2014 MLB Predictions
Feb 19, 2014 12:59:42 GMT -5
Post by Brian (Blue Jays GM) on Feb 19, 2014 12:59:42 GMT -5
Hey guys,
I thought this was a really fun discussion topic last season so I'm reviving it. What do you guys think will happen this season?
Here's my predictions:
AL MVP - Mike Trout (bold prediction, I know). 2 years in a row this guy has been an unstoppable force, but his team has fallen short of the playoffs. Not this year. This year the Angels get to the Wild Card game and Trout gets his first MVP trophy with yet another historically great season. Other top contenders will include Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Beltre, and Evan Longoria.
NL MVP - Yadier Molina. The Cardinals' backstop has been one of the best all-around players in the game for years and when the Cardinals reel in yet another division title this year Molina will be recognized as the NL's most valuable player. Other top contenders will include Andrew McCutchen, Joey Votto, and Carlos Gonzalez.
AL CY - Yu Darvish. Darvish is a strikeout machine and will edge out Chris Sale and Felix Hernandez for his first Cy Young award.
NL CY - Jose Fernandez. It's tough to pick against the reigning winner Clayton Kershaw, but it's a changing of the guard in the NL as Fernandez jumps from ROY to CY.
AL ROY - Jose Abreu. The Cuban slugger will lead all rookies in HR and RBI, taking the award over pre-season favorite Xander Bogaerts. Taijuan Walker is the strongest AL pitching candidate in the class.
NL ROY - Noah Syndergaard. The Mets have seen top prospects Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler make strong debuts in the past 2 years but Thor will have the strongest rookie season of the trio. The Cardinals' Oscar Taveras and Cubs' Javier Baez will be the major batting contenders for this award.
NL surprise team - Colorado Rockies. This is a team with top-tier offensive talent. Tulowitzki and Gonzalez are among the best in the game, Nolan Arenado and Wilin Rosario are developing into strong MLB regulars. The key to this lineup though is the veteran leadership of free agent signing Justin Morneau, whose Coors Field resurgence pushes the young talent on this team to another level. Pitching is a major question mark, but a healthy Brett Anderson becomes a significant rotation piece and rookie Jonathan Gray will be a solid contributor in the 2nd half. They're not a playoff team yet but they'll be close.
AL surprise team - Chicago White Sox. Here's a team that's been stockpiling young, high-upside players including my ROY Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia, Adam Eaton, and Matt Davidson. Prospects Erik Johnson and Marcus Semien make significant contributions down the stretch and the young White Sox push their way into the wild card game to kick off a very bright future on the south side.
Playoffs:
NL WC Game: Cincinnati Reds defeat Washington Nationals
NL Div Series: St.Louis Cardinals defeat Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Atlanta Braves
NL Champ Series: St.Louis Cardinals defeat Los Angeles Dodgers
AL WC Game: Los Angeles Angels defeat Chicago White Sox
AL Div Series: Detroit Tigers defeat Los Angeles Angels
Texas Rangers defeat Tampa Bay Rays
AL Champ Series: Detroit Tigers defeat Texas Rangers
World Series: St.Louis Cardinals defeat Detroit Tigers in 6 games
It's a rematch of the 2006 world series between 2 teams who have been title contenders for several years. These teams feature deep rotations, potent lineups, past and present Cy Young and MVP winners. World Series MVP honors go to Adam Wainwright for heroic pitching performances in games 2 and 6.
I thought this was a really fun discussion topic last season so I'm reviving it. What do you guys think will happen this season?
Here's my predictions:
AL MVP - Mike Trout (bold prediction, I know). 2 years in a row this guy has been an unstoppable force, but his team has fallen short of the playoffs. Not this year. This year the Angels get to the Wild Card game and Trout gets his first MVP trophy with yet another historically great season. Other top contenders will include Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Beltre, and Evan Longoria.
NL MVP - Yadier Molina. The Cardinals' backstop has been one of the best all-around players in the game for years and when the Cardinals reel in yet another division title this year Molina will be recognized as the NL's most valuable player. Other top contenders will include Andrew McCutchen, Joey Votto, and Carlos Gonzalez.
AL CY - Yu Darvish. Darvish is a strikeout machine and will edge out Chris Sale and Felix Hernandez for his first Cy Young award.
NL CY - Jose Fernandez. It's tough to pick against the reigning winner Clayton Kershaw, but it's a changing of the guard in the NL as Fernandez jumps from ROY to CY.
AL ROY - Jose Abreu. The Cuban slugger will lead all rookies in HR and RBI, taking the award over pre-season favorite Xander Bogaerts. Taijuan Walker is the strongest AL pitching candidate in the class.
NL ROY - Noah Syndergaard. The Mets have seen top prospects Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler make strong debuts in the past 2 years but Thor will have the strongest rookie season of the trio. The Cardinals' Oscar Taveras and Cubs' Javier Baez will be the major batting contenders for this award.
NL surprise team - Colorado Rockies. This is a team with top-tier offensive talent. Tulowitzki and Gonzalez are among the best in the game, Nolan Arenado and Wilin Rosario are developing into strong MLB regulars. The key to this lineup though is the veteran leadership of free agent signing Justin Morneau, whose Coors Field resurgence pushes the young talent on this team to another level. Pitching is a major question mark, but a healthy Brett Anderson becomes a significant rotation piece and rookie Jonathan Gray will be a solid contributor in the 2nd half. They're not a playoff team yet but they'll be close.
AL surprise team - Chicago White Sox. Here's a team that's been stockpiling young, high-upside players including my ROY Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia, Adam Eaton, and Matt Davidson. Prospects Erik Johnson and Marcus Semien make significant contributions down the stretch and the young White Sox push their way into the wild card game to kick off a very bright future on the south side.
Playoffs:
NL WC Game: Cincinnati Reds defeat Washington Nationals
NL Div Series: St.Louis Cardinals defeat Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Atlanta Braves
NL Champ Series: St.Louis Cardinals defeat Los Angeles Dodgers
AL WC Game: Los Angeles Angels defeat Chicago White Sox
AL Div Series: Detroit Tigers defeat Los Angeles Angels
Texas Rangers defeat Tampa Bay Rays
AL Champ Series: Detroit Tigers defeat Texas Rangers
World Series: St.Louis Cardinals defeat Detroit Tigers in 6 games
It's a rematch of the 2006 world series between 2 teams who have been title contenders for several years. These teams feature deep rotations, potent lineups, past and present Cy Young and MVP winners. World Series MVP honors go to Adam Wainwright for heroic pitching performances in games 2 and 6.
