses enough to sink them? A non-Pedro starting rotation might, but they can overcome the rest of it.
What's the highest number of games this team can win? As I wrote a few weeks ago, a quick and superficial look at the STATS projections has them at 103-59. That's just too high, considering the weaknesses we just discussed; 100-win teams generally don't have that many question marks. I would think mid-90s is more realistic as an upper number.
Will it be enough? Hey, mid-90s is pretty good. It probably won't be good enough to beat the Yankees, but it might be good enough for the wild-card.
Dan
McLaughlin, Baseball Crank
Providence Journal
American League National League
East
Central
West
East
Central West
New York
Chicago
Seattle
Atlanta St.
Louis Arizona
Boston
Minnesota Oakland New
York Houston
Colorado
Toronto Cleveland
Texas Philadelphia Chicago
San Francisco
Tampa Bay Kansas City
Anaheim Florida
Cincinnati San Diego
Baltimore Detroit
Montreal
Milwaukee Los Angeles
Pittsburgh
Includes a TON of comments:
Another boring, same-as-last-year's-predictions division. I've been through the Yanks and Sox already; the return (or not) of Pedro remains the biggest question mark in the game. One interesting subplot will be whether the Yankees have the patience to break in Nick Johnson if he doesn't come roaring out of the gate the way Soriano did last season; the answer, like the treatment of Ted Lilly, will say a lot about the sustainabilty of the current dynasty.
The Postseason: I'm not going to try predicting the postseason in March again, except to say that it's been nearly 40 years since the fifth and most recent October meeting of baseball's two most successful postseason franchises. The Cards lead the Yankees 3-2, if you're keeping score. My pick, assuming there's a postseason instead of a strike: the Yankees beat the Cards. Hey, I said they were the preseason favorite. I'll be happy to be proven wrong.
USA TODAY writers make their American League picks
East Central West Wild card ALCS NLCS World Series Mel Antonen Yankees Twins Mariners Athletics Yankees Cardinals Yankees Rod Beaton Yankees Twins Athletics Mariners Athletics Atlanta Athletics Hal Bodley Yankees Twins Mariners Athletics Yankees Cardinals Yankees Steve Gardner Yankees White Sox Mariners Athletics Yankees Astros Yankees Chuck Johnson Yankees White Sox Mariners Red Sox Yankees Cardinals Cardinals
MVP Cy Young Rookie Manager Mel Antonen Jason Giambi Mark Mulder Hank Blalock, Tex Ron Gardenhire, Twins Rod Beaton Alex Rodriguez Pedro Martinez Hank Blalock, Tex Ron Gardenhire, Twins Hal Bodley Jason Giambi Mark Mulder Eric Hinske, Tor Ron Gardenhire, Twins Steve Gardner Jason Giambi Tim Hudson Hank Blalock, Tex Jerry Manuel, White Sox Chuck Johnson Alex Rodriguez Mike Mussina Carlos Pena, A's Jerry Manuel, White Sox
USA TODAY writers make their National League picks
East Central West Wild card NLCS ALCS World Series Mel Antonen Atlanta Cardinals Diamondbacks Dodgers Cardinals Yankees Yankees Rod Beaton Atlanta Astros Giants Mets Atlanta Athletics Athletics Hal Bodley Atlanta Cardinals Diamondbacks Phillies Cardinals Yankees Yankees Steve Gardner Atlanta Astros Diamondbacks Cardinals Astros Yankees Yankees Chuck Johnson Mets Cardinals Giants Atlanta Cardinals Yankees Cardinals
MVP Cy Young Rookie Manager Mel Antonen Luis Gonzalez Matt Morris Sean Burroughs, SD Tony LaRussa, StL Rod Beaton Gary Sheffield Randy Johnson Sean Burroughs, SD Jimy Williams, Astros Hal Bodley Sammy Sosa Curt Schilling Josh Beckett, Marlins Jeff Torborg, Marlins Steve Gardner Sammy Sosa Curt Schilling Morgan Ensberg, Astros Jimy Williams, Astros Chuck Johnson Sammy Sosa Randy Johnson Josh Beckett, Marlins Bobby Valentine, Mets
Staff
predictions
SportsLine.com
Scott Miller is SportsLine.com's senior baseball writer. Charlie McCarthy is SportsLine.com's senior baseball producer. Adam Reich is SportsLine.com's baseball production manager. Eric Mack is one of SportsLine.com's newsroom editors. Tristan Cockcroft is one of SportsLine.com's Fantasy Baseball writers.
