Evan Brunell’s 2010 MLB Predictions: Does Boston win it?

As the advent of spring training games are upon us, I thought I’d kick off everyone’s favorite little exercise by providing my own personal predictions as to how I think the season will shake out. Now, before I do so, a word of caution: predictions can change daily based on events. Heck, my predictions change multiple times a week. But I’ve gotta make predictions at some point, right? Point being, I might disagree with my own predictions a week from now. Most of the time, these kind of predictions are an exercise in fallacy, but it’s not going to stop me from trying.

I don’t know why I made things harder on myself, but I set out to present an exact record. This means I had to go into a spreadsheet and make sure all the wins and losses totaled the correct amount of games while also balancing out to a .500 record. Took me a while, but dadgum it, I did it. One thing I did not control for was the unbalanced schedule (in a total record sense), but I already strained my tenuous math skills, so I wasn’t about to complicate it further.

Click “read more” or the headline to find my predictions.

Brad Mills heads to Houston… was he man behind curtain for Francona?

Little late on this, but worthy of mention. The Sox bench coach, Brad Mills, has departed to Houston for two years plus a club option. All the platitudes out of Sox camp you expected to hear were said.

Houston owner Drayton McLane said that — and Francona verified — Mills was given a lot more responsibility than your average bench coach. He ran spring training and handled most of the player communication. That’s great, and it makes Mills doubly qualified to be a big league manager.

But it worries be from Francona’s perspective. All along, we’ve heard that he’s a player’s manager and players love him. How do they know that if it’s Mills doing most of the talking all season? And if it’s Mills doing the bonding monotonous exercises in spring training? Has Mills been the man responsible for what Tito supposedly excels at? Is Tito more the game manager, and Mills the player’s manager? If true, maybe you start hearing about how Tito’s become more stern over the years.

All conjecture, but it crossed my mind.

Wakefield, Hoyer, and Squinting at Free Agents

Wake Undergoes Surgery

Tim Wakefield underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a herniated disk and loose bone fragment in his back. Wakefield is expected to pitch next year and should be ready for Spring Training. The 43 year-old vet was visually hampered last year, turning in a 4.58 ERA and 4.58 FIP despite his woeful last three starts (14 IP, 14 ER, 8 K, 12 BB).

Squinting at Free Agents

While we have gone at length discussing the top free agents and mapping out blueprints for the Sox’ offseason, there are a number of intriguing names on the market that are flying under the radar. Not all of them are the safest bets, with varying levels of performance or injury history, but they do have some sex appeal. Here are a few names to mull over. Special thanks to Eddie Bajek of MLB Trade Rumors.

OF Rick Ankiel: Ankiel came off a sub-par season in 2009, as his power was down, his walks were down, and his K’s were up en route to a .231/.285/.387 line.

Carter, Green make 25-man

Nick Green and Chris Carter are your final members of the 2009 Opening Day Boston Red Sox, Sean McAdams reports. Carter grabs the “Kotsay spot” and should see time at first and DH until Kotsay returns in May. Green will back up the infield until Julio Lugo returns a week or two into the season.

Things can change if the Red Sox make an acqusition this week. The Sox are known to like Jeff Keppinger, who is available. If they do acquire Keppinger, you would have to think Lugo will not return at all.

Mills, Hale don’t get Mariners job

Brad Mills and DeMarlo Hale will have to wait for another team. The Seattle Mariners will announce Athletics bench coach Don Wakamatsu as their new manager.

While we’re here, what about John Farrell declining to interview with the Seattle Mariners? Have the Sox given him a handshake deal that he will succeed Terry Francona as manager?

Sox interested in Derek Lowe; bullpen questions

Pass on Lowe. If the Sox could let him go after 2004 and his postseason heroics due to a concern about his pitching ability and his off-the-field issues, why bring him back four years later at a salary that should be at least $15 million and years not less than four?

Mills, Hale interviewing for Mariners job

The Seattle Mariners are kicking off their managerial search by interviewing seven people. Two people are currently Boston Red Sox coaches: bench coach Brad Mills and third-base coach DeMarlo Hale. John Farrell declined the opportunity to.

HOU 11, BOS 10: Berkman and Lee lead charge

Lance Berkman’s two-RBI double in the bottom of the eighth was the difference as Houston beat Boston 11-10.
Mike Lowell’s solo-homer in the top of the ninth made it 11-10.
Goat of [...]

6/29: Don’t Disappoint Me

Prev. Gm:

Boston Red Sox (50-33) @ Houston Astros (38-43)
Josh Beckett (7-5, 3.73) @ Brian Moehler (4-3, 4.03)
2:05 PM EDT | Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
TV: NESN RADIO: [...]

6/28: Can Lester Stay Hot?

Prev. Gm:

Boston Red Sox (50-32) @ Houston Astros (37-43)
Jon Lester (6-3, 3.13) @ Brandon Backe (5-8, 4.82)
7:05 PM EDT | Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
TV: NESN RADIO: [...]