2013 MLB Season Predictions

2013 MLB Regular Season Standings:

American League:

AL East:

1. Toronto Blue Jays 96-66 y

2. Tampa Bay Rays 93-69 w1

3. Baltimore Orioles 91-71 w2

4. New York Yankees 82-80 x

5. Boston Red Sox 73-89 x

AL Central:

1. Detroit Tigers 98-62 y
2. Kansas City Royals 84-78 x

3. Chicago White Sox 81-81 x

4. Cleveland Indians 75-87 x

5. Minnesota Twins 60-102 x

AL West:

1. Los Angeles Angels 100-62 z

2. Oakland Athletics 90-72 x

3. Texas Rangers 85-77 x

4. Seattle Mariners 72-90 x

5. Houston Astros 48-114 x

z = Best Record in League and Division Champion

y = Division Champions

w1 = Wild Card #1

w2 = Wild Card  #2

x = DNQ for playoffs

NL East:

1. Washington Nationals 101-61 z

2. Philadelphia Phillies 90-72 w2

3. Atlanta Braves 89-73 x

4. New York Mets 62-100 x

5. Miami Marlins 52-110 x

NL Central:

1. Cincinnati Reds 95-67 y  
2. St. Louis Cardinals 86-76 x

3. Milwaukee Brewers 82-80 x

4. Pittsburgh Pirates 76-86 x

5. Chicago Cubs 62-100 x

NL West:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers 97-65 y

2. San Francisco Giants 92-70 w1

3. Arizona Diamondbacks 81-81 x  

4. San Diego Padres 72-90 x

5. Colorado Rockies 65-97 x

z = Best Record in League and Division Champion

y = Division Champions

w1 = Wild Card #1

w2 = Wild Card  #2

x = DNQ for playoffs

2013 MLB Playoffs:

Wild Card    LDS   LCS   World Series

AL:

1 LAA

                 } LAA 3

BYE

                                  } LAA 4

4 TB 1

                 } TB 1

5 BAL 0                                     

                                                   }  LAA 4
2 DET

                 } DET 3

BYE                                  
                                  } DET 3
3 TOR

                 } TOR 1

BYE

NL:                                                                    } LAA

1 WAS

                 } WAS 3

BYE

                                  } WAS 4

4 SF 1

                 } SF 2

5 PHI 0                                              

                                                   } WAS 2                                     

2 LAD
                 } LAD 3

BYE                                 
                                  } LAD 2

3 CIN
                 } CIN 2

BYE

Game by Game Results:

American League Playoffs:

2013 AL Wild Card Playoff:

#4 Tampa Bay Rays vs. #5 Baltimore Orioles:

Game 1: BAL @ TB; TB 1, BAL 0; TEX wins the series 1-0.

2013 ALDS:

#1 Los Angeles Angels vs. #4 Tampa Bay Rays:

Game 1: TB @ LAA; LAA 6, TB 4; LAA leads the series 1-0.

Game 2: TB @ LAA; LAA 3, TB 2; 11 Innings; LAA leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: LAA @ TB; TB 6, LAA 5; LAA leads the series 2-1. 

Game 4: LAA @ TB; LAA 4, TB 0; LAA wins the series 3-1.

#2 Detroit Tigers vs. #3 Toronto Blue Jays:

Game 1: TOR @ DET; DET 4, TOR 2; DET leads the series 1-0.

Game 2: TOR @ DET; DET 9, TOR 6; DET leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: DET @ TOR; TOR 6, DET 3; DET leads the series 2-1.

Game 4: DET @ TOR; DET 7, TOR 6; DET wins the series 3-1.

2013 ALCS: 

#1 Los Angeles Angels vs. #2 Detroit Tigers:

Game 1: DET @ LAA; LAA 7, DET 4; LAA leads the series 1-0. 

Game 2: DET @ LAA; LAA 8, DET 6; LAA leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: LAA @ DET; DET 3, LAA 0; LAA leads the series 2-1.

Game 4: LAA @ DET; DET 3, LAA 2; Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: LAA @ DET; DET 8, LAA 5; DET leads the series 3-2. 

Game 6: DET @ LAA; LAA 5, DET 2; Series tied at 3-3.

Game 7: DET @ LAA; LAA 9, DET 8; LAA wins the series 4-3.

Los Angeles Angels are the 2013 American League Champions.

Mike Trout is the 2013 ALCS MVP. He hit .391 BA (9 for 23), 2 HRs and 11 RBIs.

National League Playoffs:

2013 NL Wild Card Playoff:

#4 San Francisco Giants vs. #5 Philadelphia Phillies:

Game 1: PHI @ SF; SF 5, PHI 4; PHI wins the series 1-0.

2013 NLDS:

#1 Washington Nationals vs. #4 San Francisco Giants:

Game 1: SF @ WAS; WAS 4, SF 3; 10 Innings; WAS leads the series 1-0.

Game 2: SF @ WAS; WAS 8, SF 6; WAS leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: WAS @ SF; SF 6, WAS 5; WAS leads the series 2-1. 

