Tags
2018 Baseball Contests, 2018 MillersTime Baseball Contests, baseball, MillersTime Baseball Contests, MLB
Yes.
And none too soon.
Which means it’s time for:
2018 MillersTime Baseball Contests
Contest #1:
Pick your favorite MLB team (or the team you know the best) and answer the following questions to prove whether you’re just a homer (“Someone who shows blind loyalty to a team or organization, typically ignoring any shortcomings or faults they have”) or whether you really know something about your team and can honestly evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. Please answer all three parts of the question.
- What will your team’s regular season 162 game record be in 2018?
- Will they make the playoffs, and if so, how far will they go?
- What will be the most important SINGLE factor (hitting, starting pitching, bullpen, an individual’s performance, the manager, injuries, etc.) in determining their season?
Prize: Two tickets to a regular season game with your favorite team (details to be negotiated with moi.)
Contest #2:
Which League will win the All Star Game in 2018?
Tie-Breakers: Name the first MLB player to hit 30 HRs and the first MLB pitcher to win 12 games.
Prize: Join me after the All Star break to see a Nats’ game in wonderful seats. If you don’t live in this area or can’t get here, we can work out seats to a game somewhere that you can attend.
Contest #3: True or False:
A. The new MLB rules (shorter commercial breaks and limit of six non pitching visits to the mound by manager, coach or other players) will NOT result in reducing the average game time to under three hours. (Average time in 2017 was 3:05.)
B. The New York Yankees WILL win the AL East in 2018.
C. The Washington Nationals WILL NOT win the NL East in 2018.
D. There will be no 20 game winning pitchers in either league in 2018. (There were none in 2017 and three in 2016.)
E. At least one pitcher in the regular 2018 MLB season will have an ERA under 2.0. (There were none in 2017 or 2016. One did it in 2015 and two in 2014.)
F. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge together will hit at least 115 regular season HRs in 2018. (In 2017 they ‘combined’ for 111.)
G. At least one MLB batter will strike out 220 times or more in 2018 regular season play. (Aaron Judge struck out 208 times in 2017, and Chris Davis struck out 217 times in 2016.)
H. There will be at least 8 Triple Plays in the MLB this year. (Over the last 10 years the average has been 4.1 per year, and in each of the last two years there were 7 each year.)
I. At least three teams will win 100 games or more in 2018. (Three teams did so in 2017: Astros – 101, Indians – 102, Dodgers – 104).
J. One of Grand Papa’s (c’est moi) grandchildren will witness in person (at an MLB game) a grand slam, a triple play, a no hitter, an extra inning game, or Teddy win the President’s race at the Nats’ stadium.
Prize: Your choice of one of these books: The 20 Best Books Ever Written About Baseball.
Contest #4 :
Who will be the two teams in the World Series in 2018 and which team will win it all?
Tie-Breaker: Name the five teams in each league who will make the playoffs.
Prize: One ticket to the 2018 World Series.
Additional Details:
- All winners get the ‘one-of-a-kind,’ specially designed and updated MillersTime Baseball Winner T-Shirt in addition to the prizes outlined above.
- Enter as many or as few of the contests as you want.
- Be sure to answer all parts of each contest you do enter.
- If you get a friend (or a foe) to participate in these contests, and he/she wins and has mentioned your name in their submission, you will get a prize also.
- First time entrants who are runners up in any contest will get THE T-shirt.
- Any two-generation submissions (mother/daughter, grandfather/grandson, etc.) who are runners up will also get THE T-Shirt.
- Get your predictions in soon. In case of ties in any contest, the individual who submitted his/her prediction(s) first will be the winner.
- Submissions should be sent to me in an email – samesty84@gmail.com
Deadline for Submissions: Opening Day: March 29, 2:40 PM, EST
Ben Senturia said:
St L Cardinals
Contest 1
1. 86 wins
2. They will not make the playoffs
3. Ineffective starting pitching
Contest 2
National Lg
Judge, Kershaw
Ran out of time before Card vs Nats in Jupiter. More later
Larry Longenecker said:
Contest #1
1 – Cubs 100 & 62
2 – Yes World Series
3 – Pitching by reuniting Joe Maddon and Jim Hickey
Contest #2
American League
30 HRs Stanton
12 games – Kershaw
Contest #3
A – F
B – T
C – F
D – F
E – F
F – T
G – F
H – F
I – F
j – T
Contest #4
Cubs vs Yankees Cubs win
NL – Dodgers, Cubs, Nationals, Cardinals, Giants
AL – Yankees, Astros, Indians, Red Sox, Angels
David Price said:
My dear chap! Thank you for allowing a mere limey mortal like myself to enter your wonderful MillersTime baseball competition for 2018. Good luck to everyone who enters their predictions for what should be another great MLB season:
Contest 1. Despite the annual frustrations of the Cashman/Steinbrenner juggernaut micromanaging perhaps the ‘best’ team in baseball (well on paper anyway), I still hold an unquenchable allegiance and love for the Yankees of New York City. It’s true to say that in this household at least, we do not hold much hope for the latest victim (clears throat) manager of this once great team as we have no faith in Joes replacement. Aaron Boone advertised himself as being a mediocre, non-committaled individual during his short tenure with the Boston infatuated ESPN Sunday night crew (I’ll reserve my comments about Jessica Mendoza for another day) and lacks personality. Will he be able to cut-it with bad umpiring decisions or arguments with opposing managers or players? Being an apparent nice guy and an ex-Yankee to boot, I wager that the Bronx faithful et al will soon eat him alive.
