Skip to main content

Predictions and Wild Guesses For The 2016 MLB Season

THANK GOODNESS! After a lousy winter of New York Knicks basketball that started intriguing and fizzled out once the calendar hit 2016, I've been eageryl anticipating the baseball season. So yes, thank goodness! Thank you sweet game played on a diamond. Thank you, Major League Baseball. And, of course, thank you, Spring and Summer, for beginning to make your presence a reality. 

So yes, baseball me! As always, here are my predictions for the 2016 MLB season:


Standings

AL East
Blue Jays: 91-71
Yankees: 91-71
Orioles: 87-73
Rays: 79-83
Red Sox: 77-85

AL Central
Tigers: 90-72
Royals: 90-72
Twins: 85-77
White Sox: 83-79
Indians: 79-83

AL West
Astros: 94-68
Rangers: 89-73
Mariners: 87-75
Angels: 81-81
Athletics: 70-96

NL East
Nationals: 92-70
Mets: 88-74
Marlins: 87-75
Braves: 72-90
Phillies: 69-93

NL Central
Pirates: 91-71
Cubs: 90-72
Cardinals: 86-76
Brewers: 76-86
Reds: 70-96

NL West
Diamondbacks: 90-72
Giants: 89-77
Dodgers: 87-75
Padres: 77-85
Rockies: 71-91

Goals/Awards/Leaders

AL Hitting Leaders
Average: Miguel Cabrera (.325)
Home Runs: Chris Davis (44)
RBIs: Juan Encarnacion (125)
Stolen Bases: Jose Altuve (41)

NL Hitting Leaders
Average: Bryce Harper (.329)
Home Runs: Giancarlo Stanton (52)
RBIs: Bryce Harper (128)
Stolen Bases: Dee Gordon (61)

AL Pitching Leaders
ERA: Sonny Gray (2.19)
Wins: David Price (19)
Strikeouts: Chris Sale (255)
Saves: Aroldis Chapman (38)

NL Pitching Leaders
ERA: Garrett Cole (2.38)
Wins: Max Scherzer (21)
Strikeouts: Noah Syndergaard (272)
Saves: Jeurys Familia (41)

All-Star Game MVP - Carlos Correa

AL Rookie of the Year: Byron Buxton

NL Rookie of the Year: Corey Seager

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Billy Butler

NL Comeback Player of the Year: Jose Fernandez

AL Cy Young Winner: Chris Sale

NL Cy Young Winner: Noah Syndergaard

AL MVP: Mike Trout

NL MVP: Bryce Harper

Playoffs

AL Wildcard: Royals d. Yankees
NL Wildcard: Giants d. Cubs

ALDS: Blue Jays d. Royals
ALDS: Astros d. Rangers
NLDS: Giants d. Nationals
NLDS: Diamondbacks d. Pirates

ALCS: Blue Jays d. Astros
NLCS: Giants d. Diamondbacks

World Series: Giants d. Blue Jays (Come on, it's an even year)

World Series MVP: Buster Posey

Recently Read

Quick Ponder: Future Self

We always think,  what would we say  to our  younger self? However,  what would  our younger self say  if they met us, today?

Knicks Trauma - Ugh Not Again

Well, that was a kick in the stomach.  Coming off a week where the word "catharsis" was used as the description for the euphoria and release of joy from two and a half decades of suffering, Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Indiana Pacers brought about another word - trauma.  Watching the Knicks collapse was the kind of moments that come with these deep runs and moments. NBA Playoff basketball will do that. Yet, this loss - this one - feels about as bad as the 2004 ALCS when the Yankees collapsed in the series to the Boston Red Sox.  That one carries some serious trauma. Luckily, the series isn't over.  Some other quick thoughts from this awful, awful night, New York Knicks Basketball.  - Not to conjure up hyperbole, or even contribute to "hot take" sports reaction culture - but this might have been the worst loss in Knicks franchise history. I cannot think of another in my lifetime, or historically.  - Tyrese Haliburton's "choke"...

Knicks Back in ECF Causing Catharsis

I've certainly shared my emotions and thoughts regarding the New York Knicks on this site over the years. There have been plenty of those to sort through - most of them are rants. Tonight, the New York Knicks ultimately destroyed the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, 119-81. I sat on my couch, afraid to allow myself to feel joy until that final buzzer. As a Knicks fan, I've been through too much to allow myself to do anything else, to make any assumption, until it was final. Until it was confirmed. Until something couldn't fall through...the way we're used to.  Once it was final, it was unreal.  The New York Knicks are in the Eastern Conference Finals. For the first time since 2000.  I was 15 years old the last time that happened. And that was a run with a squad that I consider (still) to be my favorite Knicks team of all-time.  I sat on my couch with all sorts of feelings. My wife was likely trying to understand the moment. My son, exci...