Game 4: WAS @ SF; SF 5, WAS 4; 14 Innings; Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: SF @ WAS; WAS 2, SF 0; WAS wins the series 3-2.

#2 Los Angeles Dodgers vs. #3 Cincinnati Reds:

Game 1: CIN @ LAD; LAD 6, CIN 2; LAD leads the series 1-0.

Game 2: CIN @ LAD; LAD 5, CIN 3; LAD leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: LAD @ CIN; CIN 5, LAD 4; LAD leads the series 2-1. 

Game 4: LAD @ CIN; CIN 3, LAD 2; Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: CIN @ LAD; LAD 4, CIN 2; LAD wins the series 3-2.

2013 NLCS: 

#1 Washington Nationals vs. #2 Los Angeles Dodgers:

Game 1: LAD @ WAS; WAS 3, LAD 1; WAS leads the series 1-0. 

Game 1: LAD @ WAS; WAS 8, LAD 3; WAS leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: WAS @ LAD; LAD 4, WAS 1; WAS leads the series 2-1.

Game 4: WAS @ LAD; LAD 9, WAS 8; Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: WAS @ LAD; WAS 6, LAD 4; WAS leads the series 3-2. 

Game 6: LAD @ WAS; WAS 2, LAD 1; 12 Innings; WAS wins the series 4-2.

Washington Nationals are the 2013 National League Champions.

Stephen Strasburg is the 2013 NLCS MVP. He was 2-0, 1.20 ERA and 15 Strikeouts.

2013 World Series:

AL #1 Los Angeles Angels vs. NL #1 Washington Nationals:

Game 1: WAS @ LAA; LAA 2, WAS 0; LAA leads the series 1-0. 

Game 2: WAS @ LAA; LAA 6, WAS 4; LAA leads the series 2-0.

Game 3: LAA @ WAS; WAS 7, LAA 5;  LAA leads the series 2-2.

Game 4: LAA @ WAS; WAS 1, LAA 0; 11 Innings; Series tied at 2-2.

Game 5: LAA @ WAS; LAA 10, WAS 8; LAA leads the series 3-2. 

Game 6: WAS @ LAA; LAA 8, WAS 7; LAA wins the series 4-2.

Los Angeles Angels are 2013 World Series Champions.

Mike Trout is 2013 World Series MVP. He hit .421 BA (8 for 19), 2 HRs and 8 RBIs.

2013 MLB All-Star Game in New York City, NY:   

National League vs. American League:

AL Starters:

C: Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers.

1B: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers.

2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees.

SS: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees.

3B: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays.

OF: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays.

OF: Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees.

OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels.

P: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers.

DH: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox.

Manger: Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers.

NL:

C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants.

1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds.

2B: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies.

SS: Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs.

3B: David Wright, New York Mets.

OF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers.

OF: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers.

OF: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.

P: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals.

Manger: Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants.

Final Score: American League 10, National League 9.

2013 MLB All-Star Game MVP is Mike Trout, 5 for 6, 1 HR and 6 RBIs.

2013 MLB Awards:

2013 World Series MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels.

2013 NLCS MVP: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals.

2013 ALCS MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels.

2013 NL MVP: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers. 41 HRs, 121 RBIs and .313 BA.

2013 AL MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels. 33 HRs, 90 RBIs, .336 BA and 55 Stolen Bases.

2013 NL Cy Young: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals. 22-8, 2.82 ERA and 225 Strikeouts.

2013 AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers. 23-6, 2.51 ERA and 245 Strikeouts.

2013 NL Rookie of the Year: Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves. 14-9, 2.99 ERA and 180 Strikeouts.

2013 AL Rookie of the Year: Wil Myers, Tampa Bays Rays. 25 HRs, 90 RBIs and .300 BA.

2013 NL Manger of the Year: Don Mattingly, Los Angeles Dodgers.

2013 AL Manger of the Year: John Gibbons, Toronto Blue Jays.

2013 MLB Delivery Man of the Year: Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees. 33 Saves, 1.63 ERA and 75 Strikeouts.  

2013 NL Sliver Sluggers:

C: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants.

1B: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds.

2B: Aaron Hill, Arizona Diamondbacks.

SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies.

3B: Chase Headley, San Diego Padres.

OF: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers.

OF: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers.

OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates.

P: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals.

2013 AL Sliver Sluggers:

C: A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox.

1B: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers.

2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees.

SS: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians.

3B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers.

OF: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays.

OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angeles.

OF: Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles Angeles.

DH: Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals.

2013 NL Gold Gloves:

C: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals.

1B: Adam LaRoche, Washington Nationals.

2B: Darwin Barney, Chicago Cubs.

SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies.

3B: Chase Headley, San Diego Padres.

OF: Alfonso Sorian, Chicago Cubs.

OF: Michael Bourn, Atlanta Braves.

OF: Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves.

P: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers.

2013 AL Gold Gloves:

C: Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles.

1B: Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees.

2B: Robinson Cano, New York Yankees.

SS: Brendan Ryan, Seattle Mariners.

3B: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers.

OF: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals.

OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels.

OF: Josh Reddick, Oakland A’s.

