In years past I have gone as far as to predict win totals/win-loss totals. I’m not going to be doing that anymore, at least for baseball. I may give a ballpark for wins, but won’t break things down as far as say Team X will finish 92-70.
AL East
Red Sox
Yankees
Rays
Blue Jays
Orioles
Lots of people are high on the Rays, and rightly so. But in this division they won’t be able to contend. Put them in any other division in the league and they would be able to contend for a Wild Card spot if not the division. They have a better roster than last year though, and if there is one surprise team to steal a Wild Card spot it’s the Rays. I wouldn’t be stunned by it, but I just don’t see it happening. The Yankees and Red Sox are the class of this division. The Yankees made some moves in the offseason, but not the right ones. They did not add a marquee starter the team needed to reach the World Series, which is typically the goal for every season. So once again their rotation will be what holds them back. And that is before even accounting fur Luis Severino’s injury (which will keep him out till at least May), CC Sabathia’s (who should not have even been re-signed) suspension and injury. They can hit all the home runs they want, it won’t help in the end.
The Red Sox made little moves in the offseason, frankly because they didn’t need to. They’re set up not only for now, but for the long haul. Without being tied down to long, expensive contracts to the likes of Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, they will be able to add pieces as they need to.
Toronto learned this the hard way, as they saw their window to win and went for it, but it ultimately didn’t work out. They had many player friendly contracts cluttering up their roster, and had to cut ties with all of them in order for the financials and on field expectations to sync up. At least what they’re doing makes sense. At this point I have no clue what the Orioles are doing. I understand getting rid of aging stars, but you still need to field a competitive roster. So yet another last place finish for them.
AL Central
Indians
Twins
White Sox
Royals
Tigers
The easiest division in baseball the past couple seasons remains just that; the easiest division in baseball. The Indians will run away with it simply because no other team is ready to contend. Scratch that, the Tigers and Royals will be contenders; for the worst record in baseball. Just a couple seasons ago the Twins were the darlings of baseball by earning a Wild Card spot. Two seasons later though they move on from the manager who led them to that Wild Card berth, and lose one of their best players in free agency. They did add some pieces to fill out roster holes, but it still won’t be enough to contend in the division. But if there is one team to sneak up on Cleveland it will be the Twins.
AL West
Astros
A’s
Angels
Rangers
Mariners
Both the Angels and A’s weak spots are their rotation. Neither of them have a bonafide front line starter. I just can’t count Shohei Ohtani because he is not a dedicated pitcher, regardless of him being out for 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. I can easily see both of teams battling it out for one of the two Wild Card spots though. With the A’s to their lineup and rotation being slightly better. The Astros are still the best team in this division if not the league. Even with the subtractions to their rotation. Nobody else comes close to them in this division. You can pencil them in now as one of the teams in the ALCS.
Seattle is in rebuild mode, finally recognizing that the Robinson Cano signing was a mistake. I don’t think they had to give up one of the up and coming closers in the game though in that same deal though. Texas is a bit of an oddball, as they don’t seem to be doing much of anything. They’re not exactly in rebuild mode, but they’re not in contention either. They still have a better roster than the Mariners though.
NL East
Phillies
Nationals
Braves
Mets
Marlins
The Phillies came very close to winning the division last season, and came out of nowhere to do so. They overachieved, and what does that usually spell? A front office that overspends and overreaches in the offseason to bulk up the roster. Philadelphia admitted they would be big players in the market, and boy did they follow through. Landing arguably the best free agent in history, stealing a young quality catcher from a division rival, adding yet another former MVP to their outfield and a quality veteran late reliever to bolster their bullpen. Their only weak spot appears to be their rotation, which could use another quality arm. But that is an area that can be easily addressed by the trade deadline.
Rotation depth is Atlanta’s weak spot though, and their lineup additions simply aren’t enough to compete with the Phillies. Washington lost their best player in the offseason and decided to take the money they could’ve used to re-sign him to beef up their already beefed up rotation. The Nationals will be forever haunted by not trading Bryce Harper at the 2018 trade deadline, as they got absolutely nothing for him. For a team that has been on the cusp of a pennant for quite a while now, the additions of starter Patrick Corbin, catcher Yan Gomes (granted it fills a long time hole in the lineup) second basemen Brian Dozier (yet another lineup hole) simply won’t be enough in this division. Washington has missed their window, as the rest of the division has caught up to them.
