With the season starting tomorrow, it’s time to embarrass myself by attempting to predict various records and awards for the 2018 season. It tends to go miserably each season, and I don’t expect anything different this year. Still, it is fun to look back on each season, so here goes nothing!
American League
AL East
- New York Yankees
- Boston Red Sox
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Baltimore Orioles
AL Central
- Cleveland Indians
- Minnesota Twins
- Chicago White Sox
- Kansas City Royals
- Detroit Tigers
AL West
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Oakland Athletics
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
AL Wild Cards
- Boston Red Sox
- Minnesota Twins
National League
NL East
- Washington Nationals
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
NL Central
- Chicago Cubs
- Milwaukee Brewers
- St. Louis Cardinals
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Cincinnati Reds
NL West
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- San Diego Padres
- Colorado Rockies
- San Francisco Giants
NL Wild Cards
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Milwaukee Brewers
World Series Prediction
Houston Astros over the Chicago Cubs in six games
AL Manager of the Year
A.J. Hinch, Houston Astros
It isn’t easy to repeat as champions, but Hinch has the depth, talent, and analytic skills necessary to adapt to the game and become a legend. Hinch will have more young talent on the way, which he’ll utilize effectively again while guiding Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman into a new stratosphere of superstardom this season.
NL Manager of the Year
Craig Counsell, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers will win at least 90 games in 2018 with a below-average pitching staff. How? Because Counsell will find a creative way to juggle all of the offensive talent that the Brew Crew has accumulated over the offseason. Yes, Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain will make a big impression, but they’ll do so with Ryan Braun, Eric Thames, and Domingo Santana getting enough playing time to also be useful pieces…all thanks to Counsell’s tinkering.
AL MVP
Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
I’m really going out on a limb, here. It’s incredible to think about Trout turning 27 this August. He is one of those generational types of players who you begin to think, “ho-hum, another 30+ bomb and 7+ WAR season.” We shouldn’t think that, though! Trout has two MVPs (and two 2nd place finishes) and six All-Star games under his belt before he reaches the so-called prime of his career. Lord help the pitchers if he gets better than he already has been. Just a reminder, he hit 33 bombs and led the league in OPS (1.071) last season while walking more than he struck out (90:94 K:BB) in just 114 games.
NL MVP
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
Goldy has been an excellent player for the last several years, despite dealing with inconsistent talent and several injuries to his supporting cast. Luckily, this is the year that it all breaks right for the Diamondbacks and Goldschmidt will get the recognition that he has deserved. In what will be his sixth straight All-Star season, the humidor is the only thing that will be able to contain the bat of this superstar.
AL Cy Young
Corey Kluber, RHP, Cleveland Indians
Another boring pick, Kluber has the boring personality, robotic approach, and dominating stuff to remain focused and prepared for a 3rd CYA. He is the anchor of, arguably, the best rotation in baseball, and will continue mowing down the competition while leading the Indians to another Central title.
NL Cy Young
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
If it isn’t Kershaw or Nationals’ RHP Max Scherzer, then it will be Noah Syndergaard, but, like the Trout write-up above, it seems like we take Kershaw’s excellence for granted. Cherish it.
AL Rookie of the Year
Nick Gordon, SS, Minnesota Twins
Jorge Polanco‘s misstep with a PED could open the door for the former No.5 overall pick. He isn’t going to provide sexy power numbers, but the Twins have Miguel Sano and Brian Dozier for that. Gordon will get on base, steal some bases, and use the gaps at Target Field in ways that would make my wife’s abuse of the Target One Spot look weak. Women be shoppin’!
NL Rookie of the Year
Ronald Acuna, OF, Atlanta Braves
He’s only going to the minors to allow the Braves an extra year of service. They were working on a Scott Kingery-type of deal for the future star, but if it doesn’t work out, Acuna will be up for good before your taxes would be considered late. That’s April 17th if you still need to do them. Hurry.
We’ll see how wrong I am when October rolls around. Enjoy another awesome MLB season!
