Well, the AL was released Monday. Now comes the NL. Soon enough, the playoffs shall be predicted. So without further ado, the NL.
NL EAST 1. WASHINGTON NATIONALS - An NLDS to the Giants means a sense of urgency for the Nats. It should be world series or bust for these guys. 2. MIAMI MARLINS - Apparently the Marlins have a guy named Giancarlo Stanton who is supposed to be pretty good. 3. NEW YORK METS - After a 79-83 season, I don't foresee any changes this season. Except a lower finish in the division. 4. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES - The Phils should jump a spot in the division thanks to a dwon year from the Braves after losing some key names. 5. ATLANTA BRAVES - The Braves have lost some key names so a fifth place finish should be the result. NL CENTRAL 1. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS - They made the playoffs, beat the Dodgers by destroying Clayton Kershaw, then proceeded to give the NLCS to the Giants. 2. PITTSBURGH PIRATES - Last season they got thrashed 8-0 by the SanFran Giants, but revenge is on their mind. A second place finish in the Central and an appearance in the NLCS will happen in 2015. 3. CINCINNATI REDS - After a fourth place NL Central finish, they need to get back to their former form. Winning games and showing up in October. 4. MILWAUKEE BREWERS - They surprised everybody last year but they simply do not have enough weapons on defense to compete with the best of the NL. 5. CHICAGO CUBS - Even the addition of Jon Lester won't help them this season, as they suffer another last place finish. 2016 should be a better season though. NL WEST 1. SAN DIEGO PADRES - After having the biggest off season of any MLB team, they have the tools for a playoff appearance. The Friars will exit early, but will build the foundations for future runs. 2. LOS ANGELES DODGERS - As good as Clayton Kershaw is, he can't provide everything the team needs. There will be a point where it all comes apart for the Dodgers. 3. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - A year after a championship, they'll miss the playoffs altogether, even though Madison Bumgarner will win the NL Cy Young. 4. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS - The D-Backs are a team without a clear-cut star, which is what teams need to be successful. 5. COLORADO ROCKIES - Troy Tulowitzki is the Rockies leader, and he's a fine player. But he's all they've got. This concludes the NL, on Friday, my playoff predictions and award predictions shall be released. Thanks for reading!
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As teams report for spring training, new faces are on new teams. The most notable changes are James Shields, who signed four-year $75 million deal with the Padres, Jon Lester to the Cubs, Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez to the Red Sox, and Joe Maddon to the Cubs as their new manager. But what do these changes mean for the upcoming season?
AL EAST 1. BALTIMORE ORIOLES -They won the division last year, and I expect them to repeat due to the fact that they have a good rotation and a better offense. 2. BOSTON RED SOX -With the additions of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, the offense has been boosted. But, they have a struggle with where to put Ramirez, but it's a good problem to have. 3.TORONTO BLUE JAYS -They finished third last season, mainly due to a less than stellar defense. Their offense has no problem producing, mainly thanks to Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Expect the same this season. 4.NEW YORK YANKEES -The Yankees will miss the postseason for the second straight year because they simply cannot keep teams from scoring runs. The pitchers need a defense to work well behind them, but they don't have that kind of defense. 5.TAMPA BAY RAYS -The Rays will dwell in the cellar. No rotation, no defense, no offense, no game. AL CENTRAL 1. KANSAS CITY ROYALS -Lost in the World Series, lost James Shields to the Padres, but not gonna lose the AL Central. 2. CLEVELAND INDIANS - The Tribe was close to a playoff spot last year and this year they'll get it. They have a solid rotation and a decent offense, but their lacking defense will cause big problems. 3. DETROIT TIGERS - Losing Max Scherzer is gonna hurt. Badly. With Scherzer cruising the capital, the Tigers are now left with one solid option. David Price will most likely be good, but Justin Verlander is shaky. 4. CHICAGO WHITE SOX - Where do I start? How about with their lack of defense. Their defense is struggling, but the addition of Jeff Samardzjia may help. 5. MINNESOTA TWINS - With Joe Mauer on the obvious downward spiral towards retirement, the Twins are lacking leadership and talent. AL WEST 1. OAKLAND ATHLETICS - The A's saw a promising season and a huge lead slip away in the playoffs. This season will be different for the A's. 2. LOS ANGELES ANGELS - It all starts with Mike Trout for the Angels and this season should be no different. Trout will lead the offense to a decent season. 3. SEATTLE MARINERS - Felix Hernandez is going to be amazing again, but the rest of the team won't catch up to him. 4. HOUSTON ASTROS - The Astros have the best looking farm system in all of the MLB, but they aren't ready to win now. 5. TEXAS RANGERS - Yu Darvish is the best player on the Rangers' roster, but you cannot win with only one good pitcher. This concludes the AL predictions. Within this week, the NL shall be released, then following that the playoff predictions will be released. MAX SCHERZER
So far in the MLB Offseason, many blockbuster deals have been made. The deal that makes the most noise is the Max Scherzer to the Nats on a seven-year deal worth $210 million with a $50 million signing bonus. The bonus is the biggest bonus ever given in MLB history. The Nats already have a stacked pitching staff including Jordan Zimmerman, Doug Fister, Tanner Roark, Gio Gonzalez and ace Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals are fresh off an NL East crown, but a heartbreaking loss to the Giants put a damper on their season. Scherzer, age 30, out together a great season last year, going 18-5 and a 3.15 ERA. His 2013 season saw a 21-3 record with a 2.90 ERA. I think that this deal will work out for the Nats and it will also boost their already loaded rotation. One problem is Scherzer's age. At 30, he may only have a few good years left, but he can provide immediate success. OVERALL GRADE: A JON LESTER The longtime BoSox pitcher, and short time A's pitcher signed a six-year $155 million deal with the Cubbies this offseason. Lester earns a $30 million bonus as well. Lester will add a great deal talent to the Cubs, who are lacking at the starting pitcher position. I watched the Cubs play the Rays this summer, and the Cubs starter was Trevor Wood who pitched 6 innings of 4-hit 1-run ball. Wood pitched well, but the Cubs needed a leader at the pitching position and now they have one. Jeff Samardzjia was the ace, but they dealt him away so they were obviously lacking. Lester provides leadership for a young rotation and pen, and he gives them a much needed ace. Boston had the opportunity to take him back, but they laid low, didn't offer him enough, and now he's in Chitown. OVERALL GRADE: A- JOE MADDON Maddon is not a player, but he is still a high profile offseason acquisition. Maddon was the Tampa Bay manager from 2006 through 2014 and he led them to an AL title in 2008. Maddon left the Rays using his opt-out clause of his contract then signed with the Cubs. He signed a five-year deal, worth $25 million. Maddon is a great skipper and has the leadership capabilities to take the Cubs to the playoffs. The Cubs front office has started assembling a team for Maddon, (see Jon Lester) and if all goes as planned, I see the Cubs in the playoffs in two years on a wild card. OVERALL GRADE: A |
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