1. The Yankees will finish the season with a respectable 98/64 record. Boston will cheat and complain their way to another AL East title.
2. Yes. Sadly they will be knocked out of the competition in a weather effected game in the hostile aviary that is Baltimore.
3. As ever, pitching will be the Achilles heel of the Yankees outfit for another season. Much has been written about the acquisition of the powerhouse that is Giancarlo Stanton (word on the street is that Jeter didn’t want him in the Miami clubhouse anymore questioning his enthusiasm towards the Marlins?) but pitching in the Big Apple is lacking. CC (aka the Yankees version of Eddie Harris from the Major League movie) resembles the author of these words in being completely over the hill. He should not be back for another season. Severino lacks moral fiber and ability. Tanaka is an enigma and Betances appears in desperate need of shock therapy. The rest are out with the washing.
Contest 2.
1. The National League will win the All Star Game in extra innings.
2. Tie-breaker: MLB’s first 30 HR hitter will be ‘Lazy’ Gary Sanchez of the New York Yankees. This kid would be a world beater if he could be bothered. Honestly he’s bone idle! The first pitcher to reach 12 winning games will be Chris Sale of the Sawks. It may take him a while to achieve this goal due to the odd suspension here and there plus his annual visit to rehab for uniform affliction, but he remains a decent pitcher in such a sub-standard team.
Contest 3.
A. True
B. False but hope-springs-eternal!
C. True. Why are the Nationals so overrated? Where does the misfiled optimism come from each year?
D. True.
E. False.
F. False. Stanton is injury prone and Judge is said to be unhappy with his $600K per year salary despite being the face of the franchise.
G. True. Bryce Harper will strike out more this season than anyone. He’s SO due. There’s a saying about his ability to hit going forward that involves a bovine posterior and a musical instrument similar to a guitar. Sadly, next season I see him in pinstripes.
H. False.
I. False.
J. True. Fingers crossed for the Miller family to witness all 5 events.
Contest 4.
1. The 2018 WS will be contested between Atlanta Braves v Bawston Sawks. The braves will win in 6 games.
2. Tie-Breaker:
NL playoff teams: Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cub, LA Dodgers and the 2nd best team in New York.
AL playoff teams: Bawston Sawks, De Yankees, Baltimore Tweetie Pies, Houston ‘lucky’ Astros and Kansas Royals.
Bon chance mes amis!
Romana Campos said:
Hi Richard,
Thanks for reminding me, as you know what a procrastinator I am and I’m sight-seeing in Geneva, so there’s that! :). One quiet night available, so here goes nothing:
Contest 1:
1. Nationals, 99-63
2. Yes, they’ll go to the World Series (!!)
3. Hitting (Murphy, Harper and Rendon especially)
Contest 2:
National League
Tiebreaker: Aaron Judge; Stephen Strasburg
Contest 3:
A. True
B. True
C. False
D. False
E. False
F. False
G. False
H. False
I. True
J. True
Contest 4: Nationals- Yankees; Nationals will win!!
Playoffs National League: Nationals, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Cardinals
Playoffs American League: Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, Indians, Twins
So, are you going to opening day? Of course! Right? Last year I insisted we go to opening day even though logistically it was harder but I was reminded of your blog and the meaning of attending big events that are memorable.
Go NATS!
Romana
Jon Frank said:
Contest #1 (Nats)
1. 100-62
2. Yes, lose in NLCS
3. Pitching…starting rotation needs to stay healthy and closer situation needs to be solid like it was at the end of last year w/ Doolittle.
Contest #2
AL
Tiebreaker:
First to hit 30 HRs – Giancarlo Stanton
First to 12 wins – Kluber
Contest #3
A. T
B. T
C. F
D. F
E. F
F. T
G. F
H. F
I. T
J. T
Contest #4
Series – Astros x Dodgers (pt 2!)
Winner – Astros
Playoff teams
NL – Nats, Dodgers, Cubs, Rockies, Cardinals
AL – Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, Astros, Angels