American League
* - wild card; bold - pennant winner
AL East
Miller McCarthy
Reich
Mack Cockcroft
Yankees
Yankees Yankees
Yankees Yankees
Red Sox Red Sox* Red
Sox* Red Sox* Red Sox
Blue
Jays Devil Rays Blue Jays Blue Jays Blue
Jays
Devil
Rays Orioles Devil Rays
Orioles Orioles
Orioles Blue Jays Orioles
Devil Rays Devil Rays
AL Central
Miller McCarthy
Reich
Mack Cockcroft
Twins
Twins White Sox
Twins Twins
Cleveland
White Sox Twins Cleveland Cleveland
White
Sox Cleveland Cleveland White Sox
White Sox
Royals Royals
Royals Royals Royals
Tigers Tigers
Tigers Tigers Tigers
AL West
Miller McCarthy
Reich
Mack Cockcroft
Mariners
Athletics Mariners Athletics Mariners
Athletics* Mariners Athletics
Rangers Athletics*
Angels Angels
Rangers Mariners Angels
Rangers Rangers
Angels Angels
Rangers
AL Awards Miller McCarthy Reich Mack Cockcroft MVP JGiambi Garciaparra DJeter MRamirez DJeter Cy Young MMussina MMussina PMartinez THudson MMussina Rookie CPena HBlalock HBlalock Cuddyer HBlalock Manager Gardenhire Howe Gardenhire Gardenhire Gardenhire Comeback Garciaparra FThomas FThomas Garciaparra PMartinez Bust CEverett CHPark RWhite RSierra CHPark HR Champ CDelgado MRamirez MRamirez ARodriguez CDelgado
National League * - wild card; bold - pennant winner
NL East Miller McCarthy Reich Mack Cockcroft
Atlanta Mets Mets Atlanta Atlanta
Mets Marlins Atlanta Mets* Mets
Phillies Atlanta Marlins Marlins Marlins
Marlins Phillies Phillies Phillies Phillies
Expos Expos Expos Expos Expos
NL Central Miller McCarthy Reich Mack Cockcroft
Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals
Astros* Cubs* Astros Astros Astros
Cubs Astros Cubs Cubs Cubs
Brewers Reds Brewers Reds Reds
Reds Brewers Reds Brewers Brewers
Pirates Pirates Pirates Pirates Pirates
NL West Miller McCarthy Reich Mack Cockcroft
D-Backs D-Backs Giants D-Backs D-Backs
Giants Giants D-Backs* Giants Giants*
Padres Padres Dodgers Dodgers Dodgers
Dodgers Dodgers Rockies Padres Padres
Rockies Rockies Padres Rockies Rockies
NL Awards Miller McCarthy Reich Mack Cockcroft MVP Bonds Sosa Bonds Piazza LGonzalez Cy Young Morris RJohnson RJohnson Morris RJohnson Rookie Burroughs Burroughs Burroughs Beckett Beckett Manager LaRussa Torborg Baker Cox Torborg Comeback MVaughn MVaughn MVaughn MVaughn MVaughn Bust Canseco Hampton Ishii Burroughs Mesa HR Champ Sosa Sosa Sosa Sosa Sosa
World Series Miller McCarthy Reich Mack Cockcroft
Yankees Red Sox Cardinals Mets Yankees
Fearless
predictions
Sports Illustrated
SI scribes take a stab at what the 2002 season has in store It's never too early for predictions. Sports Illustrated's three wise men -- Tom Verducci, Jeff Pearlman and Stephen Cannella -- step up to the plate and select their studs and few duds for the upcoming season.
