Sig Hansen
Well-known member
Most of the big free agents have been signed and rosters are about, set even though Spring Training hasn't started. So it should be easy enough to make predictions.
Post 'em
Post 'em
MLB Preseason Predictions
- Thread starter Sig Hansen
- Start date
Sig Hansen
Well-known member
My Predictions:
AL East
1. Rays
2. Yankees
3. Red Sox
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. White Sox
5. Twins
AL West
1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. Athletics
4. Mariners
NL East
1. Braves
2. Nationals
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Mets
NL Central
1. Reds
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Cubs
6. Astros
NL West
1. Rockies
2. Diamondbacks
3. Padres
4. Giants
5. Dodgers
Wild Card (If they can add it in time for this year)
Yankees def. Rangers
Nationals def. Diamondbacks
ALDS
Angels def. Rays
Yankees def. Tigers
NLDS
Reds def. Nationals
Braves def. Rockies
ALCS
Angels def. Yankees
NLCS
Braves def. Reds
World Series
Angels def. Braves
My bold predictions are obviously the Rockies and Nationals. The Nats are probably still a year away from being a good team, but I think they can have a year like the 2010 Reds where they exceed expectations and contend. Strasburg really needs to stay healthy, as well as Zimmerman. They really, really could have used Prince Fielder. I think the Marlins will suck as well. Even with all the offseason additions they are still an average team IMO, and certainly aren't better than Philly and Atlanta.
I predict the Phillies to have an awful year. The old age of most of their players will come back to hurt them and they won't be able to score any runs.
And the Rockies, I don't really know why I picked them. San Fran and San Diego can't score runs, and I think Arizona's pitching will regress from last year. Plus the Dodgers just suck, especially with their ownership problems. That leaves the Rockies. They could easily finish last, but this division is probably the hardest to pick. No real favorite to choose from
Odd how these predictions work out, because I definitely don't think the Braves are good enough to make the World Series, but with the the matchups I gave them it somehow works out that way. I'd be stoked if the Reds could make the NLCS, though. The Angels don't have a real weakness IMO. They're going to score a ton of runs, and it helps that they play Seattle and Oakland so much
AL East
1. Rays
2. Yankees
3. Red Sox
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. White Sox
5. Twins
AL West
1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. Athletics
4. Mariners
NL East
1. Braves
2. Nationals
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Mets
NL Central
1. Reds
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Cubs
6. Astros
NL West
1. Rockies
2. Diamondbacks
3. Padres
4. Giants
5. Dodgers
Wild Card (If they can add it in time for this year)
Yankees def. Rangers
Nationals def. Diamondbacks
ALDS
Angels def. Rays
Yankees def. Tigers
NLDS
Reds def. Nationals
Braves def. Rockies
ALCS
Angels def. Yankees
NLCS
Braves def. Reds
World Series
Angels def. Braves
My bold predictions are obviously the Rockies and Nationals. The Nats are probably still a year away from being a good team, but I think they can have a year like the 2010 Reds where they exceed expectations and contend. Strasburg really needs to stay healthy, as well as Zimmerman. They really, really could have used Prince Fielder. I think the Marlins will suck as well. Even with all the offseason additions they are still an average team IMO, and certainly aren't better than Philly and Atlanta.
I predict the Phillies to have an awful year. The old age of most of their players will come back to hurt them and they won't be able to score any runs.
And the Rockies, I don't really know why I picked them. San Fran and San Diego can't score runs, and I think Arizona's pitching will regress from last year. Plus the Dodgers just suck, especially with their ownership problems. That leaves the Rockies. They could easily finish last, but this division is probably the hardest to pick. No real favorite to choose from
Odd how these predictions work out, because I definitely don't think the Braves are good enough to make the World Series, but with the the matchups I gave them it somehow works out that way. I'd be stoked if the Reds could make the NLCS, though. The Angels don't have a real weakness IMO. They're going to score a ton of runs, and it helps that they play Seattle and Oakland so much
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Not bad, although I think Minnesota will finish 3rd in the Central. KC is still too green and lacks pitching and Chicago is in rebuild mode. The Twins are healthy players away from being decent.
I think if you were gonna pick a surprise in the NL East I'd have gone Marlins (although I don't think the Phillies are done at all).
I think if you were gonna pick a surprise in the NL East I'd have gone Marlins (although I don't think the Phillies are done at all).
Sig Hansen
Well-known member
Definitely possible. The bottom three in the AL Central are a toss up, IMO. There will probably be a very sizable gap between the Indians and whoever finishes 3rd
I think the Marlins will take a while to get used to all their new players and Hanley Ramirez has to adjust to playing 3B. Also, everyone has to get used to playing in a completely new stadium, which a lot of people are forgetting about. Look at all of the problems the Mets had when they opened their stadium a few years ago.
