BDD ‘09 Predictions — LCS / World Series
Posted by Brian Joseph on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Finally, the main course of our prediction meal — who we think will win the 2009 World Series. Our consensus picks — Boston Red Sox and Cubs — are both the favorites to win their respective leagues, according to the oddsmakers.
Our choice for this year’s World Series champions? The Boston Red Sox!
Actually, the Red Sox were chosen by five of our writers. Boston was followed by the Yankees (2), Cubs (2), Dodgers (1) and Indians (1). The oddsmakers agree with us to with the Red Sox and Yankees both 11/2 favorites to win the World Series.
The American League was not as clear cut as it seems with the Yankees and Red Sox splitting the panel 5-5. I was the only one to not stick with the chalk in the AL with my choice of the Cleveland Indians to win the American League. With the overwhelming support received for the Red Sox to take down the World Series compared to the Yankees lukewarm support, the Red Sox were chosen to win it all.
In the National League, the Cubs (5) were the most supported to get to the World Series but only one of the five had them winning it all. The Dodgers (3), Phillies (2) and Brewers (1) rounded out the predictions for National League glory.
Surprisingly, the Angels and Mets received no LCS selections. I know I’m an admitted Mets hater but out of 11 knowledgable baseball people, not one felt the Mets would at least win the National League? As for the Angels, it seems that a lot of people are scared off by their rotation concerns and no one has really given any credence to how good they have looked this spring… at least no one on this panel.
With the economics of the game in flux and that likely to lead to some early season moves as some teams aim to position themselves better financially and possibly sacrifice success on the field, this year may be affected by trades more than last year. So, even if we’re right in some cases, it won’t be for the same reasons that led us to that conclusion.
But it won’t stop us from making predictions… and it won’t stop anyone else, either! And it won’t stop us from taking credit when we’re right.
As with all of the other predictions, here is a graphical breakdown of our selections, first by playoff participant and second by postseason advancement:
And now how the playoffs will shake out:
