Welcome To Case's Column
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.
In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Let me say a big welcome to all of you for joining me here. I'm going to call these blog meetings Case's Column. I wanted to use "Corner", but that was already taken.
Since 2008, it's been a real privilege to come on here and share some of my life with you, and it's a big world where we live.In these blogs, I'll just speak whatever is on my mind, but we will be playing within the rules here. I may pick a particular topic, point out an event, or shoot the breeze. I'm a little bit of an essayist at times, so I'll just speak what's on my mind, and I might tell a story or two. Or, I might spew out an opinion or three. There will be some serious moments, some tender, some poignant, but there will also be those moments that you'll just bust out laughing. But, hopefully, everything will be in good fun here. And, of course, there's a place below for your comments and thoughts as we go along here. So feel free to join me for the ride -- I sure as heck hope I'm doing this right and not making any mistakes.
Thanks for taking your time in reading Case's Column. Hopefully, you'll enjoy being entertained by it as much as I've enjoyed putting these writings together. And thanks for the time you spend in City-Data.com, where it's great to be alive!
Regards,
case44
Case's MLB Predictions For 2021 --- Time For Baseball
Well, folks, it's that time again. And, for the first time in two years, it's time for the real games to get going when they're supposed to. All thirty clubs have their sets of expectations and the usual fan anticipation. Over the course of the season, there will gradually be fans coming back in to see real baseball in person and this fan is glad! 
Here, now, are my picks for the 2021 season:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL East: New York Y (100-62), Tampa Bay (95-67)*, Toronto (85-77), Boston (77-85), Baltimore (68-94)
AL Central: Chicago WS (91-71), Minnesota (88-74)*, Kansas City (82-80), Cleveland (76-86), Detroit (58-104)
AL West: Houston (98-64), Los Angeles A (86-76), Oakland (79-83), Seattle (70-92), Texas (50-112)
NOTES: I like picking surprises, and I believe that Kansas City may actually surprise some folks this year, what with their good, young prospects while they wait for Bobby Witt, Jr to arrive. Cleveland just has no offense, or my predictions would have been different because they've got good starting pitching. Houston got a boost in spring training when Valdez will see his finger healing way faster than anyone had expected. Their offense will come out blazing, especially if Altuve plays like he did earlier in his career and Alvarez regains his '19 form. Toronto is going to eventually be a force, but it didn't help when Yates is now lost for the season as he is getting TJ. The New York Yankees have enough pitching to outdo Tampa in the East. Texas is just going to be awful as their rebuild begins. And Mike Trout will be missing the playoffs again. What's more: Oakland will not possess the same magic in their penchant for second-half surges, despite a very promising starting rotation.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NL East: Atlanta (97-65), New York M (94-68)*, Washington (89-73), Philadelphia (72-90), Miami (67-95)
NL Central: St Louis (88-74), Milwaukee (83-79), Chicago C (79-83), Pittsburgh (71-91), Cincinnati (69-93)
NL West: Los Angeles D (103-59), San Diego (102-60)*, Arizona (84-78), San Francisco (70-92), Colorado (59-103)
NOTES: Two very competitive races, I believe, will grace the NL this year. Atlanta will be battling the New York Mets for the division crown, but the bigger race is the Los Angeles Dodgers and up-and-coming San Diego. And, as I've previously said about picking surprises, here's another: The Padres will upend the Dodgers in the NLCS as it goes to seven games. Elsewhere, Arenado will make a huge difference in St Louis' lineup and Arizona will make bigger strides than people think as Bumgarner will look like his old self again.
* Denotes Wild-Card Entry
All-Star Winner: National League
AL Pennant: Houston Astros
NL Pennant: San Diego Padres
2021 Champion: Houston Astros.
Dusty Baker can finally have his world title as a manager.
And there you are.
Here, now, are my picks for the 2021 season:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL East: New York Y (100-62), Tampa Bay (95-67)*, Toronto (85-77), Boston (77-85), Baltimore (68-94)
AL Central: Chicago WS (91-71), Minnesota (88-74)*, Kansas City (82-80), Cleveland (76-86), Detroit (58-104)
AL West: Houston (98-64), Los Angeles A (86-76), Oakland (79-83), Seattle (70-92), Texas (50-112)
NOTES: I like picking surprises, and I believe that Kansas City may actually surprise some folks this year, what with their good, young prospects while they wait for Bobby Witt, Jr to arrive. Cleveland just has no offense, or my predictions would have been different because they've got good starting pitching. Houston got a boost in spring training when Valdez will see his finger healing way faster than anyone had expected. Their offense will come out blazing, especially if Altuve plays like he did earlier in his career and Alvarez regains his '19 form. Toronto is going to eventually be a force, but it didn't help when Yates is now lost for the season as he is getting TJ. The New York Yankees have enough pitching to outdo Tampa in the East. Texas is just going to be awful as their rebuild begins. And Mike Trout will be missing the playoffs again. What's more: Oakland will not possess the same magic in their penchant for second-half surges, despite a very promising starting rotation.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NL East: Atlanta (97-65), New York M (94-68)*, Washington (89-73), Philadelphia (72-90), Miami (67-95)
NL Central: St Louis (88-74), Milwaukee (83-79), Chicago C (79-83), Pittsburgh (71-91), Cincinnati (69-93)
NL West: Los Angeles D (103-59), San Diego (102-60)*, Arizona (84-78), San Francisco (70-92), Colorado (59-103)
NOTES: Two very competitive races, I believe, will grace the NL this year. Atlanta will be battling the New York Mets for the division crown, but the bigger race is the Los Angeles Dodgers and up-and-coming San Diego. And, as I've previously said about picking surprises, here's another: The Padres will upend the Dodgers in the NLCS as it goes to seven games. Elsewhere, Arenado will make a huge difference in St Louis' lineup and Arizona will make bigger strides than people think as Bumgarner will look like his old self again.
* Denotes Wild-Card Entry
All-Star Winner: National League
AL Pennant: Houston Astros
NL Pennant: San Diego Padres
2021 Champion: Houston Astros.
Dusty Baker can finally have his world title as a manager.
And there you are.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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Well, in retrospect, you just never know. I got the NL West win situation correct (two 100-win teams); just didn't expect the Giants to do as well as they have.
I got the Astros correct up until now (They got the AL Pennant with the World Series still yet to be played at this writing). I actually haven't jinxed them, and they had something to prove. They didn't cheat and they've managed every situation the right way. And Dusty Baker was right for the managerial job. He's now four wins away from his first title as a manager.
And look where I had Boston. They've exceeded expectations in a big way. San Diego, on the other hand, did not fulfill expectations.
I was a bit generous with St Louis, but I still believe that they will come out on top next season. And get this: Even with 102 losses, the Texas Rangers actually had done better than I predicted they would. Then again, that team is the Rangers, and this team will never win. The better Texas team is in the Fall Classic.
Can't wait to do another prediction column for '22. Look for it in March.Posted 10-24-2021 at 09:27 AM by case44
