2010 MLB Playoffs / Award Predictions / Twins

It's a little late but this was the predictions I made prior to the playoff beginning this year.  It's not looking so good for me but I'll consider it a moral victory if Texas gets in and if it's the Rangers and Giants I'll probably even try to watch the series as much as I can.

Award predictions:

AL ROY - Neftali Feliz.  Austin Jackson has a nice year but 40 saves and a .88 WHIP are just too good.

NL ROY - Buster Posey.  I think Jason Heyward should win because of the body of work for the whole season but with how SF changed when Posey came up I think he's going to win...and the home run he hit the last game of the year cemented it.

AL Manager - Gardy.  I've never loved how he's manged the X's and O's (I think he does get out managed at times) but he is definitely is a good player manager and had a nice year considering he was dealing with a ton of injuries.

NL Manager - Dusty Baker. He definitely earned it this year bringing a Cincinnati team to the playoffs that no one thought would be in the hunt.

AL Cy Young - Felix Hernandez.  I hate seeing a guy who went 13-12 win the award but he was easily the best pitcher in the AL.  And, because pitchers are eligible for the MVP (something I completely disagree with) I don't feel as bad since the MVP award takes team performance into account more than Cy Young does.

NL Cy Young - 'Doc' Halladay.  It's not going to be close.

AL MVP - Josh Hamilton.  Painfully, I think it should be Robinson Cano.  He held the Yankees afloat when Jeter, Teixeira, ARod, Granderson, etc. all had down years or got hurt.  Hamilton was great and I think Texas winning the West is going to be enough for him to get the award but I struggle giving it to someone who only had sixteen official at bats after August 31st.

NL MVP - Joey Votto. Pound for pound no one meant more to a playoff team this year in the NL than he did.

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2011 Twins

The Twins are in trouble next year.  Payroll is no longer an excuse.  Joe Christensen from Star tribune predicts a 2011 payroll of of $105 million.  That number is without Orlando Hudson, Jim Thome, Carl Pavano, Jesse Crain, Matt Guerrier and Brian Fuentes next year.  That's with a bench whose highest paid player is Brendan Harris and a starting rotation that still does not have its much needed ace.  For that amount of money, this team looks like another one and done in the playoffs at best.

STARTING LINEUP
1. CF, Denard Span: $1 million
2. 2B, Alexi Casilla: $600,000**
3. C, Joe Mauer: $23 million
4. 1B, Justin Morneau: $15 million
5. LF, Delmon Young: $5 million**
6. DH, Jason Kubel: $5.25 million***
7. RF, Michael Cuddyer: $10.5 million
8. 3B, Danny Valencia: $420,000*
9. SS, J.J. Hardy: $6 million**
Total (9 starters): $66,770,000

BENCH
INF, Brendan Harris: $1.75 million****
INF, Matt Tolbert: $425,000*
C, Drew Butera: $420,000*
C, Jose Morales: $420,000*
OF, Jason Repko: $700,000*
Total (5 bench players): $3,715,000

ROTATION
1. Francisco Liriano: $4 million**
2. Scott Baker: $5 million
3. Brian Duensing: $450,000*
4: Nick Blackburn: $3 million
5. Kevin Slowey: $3 million**
Total (5 starters): $15,450,000

BULLPEN
Joe Nathan: $11.25 million
Matt Capps: $6 million**
Jose Mijares: $470,000*
Pat Neshek: $650,000**
Glen Perkins: $750,000**
Alex Burnett: $415,000*
Total: (6 relievers): $19,535,000

PROJECTED 25-MAN TOTAL: $105,470,000

* Estimate: 0-3 years MLB service
** Estimate:arbitration eligible
*** Assumes team picks up 2011 option.
**** Salary guaranteed despite finishing 2010 in minors.

FREE AGENTS (2010 SALARY)
Clay Condrey: $900,000
Jesse Crain: $2 million
Randy Flores: $650,000
Brian Fuentes: $9 million
Matt Guerrier: $3.15 million
Orlando Hudson: $5 million
Ron Mahay: $800,000
Carl Pavano: $8 million
*Nick Punto: $4 million
Jon Rauch: $2.9 million
Jim Thome $1.7 million
* Twins are expected to decline his $5 million option.

My suggestion:s for 2011: That's a blog for a different day...