Rotostyles 2006 predictions

Welcome to the rotostyles blog.

I'm going to start with general baseball predictions, as that as some bearing on fantasy. Also I love to be right.

AL EAST: NYY - the all nursing home team takes the cake behind good pitching (watch for a Mussina resurgance) and an open wallet. They will purchase hole-fillers as needed. Toronto is solid, but will finish behind Boston, followed by Baltimore and then the pathetic pitching Devil Rays.

AL CENTRAL: CWS - they are strong. Very well rounded. The Indians have the offense and not the staff, the Twins have the staff and not the offense. They finish 2-3 and both miss the playoffs. Detroit gets fourth and Kansas City stinks it up and finishes last.

AL WEST: OAK - only Zito remains from the old big three, but Harden, Haren, Blanton and Loiza makes for a solid rotation. They win it with the Los Angelos Angels of Anaheim (is that their name?) nipping at their heels. An exciting division that also produces the wild card. Seattle and Texas both have big holes.

AL Awards -
MVP: Vladdy carries the Angels on his back, sneaks them into the playoffs, and takes the MVP
CY: Rich Harden shows you how good he really is, beats out Johan
ROY: Ian Kinsler puts up excellent numbers and beats out Kenji Johjima
Most Wins: Mussina wins 20 for the first time in his career tying Johan at 21
Most Saves: In order: Rivera, Street, K-Rod, Ryan and Wickman
Most Hr's: Tex just tops Papi and A-Rod.
Most Sb's: In order: Figgins, Crawford, Gathright, and Podsednick
Batting Title: Ichiro stops trying to hit so many hr's and hits .345, just over A-Rod and VMart.

NL EAST: ATL - They could sign my grandma and take this division. The Phillies and Mets have a hell of a battle for second place and the wild card, but when Houston slips in and takes it again, who ultimately cares who is the runner-up to the Braves is. (It's the Mets but it doesn't matter.)

NL CENTRAL: STL, HOU, MLW, CHN, CIN, PIT. The Brew crew slowly creeping up this division is the only thing that makes it interesting. Maybe the Cards can stop embarrassing themselves in the playoffs.

NL WEST: This division is horrible. The Giants will win it with a near .500 record, followed by SD, LA, ARZ, and COL. Eww.

NL Awards -
MVP: Andruw proves it was no fluke. Takes home the hardware.
CY: Oswalt wins 20 again, finally gets his due.
ROY: Matt Cain helps the Giants into the playoffs and edges out Prince Fielder.
Most Wins: Oswalt, Timmy Hudson, and Carpenter all get 20 on the nose.
Most Saves: In order: Izzy, Lidge, Wagner, Turnbow, Cordero and Valverde
Most Hr's: Andruw - again.
Most Sb's: In order: Reyes, Pierre, then alsorans Tavares, Rickie Weeks and Freel.
Batting Title: Pujols handily over D. Lee and D. Wright.

AS FOR THE ROTOSTYLES Players:

Biggest Profits:
C - Victor Martinez: you pay the most and he still nets biggest profit. This guy is sick.
1B - Ryan Howard, Justin Morneau and Dan Johnson
2B - Kinsler and Weeks spark the youth movement
3B - Wright is expensive, Mora is moderate, and Andy Marte and Atkins are cheap.
SS - Bobby Crosby and JJ Hardy make you look smart.
OF - Gomes, Lane, DeJesus, and Milton Bradley all earn big profits
SP - Harden, Rodrigo Lopez, Haren, Cain, Gavin Floyd, and Mussina.
RP - Burgos holds the job all year, Linebrink, Borowski, and Rafael Soriano.

Best Sleepers: Gomes, Lane, DeJesus, Gavin Floyd, Adam Laroche, Garrett Atkins, Mark Ellis, Fernando Cabrera, and Ian Kinsler.

The Busts: Piazza, Erstad, Polanco, Brian Roberts, Beltre - again, Glaus, Furcal, Rowand, Carlos Lee, Damon, Edmonds, Garland, Lackey, Millwood, Eaton, Mulder, Guardado, Cordero, Benitez, and Flash.