3/21 – DEADLINE EXTENDED: Contrary to the information at the end of this post, the deadline for submissions has been extended until the first pitch is thrown on Opening Day, March 31, in the US (as opposed to the two games early opening day games in Australia between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks). For individuals who have submitted their picks in a timely fashion, you are welcome to amend any or all of what you’ve submitted. For those of you who are slaggards, your procrastination/careless reading of the previously announced deadline has been ‘rewarded’. However, in case of a tie in any of the contests, the individual who first submitted the prediction will be declared the winner.
Contest #1:
Make a prediction about the 2014 MLB baseball season.
Your prediction could be about a team (e.g., Yankees again will miss the playoffs), about a player (e.g., Jeter won’t play out the season and will only hit .265), about a record (e.g., an extra inning game will go 27 innings*), about an ‘event’ (Ryan Zimmerman will play 12 games at first base), or about whatever you think has a chance of happening in 2014. Lots of possibilities. One prediction only.
Of the predictions that come true, MillersTime readers will determine which one is the best prediction (and, therefore, who wins the prize). In the past, voters have selected the most specific predictions, ones that showed both baseball knowledge and a willingness to predict something a bit unusual.
(* Brooklyn Robins 1, Boston Braves 1, 26 innings (tie), May 1, 1920. The game tied for the most innings ever played in Major League Baseball was made more remarkable by the fact that Brooklyn pitcher Leon Cadore and Boston hurler Joe Oeschger each worked all 26 innings.)
Prize: Your choice of One of These 20 Best Baseball Books Ever Written.
Contest #2:
Pick any MLB team and predict what their regular season record will be in 2014. Also, will they make the playoffs, and how far will they go if they do?
Prize: Two tickets to a regular season game in 2015 that you would like to see. I’ll try to get a particular game if possible.
Contest #3:
Three years ago the Washington Nationals’ record was 80-81. Two years ago it was 98-64 (and they made the playoffs), and last year it was 86-76. What will their regular season record be this year. Tie-Breaker: Will they make the playoffs, and if yes, how far will they go? If they will not make the playoffs, why not?
Prize: Two great seats/tickets to a Nationals’ game in 2015 (will try to get the specific game the winner wants to attend).
Contest #4:
Will the Red Sox or Yankees have a better won-loss regular season record this year? Will either or both make the playoffs? Tie-Breaker: What will the split be in the 19 games they play against each other?
Prize: Two tickets to a Sox-Yankee game in 2014. Winner can choose the park and whether or not I join (use the second ticket).
Contest #5: Race to 406:
Ted Williams was the last MLB player to hit over .400. In 1941 he hit .406, going 6 for 8 in the final two games (double header) of the year, games he could have sat out and still ended the season at .400.
Pick a player whose batting average (sans decimal) and RBIs combined add up closest to 406. Tie-Breaker: How many HRs will the player of your choice hit?
Prize: Your choice of one of these books on baseball statistics.
(Thanx to Chris B. for this contest.)
Contest #6:
Who will be in the World Series? Who will win it all? Tiebreaker: Who will be the WS MVP?
Prize: Two WS tickets for 2015.
Get you predictions in soon. In case of a tie on any contest, the individual who submitted his/her prediction first will be the winner. (Each year it seems as if at least one contest is decided by which prediction was submitted first.)
You don’t have to make predictions in all six contests.
But be sure to answer all parts of any contest you do enter, including Tie-Breakers as some of the contests winners will no doubt depend on the Tie-Breakers.
If you get a friend or foe to participate in these contests, and if he/she wins and has mentioned your name in the email to me making the picks, you will join in the prize also.
Submissions can be sent in an email to me: Samesty84@gmail.com or can be left in the Comment section of this post. (Thanx to LW for pointing out the need for this sentence.)
Deadline for submissions: March 22, 2014, when the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks open the 2014 season in Sydney, Australia.
Land Wayland said:
Dear Richard: Forgive me for missing something but my copy of the baseball contest does not seem to have any way to respond or to enter my choices. What am I missing or am I supposed to compose a separate email and send it to you.
Just like last year, I had a dream last night with Vin Scully giving me all of the answers (including one pitcher throwing three no-hitters) and I can hardly wait to share them.
Land Wayland
Richard said:
Submissions can be sent in an email to me: Samesty84@gmail.com or can be left in the Comment section of this post. (Thanx to LW, see above, for pointing out the need for this sentence.)
Chris Eacho said:
#1 – Red Sox in last at the AS break and trade 4 of their opening day starters at the deadline.