P: Mike Buehrle, Toronto Blue Jays.

Miami Heat's 27 Game Winning Streak Snapped

Going into Wednesday night the Miami Heat had won 27 games in a row. An amazing feat. They were chasing the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers' record at 33 games in a row. On Wednesday in Chicago it came to an end when the Heat lost 97 to 101. It was the first lost since February 1st when they lost in Indiana 89 to 102. This streak was very impressive and was the 2nd longest all-time. The previously 2nd longest was 22 games by the 2007-08 Houston Rockets. Even the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls who won 72 games only won 18 games in a row. Miami record before the streak was 29-14 after 56-15. Miami was just winning either they were beating teams by an average of 11.9 PPG. The streak started on February 3rd to the Toronto Raptors and lasted 51 days. Also during the streak the beat 20 of the 29 other teams in the NBA. They proved two major things during this streak. First they proved they can win on the road. Up until the streak Miami was only 11-11 on the road. They won 13 games in a row into their lose in Chicago improving their record to 24-12 on the road after the game. The second thing they proved is the look ready for another championship. The Miami Heat won the NBA Finals over the Oklahoma City Thunder last season in 5 games. LeBron James finally proved he could win the championship. The Heat looked primed and ready now to repeat as NBA Champions. LeBron James also played excellent during the winning streak. He continues to show he is by far the best player in the NBA today and he looks like he could win his 4th MVP award this season. This is LeBron James' 10th NBA season and to win 4th MVP awards in the span would be amazing. If he does win MVP he would be the only the second player in NBA history to win 4 MVPs in 5 years joining Bill Russell who won every year from 1961-1965 expect in 1964. It will be interesting to see how long this dominance can last for the Heat.

2013 NCAA Basketball Tournament Sweet Sixteen Predictions

This is the first follow up post about my revised picks for the Sweet Sixteen to the National Championship. Again I will give the bracket and the game by scores for each game.

Midwest Regional:

Bracket:

Sweet 16      Elite 8         Final Four

1 LOU

                   } LOU

12 ORE

                                      } LOU

3 MSU

                   } MSU

2 DUKE

Game by Game Scores:
Sweet Sixteen of Midwest Region in Indianapolis, IN on March 29:

#1 Louisville vs. #12 Oregon; LOU 77, ORE 70. 

#2 Duke vs. #3 Michigan State; MSU 67, DUKE 66; OT.

Elite Eight of South Region in Indianapolis, IN on March 31:

#1 Louisville vs. #3 Michigan State; LOU 71, MSU 68; OT.   

South Regional:

Bracket:

Sweet 16      Elite 8         Final Four

1 KU

                   } KU

4 MICH

                                      } KU

3 FLA

                   } FGCU

15 FGCU

Game by Game Scores:

Sweet Sixteen of South Region in Arlington, TX on March 29:

#1 Kansas vs. #4 Michigan; KU 76, MICH 69.

#3 Florida vs. #15 Florida Gulf Coast; FGCU 86, FLA 85; OT.   

Elite Eight of South Region in Arlington, TX on March 31:

#1 Kansas vs. #15 Florida Gulf Coast; KU 71, FGCU 62.

West Regional:

Bracket:

Sweet 16      Elite 8         Final Four

9 WICH

                   } WICH

13 LAS

                                      } OSU

6 ARIZ

                   } OSU  
2 OSU

Game by Game Scores: 

Sweet Sixteen of West Region in Los Angeles, CA on March 28:

#9 Wichita State vs. #13 La Salle; WICH 69, LAS 65.

#2 Ohio State vs. #6 Arizona; OSU 68, ARIZ 64.

Elite Eight of West Region in Los Angeles, CA on March 30:

#2 Ohio State vs. #9 Wichita State; OSU 78, WICH 66.

East Regional:

Bracket:

Sweet 16      Elite 8         Final Four

1 IND

                   } IND

4 SYR

                                      } MIA

2 MIA

                   } MIA  
3 MARQ

                                     

Game by Game Scores: 

Sweet Sixteen of Midwest Region in St. Louis, MO on March 23:

#1 Indiana vs. #4 Syracuse; IND 73, SYR 61.

#2 Miami vs. #3 Marquette; MIA 71, MARQ 63. 

Elite Eight of Midwest Region in St. Louis, MO on March 25:

#1 Indiana vs. #2 Miami; MIA 72, IND 68.

Final Four:

Bracket:

Final Four   Championship  Champion


1 LOU
                   } LOU
2 OSU
                                      } MIA
1 KU
                   } MIA
2 MIA

Game by Game Scores:

National Semi-Finals (Final Four) in Atlanta, GA  on April 6:
#1 Louisville vs. #2 Ohio State; LOU 79, OSU 76; OT.
#1 Kansas vs. #2 Miami; MIA 69, KU 63.
National Championship Game in Atlanta, GA on April 8:
#1 Louisville vs. #2 Miami; MIA 66, LOU 65. 
2013 National Champions:
Miami Hurricanes are the 2013 National Champions.   
2013 NCAA Tournament MOP:
Shane Larkin is the 2013 NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.