Tom Verducci Stephen Cannella Jeff Pearlman
AL MVP Jason Giambi Jason Giambi Eric Chavez
NL MVP Gary Sheffield Chipper Jones Ryan Klesko
AL Cy Young Barry Zito Mark Mulder Pedro Martinez
NL Cy Young Matt Morris Matt Morris Shawn Estes
AL Rookie Jon Rauch Carlos Pena Carlos Pena
NL Rookie Josh Beckett Sean Burroughs Josh Beckett
AL HR Leader Alex Rodriguez Alex Rodriguez Troy Glaus
NL HR Leader Ken Griffey Jr. Sammy Sosa Gary Sheffield
AL Batting Ichiro Suzuki Nomar Garciaparra Ichiro Suzuki
NL Batting Todd Helton Todd Helton Jose Vidro
AL Wins Mike Mussina Freddy Garcia Tim Hudson
NL Wins Russ Ortiz Curt Schilling Matt Morris
AL Comeback Frank Thomas Darin Erstad Ryan Rupe
NL Comeback Mike Lieberthal Kevin Millwood Jeffrey Hammonds
AL Overrated Raul Mondesi Tony Batista Carlos Delgado
NL Overrated Jason Kendall Jason Kendall Craig Biggio
AL Underrated Mike Sweeney Keith Foulke Jeff Conine
NL Underrated Juan Pierre Fernando Vina Brian Giles
AL Breakout Toby Hall Eric Chavez David Ortiz
NL Breakout J.D. Drew Adrian Beltre Adam Dunn
AL Surprise Angels Angels Tigers
NL Surprise Marlins Marlins Padres
AL Disappointing Cleveland Cleveland White Sox
NL Disappointing Mets Mets Diamondbacks
AL Manager Mike Scioscia Ron Gardenhire Ron Gardenhire
NL Manager Bruce Bochy Jim Tracy Jim Tracy
First AL
Manager Fired Jerry Narron Buck Martinez Tony Muser
First NL
Manager Fired Bob Boone Lloyd McClendon Davey Lopes
AL Divisions NYY, CWS, Sea NYY, Min, Sea NYY, Min, Oak NL Divisions Atl, StL, Arz Phi, StL, Arz NYM, StL, LAD AL Wild Card A's A's Angels NL Wild Card Astros Atlanta Atlanta ALCS NYY over CWS NYY over Sea Min over Oak NLCS StL over Hou StL over Arz NYM over Atl World Series NYY over StL NYY over StL Min over NYM
Opening
Day Here We Come
Peter Gammons, espn.com
Boston There is so much that is better about this team, from ownership's respect for the fans to an attempt to bring the business and baseball operations past the Eisenhower Era.
Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon and Manny Ramirez is a dynamite outfield. Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Varitek and Tony Clark were healthy this spring. They're going to score runs, but everything comes down to the health of the pitching, starting with Pedro Martinez. In his last start Wednesday, he dropped down and found his slingshot, low three-quarter arm slot and regained the movement on his fastball. But there is a tear in that shoulder. Thus, can he stay healthy? No one knows.
Derek Lowe has grown up and can be the No. 2 starter, but John Burkett's admission that the stiffness in his right shoulder is the worst he's had in the spring which isn't encouraging. And while Dustin Hermanson has the heart, there are doubts in Fenway, and there are concerns about Ugueth Urbina's shoulder holding up, with no closer behind him. With no minor-league system to speak of and a brutal roster for the $110 million price, they are going to have a tough time going out and making deals, although youngster Juan Pena may be their fourth starter, quickly.
Here are the predictions, which will be worthless by Tuesday night:
AL East AL Central AL West NL East NL Central NL West
New York Minnesota Seattle Atlanta St. Louis San Francisco
Boston Cleveland Oakland New York Houston Arizona
Toronto Chicago Anaheim Philadelphia Chicago Colorado
Baltimore Detroit Texas Florida Cincinnati Los Angeles
Tampa Bay Kansas City Montreal Pittsburgh San Diego
Milwaukee
Best Divisions: AL West and NL Central
Most Valuable Players: Magglio Ordonez Sammy Sosa Cy Young Awards: Tim Hudson Roy Oswalt Rookie of the Year Nick Johnson Sean Burroughs
Things we love in spring training
...
5. Aaron Boone, for being Aaron Boone. ...
7. David Segui's fingernails. ...
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