#2 – Orioles 103-59, World Series Champs
#3 – Nationals 92-70, lose to Os in WS
#4 – Yankees 66-95, Red Sox 65-96, series split 8-8. 19th game is rained out and not made up
#5 – Chris Davis .287, 119 RBI, 43 HR
#6 – Orioles over Nats in 6 games; Chris Tillman MVP with 2 complete game shutouts
Randy Candea said:
1) The Red Sox will beat out the Yankees for 4th place in the American League East with 74 wins and 88 losses.
2) The Rays will beat out the Orioles to win the AL East with a 94-68 record
and go on to win the World Series.
3) Pitching will do in the Nationals and their 87-75 record will not be enough to make the playoffs.
4) The Red Sox will go 11-8 over the Yanks this year. Neither team will make the playoffs.
5) Chris Davis: 279 Avg, 121 RBI, 52 HR
6) The Rays will beat St. Louis in the World Series. David Price will win MVP with 3 wins.
Bill Plitt said:
Espinoza will win back 2nd base and hit 28 home runs
Aaron Harang will come up from the Cleveland triple A an win 12 straight games to launch the Indians in the playoffs.
Ed Scholl said:
1) A team will play in the World Series that has either never played in the W.S. (Seattle or Washington), or not played there in 25 years or more.
2) Dodgers; 96-66; they will make the playoffs and win the World Series
3) Nats will go 95-67 and lose to the Dodgers in the NLCS
4) Red Sox will have a better record than the Yankees and make the playoffs; the Yanks will not. The Red Sox will have a 11-8 record against the Yanks.
5) Mike Trout; .310, 96 RBIs, 30 HR
6) Dodgers over the Tigers with Kershaw as MVP
Cory said:
1) Yankees will miss the playoffs
2) Braves record will be 101-61 and they will make it to the World Series.
3) Nats will be 90-72. make playoffs – wildcard
4) Redsox will have better record and split will be 10-6 Redsox
5) no idea – need help here
6) Braves – Braves Shortstop – Andrelton Simmons
Sean said:
Boston will not make the play offs….
The NATS will have a good year: 100-62 record.
(Eat your hearts out!)
O’s will have a winning record with both the Yanks
and that minor league team from BeanTown….10-6ish
Sorry, but Tampa Bay will win the World Series…..
Tears all around.
Bill T said:
Richard – Looking forward to another Nats season – here’s my contest entries…
#1 : The Houston Astros will lose less than 100 games this season. We have to rebuild and get back to the ’86 level sometime.
#2: Continuing with my Astros theme, They will go 64-98, and unfortunately, not make the playoffs.
#3: Being a Nats fan, I’ll guess for a 96-66 record, where they will get the to NLCS series and unfortunately lose to the Dodgers.
#4: Have to say that the Red Sox will be better than the Yankees. Right now I see only Boston making the playoffs and winning 10 out of the 19 matchups between them.
#5: I’ll go out on a limb and pick Denard Span for the 406 contest. He’s got the potential I feel for a banner year this year. He’ll hit 6 HRs if he’s lucky this year.
#6: World Series wise, Dodgers-Mariners. Dodgers will win, but it won’t be easy, and they’ll make Puig the MVP.
Micah Sifry said:
1. Derek Jeter will go 2 for 4 in his last game as a Yankee.
2. The Yankees will be 90-72. They’ll make the playoffs but lose in the ALCS.
3. The Washington Nationals will be 84-78 and miss the playoffs because of an 8 game losing streak in September.
4. The Red Sox will have a better won-loss record, but both will make the playoffs. The Yankees will have the upper hand in the split though, 10-9.
5. Miguel Cabrera. He will hit 39 home runs.
6. The World Series will be Cardinals v. Tigers. Miguel Cabrera will be MVP.
If any of these turn out to be right, all credit goes to my son Jesse!
Brian Steinbach said:
1. Tanaka wins at least 18 games.
2. Houston goes 75-87, no playoffs.
3. Nats go 94-68, win the divison, lose in the NCLS.
(I thought about saying they missed the playoffs, and then answering the question of why with “did not win enough games.” But hope reigned over sarcasm.)
4. Yankess three games up on the Red Sox. Red Sox win 8, Yankees, 9. Yanks make playoffs.
5. Carbrera, 40 HR.
6. Rays and Dodgers. Dodgers win in 7. Arruebarrena MVP.
Nicholas said:
Sooo. Are you guys still around?