College World Series Split, Who Will Win it All

Game two of the NCAA college world series goes to Texas just as I had said but LSU didn't fight back like I had thought. Texas came out firing and once they got the lead they never turned back. Even with their aluminum baseball bats the two teams only combined to score 6 runs all of which coming in the first three innings making this a very low scoring college baseball game. Texas's win does however bring my baseball predictions up to a record of 17-5.

Now both LSU and Texas have a chance at winning their sixth and seventh College World Series title, respectively, and each team definitely has the skill with several players that will likely play Major League Baseball. Both teams have outstanding power and outstanding pitching, and both teams have had seasons deserving of a College Baseball World Series title. But only one team can win and who it is will come down to three things: pitching, hitting, and motivation. LSU and Texas are pretty even when it comes to the pitching and hitting so I think the true factor determining who wins tonight is motivation, who wants to win it more. I believe that LSU will want it more for a couple of reasons. They are just coming off a loss where they were all but completely shutdown by one pitcher who pitched a complete game and they will want redemption tonight and will be looking to swing the baseball bats early and often. They also have so many fans in Rosenblatt Stadium it's almost like they are playing a home game. If the crowd can get into it early I have no doubt that LSU can win. Remember you heard it here first that LSU will win this years NCAA College World Series.

NCAA World Series Predictions

Well the NCAA World Series is about to start and sadly my favorite college team, the Alabama Crimson Tide are not in it. The Final 8 teams are Arkansas, Cal St. Fullerton, Virginia, LSU, Arizona St., North Carolina, Southern Miss., and Texas. Now these are all great teams with talented players and experienced coaches. But for me two teams stand above the rest and they are the two teams I think will be playing against each other in the Finals.

They are LSU and Texas. Now I know most people are picking Texas because they are the juggernaut and right now look like the best choice but I think if you really look at the team they are solid from the ground up. They have very tuned-in hitters with the team average over .300 and led by Russ Moldenhauer with a .355 batting average and Kyle Russell with 19 home runs. Offense was definitely there strong suite 524 runs. There pitching on the other hand struggled slightly with a team ERA of 4.48 but are led by Chance Ruffin who has an ERA of 1.96.

Well pitching is definitely one of the LSU Tigers strengths with a team ERA of 3.99 and three different pitchers with individual ERA's under 3.00. But they are not to shabby on the offensive end either with a team batting average of .315. They also have the long ball with 19 homeruns from Ryan Shimpf, 15 from Blake Dean, and 12 from Leon Landry.

With all this said and the mainstream media going with Texas I'm going to have to differ and say that LSU wins it with pitching in 3 games.

NL West Predictions

I move from AL East predictions all the way to the NL West. Now this one is pretty easy for me so I'll add a catch I'm going to predict the exact number of wins and the number of games back by the second place team.

Well I have to first start off with the Dodgers who right now have the best record in baseball with an outstanding 40-21 record. With or without Manny Ramirez they seem to be dominating not only their division but all of baseball. With no small credit going to Juan Pierre, Manny's replacement. While Mannywood may not be as popular without it's star, his absence seems to have not hurt the Dodgers as much as most thought it would. Although I do think when he returns it will only do the Dodgers good.

As for the rest of the division, the Giants, Padres, Rockies, and Diamondbacks have not put up much of a fight in the wake of the Dodger dominance. Although I have to hand it to the San Francisco Giant's pitchers who have a collective ERA of 3.75 which is the second best in the National League. Although sadly pitching just isn't enough for them. While being 3 games over .500 they are still 8 games back of the leading Dodgers.

Now as for my actual predictions I have the Dodgers winning of course but with an outstanding 105 wins. I then have the Giants an amazing 20 games back but still competing for the Wild Card but not getting it.

Predictions of the AL East

Now I have already said that the Braves are my favorite team but the local team that I have to root for is the Tampa Bay Rays. Now I love the Braves but alas I can't go watch them play so I settle for watching the Rays. Now I have to say I'm not just some ban wagon fan after their ALCS run last year. I have been going to Rays since the franchise started. I believe last years success was no fluke but the culmination of hard work and great coaching.

Now to my predictions.

Well right now Boston is leading the division followed by the Yankees, Toronto, Tampa, and Baltimore. I believe that the three major powers of this division are the Red Sox, Yankees, and Rays and that Toronto is playing well right now but they do not have roster to stay around. The Rays who are 6 games off the lead are still a pretty young team and I see them finding their groove and catching up to Boston. Now I think Boston is a great team and they have a great roster and coach in Terri Francona but I don't think they can keep it up the way David Ortiz has been playing this year. I just think that his mental struggles will be contagious and the hole team will have difficulties this year. Now as for the Yankees I think that they started slow and are picking up speed with C.C. Sabathia hitting his stride and with A-Rod in the lineup I have them winning this division. But like I said early I see Tampa Bay getting Better and even winning the AL wild card.