2011 MLB Playoffs

The season is only 10 percent over, give or take depending on the the number of games each team has played. Hardly a milestone moment that allows early returns to hold any significance.

But it does offer a little more of a view than preseason predictions, does it not? Predictions that I did not make.

Thus, in election night coverage style, I will look at the early returns and make projections. These are the teams I forecast as winning the races for the eight playoff spots in order of record:

A few weeks tardy, but here are my thoughts and analysis on the season that lies ahead. Thus far in the young season, there have been some big surprises. The Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals are a combined 23-11, while the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets trail their respective divisions. Okay, the Mets' early woes aren't much of a shock.

View From the Rockpile: Musings From a Mile High Along the Journey to Rocktober

There’s no bigger stage for a middle-market club than the sparkling new sandlot just a skip, hop and a seven-train jump from Broadway.  Do it here, and media, critics and fans will take notice. 

America, meet the 2011 Colorado Rockies.

There were a few concerns for the Colorado Rockies, the team that many experts picked as the favorite to unseat the defending world champion and division rival San Francisco Giants.

One week into the 2011 season, those expectations don't seem too out of reach. 

With all the positives that this season could potentially bring, there are, of course, some things the team still needs to work on.

Continuing my springtime tradition, I will give my thoughts on the upcoming season for the Cincinnati Reds. Again, like last year, I am a little late getting started. The Reds have jumped out to a 4-0 start as I write this.

Ahh, the sweet smell of April.

The only time of year where Indians and Mariners fans have the same amount of hope as Yankees and Phillies fans. That is because April is a time for a fresh start and a new beginning. One hundred and two years without a World Championship for the Cubs and 18 straight losing seasons for the Pirates mean nothing right now, because every team has a chance.

But right now, only one series through the season, I am predicting the 8 teams that I believe are postseason bound.

Some are obvious and some will surprise a lot of people. 

Hope.  For now.  

That's how baseball fans see it as we inch past Opening Day.  No matter how improbable it might be, fans everywhere believe this is the year their team takes it to the next level.

Yankees?  Phillies?  Red Sox? Forget about it!  We’ve all seen Tampa Bay shoot onto the scene, and we all witnessed the Rockies remarkable run to the playoffs only a few seasons ago. 

All 30 teams set out with the same goal, but in the end, only one team can achieve it.

Which begs the question; which team will it be?

The revamped Red Sox or the pitching-rich Phillies? Or will the Yankees pounce from the weeds to win a 28th Title? Will the Rangers avenge their loss in the Series last year, or will the Giants repeat?

How it all plays out is anyone's guess. I've taken a shot in the dark and tried to forecast what happens this October.

Before I get to my predictions for the postseason, I'll fill you in to how I see the pennant race playing out.

After an amazing 2010 season last year, which included unforgettable moments like Armando Gallaraga's near perfect game, Jose Bautista ripping a league-high 54 Homers, Roy Halladay's playoff no-hitter and a perfect Mother's Day for Dallas Braden, fans everywhere are anxiously awaiting 2011, which they hope will be even more special.  

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With less than one week to go, every team has questions, concerns and confidence heading into the new season. 

After one month of watching the MLB channels and reading various magazines, here are some points/predictions/questions that come to my mind:

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks