Ladies and gentlemen, baseball is back. We are less than one week away from the official stateside start to the MLB season (the Dodgers and Diamondbacks played two regular season games in Australia last weekend), and with a new season comes new expectations.
With practically every team in first place (sorry Arizona), it is only fitting that we here at Eutaw Street Report project which teams stay there and which teams fall back to the pack.
So, without further ado…
AL East
Tampa Bay
Baltimore (WC)
Boston (WC)
New York
Toronto
Analysis
Tampa Bay has the least formidable lineup in the division, but they have the best pitching. Baltimore’s offense will keep them in the hunt for the division all season. Boston unified and rallied in the wake of tragedy last season to power them through a tough AL East that saw four teams win 85 or more games en route to a World Series title. They will fall off a bit this season, but will still win a Wild Card spot. All three teams will win 90+ games, and just like last year, four teams in this division will be above .500.
New York spent nearly $500 million in the offseason, but will rely too heavily on aging superstars (eight players age 34 or older by season’s end) to make it through the dog days of summer. Stay tuned for a more in-depth look at the AL East before Opening Day.
AL Central
Detroit
Kansas City
Cleveland
Minnesota
Chicago
Analysis
Detroit will win a tough division that saw roster improvement from the three teams in the division that missed the playoffs in 2013. While the Tigers lost Doug Fister and Prince Fielder to trades and Jose Iglesias to injury, they still have the best hitter in the game in Miguel Cabrera and have added Ian Kinsler to go along with Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter. With a staff anchored by two Cy Young award winners in Justin Verlander and Max Sherzer, the Tigers will win their fourth straight AL Central title.
Kansas City is improved from last year and returns a solid if not stellar defense and a decent pitching staff. Cleveland did nothing this offseason and lost their best starter in Ubaldo Jimenez and will not make a second consecutive playoff appearance.
AL West
Los Angeles
Oakland
Seattle
Texas
Houston
Analysis
Oakland has won two straight division titles but will not three-peat as division champs. Somehow this team manages to win despite having less talent than other teams in the division, but this is the season it catches up with them.
Los Angeles will finally realize its offensive potential and a healthy Jered Weaver along with workhorse C.J. Wilson will lead the Angels to their first division title since 2009.
Texas has been decimated by injuries that will just be too much to overcome this season. Seattle will finish ahead of Texas, but with no protection for Robinson Cano, even with a very good rotation, third place would seem to be their ceiling. Houston, though better on paper than years past, is still a ways away from making a splash in the division.
AL MVP
1. Mike Trout (LAA)
2. Miguel Cabrera (DET)
3. Josh Hamilton (LAA)
AL Cy Young
1. Justin Verlander (DET)
2. Felix Hernandez (SEA)
3. David Price (TB)
AL Rookie of the Year
1. Jose Abreu (CWS)
2. Masahiro Tanaka (NYY)
3. Jonathan Schoop (BAL)
AL Comeback Player of the Year
1. Grady Sizemore (BOS)
2. Derek Jeter (NYY)
3. Josh Hamilton (LAA)
*Note- Hamilton didn’t have a terrible year in 2013, but his .250 BA, 21 HR, 79 RBI and .307 OBP were the lowest totals for a full season in his career and put him in the conversation for this award. With an extra 20-25 lbs. of muscle this season, he will return to MVP-caliber form.
Playoffs
Wild Card
BAL over BOS
ALDS
BAL over LAA
DET over TB
ALCS
DET over BAL
As always, this is one journalist’s opinion and open for debate, discussion, and interpretation. Let me know how you feel about it, and contact me on Twitter @PaulValleIII.
3 Responses
I disagree with Tampa winning the division, They did nothing to get better in the off season and with Ball four as their closer i dont see them finishing any higher then 4th and dont think the Yankees will sit…they will do what they have to do to contend and Boston will win the division easly again.
Boston didn’t do anything to get better either. To say they will win the division easily is a blanketed generalization. Tampa has the best pitching in the division. Any of the three teams I listed to make the playoffs in the east has a realistic chance to win the division. The Yankees have a good shot too, I just think they’re too old.
The Orioles have been killing almost everyone in spring training. Baseball world beware the bird.