Predictions Sure to Go Wrong 9.0
It is once again time for our feeble attempt at predicting the future. What will happen during the 2023 MLB season? No one knows for sure, but we offer our best guesses. If history is any guide our predictions will be horribly wrong. Wrong during the Regular Season and wrong during the Postseason. One thing we are certain of is our friend Jason is giving his predictions for the first time. Time will tell if he is any better at predicting the future than the rest of us. We like to think we have a basic understanding of baseball and the Major Leagues, but ultimately we are human and humans are biased thus we make mistakes. Our track record is poor, so trust our predictions at your own risk.
American League East
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Blue Jays (1) | Steinbrenners (2) | Yankees(2) | Yankees (2) | Maple leafs (2) | Yankees (2) | Yankees (2) |
| Yankees (5) | Devil Rays (5) | Blue Jays | Blue Jays (4) | Yankees (4) | Blue Jays (4) | Blue Jays (4) |
| Rays | Canadians | Montreal Rays | Orioles | Devil rays (6) | Orioles | Rays |
| Orioles | Bean Eaters | Red Sux | Rays | Bmore | Rays | Orioles |
| Red Sox | Camden | Orioles | Red Sox | Red Sux | Red Sox | Red Sox |
The American League East could be a four team race. The Blue Jays and Yankees are the division favorites, but it is hard to sleep on the Rays. Tampa Bay always seems to be better than they appear. The Orioles have built a solid young team that is ready to compete with the rest of the division. Baltimore might need another year of seasoning before they threaten the Postseason, but they will begin seeing the results of their rebuild. The Red Sox will have a long Summer. Adding players like Justin Turner, do not win divisions. Boston may hang around for a while, but tickets should be cheap at Fenway by August.
American League Central
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Guardians (3) | (Jeff) Bridges (3) | Guards | White Sox (3) | ChiSox (3) | Cleveland (3) | Guardians (3) |
| White Sox | Twinkies (4) | Twinks | Twins | Flaming Rivers | Twins (5) | White Sox (5) |
| Twins | Southside | Chisox | Guardians | Twins | Royals | Twins (6) |
| Tigers | Kittehs | Royals | Tigers | Rawr | White Sox | Tigers |
| Royals | Monarchs | Tigres | Royals | KC | Tigers | Royals |
Could the American League Central finally not be the worst division in baseball. None of the teams are in the World Series conversation, but several have real hopes for October. The White Sox improved by getting a new manager. Byron Buxton’s health is key in Minnesota after the Twins got Carlos Correa back after his well traveled off season. The Guardians have built a solid team around Jose Ramirez. The Tigers are trending in the right direction, but their season is focused on sending Miguel Cabrera into retirement. The Royals…well they get to play baseball too.
American League West
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Mariners (2) | Trashtros (1) | Cheaters (1) | Astros (1) | Trashtros (1) | Astros (1) | Astros (1) |
| Astros(4) | Halos (6) | Rangers | Angels (5) | Kraken (5) | Mariners (6) | Mariners |
| Angels (6) | Submariners | Ohtanis | Rangers (6) | Rangers | Rangers | Angels |
| Rangers | Brett Marteeen | Mariners | Mariners | Halos | Angels | Rangers |
| Athletics | White Elephants | Las Vegas | Athletics | Las Vegas | Oakland | Atheltics |
Will the Astros finally stop winning? Doubtful. They lost Justin Verlander, but added Jose Abreu. The Mariners are back and still a great team, they should challenge Houston. Surely the Angels will put together a winning season that makes Shohei Ohtani pause before leaving in free agency. What a waste if the Angels are terrible again with Mike Trout and Ohtani healthy. The Rangers added Jacob deGrom. They have the big name pieces, now they just need to come together. What a sad way for the Athletics to spend their final season in Oakland.
National League East
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Braves (1) | Braves (2) | Braves | Phillies (3) | Braves (1) | Braves (1) | Braves (2) |
| Mets (4) | Amazins (4) | Mets | Braves (5) | Phillies (5) | Mets (5) | Mets (6) |
| Phillies | Follies (6) | Phils | Mets | Fish | Phillies | Phillies |
| Marlins | Fish | Marlins | Nationals | Amazings | Marlins | Marlins |
| Nationals | Gnats | Nats | Marlins | Nats | Nationals | Nationals |
The Braves have built another dynasty. The division is theirs for the taking despite the Mets spending more money on free agents than all the gold at Fort Knox. The Mets will be great, but will they be Amazin? The Phillies caught fire at the right time last season to make an unexpected run to the World Series, they are unlikely to catch lightning in a bottle twice. The Marlins are improving, but like their other good young cores, how long will these players stay in Miami? Marlins fans are waiting for the trades to begin. The Nationals fell hard after their World Series victory and have yet to show signs of life. Washington is in for a long rebuild.
