Grading Last Year's Predictions: American League

So with spring training inching closer and closer, it is almost time for me to make my 2010 predictions. But before I do that, I thought I should take a look back and grade myself on how I did last year.

Today I will be looking at how my American League predictions panned out. The rest of the schedule looks like this:

• Fri. 2/5 - Grading 2009 NL East Predictions
  
• Mon. 2/8 - Mail Bag (Send me your questions!)
• Tues. 2/9 - Grading 2009 NL West Predictions
  
• Wed. 2/10 - Grading 2009 NL Central Predictions
• Thur. 2/11 - Grading 2009 Postseason & Awards Predictions

So, without further adieu, lets get at it.
[Here's my link to the 2009 AL Predictions article: 2009 AL Pred.]

AL West Predicted: Angels, Rangers, A's, Mariners
AL West Actual: Angels, Rangers, Mariners, A's

AL West Grade: A-
Considering I only flip-flopped the 3rd and 4th place positions, I give myself a solid A-. Got a problem with how this teacher grades? Call the principal. Oh, and I'm the principal, too. So don't waste your time.

AL Central Predicted: Twins, White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Royals
AL Central Actual: Twins, Tigers, White Sox, Indians, Royals

AL Central Grade: B
I gave myself a B even though I only got 2 of the 5 right. The reason is I got the first place team right and I got a lot of grief for that pick. And first place is all that really matters anyway. Plus, the only team I really got wrong was the Tigers. Not to mention I went way out on a limb picking the Royals to finish last. So a B sounds fair.

AL East Predicted: Red Sox, Rays, Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles
AL East Actual: Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays, Orioles

AL East Grade: C+
Again I got 2 out of 5. But in all fairness, I did have the order of the Sox and Rays correct. However, my first place decision was clouded by my disdain for the Yanks. I call that prediction more wishful thinking. I'll do better this year. But I deserve that C+.

2009 AL Prediction Wrap-up:
Overall, I got the right placement for 6 out of the total 14 teams. Not half bad. I really only missed Detroit and New York. I'll give them more credit this year. Learn from my mistakes. And don't forget, I picked the Twinkies when nobody else would touch them. Yeah. That was me. I did that.

See ya'll tomorrow. Questions? Comments? Love it? Hate it? Don't be shy. Comment below.