Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

MLB season predictions for 2013

Posted Saturday, March 30, 2013, at 8:26 AM

'Tis the season. Each year, in my final column prior to Opening Day, I lay out my annual predictions for the coming year.

These are entirely opinion, but based on, literally, small mountains of research. I've poured through statistics, scouting reports, box scores and much more to reach these conclusions.

Some of them you will agree with and some you won't, but that's how it works.

While my column typically focuses on the Cardinals, I will not pick them to win the World Series each year. If I genuinely believe it, then I will, but not just to garner smiles.

Otherwise, you will never get anything useful out of what you read here.

I picked the Cardinals over the Reds in the Central. Not a lot of people are doing that right now, but there's a reason. Cincinnati doesn't have the depth, anywhere, to weather a storm the way the Cardinals can this season. The two teams have well-matched rotations, but the Cards have a stronger bullpen and offense (if everyone's in the lineup). To expect Cincinnati's entire pitching staff to perform like it did in 2013 is expecting a lot. Is it possible? Yes. Likely? That's another question.

If Cincinnati doesn't make it to October, a lack of organizational depth will have played a huge role.

I greatly appreciate all of you who read this column and look forward to another exciting year of chatting baseball with you all.

I thoroughly look forward to the comments, emails and phone calls that will likely follow this column.

On a side note, this week's live chat will take place at 9 p.m. CST Monday evening to coincide with at least a portion of the Cardinals season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Visit http://dailystatesman.com/baseballchat

American League

West

Texas (90-72)

w1-Anaheim (89-73)

Oakland (78-84)

Seattle (76-86)

Houston (61-101)

Central

Detroit (89-73)

Kansas City (82-80)

Chicago (75-87)

Cleveland (72-90)

Minnesota (66-96)

East

Toronto (89-73)

w2-Tampa (87-75)

New York (85-77)

Boston (79-83)

Baltimore (75-87)

National League

West

San Francisco (88-74)

Los Angeles (86-76)

Arizona (80-82)

San Diego (74-88)

Colorado (71-91)

Central

St. Louis (89-73)

w-2-Cincinnati (88-74)

Milwaukee (81-81)

Pittsburgh (80-82)

Chicago (76-86)

East

Washington, D.C. (99-63)

w1-Atlanta (89-73)

Philadelphia (83-79)

New York M. (75-87)

Miami (68-94)

NL Wild Card

Atlanta *

Cincinnati

AL Wild Card

Anaheim

Tampa *

NL Champion

Washington over St. Louis

AL Champion

Detroit over Tampa

World Series

Detroit

AL MVP: Mike Trout, Anaheim

AL CY YOUNG: Justin Verlander, Detroit

AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jurickson Profar, Texas

NL MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington

NL CY YOUNG: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles

NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Shelby Miller, St. Louis

Comments

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I agree I just don't buy into Okland being as good as last year, but didn't think they worth a darn last year!

So who knows they will probably win it again.

Surprised with your AL east though... Why do you think the Yanks will even finish that high in the east, and O's finish last? I would have them flip flop....

Keep up the great work.

On another note I saw this tweet and thought of Dustin Ward and had to share it

@DanKriegs12: Posey gets $170 million. Waino, Molina, & Craig get a combined barely over $200 million guaranteed. #MOisaBeast

-- Posted by Kobeyashi on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 10:03 AM
I think Texas finally takes a step back this year. I like the rest of picks minus the Rangers plus the A's and I think that is for sure the playoffs. It's impossible to pick a WS champion at this time of the year since its such a long season, but I feel that Detroit doesn't have enough quality at the back end of their rotation and a porous bullpen which will eat a club alive in October. I honestly believe Atlanta, DC, and Anaheim have the best shot at taking the title this year due their pitching strength and/or the strength of their supernova youngster( Trout, Harper) but you never know someone could get hot and steal it ala the Cardinals 2011

-- Posted by Bunk on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 12:11 PM
What about Baltimore? Why do you think they won't repeat last year, and why do you think the Yanks will finish 3rd? I feel they are the worst in their division.

-- Posted by Kobeyashi on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 2:34 PM
Texas lost a lot of offense over the off season. Even a healthy Lance Berkman cannot replace what the Rangers lost. I see Texas finishing 3rd place, behind Oakland and Los Angeles (Anaheim). I also agree with Kobeyashi and think you greatly under rated Baltimore. Futhermore, you are giving the Cubs more wins than I feel they will actually win this year. I think they are about a 65 win team this year.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 3:26 PM
Here are the facts about Baltimore they won more one run baseball games( a little over 20) than any team in the history of baseball..... that's it that is all you need to know about why they are not likely to repeat their success. One run games are extremely difficult to win and in most teams cases every year since the inception of the game the probability that you win a game that is decided by one run is around 50%. The Orioles were extremely lucky last year. I'm not saying they played well but for the staff the had, the lineup they had, and the bullpen they had they played way over their heads when the game got close so I find it highly unlikely they trap lighting in a bottle two years in a row.

-- Posted by Bunk on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 3:37 PM
I think there should be real concern in yankee land especially if baseball comes snooping into Cano at all with the rumors about the Miami clinic. This team is the "hope we can some other no names on base in front of our superstar so he can knock them in otherwise our offense is screwed team" this year. I can spot these teams because the Cardinals did this a few times and it didn't work. If anyone thinks Vernon Wells is going to ride in and save the day they are mistaken. This team would be lucky to finish third in my opinion .

-- Posted by Bunk on Sat, Mar 30, 2013, at 3:47 PM
I think a healthier Philadelphia team stocked with veteran players will be a contender in the East.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 1:17 AM
Now your just trolling us DW

-- Posted by Bunk on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 8:03 AM
Bunk

I'm really not. I think a healthy Philadelphia team gets in the playoffs last year.

Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay should be ready to go this year. Howard has had a great spring.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 3:37 PM
Halladay has had a horrible spring though. Plus Utley rarely makes it a full year without injury. They have a horrible outfield and a very overrated Michael Young playing key contributing roles which is scary. Plus how bad is the back of that rotation.( answer is really bad they have limited starter depth). Also the bullpen is severly lacking beyond Papelbon

-- Posted by Bunk on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 3:55 PM
It will be interesting to see if Danny Haren has a season for Washington like Kip Wells once had in St. Louis.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 9:02 PM
You mean you hope he pitches as horribly as Kip Wells did in 07? I wouldn't wish that on worst enemy DW

-- Posted by Bunk on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 9:57 PM
Astros are in 1st place with the best record in baseball!!

-- Posted by DaleDoback on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 11:10 PM
Payroll? We don't need no stinking payroll! Stros all the way! 162-0!

-- Posted by Bunk on Sun, Mar 31, 2013, at 11:46 PM
The Reds are unlikely to win a World Series unless legendary GM Walt Jocketty makes a trade for a true ace to lead the top of the rotation in the playoffs. The Reds lack a true ace but should cruise to a division title.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Mon, Apr 1, 2013, at 2:27 AM
Bunk

If he continues to pitch like he did in spring training he could be the Kip Wells of 2007.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Mon, Apr 1, 2013, at 2:28 AM

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