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From Scoop # 45 March 19, 2007
The Inside Scoop’s
Looking at the calendar I can’t help but be overjoyed to see that it is March and that Spring Training is in full swing. The boys of summer are playing March baseball, preparing for life to begin anew on Opening Day 2007. One of the things that I have discovered during my 41 years is that many people who are deeply interested in politics seem to also be very passionate about baseball. The partisan divide in politics focuses on how best to serve our fellow citizens, with more or less government. In baseball, it’s all about swinging-away or taking-all-the-way on a 3-0 count. In continuing the great tradition of mixing politics and baseball, which first started when President William Howard Taft got up and stretched in between the top half and the bottom half on the seventh inning, The Inside Scoop offers up its first ever “Prognosticators’ World Series” this season. A group of 11 Scoop contributors and friends are competing in this event. At stake, bragging rights as the best political baseball prognosticator across Wisconsin. Also at stake the beautiful roving trophy that will be awarded to the prognosticator who is the most accurate in ‘07. The Inside Scoop’s Prognosticators World Series consists of the following line-up: Chris Mehring, the voice of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, the Seattle Mariners Class A affiliate in the Midwest League; John Gard, most recently 8th Congressional District Candidate, former Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and current contributor to The Inside Scoop; Mark Graul, current political consultant, former campaign chairman of Mark Green’s gubernatorial bid and former chief of staff to former Congressman Mark Green; Ted Kanavas, current Wisconsin State Senator, youth baseball league coach and Brewer fan; Brandon Rosner was the campaign chairman of the Gard for Congress campaign. He attended his first Major League baseball game on May 13, 1987 at County Stadium. Despite his faithful attendance of Brewers games over the years, Brandon did not catch his first live action foul ball in a game until he attended his 100th Major League game at the opening of Miller Park. This year, he looks forward to building his foul ball collection as he returns as a regular season ticket holder of the Crew in section 209. Brandon currently resides in Milwaukee working at a healthcare software company. When he is not at the game, Brandon can be found drumming up support for Newt Gingrich '08. Brad Robinson, The Inside Scoop’s resident football expert and resident of Valparaiso, Indiana. Brad, a huge Packer fan, correctly picked the Indianapolis Colts to win the Super Bowl before the start of the last football season; Matt Kamke, from a baseball crazy family, his grandfather played in the minor leagues and his dad won two state championships as coach of the Shawano Legion team. Matt was a State All-Star his senior year of high school and he played in the State Legion Tournament two of three years he played Varsity Legion. He was recruited to UW-Stevens Point for baseball but chose to double major instead. He has worked on the political campaigns of Russ Darrow, Bush/Cheney Wisconsin 2004, John Gard, and Dean Kaufert. Dave Hutchison, former Wisconsin State Assembly Representative from Wisconsin’s 1st Assembly district; Ryan Eddy, currently residing in the Washington, D.C. area; Ryan is the Policy Advisor to the Director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Department of Homeland Security and former White House staffer; Dan Romportl, current Northeast Iowa Field Representative for Tommy Thompson’s Presidential Exploratory Committee 2008 and 2006 Republican Party of Wisconsin Get Out TheVote (GOTV) guru; Rick Sense, life long baseball fan and editor of The Inside Scoop. Everyone’s picks appear in the charts below. Please check back at the All-Star break for updated standings in The Inside Scoop’s 2007 Prognosticator’s World Series. And remember, this is an exhibition, so please, no wagering. Comments from some of the prognosticators follow the charts. American League East
American League Central
American League West
National League East
National League Central
National League West
*wild cards American League Champion
National League Champion
World Series Champion
The Brewers win their division because of one word-pitching! Yes, I am a complete Brewers homer, but they have seven guys who can pitch well at the major league level. Mark Graul I’ve been a lifelong Brewers fan, and some of my greatest memories are from games at County Stadium. I’ll also never forget celebrating on Wisconsin Avenue after the Brewers beat the Angels to go to the World Series in 1982. I played little league and in high school – and I still feel like picking up my glove every year about this time. Matt Kamke American League Predictions AL East New York Yankees – Losing the Big Unit was addition by subtraction. With Pettitte back in NY, the sky is the limit. Boston Red Sox – The Sox can bring in all the baseball talent Asia has to offer, but they’ll still be looking up at the Bombers in the standings come September. Toronto Blue Jays – The Jays spent all that money last season just to leap frog the Red Sox but still miss the postseason. All the money in Canada wouldn’t make this team a contender this season. Baltimore Orioles – The O’s will see someone break Cal’s consecutive games streak before they see a postseason. Tampa Bay Devil Rays – Why do they still have a team? AL Central Detroit Tigers – Though they choked in the World Series last season, the Tigers will contend all year and take no one by surprise. Cleveland Indians – The Indians will give Boston all they can handle for the AL Wild Card spot. Minnesota Twins – The Twins are a solid team with the best pitcher in baseball. Playing in the league’s toughest division leaves them on the outside looking in. Chicago White Sox – The South Side Assassins are two seasons removed from a championship and are still one of the 10 best teams in baseball. If only they could play in the AL West… Kansas City Royals – The days of George Brett and seasons above .500 are long gone in KC. AL West Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim – The Angels have incredible young talent, but