On ESPN.com, the lead writers were all given the same questions about predictions for the 2010 MLB baseball season. I decided that I would give myself the same quiz and post my answers with an explanation. Enjoy!
Your fondest sports wish for 2010 is:
To see some resolution to the World Baseball Classic scheduling. I could go on and on about how much I support the idea of this tournament and how great it is for the game.
Why will this happen/not happen?
Baseball is a business and the owners have a lot invested in the players that take part in the tournament. Injury risk will always be the issue, but hopefully not the reason why it does or does not succeed.
Any sport, who is your biggest sleeper pick for 2010?
James Loney - He has the smoothe stroke and the body to be an impact player, we'll see if he figures it out.
Any sport, which player do you fear will let you down, but you feel compelled to keep drafting him anyway?
Alex Rios - He is the ultimate tease in my eyes and the eyes of a lot of scouts.
Which player has let you down one to many times and is now "dead to you?"
Jhonny Peralta
Who will be ...
... The second player taken in fantasy leagues? Hanley Ramirez.
... The first starting pitcher? Tim Lincecum
... The first closer? Jonathan Papelbon
... The second catcher? Victor Martinez
... The AL MVP? Joe Mauer
... The NL MVP? Albert Pujols - Durrr.. he's the best player in the game, and probably the best hitter of all time.
... The AL Cy Young? Zack Greinke.. he goes for the repeat! Last year was not a fluke!
... The NL Cy Young? Roy Halladay - And I don't think this one will be even close.
... The AL Rookie of the Year? Brett Wallace
... The NL Rookie of the Year? Stephen Strasburg
... The fantasy baseball MVP (most value for draft position)? Nick Johnson
... The highest-rated player on Player Rater? Albert Pujols
The Name Game ...
Which player would you rather draft in 2010?
Hanley Ramirez or Alex Rodriguez? A-Rod
Tim Lincecum or Zack Greinke? Lincecum, but it's not Greinke's fault he's on the worst team in baseball.
Roy Halladay or Chris Carpenter? Halladay
Ryan Braun or Matt Kemp? Braun
Yovani Gallardo or Josh Johnson? Johnson.. I think he falls just short of Halladay in the Cy voting this year.
Prince Fielder or Ryan Howard? Howard, he's making some really impressive adjustments at the plate.
Adam Lind or Josh Hamilton? Lind, it's not a question of talent, because if so Hamilton would win by a mile.
Aaron Hill or Ben Zobrist? Hill
Evan Longoria or Mark Teixeira? Teixeira... Longoria's supporting cast is the difference.
Mariano Rivera or Jonathan Broxton? Rivera.
Playing with Numbers:
Predict the 2010 stat.
Roy Halladay wins:21
Cliff Lee wins: 18
Mark Reynolds home runs and batting average: 34, .268.
Joe Mauer's batting average and home runs: .335, 27.
Chone Figgins and Ichiro Suzuki's stolen bases: 27, 30.
Matt Capps saves: 12
Javier Vazquez wins, ERA and WHIP: 17, 4.07, 1.27
Stephen Strasburg's wins, ERA and WHIP: 6, 4.58, 1.18
Grady Sizemore's HR/SB: 18/20
Alfonso Soriano's average draft position:65