Stole Sig's format:
My Predictions:
AL East
1. Rays
2. Yankees
3. Blue Jays
4. Red Sox
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. Twins
5. White Sox
AL West
1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. Athletics
NL East
1. Phillies
2. Marlins
3. Braves
4. Nationals
5. Mets
NL Central
1. Cardinals
2. Reds
3. Brewers
4. Pirates
5. Cubs
6. Astros
NL West
1. Dodgers
2. Diamondbacks
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Padres
Wild Card (I don't think it will be added this year)
Angels def. Yankees
Marlins def. Diamondbacks
ALDS
Rangers def. Rays
Angels def. Tigers
NLDS
Phillies def. Cardinals
Marlins def. Dodgers
ALCS
Rangers def. Angels
NLCS
Phillies def. Marlins
World Series
Rangers def. Phillies
No real surprises in the AL. The Rays have a team full of players ready to break out. Yankees and Red Sox are old, and I have the Blue Jays ahead of the Red Sox, which may be a bit of a surprise but the Red Sox got worse this off-season (aging, RF?, traded both SS). The Tigers are the best team in the AL Central and it's not even close. The rest of the division is down but I see the Tribe finishing 2nd again. AL West is between Rangers and Angels with each winning around 100 games and the Mariners/Athletics losing around 100 games. Both Rangers and Angels have solid pitching (edge Angels) and both have a crowded infield (Angels at 1B with Pujols, Morales, Trumbo and Rangers with C/1B/DH Napoli, C Torrealba, 1B Moreland, 2B Kinsler, SS Andrews, 3B Beltre, UTL Young - edge Rangers) and both have a good OF (though the edge goes to Rangers). I see both meeting in the ALCS in one hell of a series with the slight edge going to the Texas Rangers
The NL is a much different story. NL East is realistically between 4 teams. Phillies have dominated the past few years but are aging (though they haven't really lost anything except for Howard for the start of the season). The Marlins are the most improved team and could be even better than people expect with a typical Hanley-like season (unlike last year) and a healthy Josh Johnson. Adding Reyes, Buehrlie, and Bell were all huge upgrades and I expect young guys Stanton, Sanchez (Anibal and Gaby), Morrison and Bonifacio to have breakout seasons. The Braves and Nationals are similar in that they both have deep rotations, but I'm not sold on the hitting for either team. Oh and the Mets suck. NL Central is also open but is not nearly as strong as the East. Cardinals added Beltran, who had a solid season after a handful of seasons cut short due to injuries, and Wainwright will be back as well. The Reds are a close 2nd, improving the pitching with the addition of Latos but the hitting is still a weakness. The other 4 teams in the division are far behind these two. The NL West is WIDE open with, realistically, every team having a chance. We could possibly see all 5 teams in the playoff hunt heading into September as all have some strengths with huge weaknesses. I like the Dodgers now. They have Cy Young winner Kershaw and should-have-been MVP Kemp. Billingsly is a solid #2, Eithier could be in for a huge comeback season, and I like Dee Gordon's potential.
My Predictions:
AL East
1. Rays
2. Yankees
3. Blue Jays
4. Red Sox
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Tigers
2. Indians
3. Royals
4. Twins
5. White Sox
AL West
1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. Athletics
NL East
1. Phillies
2. Marlins
3. Braves
4. Nationals
5. Mets
NL Central
1. Cardinals
2. Reds
3. Brewers
4. Pirates
5. Cubs
6. Astros
NL West
1. Dodgers
2. Diamondbacks
3. Giants
4. Rockies
5. Padres
Wild Card (I don't think it will be added this year)
Angels def. Yankees
Marlins def. Diamondbacks
ALDS
Rangers def. Rays
Angels def. Tigers
NLDS
Phillies def. Cardinals
Marlins def. Dodgers
ALCS
Rangers def. Angels
NLCS
Phillies def. Marlins
World Series
Rangers def. Phillies
No real surprises in the AL. The Rays have a team full of players ready to break out. Yankees and Red Sox are old, and I have the Blue Jays ahead of the Red Sox, which may be a bit of a surprise but the Red Sox got worse this off-season (aging, RF?, traded both SS). The Tigers are the best team in the AL Central and it's not even close. The rest of the division is down but I see the Tribe finishing 2nd again. AL West is between Rangers and Angels with each winning around 100 games and the Mariners/Athletics losing around 100 games. Both Rangers and Angels have solid pitching (edge Angels) and both have a crowded infield (Angels at 1B with Pujols, Morales, Trumbo and Rangers with C/1B/DH Napoli, C Torrealba, 1B Moreland, 2B Kinsler, SS Andrews, 3B Beltre, UTL Young - edge Rangers) and both have a good OF (though the edge goes to Rangers). I see both meeting in the ALCS in one hell of a series with the slight edge going to the Texas Rangers
The NL is a much different story. NL East is realistically between 4 teams. Phillies have dominated the past few years but are aging (though they haven't really lost anything except for Howard for the start of the season). The Marlins are the most improved team and could be even better than people expect with a typical Hanley-like season (unlike last year) and a healthy Josh Johnson. Adding Reyes, Buehrlie, and Bell were all huge upgrades and I expect young guys Stanton, Sanchez (Anibal and Gaby), Morrison and Bonifacio to have breakout seasons. The Braves and Nationals are similar in that they both have deep rotations, but I'm not sold on the hitting for either team. Oh and the Mets suck. NL Central is also open but is not nearly as strong as the East. Cardinals added Beltran, who had a solid season after a handful of seasons cut short due to injuries, and Wainwright will be back as well. The Reds are a close 2nd, improving the pitching with the addition of Latos but the hitting is still a weakness. The other 4 teams in the division are far behind these two. The NL West is WIDE open with, realistically, every team having a chance. We could possibly see all 5 teams in the playoff hunt heading into September as all have some strengths with huge weaknesses. I like the Dodgers now. They have Cy Young winner Kershaw and should-have-been MVP Kemp. Billingsly is a solid #2, Eithier could be in for a huge comeback season, and I like Dee Gordon's potential.
