32 bold predictions revisited:
AL North
Prediction: The Detroit Tigers come in last place for the 6th straight season.
Result: Winner! Detroit was 15 games back of 3rd as of today’s PM game.
Prediction: Kevin Tracy and his .266 average of last season are missed more than anyone would think is possible.
Result: Push. While New York’s offensive numbers were down slightly (28 runs less) it wasn’t enough to say Tracy was the cause.
Prediction: *Darin Kingland makes a serious run at the single season RBI record.
Result: Loss. Kingland’s nerve damage in his forearm caused him to miss over 125 games. Look for him to be back in a big way for season 8.
Prediction: *The Iowa City Kaysons, the only AL team to beat KC in the playoffs, hit the 100 win mark for the second time in history, and once the playoffs come. . . .
Result: Loss. 91 wins wasn’t enough for Iowa to make the playoffs.
AL East:
Prediction: *The Chicago Lollygaggers ride their rookie owner to a success (gasp) possibly similar to the success rookie owner JohnDerasmo gave San Fran in season 1. . . .
Result: Loss: A 24 game drop in wins for the Chicago team was a large disappointment. However, they have the tools to turn it around in season 8.
Prediction: *The Charlotte knights, 81-81 in each of the last two seasons, finally win 82 games in a season, but don't stop there.
Result: Um, can you say dead on the money? The Knights had 82 wins at press time and are going to the playoffs!
Prediction: *The Atlanta City Slickers, whose AA, High A, Low A, nor Rookie teams have ever had a .500 season, finally snap that streak, as all the young talent starts contributing in some way.
Result: Loss. I am not really sure what RockyBill’s long term plan is or if he even has one.
Prediction: *The Hartford Defenders improve on their 62 wins of last season... and still come in last place in the division.
Result: Push. Didn’t improve their win total but they did finish last.
AL South
Prediction: *The Jacksonville Juggernauts, baseball's best young team (although Charlotte may steal that crown) avoid a season ending 7 game losing streak, get more than 95 wins, and have a better than .500 record in this years playoffs.
Result: Win. 97 wins and a head of steam into the playoffs makes Jax a very dangerous team.
Prediction: *The San Juan Sharks are grateful to escape the "kjmulli" era unharmed, and while don't seriously compete, play good enough ball to stay competitive while their new owner learns the ropes.
Result: Win. San Juan was very competitive and gave Jax a run for their money most of the season.
Prediction: *The Houston Aggies improve for the 3rd straight season, but still aren't close to a playoff team.
Result: Push. Same ole Houston.
Prediction: *The Little Rock Big Rocks continue to not matter in the ML, but that minor league system continues to get scary good. "Let KC win now while no one has a chance and then dominate seasons 10-20" looks like a pretty damn smart strategy from the outside.
Result: Win. Little Rock added Turner Ramsey with the 8th overall pick and pulled down a solid starter in Octavio Gonzo in the INT market.
AL West
Predictions:
*The Kansas City Shuffle do not make the World Series.
*The Fresno Fire Dragons finish within 10 games of KC for the division crown...
*In fact, no one has ever finished closer than 17 games out in the AL West, and Cheyenne will also finish closer than that this season...
*Scottsdale... won't.
Result: Three wins and a TBD. Shark’s best division will be sending three teams to the playoffs including the top two teams with the major’s best records. The Shuffle not making the World Series has yet to be determined.
NL North
Prediction: *Rochester, in a rebuilding year last year, entered the final game of the season with a shot at the outright division crown. This year, they'll have it clinched by then.
Result: Dead on.
Prediction: *St. Louis, last year's "next big thing," becomes so last year, and misses the playoffs.
Result: Winner, winner, chicken dinner. Sharkadamus is on fire.
Prediction: *The Vancouver Greens, who finished below .500 for the first time ever last year, do not make a habit of that aberration.
Result: Loss. Vancouver took a nose dive.
Prediction: *The Cleveland Steams have won 64, 66, & 68 games the last three seasons. This year, they decide to improve by more than 2 games. They finish 71-91.
Result: Winner. Cleveland had 74 wins at press time. Nice job.
NL East
Prediction: *The Pawtucket Polythene start looking forward to Texas in the NLCS around game 15.
Result: Win. Shark’s always chomping at the bit for some Texas. We’ll see if he gets his wish in the NLCS.
Prediction: *The Norfolk Nomads join the rank of "90 win teams to not win the division."
Result: Winner. 95 wins and no title, makes teams not named Cheyenne and Fresno sad.
Prediction: *The Huntington Cousins continue a proud tradition by finishing with a .420 winning percentage for a 3rd straight season.
Result: Win .447 is close enough.
Prediction: *The Scranton Dunder-Mifflins make up for last years debacle by winning more games, missing the playoffs again, and having a mid-teens draft pick instead of top 5.
Result: Loss. Scranton is picking 5th in season 8. Better luck next year.
NL South
Prediction: *The Texas Tittyballs join the Durham Savage (LR Big Rocks), Kansas City Shuffle & Pawtucket Polythene on the small list of teams to league the league in wins. And they do it convincingly. Bonus Prediction: Enrique Infante runs away with the ROY, and in a vote split halfway between "he deserves it" and "screw Chris Ramirez," he becomes the first non-Polythene to win the NL Cy Young.
Result: Loss. KC has most wins and it looks like Mr. Ramirez will be taking home another CY.
Prediction: *The Memphis Hound Dawgs become the second 90 win team ever to miss the playoffs.
Result: Push. Over 90 wins and a playoff birth.
Prediction: *The Richmond Moonshiners II do something unspectacular (it's late and my creative juices are dwindling!)
Result: Winner! I didn’t know Richmond was even in the league. (I’m half kidding).
Prediction: *The New Orleans Breeze can't possibly be as bad as they were last year...
Result: Winner. A 13 game turnaround. Nic job Vlady.
NL West
Prediction: *The Colorado Springs AltiDUDES edge out Pawtucket for a first round bye... then lose to Pawtucket in the NLDS.
Result: Loss. Pawtuckett wasn’t giving himself enough credit for once!
Prediction: *The San Francisco Sourdoughs become the first ever 100 win team to finish 2nd in the division.
Result: Way off. JohnD watches San Fran go down the drain as he plans for his wedding.
Prediction: *The Tuscon Turbocors decide midseason that their 6 year rebuilding plan is now a 7 year rebuilding plan.
Result: Winner. Tuscon’s motto: There’s no year like next year!
Prediction: *The Salem Dodgers just say F it, as long as CSP & Sf win, we're going to lose. We're following Little Rock's lead.
Result: Winner. #1 overall pick says you are right.
The final tally: 18-9-5
Looks like Shark knows his league. A couple of those pushes could come true in the playoffs which would make his record even better. Nice job Shark, I know we all enjoyed those predictions.
