Skip to main content

Predictions and Wild Guesses for the 2022 MLB Season

Adrian Kraus | Credit: AP

It's been quite the past few weeks for baseball fans. From being ultimately disgruntled with everything about the sport's status when labor negotiations felt insulting and dismissive of the baseball fan, to the emotion that surfaced to your team's transactions in the flurry of moves that was the "off-season". Some Hot Stove...

I'm happy baseball will be played. Who isn't? I'm glad they figured something out. However, there still is a part of me that wonders, what truly was resolved? Heading into this season, only a handful of teams are legit contenders, and even more depressing is the gap increased as some have all but said, "we'll try again in 2023." I'm trying to stay positive...

There's also the desecration that is the left-field wall in beautiful Oriole Park in Camden Yards! Ugh.

Regardless, we'll get baseball this summer. I'll take it. 

As is tradition, here are my wacky predictions for the upcoming season. I beg of you, do not place real bets, with real money, based upon this information.

 

STANDINGS (WINS)

AL East

Yankees - 91

Rays - 90

Blue Jays - 90

Red Sox - 88

Orioles - 68


AL Central

White Sox - 93

Twins - 87

Royals - 78

Guardians - 73

Tigers - 73


AL West

Astros - 92

Angels - 87

Rangers - 82

Mariners - 78

Athletics - 65


NL East

Mets - 91

Braves - 91

Phillies - 88

Marlins - 77

Nationals: 72


NL Central

Cardinals - 92

Brewers - 90

Reds - 78

Cubs: 77

Pirates: 67


NL West

Dodgers: 97

Giants - 90

Padres: 88

Diamondbacks: 78

Rockies: 72


GOALS / AWARDS / LEADERS

AL Hitting Leaders

Batting Champion: Tim Anderson (.339)

Home Runs: Aaron Judge (51)

RBIs: Vladimir Guererro Jr. (121)

On-Base Percentage: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.413)

Slugging Percentage: Vladmir Guerrero Jr. (.611)

Stolen Bases: Cedric Mullins (41)


NL Hitting Leaders

Batting Champion: Freddie Freeman (.329)

Home Runs: Matt Olson (48)

RBIs: Manny Machado (121)

On-Base Percentage: Bryce Harper (.431)

Slugging Percentage: Bryce Harper (.631)

Stolen Bases: Fernando Tatis Jr. (40)


AL Pitching Leaders

ERA: Gerrit Cole (2.45)

Wins: Alek Manoah (18)

Strikeouts: Gerrit Cole (233)

WHIP: Gerrit Cole (0.88)

Saves: Jordan Romano (39)


NL Pitching Leaders

ERA: Zack Wheeler (2.88)

Wins: Walker Beuhler (20)

Strikeouts: Zack Wheeler (239)

WHIP: Corbin Burnes (0.94)

Saves: Devin Williams (37)


BREAKOUT STARS

AL: Spencer Torkelson (DET)

AL: Wander Franco (TB)

NL: O'Neil Cruz (PIT)

NL: Hunter Greene (CIN)


BIGGEST NAMES TO BE TRADED

AL: Frankie Montas

AL: Noah Syndergaard

AL: Trey Mancini


NL: Josh Hader

NL: Jesus Aguilar

NL: Eric Hosmer


10 RANDOM, WILD, OR BOLD PREDICTIONS

  1. The new technology will catch on, even dare I say, increasing the pace of play of pitches being thrown to the plate. 
  2. Albert Pujols, back in Cardinal red, will indeed reach 700 in the most dramatic storyline of the baseball season. 
  3. Shohei Ohtani will do it again - making pitching and hitting seem easy. 
  4. Rumors around Juan Soto being traded begin. 
  5. Rumors around Mike Trout "wanting to win" begin. 
  6. The AL East will dominate the American League sending four teams to the Postseason.
  7. Fernando Tatis Jr. has a 40/40 season. 
  8. Derek Jeter lands another executive position in baseball. 
  9. Carlos Beltran leaks more insight into the 2017 Astros season over the course of the year in his role as YES analyst. 
  10. At least two people are seriously injured by the dumb left-field wall at Camden. Can you tell I'm not a fan of this? 

AWARDS

AL Rookie of the Year: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)

NL Rookie of the Year: O'Neil Cruz (PIT)


AL Comeback Player of the Year: Aaron Hicks (NYY)

NL Comeback Player of the Year: Albert Pujols (STL)


AL Cy Young Winner: Gerrit Cole (NYY)

NL Cy Young Winner: Zack Wheeler (PHI)


AL MVP: Vladimir Guerrerro Jr. (TOR)

NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL)


WORLD SERIES

World Series: Yankees vs. Cardinals

World Series MVP: Gerritt Cole


Eh, everyone's falling in love with the Blue Jays, Brewers, etc...

I don't get the unsatisfaction narrative with the Yankees roster...so hey, why not? 

Labels:

Recent Favorites

Wanting the Alternate Route For Bronny James

Welcome to the NBA, Bronny James!  In what was the worst-kept novelty of a storyline in the sports world in LeBron and Bronny one day gracing the NBA together, we're finally here!  First, congrats to Bronny! Entering the NBA is incredibly difficult, especially more than ever considering its global reach. Regardless, he is now part of the fraternity and amongst the elite in the game. Haters will say what they want, but he's there.  And second, congratulations to LeBron and Savannah James. What will be lost in all of this is that they raised a strong young man who yes, took advantage of his access and genetics, and is now at this point in his life - his ultimate goal. Bronny at the core, had no reason to want this - none. He easily could have rested, relaxed, and enjoyed the spoils of this birth lottery. Instead, he wanted what h knew would be the shadow of a massive legacy - and still did the work. That takes guts.  I commend the kid for not resting on Dad's name and wealth.
Read more

Thoughts on First 2024 Presidential Debate

It’s the most unwanted rematch likely in history. Biden vs. Trump What we saw tonight was exactly what many moderates expected and solidified what we didn’t want to say out loud - we have to have better options than these two, no? There isn’t much to say about this debate, especially from this debate nerd. This was the absolute shits in regards to inspiring a nation for an upcoming election season, which in many ways, still resonates with political fatigue from 2020. But you know that, already. You knew that ten minutes into the debate. The two best quotes I’ve come across to wrap up my overall feeling are the following: On one side it’s hell no, and on the other, it’s oh no. It’s who we shouldn’t have be President vs. who we can’t let be President A few more quick thoughts on last night 1st Presidential Debate:  - For me, this format was the biggest positive of the night and a very good baseline for where future political debates need to go. In a world of “takes” and who shouts the lo
Read more

2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs Keeps Me Casual on Hockey

It's been a long time since I've talked hockey on this.  Wait! Huh? Come again? Yes, hockey. In fact, the last time I posted anything, I was mesmerized by the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals between the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers.  Fast forward to 2024, and my hockey fandom took another step forward. For years I've been the admitted casual. And you know what, I'm okay with that. Unfortunately, my unconditional love fandom for my New York Knicks presents a conflict that will forever curtail anything serious from happening between hockey and myself.  Nonetheless, I felt like this post-season heightened my hockey fandom to another level. Hockey is amazingly awesome. I very much enjoyed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, caught myself choosing Rangers games over early April Yankees baseball, and overall, found myself playing NHL 24 on the ol' Playstation 4.  Yeah, I fell hard. But before I shelf my spring fling with hockey until April 2025, here are just a few quick pon
Read more