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    Big League Stew

    Eric Byrnes picks Nationals for World Series

    By Kevin Kaduk | Big League Stew – Thu, Feb 23, 2012 1:04 PM EST

    Admittedly, that headline requires a qualifier: MLB Network's "Hot Stove" program was in the middle of a segment on World Series long shots when analyst Eric Byrnes declared that the future has already arrived for the Washington Nationals.

    Maybe Byrnes was trying to be provocative, but it's worth noting that neither of his colleagues went out on as long of a limb, picking the last two NL West champions. (Al Leiter went with the San Francisco Giants while Billy Ripken tabbed the Arizona Diamondbacks.)

    With the Nationals, Byrnes is going against the train of thought that has the firm Strasburg, Zimmeran and Harper arriving in 2013 or 2014.  Here's the clip:

    I'm a pretty big fan of unconventional preseason picks because you can select a darkhorse just as easily as you can crown the 2011 Boston Red Sox with everyone else. With the age of two wild cards upon us either this year or the next, it's even more likely that we'll see teams like the 2010 Giants or 2011 Cardinals rise up to shock the proverbial world.

    So with that said, which team is your longshot pick for the 2012 World Series?

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    59 comments

    • Shaun
      Shaun  •  1 month 28 days ago
      I think the Nats have a way better shot than the Giants....the Giants are going to suck this year.
    • Thomas
      Thomas  •  Willards, Maryland  •  2 months ago
      Oh Baltimore wins this by a landslide! Have you seen the new talent theyve picked up! Eveland, Wada, and.... oh thats right no one because Peter Angelos is the devil and the worst owner in the history of sports.
    • Chris T88
      Chris T88  •  2 months ago
      Giants all the way! But I admit that the D'backs will be a formidable opponent. The Nationals making the playoffs doesn't seem that far-fetched; they certianly have the players to accomplish that.
    • Greasygrass
      Greasygrass  •  Dayton, Ohio  •  2 months ago
      Cleveland! They've been a long shot every year I've been alive and a little before!
    • Crispy27
      Crispy27  •  Madison, Wisconsin  •  2 months ago
      I believe he was picking his world series long shots? That does not mean he picked them to win the world series, come on.
    • Kody S
      Kody S  •  2 months ago
      How provocative. Baseball Story of the Day.
    • David
      David  •  Mt Hamilton, California  •  2 months ago
      GIANTS !!!!
      • nathan
        nathan 2 months ago
        Hitting is a foreign concept to them.
      • Eric
        Eric 2 months ago
        AL playoff's Yankee's and A's (now thats a long shot)
    • I said good day sir!
      I said good day sir!  •  Hooksett, New Hampshire  •  2 months ago
      Reds! NL is weaker now...the time is now!
      • nathan
        nathan 2 months ago
        Very true
      • SW
        SW 2 months ago
        Are you kidding? NL central may be weaker but the West is stacked.
      • Nate the Great
        Nate the Great 2 months ago
        Objection! The NL Central has become weaker, but botht he NL West AND the NL East have become better.
    • SW
      SW  •  2 months ago
      Byrnes does a local radio show in the bay area and he's really annoying. He's got that annoying SoCal type of voice that ends every statement like it's a question.
      • Anms Anms
        Anms Anms 2 months ago
        The show used to be good before Byrnes became host. He's beyond annoying.
    • DaveK
      DaveK  •  Denver, Colorado  •  2 months ago
      So bet on the Nats for last I guess.... "I also don't think the Rockies have outplayed us, because they haven't, Not even close. " - Eric Byrnes (Before being swept in the NLCS by the Rockies)
    • tom
      tom  •  2 months ago
      I'm glad Eric Byrnes has a good TV gig. He's a really entertaining guy.
    • anon
      anon  •  2 months ago
      not sure why this is a big deal, the segment is 2012 world series long shots, not who is the favorite. hes not supposed to pick a top contender, that would go against the idea of a "long shot".
    • Jaked
      Jaked  •  Pasadena, California  •  2 months ago
      Braves baby!!!
    • drew
      drew  •  2 months ago
      I like both the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals as long shots. Both pay out better than 20 to 1 right now. The Reds certainly have a dangerous offense, and the Nats have what looks to be a steady rotation. I wouldn't be surprised if they met up in the WC card.
    • Joseph
      Joseph  •  Mission, Kansas  •  2 months ago
      Kansas City Royals! Its our time baby!
      • frank pancakehead
        frank pancakehead 2 months ago
        I root fro the Phillies, but man if the Royals and Pirates can make it into the playoffs I will root for both of them. that would be a fantastic world series.
      • joe
        joe 2 months ago
        no experience in the rotation
      • Andy S
        Andy S 2 months ago
        2014 for the Royals once the blue chip prospects all come up and start to gel
    • David V
      David V  •  Brush Prairie, Washington  •  2 months ago
      all the expert yahoo writers should pick.........hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaahahahahahahaha
    • Daniel
      Daniel  •  Naperville, Illinois  •  2 months ago
      Almost as good as picking the Cubs to be in the World Series don't cha think.
    • oceanboy
      oceanboy  •  San Diego, California  •  2 months ago
      I'd believe the so called experts if they were ever correct about their picks!
    • Carol
      Carol  •  Tampa, Florida  •  2 months ago
      Right on, Tim!
    • Sean M
      Sean M  •  Fort Myers, Florida  •  2 months ago
      I can see a world series team out of the NL East, which is arguably every bit as tough as the AL East...I think Miami is a bit closer than Washington right now, the Phillies hinge on pitching now, I see a huge power sap with Howard missing time and Utley walking around with a HUGE question mark looming over his health. I think the braves and mets will get lost behind these teams....Arizona, Cincy, Philly, are the safest bets to get to the WS, Washington, Miami, Milwaukee would be the best long shots...As far as the AL...I can see the Sox finishin in last place in the East - NY and TB have better pitching and more offense, the Orioles are more well rounded and much better defensively, and the Jays have more offense. The AL is stacked with "safe" bets, with Detroit, NY, TB, LA and Tex all fitting the description...even long shots are in abundance when you can get good odds for Chicago, Baltimore, Toronto, Minny...
      Ill take the Yankees over Arizona in 5
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