MLB at the Labor Day Pole

We have entered the closing weeks of the 2007 MLB season and most of the postseason slots remain in contention and to be decided.

American League

East: Boston has seen its once double digit over New York shrink to under 5 games a couple of times , but the strength of the Redsox pitching will be enough to hold off the Yankees. Boston's remaining schedule is weak to insure the Redsox will win over 100 games. New York could have enough to claim the wild card spot but both Seattle and Detroit will have a say in that as well. Toronto will finish third with 81 wins or so. Tampa Bay is coming on and looks to pass collapsing Baltimore and finish fourth. The Rays will have around 67 wins and Orioles will barely avoid losing 100 games.

Central: Cleveland has taken control of the division as the Tigers' pitching has faltered in recent weeks. The Indians will win the division although look for a final push by Detroit to try to overcome the Tribe. That push may be enough to get the Motor City Kitties into the postseason as the wildcard though, but I think in the end they will come up short. Minnesota is a lock for third with 82 wins; the young improving Kansas City Royals will end up a solid fourth with around 75 wins; while the shocking collapse by the White Sox only two years after winning a World Series will mercifully end as Chicago may not get to 67 wins for the year.

West: After a tighter than anticipated race with Seattle loosened up in the last week, Anaheim appears to be cruising towards an easy division title. The Angels will try to catch Boston for the best record but will come up short. That means an opening first round series with either New York or Cleveland. Seattle fell into a pit over the last week and lost sight of Anaheim, but the Mariners have a good chance to make the postseason yet as the wildcard. This weeks road trip to both New York and Detroit will be very important in Seattle's quest. Disappointing Oakland will finish third with around 79 wins, and Texas will finish last with about 73-74 wins.

National League

East: The inconsistent Mets look like they will have enought to hold off Philadelphia but New York winning the division is still no sure thing. They have the favorable remaining schedule but the Phillies have shown themselves to be resilient thus far and may yet overcome the Mets. I will say go with the Mets for the division but with little confidence. Even if the Phillies do not overcome New York, they should take the wildcard. Atlanta remains competitive but it looks like third place will be the final position for the Braves with about 83 wins. Washington will outlast Florida for fourth with about 72 wins for the Nationals and about 71 for the Marlins.

Central: Chicago has the most overall favorable schedule and that will be enough for them to hang on and win the division over Milwaukee and St Louis. None of these three teams will have more than about 84 wins, and the Cubs will only win out over the last weekend. At least three, maybe four teams from outside the division will have more victories than the Cubs, Brewers, and Cardinals and yet be looking in from the outside for the postseason. Milwaukee should end up with about 82-83 wins and the Cardinals a couple fewer. Fourth place is hard to call also but I will go with the Cincinnati Reds edging the Pittsburgh Pirates and the disappointing Houston Astros as all three clubs will end up with win totals right around 71 to 74.

West: This is baseball's best division race with four clubs scrambling, scuffling, and fighting the last 27 days to claim the divisional pennant. I am going with San Diego to edge out the Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Dodgers. 87 or 88 wins is what the divisional winner will have, and Arizona, Los Angeles, and Colorado will all have around 84-87 to stay close near the end. With so many important intradivisional games remaining, this looks to be a great race to the end. But that will also mean that Philadelphia or New York will claim the wildcard, as the four teams in West slowly kill each other off for the wildcard slot. San Francisco will wrap up a disappointing season in last place in the West with around 72 wins.

So in review, in the AL I am going with Boston, Cleveland, and Anaheim with New York as the wild card while in the NL I am going with New York, Chicago, and San Diego with Philadelphia as the wild card. Hopefully I am wrong on the wild card in both leagues and Seattle and Colorado claim the spots.

The final 27 days should be compelling and interesting with a lot of must see and must listen games.

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NFL Forecast Week One

Here are the picks for Week One of the 07-08 NFL season. The post will be updated if lines change significantly due to injury or news.

Thursday 6 September
Ind -6 v NOrl: Colts 27, Saints 24 correct wrong

Sunday 9 September
Htn -3 v KC: Texans 30, Chiefs 23
correct correct
Den -3 @ Buf: v Bills 17, Broncos 16
wrong correct
Pgh -4 1/2 @ Cle: Steelers 23, Browns 13
correct correct
Jax -7 v Tenn: Jaguars 20, Titans 16
wrong correct
StL -1 v Car: Rams 30, Panthers 28
wrong wrong
Phil -3 @ GB: Eagles 24, Packers 13
wrong wrong
Minn -3 v Atl: Vikings 23, Falcons 9
correct correct
Wash -3 v Miami: Redskins 16, Dolphins 13
correct correct
NEng -6 1/2 @ NYJ: Patriots 34, Jets 20
correct correct
Sea -6 v TB: Seahawks 23, Buccaneers 16
correct correct
SD -6 v Chi: Chargers 20, Bears 13
correct correct
Oak -2 1/2 v Det: Lions 29, Raiders 23
correct correct
Dal -5 1/2 v NYG: Cowboys 30, Giants 20 c
orrect correct

Monday 10 September
Cinc -2 1/2 v Balt: Bengals 20, Ravens 16
correct correct
SF -3 v Ariz: Forty-Niners 26, Cardinals 24
correct correct

final results:
12-4 .750 ; 13-3 .813

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