Baseball is in the air
Four days.
The countdown is on. Opening Day for the 2018 Major League Baseball season kicks off this Thursday.
For many of us in the Northeast, it’s been a long winter. Once again, it’s time for peanuts and crackerjacks and the sound of a ball hitting the barrel of a wood bat.
With the regular season so close, it’s only fitting to discuss some of the most dangerous teams entering the year.
Before I begin, unlike other sports, baseball is one of the most difficult to predict. The best team does not always win. Any playoff roster can catch fire entering October and end up taking home World Series rings…even Wild Card teams. Remember the 2014 Sand Francisco Giants? How about the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals?
That said, I will not be making predictions. I will, however, discuss my picks as teams to beat and potential sleepers that could make deep postseason runs.
To start, I believe the Houston Astros are not only favorites in the American League but the team to beat in all of baseball. With the addition of Gerrit Cole to a rotation that already features Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers, Jr., and Charlie Morton, this sets up an uneasy series for any opponent. Not to mention their absolutely stacked lineup. If healthy, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer can all be legitimate AL MVP candidates in 2018.
However, as good as the Astros are, I think the Yankees are almost on the same level. Don’t forget, New York was one game away from knocking Houston out of the ALCS last October. Did I mention it was a rebuilding year for Bombers?
Anyway, the Yankees have the same rotation returning that got them to one game away from a trip to the World Series. To add, every single pitcher in New York’s bullpen could be a closer for any other team in baseball…no doubt.
Starlin Castro is gone, but reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton is not a bad replacement in the lineup. Like the Astros, the Yankees have tremendous depth on both the 25-man-roster and in the minor leagues.
Both starting lineups are on a similar playing field. New York is more prone to the strikeout, which gives Houston a slight advantage. But both teams can put up a ton of runs at any given time.
With the addition of Cole, the Astros have the upper hand in terms of starting rotations. However, the Yankees have a surplus of talent in the minors, which could come in handy if they need a starting pitcher at the July trade deadline.
The bullpen advantage goes to New York. The Astros ‘pen improved this off-season, but the Yankees still have the edge.
That said, I would not count out teams like the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox, or even the Toronto Blue Jays. Cleveland still has premier pitching, and Boston’s offensive should be more productive with the addition of J.D. Martinez.
Switching over to the National League, I’m rolling with the Washington Nationals as the top dog.
Now, I understand the Nats always seem to choke in the ALDS, but their roster is loaded all around.
I expect a monster season from Bryce Harper as he enters his final year before free agency. Daniel Murphy will continue to be a superstar, once he returns to full health. I don’t see any reason why either Anthony Rendon or Ryan Zimmerman can’t build on their production last season. Adam Eaton is also returning to compliment Trey Turner atop the Lineup.
Oh yeah, and reigning CY Young Award winner Max Scherzer still leads a rotation that includes Steven Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark. With Sean Doolittle returning as closer, the bullpen should be better than in years past.
However, the Chicago Cubs are right there with Washington. The 2016 World Champions have depth at every position. Despite losing Jake Arrieta to free agency, Yu Darvish takes his place in rotation that has Kyle Hendricks, Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana. Chicago’s bullpen is a question mark, but manager Joe Maddon is a baseball mastermind, especially when it comes to bullpen usage.
The Dodgers will be good, but I think both the Colorado Rookies and Arizona Diamondbacks will challenge LA for the NL West division crown. And don’t sleep on the Mets. If they can stay healthy, New York will at least be in contention for a Wild Card berth, if not the top spot in the NL East.
All that said, baseball is a long season, and anything a can happen. Contenders may lose key players to injury, and there is almost always a team that comes out of nowhere and surprises everyone.
It all begins in four days.
Let’s play ball.
