Playoff Predictions

NL North

Detroit Ducks

The Ducks have captured the NL North each of the last two years, but got bounced out of the playoffs in the first round both times. Is this the year that the Ducks fly high? It remains to be seen, but they have been one of the best teams in the NL North, and we see nothing to change the fact this year. Make it a third year in a row, but watch out for the always dangerous Scallywags.

NL East

Augusta Lobsters

Many people may consider this pick insane considering the dreaded Boston Brown Sox have won the division title every year in Clarkson history except Season 2 (when it was owned by different management). However, we here at the Clarkson Gazette are calling for change in our great sport! The Lobsters (formerly the Wichita Werewolves) have put together an incredible team, and we think that the new home for this team will be the spark to crown a new NL East Champion. Good luck all you Lobster-Heads out there, you’re going to need it.

NL South

New Orleans Mob

The Mob have built up a solid team in the tough NL South, where all four teams nearly finished over .500 for the year. Finishing second in the division last year, the Mob were swept out of the playoffs by division rival Louisville. However, it was a step in the right direction, and we at the Gazette feel in may be the Mob’s year, although that is anyone’s guess in the tight NL South. Whoever takes it though, it will be a hard fought victory.

NL West

LA Trojans

Last season World Champs return looking at fearsome as ever, and we think they will keep on rolling towards another division crown. Many of our staff are picking the Trojans to repeat as World Champs this season, after dominating the NL West by a whopping 22 game lead to end the season. Look for Portland to improve, but in the end, LA will prove to be too much of a challenge, and will take the NL West Crown for the third straight year.

Wilcards:

Boston Brown Sox

The Brown Sox will find themselves in the unfamiliar position of the Wild Card, but don’t sleep on these monsters. Losing the division might the kick in the butt this team needs to propel them to their first World Title in 9 seasons.

Monterrey Banditos

The second wild-card spot is more difficult to predict, as this could easily be Louisville, Cincinnati or Portland. However we’re going with the lowly Banditos, whose franchise has never made the playoffs once in Clarkson history. If their young pitching holds up, they could make their first trip to the playoffs.

AL North

Tacoma Timebombs

The Timebombs finished just 1 game out in last years AL North Division race, losing the division title to the Toledo Holies, but still making one of the wild-card spots. Once in the playoffs, they were swept out by the Mountain View, three games to one. This year, we flipped a coin between Tacoma and Toledo, and it came up heads for Tacoma. Our prediction, Tacoma for the division by 1 game over Toledo.

AL East

New York Bombers

Last season was a tough pill to swallow for the Bombers, who captured their 6th straight AL East title. Rolling into the playoffs as the AL juggernaut, they were smacked in the mouth by the upstart Cornheads from Iowa City, getting bounced three games to 1 in the second round. Knowing that this probably didn’t sit well in the Big Apples, we predict a monster season out of the Bombers, and another division title win.

AL South

Richmond Rebels

We strongly considered putting the Texas Funerals here, simply because of the man-crush we have on Napoleon Duff, but we couldn’t ignore those Rebels from Richmond. Finishing 4 games back last season, the Rebels were unable to capture a Wild-Card berth either, and were sent packing early. However, they have won 3 out of the last 4 division titles, and we predict another added to the list this season. Whoever comes in second in the division though will be staying home, as we cannot see a Wild-Card coming out of this division.

AL West

Salt Lake City Mountain View

Winds of change are blowing in the often weak AL West, where the long national nightmare is finally over, and the Colorado Expos are no more. However at the top of the division, it looks like the view will be good once again for the Mountain View, winners of the last two division titles. In a division dominated by former World Champs Seattle Rain, the Mountain View have developed a strong hold on the division. The main question will be if they can push their way further into the playoffs this season, but it does appear to be a good year to try.

Wildcards:

Iowa City Cornheads

Can last years AL Champions do it again? If they can, it will have to be in the same manner as last year, from the wild-card spot. But we’re not sure they mind, the Cornheads are tough, and have been down that path before.

Toledo Holies

As mentioned above, the Holies lost out on our coin flip, so they get the Wild-Card berth. However, this is a team to watch out for in the playoffs this season. They could be a dark horse for AL Champs.