2016 Predictions
Games that actually count. It’s finally time for everyone to exhale, sit back, and watch the magic of 162 games unfold. Baseball is back. Order is restored for the next six months as we get to see how the latest novel plays out. The best part of the start of the season is the hope that fills every team. While teams like the Braves, Phillies, Brewers, and Reds are in extreme rebuild modes, there is still that faint flicker of hope that everything breaks right and they wind up, somehow, in October.
Every season, we have the winter champions falter and fail to even finish at .500. And, we always have those teams that were quiet all winter, come storming out and make that October run.
Now preseason predictions are nothing but a fun exercise. Nobody can make picks with certainty, yet the exercise of picking teams in April as champions when many of their rosters will be vastly different come July is still fun. In that spirit, here are your 2016 predictions that, in the end, mean absolutely nothing.
AL East Winner: Tampa Bay Rays
The American League East will be a competitive division. Each team could lay claim as favorite to win the division crown. Yet, each team has a fatal flaw that could lead to them finishing in last place.
One Liners:
- The Rays’ pitching rotation looks to be the most well rounded.
- Blue Jays offense is elite; pitching will be the downfall.
- Red Sox won the winter, but have flaws all over the roster.
- Yankees need everyone to stay healthy two years in a row.
- Orioles’ power won’t cover up the terrible rotation.
AL Central Winner: Cleveland Indians
Like the East, the AL Central’s crown could be won by anyone. Each team has significant stregnths, but potential weaknesses that cause downfalls.
One Liners:
- The Indians’ rotation is the best in the league and the offense will give just enough.
- The Royals magical run comes up just short because of a lack of rotation depth.
- Justin Verlander rebirth isn’t enough to cover lack of pitching depth.
- White Sox’s offense still lackluster, even with Todd Frazier addition.
- Twins’ young roster needs one more year of seasoning.
AL West Winner: Houston Astros
The AL West will also be competitive with each team making a run at one time.
One Liners:
- Carlos Correa has an MVP season to lead the Astros to the crowd.
- The Mariners finally put it together behind the outstanding rotation and Robinson Cano’s near-MVP year.
- The Rangers get off to a bad start, but have a torrid finish. They fall just short.
- The Angels have Mike Trout and their rotation could surprise, but much has to go right.
- A’s won’t be terrible, but clearly the worst team in the division.
AL Wild Card Winners: Mariners and Blue Jays
If you got the theme from the each division, the Wild Card races will be the most competitive in years. The Mariners get in because of their rotation depth and a surprisingly effective offense. The Blue Jays bash their way into the playoffs as the last Wild Card entrant.
American League Champion: Cleveland Indians
The Indians win it; The Indians win it; Oh my god, the Indians win it. Carlos Carrasco becomes the staff ace, while Kluber and Salazar follow up with stellar performances. That’s just too much in the playoffs.
NL East Winner: New York Mets
The NL East is a thin division with just two teams capable of the playoffs and one team who could make a run if everything goes right.
One Liners
- The Mets rotation is on a mission to finish the job from last season.
- The Nationals will win 90 games under Dusty, but fall short of the division.
- Mattingly’s Marlins have talent, but are a year away of being real competitors.
- The Phillies’ rebuild is finally underway, but they’ll be a tough team.
- Braves’ rebuild is nearly complete, but this season will be brutal to watch.
NL Central Winner: Chicago Cubs
Could this be the year for the Cubs to win and the Cardinals finally to fade?
One Liners
- In Maddon We Trust
- The Pirates young offense will support the once again underrated pitching staff.
- The Cardinals take a small step back, but will still compete for a Wild Card.
- The Brewers are rebuilding and will be difficult to watch.
- The same story goes for the Reds…brutal to watch.
NL West Winner: San Francisco Giants
Another thin division, but the three team race will be fun to watch.
One Liners
- The Giants reloaded the rotation and have enough offense to win the division.
- The Dodgers take a step back despite having the most dominant pitcher in the sport.
- The Diamondbacks will be fun to watch, but they still don’t have enough depth to match the division big boys. Losing Pollock hurts.
- The Padres will unload their best pitchers by July.
- The Rockies have the same issues as always…no pitching.
NL Wild Card Winners: Nationals and Dodgers
The Nationals and Dodgers win the Wild Cards quite easily as the League features quite a few bad teams. Kershaw vs. Harper in a winner take all game will be incredible television.
NL Champion: New York Mets
Maddon’s Cubs once again run into the best rotation in the game.
World Series Winner: New York Mets
Like the Royals last season, the Mets were ready for their return trip.
AL Rookie Of The Year: AJ Reed
The Astros first baseman comes up by May and gives Correa some power protection.
NL Rookie Of The Year: Trea Turner
The Nationals will come to their senses and give Turner the job and he instantly becomes the Dusty’s catalyst.
AL MVP: Carlos Correa
It was a quick ascension to the top spot in the sport.
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
Yeah, he’s that good.
AL Cy Young: Carlos Carrasco
Carrasco finally puts it all together and takes over as Tribe’s ace.
NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard
Harvey and deGrom get the magazine covers, but Syndergaard out-pitches the league this year.
20 Thoughts…
Here are 20 things that probably won’t happen, but could under the right circumstances. Some may call them bold predictions, but these are just some fun things that could happen…
- Mike Trout puts together another MVP season, yet once again finishes in second place in the voting.
- David Ortiz posts another 30 home run, 100 RBI season in his farewell season.
- Kris Medlen will be the Royals’ best, most reliable season.
- Troy Tulowitzki plays in 140 games and posts a .290/.350/.500 line with 30 home runs.
- Luis Severino becomes the Yankees ace and leads the staff in strikeouts, despite an innings limit.
- Miguel Sano hits 45 home runs.
- Chris Carter channels his inner Rob Deer in Milwaukee and hits .190 with 30 home runs.
- Zack Greinke pitches to a 3.50 ERA in 30 starts.
- Ken Giles leads the sport in saves.
- Evan Longoria posts his best season since 2009, hitting .300/.375/.515 with 35 home runs.
- The St. Louis Cardinals win 85 games.
- The Miami Marlins also win 85 games.
- Giancarlo Stanton hits 50 home runs.
- The Indians rotation features three pitchers with 220+ strikeouts.
- The Orioles set a record for most home runs hit and most home runs allowed.
- James Shields will be traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
- Mike Napoli rebounds to hit .275/.350/.500 with 25 home runs.
- Aaron Hicks leads all Yankees’ outfielders in games played.
- The National League features five 100 loss teams.
- None of these things happen, but 19+ other incredible things happen and we have another amazing season of baseball.