MickeyMantle
Well-known member
AL East
1. Yankees
2. Rays
3. Red Sox
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Tigers
2. Royals
3. Indians
4. White Sox
5. Twins
AL West
1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. Athletics
NL East
1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Nationals
4. Marlins
5. Mets
NL Central
1. Reds
2. Cardinals
3. Brewers
4. Pirates
5. Cups
6. Astros
NL West
1. Diamondbacks
2. Giants
3. Rockies
4. Padres
5. Dodgers
Wild Cards:
AL - Rays (Angels if two)
NL - Cardinals (Braves if two)
Not messing with playoff results.
1. Yankees
2. Rays
3. Red Sox
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles
AL Central
1. Tigers
2. Royals
3. Indians
4. White Sox
5. Twins
AL West
1. Rangers
2. Angels
3. Mariners
4. Athletics
NL East
1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Nationals
4. Marlins
5. Mets
NL Central
1. Reds
2. Cardinals
3. Brewers
4. Pirates
5. Cups
6. Astros
NL West
1. Diamondbacks
2. Giants
3. Rockies
4. Padres
5. Dodgers
Wild Cards:
AL - Rays (Angels if two)
NL - Cardinals (Braves if two)
Not messing with playoff results.
NL Play Off:
East = Phillies
Central = Cardinals
West = D-Backs
WC = Marlins
AL Play Off:
East = Yankees
Central = Tigers
West = Rangers
WC = Angels
NLDS = Cardinals over Marlins
Phillies over D-Backs
ALDS = Yankees over Rangers
Tigers over Angels
NLCS = Cardinals over Phillies
ALCS = Yankees over Tigers
WS = Cardinals over Yankees
East = Phillies
Central = Cardinals
West = D-Backs
WC = Marlins
AL Play Off:
East = Yankees
Central = Tigers
West = Rangers
WC = Angels
NLDS = Cardinals over Marlins
Phillies over D-Backs
ALDS = Yankees over Rangers
Tigers over Angels
NLCS = Cardinals over Phillies
ALCS = Yankees over Tigers
WS = Cardinals over Yankees
Shocker someone from Cincinnati disagrees with my predictions (but only my NL Central prediction?). It's hard to argue with someone who doesn't know anything about baseball (or any other sport, for that matter) when the only team they follow is their own. Yes, hitting is a weakness. The only team that had a worse batting average than the Reds in the NL Central last year was the Pirates. Other than Phillips, Votto, and Bruce, I'm not sold on any of the other hitters. If a 37 year old who hits .242 and can't stay healthy is your 4th best hitter then yes, hitting is a weakness.
Pitching has improved and they have had young MLB-ready talent in the minors for some time now. Latos and Cueto have front of the rotation stuff with four others battling for the final three spots (Chapman, Leake, Arroyo, Bailey).
Sig Hansen
Well-known member
Lot's of butt hurt posters on yappi lately.
DennisRodman
Cooling Off
3rd base is a huge concern IMO.
MickeyMantle
Well-known member
I would not be surprised if Francisco takes over at some point this year whether Rolen is hurt or not.
MickeyMantle
Well-known member
Being a Reds fan aside, claiming the offense is a weakness is a bit silly. Fourth in the NL in OBP and hits, fifth in slugging and OPS, third in total bases and RBI and second in runs and home runs isn't indicative of a weakness.
However, they were way too inconsistent in key situations. What they really lack is a guy at or near the top of the order like Barry Larkin was that will make sure that Votto/Bruce have people to drive in by hitting the ball to the right side, bunting effectively and stealing a base when one is needed.
Pitching was the big weakness last year and bad pitching is what landed them in third place.
However, they were way too inconsistent in key situations. What they really lack is a guy at or near the top of the order like Barry Larkin was that will make sure that Votto/Bruce have people to drive in by hitting the ball to the right side, bunting effectively and stealing a base when one is needed.
Pitching was the big weakness last year and bad pitching is what landed them in third place.
Sig Hansen
Well-known member
This
They may score a lot of runs, but last year they were never able to get the big hit in the 8th or 9th inning to drive in a guy on second or third base to take the lead. Votto is really the only guy you can count on IMO