NL East
Going team by team I seemed to be predicting a wide open race, but in my Final Word I said that Florida was the sure winner. So I guess I was right on both counts, the race was wide open for almost the entire season (aided no doubt by Big Papi's injury), but in the end it was the Marlins who were victorious.
NL Central
So that's what I had to say about Nate's team when predicting a tight race for the NL Central ultimately ending in a banner for Nate. Well, this looks like the year everything is breaking right for Nate, as the Reds finished with the best record in league and left St. Louis in the dust. The Cardinals did ultimately win the Wild Card in the 163rd game of the season, but the defending IBC champs didn't have enough to keep up with the Reds. I'm giving myself partial credit on this pick since I got the division winner and second place teams right, if not the storyline. Now let's see what happens to Nate in the playoffs...Final Word - If everything breaks right for the Reds Nate could have his first IBC banner, but when was the last time everything broke right for the Reds?
NL West
Jag obviously did decide that his time was now, making moves for Joe Blanton and Franklin Morales. Blanton pretty much sucked, but Morales was the ace of the DBacks staff in the second half and carried AZ into a tie with San Diego, the team I expected to win the division, and then won the 1 game playoff. I'm claiming partial credit for picking the winner with a condition and then having the condition come true. Now Jag is going to have to deal with the juggernaut that is Nate and we'll find out if it really is his year.Final Word on the Division - Unless Jag decides his time is now, expect to see a race between San Diego and Los Angeles, with Colorado nipping at everyone's heels. I like that San Diego rotation, and I give them the nod as my pick for the division.
AL East
Remember when we all thought that Pat was going to dominate and be clearly the best team this year? As usual there were 3 100 win teams out the ALE, but it was the surprising Orioles who became the third and just missed the playoffs. I was right about JB winning, which is like being right about the sun coming up in the morning, but clearly mistaken about the Red Sox keeping pace and ultimately winning the wild card. Hey Wild Card Pat, any chance we can H2H this series?Final Word on the division - JB wins again, then loses in the first round again. He's the Peyton Manning of the IBC. The race between Bren and Pat for the WC, which this year should include Minnesota and Kansas City at least to September, will be a big test of the value of pitching vs. offense. I'm leaning towards pitching, though I'd be more confident if Bren had one more lights out pen arm, and predicting that the Red Sox take the AL Wild Card.
AL Central
OK, so I was wrong about this one, I was pretty sure it was Zalaski's year. On the other hand, everyone was pretty sure that this was Zalaski's year, but injuries and dumb luck kept the team with the best run differential in the league from winning the division. Another crown for Andrew, whose reward is the eminently beatable New York Fuck You JBs. I pulled it off last year buddy, now it's your turn. I was wrong about how the division race would shake up, but I'm still claiming partial credit because the prediction that ultimately got me writing about this post (about how team DH in Cleveland was going to blow) turned out correct, though I like some the steps Kelly has made for the future.
AL West
Your 2008 AL West Champions got 79 starts and a 40-22 record out of Mark DiFelice, Kevin Mulvey, Brian Mazone, Antonio Bastardo, and Rowdy Hardy. That is some terrific managing if I do say so myself. As I said in the preview, Seattle had no margin for error (which as it turned out Ropers needed), Texas was going to need some pitching (I'd say Seth got some in form of Santana and Harden), and that it would be another year of top picks for Dave to trade away (which he did for Homer Bailey). So hell yeah I know my division.
The two biggest misses for me were definitely on Boston and KC, we'll see how the arbitrary playoff preview does, it will be coming shortly.
