2011 MLB Preseason Season/Award Predictions

(RSEN)  The offseason brought Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies to have the makings of an historic pitching staff with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt that reminds some of the Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, john Smoltz and Steve Avery staff in Atlanta back in the early 90s.  Is it enough for the fighting Phillies to get back to the World Series.  And if it’s not the Phils, then who will challenge their dominance in the senior circuit.

The Boston Red Sox looked up last year at the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, so the Bosox needed an impressive offseason.  By adding Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford to an already talented team the Redsox look to catch up to the Yanks and Rays.  Will the New York Yankees be able to recover from not getting Cliff Lee? Will they be able to pitch enough to unseat the Red Sox Nation.  How will the defending AL Champion Texas Rangers do being the hunted instead of the hunter this year?

Find out what my predictions are for the season including our preseason award predictions.

American League

East winner – Boston Red Sox

Central – Chicago White Sox

West – Texas Rangers

Wild Card – New York Yankees

Surprise team on the rise – Oakland A’s

Team picked to contend but will fall – Minnesota Twins

AL MVP- Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox

AL Cy Young – Jon Lester Boston Red Sox

AL Rookie of the Year – Jeremy Hellickson Tampa Bay Rays

National League

East – Philadelphia Phillies

Central – Milwaukee Brewers

West – Colorado Rockies

Wild Card – Atlanta Braves

Surprise Team on the rise – Florida Marlins

Team picked to contend but will fall – Cincinnati Reds

NL MVP – Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardinals

NL Cy Young – Roy Hallady, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee or Roy Oswalt, Philadelphia Phillies

NL Rookie of the Year – Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

World Series predication:   The Boston Red Sox will dominate the league and take home the title in 6 games against Atlanta Braves who will surprise the boys from the city of brotherly love in the NLCS.