National League Central
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Cardinals (3) | Redbirds (3) | Cardinals | Cardinals (2) | Uncle Tickles (3) | Cardinals (4) | Cardinals (1) |
| Brewers (6) | Brewcrew | Cubbies | Brewers | Cubbies | Brewers (6) | Brewers (5) |
| Cubs | Harray Carrays | Beers | Cubs | Drunks | Cubs WIN | Cubs |
| Pirates | Cin City | Dreds | Reds | Team of catchers | Reds | Reds |
| Reds | Buccos | Pirates | Pirates | Pirates | Pirates | Pirates |
The Nationals League Central is a two team race. The Cardinals never slump and even with Yadier Molina retiring they got better. The Brewers continue to play some of the best baseball in the Majors, but can they overcome St. Louis and win the division? A lot has to go right for Milwaukee to avoid the Wild Card. The Cubs have a lot of good pieces, but they are not contenders. Maybe they play .500 baseball but they need more pieces before they dream of October again. The Reds and Pirates are rebuilding. They have a few young players already in the Majors and a ton of prospects in the Minors. The team that does the best job developing that talent will be the first to return to relevance.
National League West
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Dodgers (2) | Dodger Dogs (1) | Padres | Padres (1) | Dodgers (2) | Padres (2) | Dodgers (3) |
| Padres (5) | McD’s (5) | Dodgers | Dodgers (4) | Friars (4) | Dodgers (3) | Padres (4) |
| Giants | McCovey’s Cove | Dbacks | Giants (6) | Dbacks (6) | Diamondbacks | Giants |
| Diamondbacks | Snecks | Giants | Rockies | Giants | Giants | Diamondbacks |
| Rockies | Coors | Rockies | Diamondbacks | Decisional Front Office | Colorado | Rockies |
The Padres try and try, but they have been unable to knock off the Dodgers. This season is no different. The Padres will be very good, but the Dodgers will be great. The Giants are trying to contend again, but they missed in free agency and the mountain is just too high to climb. The Diamondbacks have a solid core around which they should become a contender in a few seasons. Arizona needs Corbin Carroll to play up to his contract. The Rockies are a mess. Technically they are rebuilding, but what have they done to get better?
Postseason
Just get into the Postseason. If you can make it to October anything can happen. The Phillies last season are a great example. They nearly turned a disastrous season into a championship winning one. The Postseason is even more unpredictable than the Regular Season.
American League Wild Card
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Guardians | (Jeff) Bridges | Guards | White Sox | ChiSox | Cleveland | Guardians |
| Angels | Halos | Twinks | Rangers | Devil Rays | Mariners | Twins |
| Astros | Twinkies | Jays | Blue Jays | Yankees | Blue Jays | Blue Jays |
| Yankees | Devil Rays | Rangers | Angels | Kraken | Twins | White Sox |
National League Wild Card
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Cardinals | Redbirds | Cards | Phillies | Uncle Tickles | Cardinals | Dodgers |
| Brewers | Follies | Phils | Giants | Dbacks | Mets | Mets |
| Mets | Amazins | Dodgers | Dodgers | Friars | Dodgers | Padres |
| Padres | McD’s | Mets | Braves | Phillies | Brewers | Brewers |
American League Divisional Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Blue Jays | Trashtros | Cheaters | Astros | Trashtros | Astros | Astros |
| Astros | Twinkies | Guards | Angels | Kraken | Blue Jays | Blue Jays |
| Mariners | Steinbrenners | Yankees | Yankees | Maple leafs | Yankees | Yankees |
| Angels | (Jeff) Bridges | Jays | White Sox | Devil Rays | Cleveland | Guardians |
National League Divisional Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Braves | Dodger Dogs | Padres | Padres | Braves | Braves | Cardinals |
| Padres | Amazins | Cards | Giants | Friars | Mets | Padres |
| Dodgers | Braves | Braves | Cardinals | Dodgers | Padres | Braves |
| Cardinals | Follies | Dodgers | Braves | Dbacks | Dodgers | Dodgers |
American League Championship Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Blue Jays | Trashtors | Cheaters | Angels | Maple Leafs | Astros | Yankees |
| Mariners | (Jeff) Bridges | Yankees | Yankees | Kraken | Yankees | Astros |
National League Championship Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Braves | Amazins | Padres | Padres | Braves | Braves | Braves |
| Dodgers | Braves | Braves | Braves | Dodgers | Dodgers | Padres |
World Series
| Derek | Jesse | John | Bernie | Kevin | Jason | The Winning Run |
| Braves | (Jeff) Bridges | Padres | Yankees | Kraken | Astros | Braves |
| Blue Jays | Braves | Cheaters | Padres | Braves | Braves | Astros |
Congratulations to the World Series Champion Atlanta Braves!
Time will tell if we are correct. There is plenty that can go right and wrong for a team between now and October. No matter what happens, baseball fans are in for another great season. Happy Baseball!
DJ, JJ, JB, BL, KB, & JL
The Winning Run 
One comment