NL West

And it is a good dream, and one to be rewarded. But like you, I can't see this team winning 80 - let alone 95. When old teams collapse, they do so brutually - and I worry that this year has "Arizona ThirteenAndAHalfBacks 2004" written all over it.

"Do you know what it takes to pick the Dodgers to win the division on McCovey Chronicles? It takes BRASS BALLS to pick the Dodgers to win the division on McCovey Chronicles."

Derek Lowe and Grady Little together again just seems like a Giants Division title to me.

Giants win by 4 games.

Giants 85-79
Dodgers 85-79
D-backs 79-85
Padres 78-84
Rockies 73-89

I've given the matter a lot of objective consideration, and I truly believe that the Giants will win the one-game tiebreaker.

"My predictions.

Giants 105-57 (Barry hits 49 homers)
Dodgers 88- 74
Padres 82-80
D'backs 75-87
Rockies 40-122 (this is one awful team)

Giants sweep Cardinals and Mets to win NL Championship

Giants win in seven against the Yankees on a dramatic 9th inning home run by Bonds off Rivera. He retires. Rivera not Bonds.

But, then I ALWAYS predict the Giants are going to win it all."

Yes, it is cut and paste from the other thread, but if Grant can rip off MLK, Jr., I can rip off myself. No points for originality, but lots for continued belief in the glorious future of the franchise. Unlike, some who won't be mentioned ... again ... Grant.

Honestly, I just don't see the Giants breaking down like they did last year. If they stay reasonably healthy, they compete and I like their chances. Very likely a good old Giants-Dodgers race down to the wire, but one the good guys win this time.

My nightmare is some rabid baseball fan, egged on by the self-righteous sports media, tries to pull a "Tonya Harding" on Barry in order to "save baseball" and the season is in the toilet.

Giants 88 wins.

My prediction:

Giants 105-57 (stolen from Sayhey)
D'backs 84-78
Padres 78-84
Rockies 72-90
Dodgers 70-92

For the record, I think they'll be awful this season. Like last year, but without that late season play-off tease.

Fantastic predictions! I couldn't agree with you more.

Sincerely,
Dayne Perry

(You should be ashamed)

Good                   Evil              Verdict
Schmidt                Lowe              Schmidt
Morris                 Penny             Tie
Lowry                  Perez             Lowry
Cain                   Tomko             Cain
Wright                 Seo               Seo.  

Rotation = Giants 2 to Dodgers 2.  

Corriea               Houlton            Correia
Fassero               Carter             Fassero
Taschner              Kuo                Taschner
Munter                Osoria             Munter
Kline                 Baez               Baez  
Worrell               Brazoban           Worrell
Benitez               Gagne              Gagne

Bullpen = Giants 5 and Dodgers 2.  

Lineup:

Matheny               Navarro            Matheny
Niekro               Garciaparra      Garciaparra
Durham                Kent               Kent
Vizquel               Furcal             Furcal
Feliz                 Mueller            Mueller
Bonds                 Cruz, Jr?          Bonds
Winn                  Lofton             Winn
Alou                  Drew               Tie

Lineup = Giants 3 and Dodgers 4

Bench
Greene               Alomar             Greene
Sweeney              Saenz              Sweeney
Vizcaino             Robles             Robles
Finley               Ledee              Finley
Ellison             Werth/Repko         Ellison

Bench = Giants 4 and Dodgers 1

Conclusion:

The Dodgers' slightly better line up will not be enough to make up for their lack of depth and weak bullpen.  Dodgers will start strong, but grow weaker over the season.  Giants will beat them out for the division title in the final week of the season.    

Well, injuries aside--either I'll look good or I won't have any control over what happens--I believe that the division will go like this:

Giants
Dodgers
Padres
D-Backs
Rockies

To add some fun to things, I think that the baseball Gods and one angry and motivated Barry Bonds (demi-God) will take the Giants to the World Series.  I mean, isn't this just one of those kinds of years?

I'm not happy with our age, but Giants to greater heights.

Go Giants!

Duck the Fodgers!

http://zachls.blogspot.com/

I also think orangeandblackattack has the analysis down cold. The Giants are a better team, and should win the division* (*void where prohibited by mental health professionals. Your experience may vary. Contest ends Oct. 1st. If ballgame persists for longer than four hours, consult a physician).

Grant, I think it's healthy that you have some skepticism about the Giants this year. How could we not after last year? And yet.....  I've been to the Lorraine Motel; I've looked up at the balcony; and I can safely say that, although the dreamer may be gone, the Dream is STILL ALIVE.

San Francisco: 91-71
Los Angeles: 87-75
Arizona: 80-82
San Diego: 71-91
Colorado: 68-94

D'backs, Pads, and Rockies only have one good starter each (Estes is the Pads #2! nuff said). I think Barry will be Barry, just slightly less often. Cain will finish 3rd in the Rookie of the Year balloting. Lowry will establish himself. Munter will be the saviour of the bullpen. Niekro will be acceptable. Vizquel will still flash the leather. Matheny will still surprise you doubters. Frandsen will shine in his 3-week fill-in stint as our starting 2B, giving us hope for next year and a reality check for Durham. Jack Taschner's mom will post on MCC. On the strength of our pitching, we'll beat the Mets in the NLDS and the Cards in the NLCS.