With all that said, sadly the Mets will be the odd man out in this division. They’re good, which is more than Mets fans have been able to say for pretty much the team’s entire existence, but it’s still not enough. Matt Harvey flamed out, they’re still paying Bobby Bonilla, and they still have holes to fill. Maybe their youngsters will pan out, but it won’t be in 2019. And which Robinson Cano shows up is anyone’s guess.
The Marlins clearly showed where their priorities lied with a completely unnecessary rebrand in the offseason. A new logo does not mean a fresh start in Miami, as it’s more of the same tear down and relying on luck more than talent to finish with a .500 record. They will be far and away the worst team in baseball, if not shooting for the worst record in history. There is no nobody left in Miami; Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, J.T. Realmuto, Justin Bour, Dee Gordon and Jose Fernandez are all lone gone. Can anyone even name one player in the Marlins’ projected opening day lineup? If this was happening in any other city in the nation, there would be regular protests and marches in the street or outside the ballpark/team facilities. But remember, this is a place where you can buy field box seats for $12.50 and offers free shuttle service to and from the game, and even then, the ballpark is at least 90% empty every game.
NL Central
Brewers
Cardinals
Cubs
Reds
Pirates
This division is a tossup between the Brewers and the Cardinals. I will give the edge to the Brewers right now, because I think their rotation is slightly better (glaring weak spots for both teams) . Health will be a major factor in how this division plays out. Whichever team has the least amount if injuries will go a long way in deciding this division. The Cubs capitalized on their window, winning their first World Series title in over 100 years a couple seasons ago. But now, that roster is aging, and they depleted their farm system in order to win that elusive ring. But can you really blame them? Cincinnati is finally showing signs of awakening from their hibernation. Making bold moves in the offseason. But it still won’t be enough. This division has been one of the toughest in baseball for the past decade or so. Not because one team perennially dominates is, but the exact opposite actually. All these teams have been contenders within the last decade, and their success and downfall has been contingent on each other.
Pittsburgh fans will once again be left wondering why. As ownership doesn’t seem to care and just doesn’t get it. Their lineup is a joke. Why they traded for Chris Archer is anyone’s guess. And when it was on the heels of giving up their best pitcherin ages (Gerrit Cole) last season , for next to nothing, makes the move even more puzzling. The Pirates will get burned by the Reds getting markedly better.
NL West
Dodgers
Rockies
Diamondbacks
Padres
Giants
While the Dodgers have a great deal of subtractions, they’re still far and away the best team in this division. My only concern is their pitching, as Clayton Kershaw has shown signs of age, Kenley Jansen has had some nasty injuries. The D’backs lost bigger pieces, the Rockies pitching will never be enough to seriously contend due to Coors Field, and the Giants simply don’t have the roster to contend.
The Padres made one of the two biggest splashes in free agency with the signing of Manny Machado, but it still won’t be enough. There simply aren’t enough pieces around him and Hosmer (who signed as a free agent last winter), to contend. While the Padres are making moves, they’re not the right moves. While baseball has no salary cap, being tied to one player for so much money really limits what a small market team can do. Especially in a city that recently lost their NFL team to relocation and has no other big 4 pro league franchises. Now San Diego’s hands are completely tied, if they weren’t tied enough already with the Hosmer signing last winter. They have no pitching, their farm system is not where it needs to be to rebuild and their ballpark plays as one of the biggest in MLB so which slugger will be foolish enough to sign with them…
AL Playoffs
Wild Card Game
Yankees vs A’s
Division Series
Red Sox vs Indians
Astros vs Yankees
Championship Series
Astros vs Red Sox
National League Playoffs
Wild Card
Cardinals vs Rockies
Division Series
Phillies vs Brewers
Dodgers vs Cardinals
Championship Series
Dodgers vs Phillies
World Series
Astros vs Dodgers
Astros are World Series Champions
Stitches and Grooves 