That’s right, it’s time once again to compare the Sports Illustrated predictions with what really happened in 2005. Oh, and I might as well throw in Bob’s picks, while I’m at it, and I hope I’ve managed to correctly decipher all the cute names he used for the teams…
SI Prediction Bob's Prediction Actual Results
NL East
Atlanta Braves N.Y. Mets Atlanta Braves
Florida Marlins Atlanta Braves Philadelphia Phillies
N.Y. Mets Philadelphia Phillies Florida Marlins
Philadelphia Phillies Florida Marlins N.Y. Mets
Washington Nationals Washington Nationals Washington Nationals
NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals
Chicago Cubs Chicago Cubs Houston Astros
Houston Astros Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati Reds Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers Pittsburgh Pirates Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates Houston Astros Pittsburgh Pirates
NL West
San Francisco Giants San Diego Padres San Diego Padres
L.A. Dodgers Colorado Rockies Arizona Diamondbacks
San Diego Padres L.A. Dodgers San Francisco Giants
Arizona Diamondbacks San Francisco Giants L.A. Dodgers
Colorado Rockies Arizona Diamondbacks Colorado Rockies
AL East
New York Yankees New York Yankees New York Yankees*
Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox
Baltimore Orioles Toronto Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles
Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tampa Bay Devil Rays Tampa Bay Devil Rays
AL Central
Minnesota Twins Detroit Tigers Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians Minnesota Twins Cleveland Indians
Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox Minnesota Twins
Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals Kansas City Royals Kansas City Royals
AL West
L.A. Angels Oakland A's L.A. Angels
Texas Rangers L.A. Angels Oakland A's
Oakland A's Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers
Seattle Mariners Texas Rangers Seattle Mariners
*-The Yankees and Red Sox both finished with the same record (95-67),
and the MLB standings I'm looking at have the Red Sox on top for what
I believe are reasons relating to alphabetical order. But it seems weird
to me to have the division champion listed under the wild-card team.
Sports Illustrated was better with their predictions than they were last year, but here’s a special salute to Bob for predicting the correct division champion in the NL West (and they managed to finish with a winning record, too!).
One thing I noticed while perusing the final standings: the Cardinals had the same record at home and on the road (50-31). I believe earlier in the season, I made a tongue-in-cheek comment in this blog that the Cardinals were “boring.” Clearly, the word I meant was “consistent.”