Bold and refreshing 2008 predictions

The question: If a baseball season kicks off a week early with two games played in Japan, does it make a sound?

The answer: Yes. Kinda. Sorta.

The baseball season is upon us, but because we had to wake up super early to watch the games and because we couldn’t watch any of it first hand, it seems like maybe the A’s-Red Sox series was all a dream. It’s like when a restaurant or a casino opens with a “soft opening” serving only friends, family and VIP customers for the first week. Technically, they’re open. But not really.

While we’re waiting for the 2008 season to officially start, we here at Umpbump thought we’d make a few predictions about how things will unfold. Feel free to use these predictions as ammo to discredit us in the future.

Coley’s Picks:

NL East: Braves
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Card: Diamondbacks

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: A’s
AL Wild Card: Yankees

NL Rookie of the Year: Hiroki Kuroda
AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria

NL CY Young: Aaron Harang
AL CY Young: Rich Harden

NL MVP: David Wright
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

Sarah’s Picks:

NL East: Mets
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: Phillies

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Mariners
AL Wild Card: Yankees

NL Rookie of the Year: Johnny Cueto
AL Rookie of the Year: Jacoby Ellsbury

NL CY Young: Johan Santana
AL CY Young: Josh Beckett

NL MVP: David Wright
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

Alejandro’s Picks:

NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Card: Braves

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: White Sox
AL West: Mariners
AL Wild Card: Tigers

NL Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome
AL Rookie of the Year: Alexei Ramirez

NL CY Young: Johan Santana
AL CY Young: Rich Harden

NL MVP:David Wright
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

Nick’s Picks:

NL East: Phillies
NL Central: Brewers
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Card: Cubs

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: A’s
AL Wild Card: Red Sox

NL Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome
AL Rookie of the Year: Daric Barton

NL CY Young: Dan Haren
AL CY Young: Justin Verlander

NL MVP: Ryan Braun
AL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

Paul’s Picks:

NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card: Brewers

AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Angels
AL Wild Card: Red Sox

NL Rookie of the Year: Kosuke Fukudome
AL Rookie of the Year: Daric Barton

NL CY Young: Johan Santana
AL CY Young: C.C. Sabathia

NL MVP: Ryan Braun
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez