Baseball is Back

Okay, so technically, MLB Opening Day isn't until Sunday, but I can't give my predictions after the season has already started. I will say, if nothing else, the excitement is definitely back.

Just for the record, I need you to know that last year, I predicted the World Series Champions correctly. No, it doesn't matter what my other predictions were like, all that matters is that I got the last question, the main question, correct. 

How will this year look?

The short answer is.....Similar.

There shouldn't be too many changes from last year to this year in the performance of the teams. With that I will make this short and sweet as I go division by division.

AL East
Three teams from this division made the playoffs last year. That won't happen again although this is one of the nest divisions in baseball. Four teams could take the division but I see the Red Sox pulling it off and the Orioles grabbing one of the two Wild Card slots. Be aware of the Yankees though. They have young talent in Gary Sanchez and others that could propel them further than expected.

AL Central
The Indians are just too good. The Royals have dropped off with injuries and losing some players. Detroit is a bit of a has-been team now. And who are the other two teams....? Not important this year.

AL West
I am begging the Astros to win...and yes, I am biased on this one. They have the youth. They have the talent. They have the potential. And yes, I am giving them the division. It isn't farfetched to actually believe that either. The Rangers return a great team to defend their division title and I still have faith in the Trout-led Angels to be relevant. But this year is about the Astros. Analysts have been predicting this as the 'Stros year for a while now.

NL East
If Bryce Harper struggles and you still win your division, then when Bryce Harper reappears, it should be even easier. The Nationals are the pick in the East. The Mets are up there but I feel like there could be key injuries in their starting pitching. Mets fans better hope that my crystal ball is too foggy or they won't have a shot at the playoffs.

NL Central
No one can doubt the Cubs any longer. There is no group with more talent. Between their management and their pitching, and their batting, they are better all around than any team. They will win the division barring any crazy injuries or some extra-terrestrial interaction. I do think the Pirates and Andrew McCutchens will be better than last year and give the Cubs a bit of a run....but it will prove fruitless.

NL West
This division will be like the AL East last year. Three teams from this division should make the playoffs. The Dodgers. The Giants. The Diamondbacks. In that order. The Rockies are good and relevant, but not a contender this year. The new 2017 NL MVP, Paul Goldschmidt, will make a hug difference and a couple of moves before the trade deadline will give the Diamondbacks power that they haven't seen in years. It will be enough for the final playoff spot.

Wild Card Games
Orioles over Angels
Diamondbacks over Giants

Divisional Series'
Indians over Orioles
Astros over Red Sox
Cubs over Diamondbacks
Nationals over Dodgers

Championship Series'
Astros over Indians
Cubs over Nationals

World Series
Cubs over Astros

CUBS REPEAT!!! You heard it here first.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What to Expect in the NBA Offseason

This past NBA season proved to be historic. From a Warriors team with more regular season wins than any other team (an likely the greatest percent increase in fan base) to the Cavs coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals to bring a championship back to Cleveland. It was the perfect fairy tale and the NBA as a business couldn't have asked for anything more, but this offseason may prove to live up to the legendary status that was set by the season. Many of the questions on the mind of basketball fans revolve around the movement of the stars around the league. From up and coming stars like Brandon Ingram to established giants like Kevin Durant, the offseason promises mystery and a some shock. To quickly recap a couple big moves that have already taken place, former MVP Derek Rose has been blown from the Windy City and ended up atop the Big Apple as a member of the New York Knicks. Good move? For him, yes. A new start in a new city with a cast with potential in Carmelo Ant...
Read more

GOATs

In the wake of the death of Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time, my mind is reflecting on what it means to be the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) at something. I feel as though only a small percentage would argue with the fact that Ali was the greatest boxer of all time. Ali himself shouted it from the rooftops and through his bouts in the ring and his life outside the ring he proved that he was more than special. This brings me to my point. There are many special athletes that do special things but it is difficult to win the label of GOAT. The few GOATs can readily be named. In boxing it is Ali. In basketball it is Michael Jordan. In golfing it is Jack Nicklaus. In hockey it is Wayne Gretzky Every other sport is undecided. In baseball there is Ruth, Mantle, Aaron. Football has Montana, Marino, and Manning. Mary Lou had Nadia. Serena has Martina. Ronaldo, Messi, Pele, Beckham. There will always be arguments made for different players and athletes who are admittedly v...
Read more

Didn't Fall Start Two Weeks Ago?

Although, I have been a major slacker and haven't written a post in a while, I have not deviated from my love of the games. In fact, my love for football specifically has kept me more glued to others' information than to producing my own. But now is the time for me to change my ways and return to the process by which I forcibly push my personal opinions down the throats of those who voluntarily click on the link to this blog. You are the true MVP here. College and pro football has begun which means that Fall is finally here. Just like baseball in the Spring, it is not a calendar date that determines the seasons but the beginning of a sport. Although yesterday was (according to a piece of paper with numbers on it made by man) the first official day of Autumn, let me bring you up to speed on a few things that have already happened this Fall...this true Fall...in pro football (college will come another day). The Empire That Never Falls Though they cannot be considered a dynas...
Read more