Baseball Prediction: The 2006 White Sox Will Settle For The Wild Card

By: Dr. Gary S. Goodman
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:36
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Detroit is unstoppable; let’s face it, fellow Chicago White Sox fans.

The Sox have the second best record in all of baseball, in the National and the American leagues. But Detroit will edge them out for the Central Division Championship this year.

That’s my prediction and I’m sticking to it.

I say this because:

(1) The Tigers are managed by Jim Leyland, and I think that fact is going to give them the edge in at least five crucial games down the stretch. His experience and poise under pressure will keep the team playing at a fever pitch.

(2) Detroit’s schedule in July is more favorable than that of the Sox. The Tigers are playing more games against weak teams, so I believe they’ll pick up another game or two on their division rivals in that month, alone, giving them a four game lead going into August.

(3) Detroit is hungrier. I heard the fans at Comerica Park going crazy on every pitch the other night against the Astros, and fan support will constitute the 10th player on the field for the team for the rest of the season.

(4) Detroit is managing around injuries very well, platooning Pudge Rodriguez and others as they need to. The Sox have had a few hit the disabled list, but manager Guillen’s abilities to shuffle a lineup card may not be as sharp as Jim Leyland’s.

(5) The White Sox believe they’ll continue to beat Detroit, head to head, as they’ve been able to do this year, to date. I don’t see that lasting, because Detroit has to find its confidence building as they start pulling away in July, and any mystique the Sox have will have rubbed off by that point.

And of course, the Wild Card championship is not a lock. The Yankees are going to be in the race. They’re managing very well to be in second place in both the Eastern Division of the American League, and in the Wild Card race, given their injuries.

If they make a solid trade or two, or get some of their personnel back for August or September, they’re going to be tough competition for the Sox.

Stay tuned for more predictions!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is the best-selling author of 12 books, over 600 articles, and the creator of numerous audio and video training programs, including "The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable," published by Nightingale-Conant-a favorite among salespeople and entrepreneurs. For information about booking Gary to speak at your next sales, customer service or management meeting, conference or convention, please address your inquiry to: gary@customersatisfaction.com

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Baseball category

  • Fantasy Baseball - Taking a Full Swing - By: Chris Campbell
    Fantasy baseball, in all it's incarnations and iterations may seem a little unwieldy to the uninitiated, but it's really not that difficult to participate in, just requires a little time and persistence to get started. Many camps seem to have a myriad of rules, regulations and procedures to follow. However; it wouldn't have the following it does, if it wasn't easy enough for the average beer swilling baseball fan to engage in.
  • The Incredible Wiffle Ball Bat - By: Terry Edwards
    Is there a better backyard game than playing wiffle ball with an official wiffle ball bat? I can remember as a kid playing wiffle ball day after day during the summer in our neighborhood. What started in the 1950's has sure exploded today.
  • If You Want To Play Baseball, Here Are Some Must Haves - By: Gregg Hall
    Baseball is America's pastime. To play the game there are a few basic pieces of equipment that everyone must have on hand. For most, this equipment is common knowledge, but some may be less familiar with the terminology and rules.
  • Basics of Baseball Betting - By: RJ Bell
    While football and basketball are the most popular sports to bet on, baseball could be the easiest for beginners once you understand how to read the money line. Money line gambling is the primary wagering option for baseball bettors, which involves betting on the straight-up game outcome with no consideration for a point spread. Oddsmakers use the money line so that more money must be risked on the favorite or expected winner and less money on the underdog to balance the action on both sides.
  • How To Choose A Great Baseball Bat - By: Gregg Hall
    Perhaps the most important aspect of baseball is to have a bat that suits your needs. A bat's weight, length, and material can all have a positive or negative affect on a batter's swing. Consider every option when choosing a baseball bat for yourself.
  • Choosing the Right Catchers Mitt - By: Scott Mokoski
    The catcher kneels behind the plate, and pounds his catchers mitt then gives the pitcher the sign. The bang of the crowd, the rush of the game, the rush of victory. The agony of sensitive muscles, the torment of suspense, the torture of defeat.
  • On Cars, Baseball and the Halcyon Days of Summer - By: Ed Bagley
    The automotive world was introduced to economies of scale in 1954 as Nash and Hudson (yes, those were makes of cars exactly 52 years ago) merged to form American Motors. Both Nash and Hudson models are history now. Heck, American Motors has taken a hike since then too.
  • The Traditional American Game - By: Jonathon Hardcastle
    Like life in traditional society, but unlike football and basketball, the other two major American team sports, baseball is not governed by the clock and amazes many foreigners that it is the "national sport" in a fast-paced United States. Being a very popular team sport, apart from North America also in Latin America, the Caribbean and East Asia, baseball is a bat-and-ball game in which a pitcher throws a fist-sized hard ball past the hitting area of a batter. The batter, who belongs to the other team, then attempts to hit the ball with a smooth, cylindrical bat made of wood or metal.
  • My Daughter Came of Age in Disney - By: Aron Wallad
    The girls had worked real hard. Selling raffle tickets. Participating in hitting contests to raise money.
  • Never Look Back - Baseball History - Leroy "Satchel" Page - By: Lindsey Williams
    Never Look BackNew Year resolutions come and go -- except for me.Many years ago – none of your business how many -- I adopted a set of good intentions propounded by the legendary African-American baseball player Leroy Paige.He was best known as “Satchel” – a nickname he acquired as a young boy carrying luggage for nickels at the Mobile, Ala.