I told you that Sports Illustrated’s prediction that the Rays would win the AL East was the kiss of death! Now we have no Hope, no Jobs, and no Maddon — at least we have Cash.
Other obvious disappointments: Red Sox, Rangers, Reds.
| Sports Illustrated | Baseballrelated.com | Actual Results |
|---|---|---|
| AL East | ||
| 1. Tampa Bay Rays (95-67) | 1. Tampa Bay Rays (91-71) | 1. Baltimore Orioles (96-66) |
| 2. Boston Red Sox (92-70) | 2. Baltimore Orioles (88-74) | 2. New York Yankees (84-78) |
| 3. N.Y. Yankees (82-80) | 2. Boston Red Sox (88-74) | 3. Toronto Blue Jays (77-85) |
| 4. Baltimore Orioles (78-84) | 2. N.Y. Yankees (88-74) | 4. Tampa Bay Rays (77-85) |
| 5. Toronto Blue Jays (73-89) | 5. Toronto Blue Jays (74-88) | 5. Boston Red Sox (71-91) |
| AL Central | ||
| 1. Detroit Tigers (92-70) | 1. Detroit Tigers (92-70) | 1. Detroit Tigers (90-72) |
| 2. Kansas City Royals (88-74) | 2. Cleveland Indians (84-78) | 2. Kansas City Royals (89-73) |
| 3. Cleveland Indians (82-80) | 3. Kansas City Royals (81-81) | 3. Cleveland Indians (85-77) |
| 4. Chicago White Sox (65-97) | 4. Chicago White Sox (70-92) | 4. Chicago White Sox (73-69) |
| 5. Minnesota Twins (62-100) | 5. Minnesota Twins (66-96) | 5. Minnesota Twins (70-92) |
| AL West | ||
| 1. Oakland Athletics (94-68) | 1. Oakland Athletics (95-67) | 1. L.A. Angels (98-64) |
| 2. Texas Rangers (90-72) | 2. Texas Rangers (92-70) | 2. Oakland Athletics (88-74) |
| 3. L.A. Angels (78-84) | 3. L.A. Angels (82-80) | 3. Seattle Mariners (87-75) |
| 4. Seattle Mariners (76-86) | 4. Seattle Mariners (72-90) | 4. Houston Astros (70-92) |
| 5. Houston Astros (57-105) | 5. Houston Astros (52-110) | 5. Texas Rangers (67-95) |
| NL East | ||
| 1. Washington Nationals (96-66) | 1. Atlanta Braves (95-67) | 1. Washington Nationals (96-66) |
| 2. Atlanta Braves (84-78) | 2. Washington Nationals (90-72) | 2. Atlanta Braves (79-83) |
| 3. N.Y. Mets (73-89) | 3. Philadelphia Phillies (76-86) | 2. N.Y. Mets (79-83) |
| 4. Philadelphia Phillies (67-95) | 4. N.Y. Mets (74-88) | 4. Miami Marlins (77-85) |
| 5. Miami Marlins (65-97) | 5. Miami Marlins (64-98) | 5. Philadelphia Phillies (73-89) |
| NL Central | ||
| 1. St. Louis Cardinals (96-66) | 1. St. Louis Cardinals (94-68) | 1. St. Louis Cardinals (90-72) |
| 2. Cincinnati Reds (91-71) | 2. Cincinnati Reds (92-70) | 2. Pittsburgh Pirates (88-74) |
| 3. Pittsburgh Pirates (83-79) | 3. Pittsburgh Pirates (89-73) | 3. Milwaukee Brewers (82-80) |
| 4. Milwaukee Brewers (79-83) | 4. Milwaukee Brewers (77-85) | 4. Cincinnati Reds (76-86) |
| 5. Chicago Cubs (62-100) | 5. Chicago Cubs (64-98) | 5. Chicago Cubs (73-89) |
| NL West | ||
| 1. L.A. Dodgers (99-63) | 1. L.A. Dodgers (90-72) | 1. L.A. Dodgers (94-68) |
| 2. San Francisco Giants (92-70) | 2. San Francisco Giants (82-80) | 2. San Francisco Giants (88-74) |
| 3. San Diego Padres (84-78) | 3. Arizona Diamondbacks (81-81) | 3. San Diego Padres (77-85) |
| 4. Arizona Diamondbacks (79-83) | 4. San Diego Padres (76-86) | 4. Colorado Rockies (66-96) |
| 5. Colorado Rockies (76-86) | 5. Colorado Rockies (71-91) | 5. Arizona Diamondbacks (64-98) |