March 30, 2011

ESPN: Red Sox Overwhelming Favourites to Win World Series

Will the Red Sox be playing in the 2011 World Series? Over at ESPN, 42 of its 45 pundits say Yes!

45 of 45 (100%) pick the Red Sox to win the AL East
42 of 45 (93%) pick the Red Sox to win the AL pennant
33 of 45 (73%) pick the Red Sox to win the World Series
                     AL EAST   WILD CARD   WORLD SERIES
Marty Bernosk        Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Aaron Boone          Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Steve Berthiaume     Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Dave Cameron         Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Jim Caple            Red Sox   Rays        White Sox over Phillies
Jason Churchill      Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Tristan Cockcroft    Red Sox   Yankees     Phillies over Yankees
Jerry Crasnick       Red Sox   Yankees     Braves over Red Sox
Richard Durrett      Red Sox   Yankees     Phillies over Red Sox
Gordon Edes          Red Sox   Tigers      Red Sox over Phillies
Doug Glanville       Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Jason Grey           Red Sox   Rays        Red Sox over Giants
Steve Goldman        Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Pedro Gomez          Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Orel Hershiser       Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Tony Jackson         Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Giants
Eric Karabell        Red Sox   Rays        Phillies over Rays
Jonah Keri           Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Brewers
John Kruk            Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
David Kull           Red Sox   Yankees     Rockies over Red Sox
Tim Kurkjian         Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Keith Law            Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Andrew Marchand      Red Sox   Yankees     Phillies over Red Sox
Joe McDonald         Red Sox   Blue Jays   Red Sox over Phillies
Matt Meyers          Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Mark Mulder          Red Sox   A's         Phillies over Red Sox
Amy K. Nelson        Red Sox   A's         Braves over Red Sox
Dave O'Brien         Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Buster Olney         Red Sox   Yankees     Giants over Red Sox
Doug Padilla         Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Nick Pietruszkiewicz Red Sox   Yankees     Phillies over Red Sox
Karl Ravech          Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Nate Ravitz          Red Sox   Rays        Red Sox over Phillies
Mark Saxon           Red Sox   Rangers     Red Sox over Phillies
David Schoenfield    Red Sox   A's         Red Sox over Braves
Jon Sciambi          Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Dan Shulman          Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Braves
Mark Simon           Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Jayson Stark         Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Rick Sutcliffe       Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Matt Szefc           Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Peter Pascarelli     Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Giants
Bobby Valentine      Red Sox   Yankees     Phillies over Red Sox
Dave Winfield        Red Sox   Yankees     Red Sox over Phillies
Gene Wojciechowski   Red Sox   Tigers      Red Sox over Phillies
Other ESPN picks:

Cy Young Award
Jon Lester        22
Justin Verlander   7
Felix Hernandez    5
CC Sabathia        5
David Price        4
Clay Buchholz      1
Gio Gonzalez       1
Most Valuable Player
Adrian Gonzalez   15
Robinson Cano     12
Miguel Cabrera     4
Evan Longoria      4
Carl Crawford      3
Alex Rodrguez      3
Kevin Youkilis     2
Josh Hamilton      1
Mark Teixeira      1
Jayson Stark, on the Red Sox:
[T]hey finished second in the big leagues in runs scored last year -- and that was before they went out this winter and added Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. So how good can this team be? ...

"Everyone in Major League Baseball has some kind of fatal weakness -- except the Red Sox," said the same GM who rated the Phillies the NL's best. "I mean, what's their weakness -- that they're not going to crush left-handed pitching? If that's the worst thing people can pick out, they're in a good place.

"They should have really good starting pitching. They should have a really good bullpen. They've got speed and power. So every other team out there has way more significant holes than they do. Look, things can always go wrong. Lester could go down. Crawford could go down. If that happens, it's a different story. But we're at the starting line. And I don't see how you can look at that team and not think they're a huge favorite."

Well, you know what? I don't, either.

They're better than the Phillies. They're better than the Yankees. They're better than the Rangers. They're better than everyone ...

11 comments:

nick said...

Can we just get on w/ the season already? itch itch scratch scratch.

I haven't upgraded my cable, so I'm still without watching, but I bought the iphone app so I can listen to the radio and see some GDGD. Given my schedule, I'm not sure I can justify the $50+ a month for what'll be less than 10 games a month of TV time.

I may still crack once the season starts.

Patrick said...

Let's make all these people look smart!

allan said...

As I have always said, ESPN is friggin stocked with baseball geniuses. Stocked.

laura k said...

Suddenly all the pundits are incredibly intelligent and insightful!

allan said...

So ... who will win the AL Pennant?

42 - Red Sox
1 - White Sox
1 - Rays
1 - Yankees

laura k said...

I'm not sure I can justify the $50+ a month for what'll be less than 10 games a month of TV time.

Sure you can. Wouldn't you rather have the Red Sox available to you whenever your schedule permits than $50 more in your pocket each month?

It's one thing if you totally can't afford it - believe me, I get that - but if it's a matter of budgeting, when you're available, you'll be glad you have the option. So will Emma!

andy said...

All this praise and promise has me worried. Also if there is no cap on multiple logins I will share my MLB.TV premium membership with you Nick.

Amy said...

All these predictions make me want to spit and say poo-poo-poo.

nick said...

very kind of you, andy!, but MLB.tv blacks out local games so I'd miss all the Sox games. grrr. When I went out west a couple years back a kind feller let we use his account. It worked great on multiple logins.

Emma would miss me as I fall into the television set. The few nights I'm not out doing anything are usually the nights I'm with her (and even then doing things).

still, having this game on right now... the force is strong.

Unknown said...

Predictions are nice but the beauty of the game is the unpredicted usually happens - i.e. SF Giants WS win.

I love the comments how the current Red Sox Nation might get use to winning vs. the 86 years of heart-break the OLDER RSN endured.

Finally, I am really disappointed in that fact that Tito just does not get respect. He is a patient and sharp coach - pre-game and during the game tactics.

ALSO - MLB.TV sucks - their blackout policy makes the service useless. When I am free to watch games they usually blackout the games like FRIDAY, SATURDAY and SUNDAY. I recommend MLB.Audio instead. Then - pay for the games you can get without blackout.

Why NESN does not show online real-time games is beyond me.

GO SOX!!!

This time the RSN hype is for real.

allan said...

Predictions are nice but the beauty of the game is the unpredicted usually happens

You'll get no argument from me.

I am really disappointed in that fact that Tito just does not get respect. He is a patient and sharp coach - pre-game and during the game tactics.

He gets a ton of respect here.