their season depends on Bartolo Colon. Oakland A’s – Oakland lost their best pitcher and one of their best hitters. They’ll contend, but they won’t win the division. Texas Rangers – A lot would have to go right for the Rangers to even think about the postseason. Seattle Mariners – No offense equals no chance. National League Predictions NL East New York Mets – Great offense and a great closer. The best the National League has to offer this season. Philadelphia Phillies – If everything goes according to plan, the Phillies should contend with the Brew Crew for the NL Wild Card. Atlanta Braves – Pitching used to be the one given each season for the Braves, but it’s a huge question mark this season. Atlanta has a lot of young talent and they’re only a couple seasons away from contending again. Florida Marlins – Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis are incredible talents, but even they can’t save Florida from a season below .500. Washington Nationals – This team is quite a few years away from contending. NL Central St. Louis Cardinals – Quite possibly the most boring team to win a World Series, but the Cards are champions nonetheless. They’ll return to the postseason, but don’t expect a repeat. Milwaukee Brewers – The Brew Crew are one of the most improved teams in the league and should be able to contend for the NL Wild Card this season. Chicago Cubs – What does $300 million buy you? Third place in the division and yet another season under .500. At least the Windy City has Da Bears… Houston Astros – The Stros lost their two best pitchers in Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. They have no chance to contend this season. Cincinnati Reds – At least they won’t finish last… Pittsburgh Pirates – Poor Jason Bay… NL West Arizona Diamondbacks – This team has a lot of upside in a division with no clear favorite. Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers have a great pitching staff, but their offense is nothing to call home about. Pitching should help them contend. San Diego Padres – A lot would have to go right for the Padres to contend. Colorado Rockies – The Rockies have incredible talent on the way, but they will have another rough season or two before they become one of the league’s elite teams. San Francisco Giants – Does anyone want Barry Bonds to break Hank Aaron’s record? I didn’t think so… Postseason Predictions AL Wild Card – Boston Red Sox NL Wild Card – Milwaukee Brewers NL Champions – New York Mets AL Champions – New York Yankees Yankees win the Subway Series and their 27th World Championship in 6 games.
Here are my "predicitons" for the 2007 baseball season: AL EAST: 1. Yankees 2. Blue Jays (Wild Card) 3. Red Sox 4. Orioles 5. Devil Rays The Yankees are still the Yankees and will beat up on the Orioles and Devil Rays enough to win the East. But, watch out for Toronto. AL Central 1. Indians 2. Tigers 3. Twins 4. White Sox 5. Royals Everybody except the Royals have a chance in this division. I like Cleveland to win it this year. AL West 1. A's 2. Angels 3. Mariners 4. Rangers The A's always find a way to win this division. This year is not going to be any different. NL East 1. Phillies 2. Mets (Wild Card) 3. Braves 4. Marlins 5. Nationals Phillies were close last year. This is their year. Mets have enough for the wild card. NL Central 1. Cardinals 2. Brewers 3. Reds 4. Cubs 5. Astros 6. Pirates The Brewers will make a leap forward this year, but the Cardinals will finish just ahead of the crew. NL West 1. Padres 2. Dodgers 3. Diamondbacks 4. Giants 5. Rockies Look for the Padres to run away and hide from this division. Then -- unlike the Chargers -- they won't stop once the playoffs arrive. World Series: Padres vs. Blue Jays World Series Champions: Padres Dave Hutchison
American League 1. New York 2. Baltimore(WC) 3. Boston 4. Tampa Bay 5. Toronto Central 1. Detroit 2. Chicago 3. Minnesota 4. Kansas City 5. Cleveland West 1. Los Angeles 2. Oakland 3. Seattle 4. Texas
National League 1. New York 2. Atlanta (WC) 3. Florida 4. Philadelphia 5. Washington Central 1. St. Louis 2. Milwaukee 3. Houston 4. Cincinnati 5. Chicago 6. Pittsburgh West 1. Los Angeles 2. Arizona 3. San Francisco 4. San Diego 5. Colorado AL Champions: Detroit NL Champions: New York Mets World Series Champions: Detroit Comments: I love a nice summer day listening to Bob Uecker and Jim Powell banter back and forth about a lot of things, including baseball. As far as following all the other teams and leagues, I don’t pay much attention until the playoffs. So, a dartboard might be a better indicator of the final standings than my “picks.”
The Crew is due to climb out of sub-500 years and compete atop the Central this year. For the first time since the '92 season, the team has some stability with 4-quality starting pitchers in the rotation. Ned Yost, having provided some consistency for the past several years, is ripe to have a commanding season as leader of the Crew. The off-season has ardently focused on small-ball (base running, bunting, sacrifices, etc.) to help them close those dozen or so 1-run games that always make the difference. Fielder, Weeks, and Hardy are ready to gel together this year....in may be their last all-together. Brad Robinson Here are my picks: American League East 1. Boston 2. New York 3. Baltimore 4. Toronto 5. Tampa Bay
Central West 1. Los Angeles 2. Texas 3. Seattle 4. Oakland I think with the addition of "Dice-K" to Boston's pitching staff and their potent line-up will be enough to get them into the World Series. If all the hard throwers on the Chicago White Sox live up to their potential it might be enough to sneak into the World Series National League East 1. New York 2. Atlanta 3. Philadelphia 4. Florida 5. Washington
Central West 1. Los Angeles 2. San Diego 3. Arizona 4. San Francisco 5. Colorado The New York Mets have a complete team and that will be enough to get into the World Series. The Chicago Cubs could get into the World Series but it will depend on the acquisitions they make at the trading deadline. Boston's hitting will carry them past the Mets to win the World Series. With Boston winning the 2007 World Series that means the 2008 season will represent 100 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series! American League Champ - Boston National League Champ - New York Mets
World Series Champ - Boston |