The United States of Esoterica

Starting tomorrow evening, I'll begin reassembling the esteemed panel that constitutes the BoA:Audio Baseball Special. As such, it's time for the 2014 post-season predictions from guests, listeners, forum members, and Binnall to be submitted. Same rules, as always, apply. Good luck to all who enter.

For the killjoys who may want to enter but don't want to join the forum, you can email your picks to me here: tbinnall@hotmail.com

Some rules ...

* You only get credit for exact picks (i.e. if you pick the Mets for NL East and they win NL Wildcard, you get no points for that). However, in the event of a tie, such transposed picks will be used as tiebreakers.

* Presumptive deadline to enter is Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 ... but we're flexible about that for folks who wish to join up after hearing the baseball special, which should 'air' on or around April 4th.

And now ... make your picks ...



Notes:

* After 2009's stunning victory by usofe member MysteryMan, we instituted an additional prize: usofe champion wins the right to appear on the 2014 edition of the Baseball Special as a guest. Note, winner of this prize may opt out if they don't want to appear on the show. In the event of a mass tie, as in 2011, there shall be no on-air representative.

* So ... winner gets a shout-out on BoA:Audio, bragging rights for one year, and a spot in the BoA Hall of Champions. usofe winner gets a spot on the 2014 special. If the usofe winner's points exceed the BoA:Audio winner's points, that person will earn the sole claim to the BoA Baseball League title (after 2009's controversial Loren Coleman v. MM debate).

*Previous Champions:
2008 BoA:Audio Baseball Special -- Richard Dolan
2008 usofe -- redsonsuperman & smokincat
2009 BoA:Audio Baseball Special -- Loren Coleman
2009 usofe -- Mystery Man
2010 BoA:Audio Baseball Special -- Tim Binnall
2010 usofe -- LeagueMinimum
2011 BoA:Audio Baseball Special -- Jason Offutt
2012 BoA:Audio Baseball Special -- Paul Kimball
2012 usofe -- shotz90s
2013 BoA:Audio Baseball Special -- Greg Bishop
2013 useofe -- RedSonSuperman

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"Give a lunatic a keyboard and a modem and that's what happens." -- Jeff Rense, 2.25.5

"An artist has got to be constantly in a state of becoming." -- Bob Dylan

Here they are, with personal bias going for the Nationals. As much as I'd like to, I couldn't put the O's in this year. May they take every series with the Sox.

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
AL Wildcard I: Royals
AL Wildcard II: Angels

NL East: Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wildcard I:Braves
NL Wildcard II: Giants

AL Champions: Red Sox
NL Champions: Nationals

World Series Champions: Nationals

I doubt it. The O's will stink. Stuck in a perpetual 'bridge year.'

_________________
"Give a lunatic a keyboard and a modem and that's what happens." -- Jeff Rense, 2.25.5

"An artist has got to be constantly in a state of becoming." -- Bob Dylan

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
AL Wildcard I: Royals
AL Wildcard II: Rays

NL East: Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wildcard I: Pirates
NL Wildcard II: Giants

AL Champions: Rangers
NL Champions: Nationals

World Series Champions: Nationals

_________________
"I didn't need to learn what I learned today." -- Jesse Ventura.
"There is but one special interest that we should be working for, and that would solve just about all of our problems, and that is our liberty. " - Ron Paul.

AL East: Red Sox
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: A's
AL Wildcard I: Rangers
AL Wildcard II: Yankees

NL East: Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wildcard I: Pirates
NL Wildcard II: Braves

AL Champions: Tigers
NL Champions: Dodgers

World Series Champions: Dodgers

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You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded.
- Michael Scott

They do that every year after a they make the post season.....Angelos is a schmuck.

Yankees have a totally new lineup, gotta ruminate on how that's gonna change 'em up.

After much debate and consternation, here are my picks ...

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"Give a lunatic a keyboard and a modem and that's what happens." -- Jeff Rense, 2.25.5

"An artist has got to be constantly in a state of becoming." -- Bob Dylan

Interesting you chose Tampa over Boston.

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You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded.
- Michael Scott

As will be noted during the baseball special, I'm counting on 'championship hangover' combined with Tampa Bay finally getting over the hump and winning it all. As much as I dislike them, they're due. I'm feeling like the Sox will come a bit back to Earth this year, but will come roaring back in 2015 once their guys on the cusp of the majors are ready to contribute to the team.

I had 95% of my picks done last week, but kept wavering over the 2nd NL Wildcard team until I finally opted for the Braves. It was a total dart toss guess which could have gone to Arizona, Cincinnati, or Pittsburgh, all of whom I expect to be competitive this year (although the Pirates will probably regress back out of the playoffs).

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"Give a lunatic a keyboard and a modem and that's what happens." -- Jeff Rense, 2.25.5

"An artist has got to be constantly in a state of becoming." -- Bob Dylan

I thought both wild card NL teams were tough. Pittsburgh had a phenomenal bullpen that I think won't be as good this year but they still have good starting pitching and a good offense. I wanted to put Arizona over Atlanta but my gut told me to pick Atlanta. San Fran and Milwaukee are 2 teams I just have no idea how good they'll be.

_________________
You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they're acting retarded.
- Michael Scott

Opening day

Sox' 9 hits to the Orioles' 6 tells the story. Boston will be just fine. That said, Baltimore looks very good and I've underestimated them greatly. I bet they come in 3rd and beat out the Yankees.

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"Give a lunatic a keyboard and a modem and that's what happens." -- Jeff Rense, 2.25.5

"An artist has got to be constantly in a state of becoming." -- Bob Dylan

I have consulted my mystical baseball and here is what it has foretold.

AL East: Rays
AL Central: Tigers
AL West: Rangers
AL Wildcard I: Red Sox
AL Wildcard II: Royals

NL East: Nationals
NL Central: Cardinals
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wildcard I: Atlanta
NL Wildcard II: Giants

AL Champions: Rays
NL Champions: Dodgers

World Series Champions: Dodgers

I'd be happy with the same result.