Soooo...baseball is underway again. And to be honest, I couldn't be any happier to see it return. With new faces in new places, tons of young talented pitching throughout the league, a retiring legend, and possibly another once-in-a-lifetime talent emerging, it's really hard not to be excited. Especially, when the league has tremendous parity (where are those people who cried that the game needed a salary cap?)
Nonetheless, with a few games already completed in this long journey to October, I figured I would throw out some predictions for the 2014 MLB season, and while we are at it, flaunt some wild guesses in there as well. Of course, all in the name of fun.
Standings
AL East
Rays: 93-69
Yankees: 92-70
Red Sox: 90-72
Orioles: 82-82
Blue Jays: 78-84
AL Central
Tigers: 92-70
Royals: 87-75
Indians: 87-75
White Sox: 74-78
Twins: 70-92
AL West
Angels: 88-76
Texas: 85-75
Mariners: 83-81
Athletics: 82-82
Astros: 60-102
NL East
Braves: 93-69
Nationals: 92-70
Mets: 78-84
Phillies: 72-90
Marlins: 69-93
NL Central
Cardinals: 95-67
Reds: 91-71
Pirates: 89-73
Brewers: 80-82
Cubs: 73-89
NL West
Dodgers: 94-68
Diamondbacks: 88-74
Giants: 85-77
Padres: 78-84
Rockies: 70-92
Goals/Awards/Leaders
AL Hitting Leaders
Average: Miguel Cabrera (.334 Avg)
Home Runs: Chris Davis (48 Home Runs)
RBI: Miguel Cabrera (138 RBI)
Stolen Bases: Jacoby Ellsbury (54 SB)
NL Hitting Leaders
Average: Joey Votto (.339 Avg)
Home Runs: Paul Goldschmidt (44 Home Runs)
RBI: Freddie Freeman (112 RBI)
Stolen Bases: Billy Hamilton (66 SB)
AL Pitching Leaders
ERA: Felix Hernandez (2.38)
Wins: Jered Weaver (21)
Strikeouts: Yu Darvish (281)
Saves: Greg Holland (41)
NL Pitching Leaders
ERA: Jose Fernandez (2.23)
Wins: Madison Bumgarner (19)
Strikeouts: Michael Wacha (268)
Saves: Craig Kimbrel (47)
All-Star Game MVP: Derek Jeter (Kind of hard not to go with the legend retiring, right?)
AL Rookie of the Year: Yordan Ventura
NL Rookie of the Year: Archie Bradley
AL Comeback Player of the Year: Albert Pujols
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Tim Hudson
AL Cy Young Winner: Yu Darvish
NL Cy Young Winner: Madison Bumgarner
AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Yasiel Puig
Over/Under
90 - Wins for the New York Mets - Under. No idea why Sandy Alderson set the bar so high.
70 - Stolen Bases for Billy Hamilton - Under. I don't think he will crack 70 in his first year. Once he learns to hit, and truly refines his ability, 70 might be easy year-in, and year-out.
15 - Wins for Masahiro Tanaka - Push. I'm actually thinking Tanaka will win exactly 15.
45 - Home Runs for Chris Davis - Over. There is a reason hes earned the nickname, "Crush" Davis. Camden Yards will definitely help as well.
100 - Games Played for Matt Kemp - Under. Unfortunately, Kemp just can't stay healthy. It's a shame, especially as one of the game's must talented players.
40/40 Year - Mike Trout - Under. He'll just miss. I'll say something like 32 HR and 40 stolen bases.
35 - Home Runs for Josh Hamilton - Over. Call me crazy, but I think the Angels lineup finally puts it together with Pujols and Hamilton now healthy.
85 - Wins for the Kansas City Royals - Over. We've heard for a couple of years now that the Royals have been coming. I'll go with they make a push, running out of steam in August.
+$240M - Payroll for Los Angeles Dodgers at end of season (Currently $235M) - Over. They'll acquire someone else in July. Are they now the evil-er empire?
.285 - Derek Jeter's average for the 2014 Season - Under. I hate to say it. I hate to bet against the captain. History has proven otherwise. But father time is undefeated. That's a foe even The Captain may not be able to conquer.
1 - Pitcher with at least 300 strikeouts - Under. Not this year.
3 - Number of major headlines regarding Alex Rodriguez - Over. A-Rod doesn't know how to stay out of trouble. Really, he just doesn't understand how.
60 - Wins for the Houston Astros - Push. Exactly 60 wins for the 'Stros.
2.5 - Million in attendance at Citi Field this year - Under. I don't think the Mets season will be that bad. It's just tough when there are goals of 90+ wins and a fan base that is very unhappy.
4 - Number of times Yasiel Puig throws out a runner going 1st to third - Over. They'll be a few to test him and I can't wait to watch the highlights.
Wild Guesses
First No Hitter Thrown By: Justin Masterson (Isn't always the guys you least expect?)
First Cycle Ht By: Dexter Fowler (The Home Run being an inside-the-park job as the ball rolls up that gimmicky hill at Minute Maid)
Biggest Name Traded
AL: Jim Johnson to the Diamondbacks
NL: Matt Kemp to the Mariners
Playoffs
AL Wildcard: Yankees d. Red Sox
NL Wildcard: Nationals d. Reds
ALDS: Tigers d. Yankees
ALDS: Angels d. Rays
ALDS: Angels d. Rays
NLDS: Nationals d. Cardinals
NLDS: Dodgers d. Braves
NLDS: Dodgers d. Braves
ALCS: Tigers d. Angels
NLCS: Nationals d. Dodgers
World Series: Nationals d. Tigers
World Series MVP - Gio Gonzalez