Okay, so I was 17 games off in my spring prediction...

So... whadda I know?

Not much.

In fact, rather than blog, and give my ignorance away for free, I should sell my predictions to the highest bidder, who can bet the opposite of whatever I say. Bingo. 

I had the Yankees winning 85 games. (Alphonso had them at 81.) And in the above link, you can find everyone's predictions of March, and they're not pretty.

The combined wisdom of this blog foresaw 93 victories. But there were among sayers of sooth: Carl Weitz and Vampifella... take a bow.

You each predicted 104 wins. 

This is what Carl wrote: I'm probably the most optimistic of the group even though Steinbrenner is a foolish tightwad and Cashman is an obsessive moron. But I'm only sanguine about the number of wins because the Red Sox lost their closer, has a mediocre bullpen and won an odds-defying number of one-run games. Couple that with the Yankees improving their pitching, a bit on defense and their best hitters remaining healthy and having to improve over last year (I'm talking about Bird, Sanchez and Stanton). Couple that with 2/3 of the other teams tanking on purpose or otherwise just sucking and there you have the extra 4 game win total over last year.

Oh, and here's another prediction: I say the Tampa Rays take a big step backward and will be fighting Toronto for third/fourth place. They might not win 81 games.
One last thing: Cashman always claims that the reason he screws over his borderline MLB players such as Frazer and Wade, etc and shops on the scrap heap for worse players is because they "have experience" and signs them for insurance. Where is the Yankee's insurance for Cashman's incompetence?

As for Vamp: The last 5 weeks of play can make the strong teams like the Red Sox, Yanks and Astros go anywhere from 95-105 or higher. It all depends on how much the other teams are phoning in on their games against them. This year's last 5 is easy for the Yanks as they are almost all against teams trying to tank to be the worse, so I'm going with 104 because too many teams will simply hand them games at that point of the season.

I cannot determine who'll go to the WS though. Sox/Stros/Yanks all has about an equal chance. Sox always seems so overpowered but they also loose enough games against the Yanks as well. The Astros can win at any time as well. No one else I really consider a threat against the Yanks. A's/Rays/M's could win a spot just because everyone else is just so bad, but I don't see them being better than the Yanks by any means.

So, how many post-season victories do we predict? Eleven wins the brass ring.

Prediction to follow, but first, some random thoughts, based on last night:

Once again, pitching and defense will win this. That bodes well against Minnesota, with one exception: Giancarlo Clankton in left field. Thus far, he hasn't looked bad, but my recollections are that he remains a borderline DH, and Cameron Maybin deserves the shot. 

Two inning saves are always hell. As soon as Josh Hader started throwing fastballs into the bleachers, Milwaukee was in trouble... because it was only the eighth. I hope Aaron Boone takes notice: With the Yankees deep bullpen, there's no need to bring in Aroldis too soon. 

The week off helps the Wild Card winners. Years ago, the Wild Card was held ASAP, with each team's wear-and-tear on full display. But after last night, Nats will be on stilts when they see the Dodgers, who will spend the week on their Playstatons. The five-day break could ice down Houston. And that's what we must root for: Whichever AL Wild Card team succeeds, they must take the Astros in five. That's our best chance.

I predict six wins. Sorry.