Here are my predictions for the American League this season. If I may be cliché for a moment, I’ll just say that the following predictions are merely a guess into how we could see the standings shake out this season. You are allowed to disagree, as a matter of fact, it’s encouraged. The team with a star next to its name is my wild card pick. Along with each team I’ll give you a player to keep an eye on. He may not be the team’s superstar, but someone with a storyline to follow this year.
CLICK HERE FOR MY NATIONAL LEAGUE PREDICTIONS
AL EAST
1st Place- Baltimore Orioles
Player To Watch: 1B Chris Davis – While there are many players I could have selected for the Orioles in this spot, Chris Davis takes the cake because it will be fun to see if he steps up and plays a solid first base. Things turned around for Baltimore when Manny Machado was called up and solidified the defense. That can’t all go out the window with Davis at first.
2nd Place- Tampa Bay Rays*
Player To Watch: 3B Evan Longoria – If I’m being honest with myself, the Rays very well could have taken the Orioles spot in the postseason had Evan Longoria been healthy at the tail end of last season. The guy is a game changer, and highly underrated by many still. Watch out for him, he’ll be on a mission this season.
3rd Place – Toronto Blue Jays
Player To Watch: P R.A. Dickey – Let’s see if last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner can match his knuckleball success from last season, but this time in the American League. I for one am not so sure. The Blue Jays obviously have tons of expectations, and a lot of that will rely on a pitching staff that I don’t think is as strong as most.
4th Place – New York Yankees
Player To Watch: P Mariano Rivera – The greatest closer in the game’s history is the player to watch for the Yankees this year simply because it’s his last season. Rivera will hang it up after this year, and while it’s been easy (and fun) to hate him over the years in the pinstripes, it’s also been very easy to respect him.
5th Place – Boston Red Sox
Player To Watch: DH David Ortiz – Big Papi will have a microscope on him this season. He can’t seem to stay healthy, which is why I’m puzzled that Boston continues to keep him around. Ortiz is obviously still very dangerous when he’s on, but he can’t seem to keep it on for more than a few weeks at a time.
AL CENTRAL
1st Place – Detroit Tigers
Player To Watch: RF Torii Hunter – I’m interested to see what this old veteran can provide to this already potent lineup. Hunter’s best days are clearly behind him, but if he can bolster the Tigers offense at all, it could be the push they need to win a title.
2nd Place – Cleveland Indians*
Player To Watch: 1B Mark Reynolds – Obviously Orioles fans will be interested to see what kind of season The Sheriff has for Cleveland. I know I am because it seemed like Reynolds really wanted to come back to Baltimore, but the money wasn’t offered. I think he has the potential for a big year with the Tribe.
3rd Place – Chicago White Sox
Player To Watch: RF Alex Rios – Not many knew how good of a year Alex Rios had last season, but it was pretty fantastic. It’s one of the reasons the White Sox were competitive, along with the development of pitchers like Chris Sale. If Rios can continue the upswing of his career, Chicago may be better than I even think.
4th Place – Kansas City Royals
Player To Watch: SS Alcides Escobar – This is another one of those budding young stars who had a taste of the bigs last season and could be poised for a breakout year. He had a stellar spring training and is a player who can defend well and steal bases. Be on the lookout for this kid.
5th Place – Minnesota Twins
Player To Watch: C Joe Mauer – Is Joe Mauer just going to keep having career year, after career year with more people overlooking him each season? The guy simply hits .300 every year and has developed his game to be able to play first base as well as catch. It’s a move that will likely extend his career in the long run.
AL WEST:
1st Place – Los Angeles Angels
Player To Watch: CF Mike Trout – The only question is can this guy get better? After winning the Rookie of the Year award last season and finishing second in the MVP vote, it would seem Trout couldn’t go higher. I sense he will take a small step back this year, but still end up as a top 15 player in baseball. With the supporting cast around him, it obviously won’t be an issue for the Halos.
2nd Place – Seattle Mariners
Player To Watch: LF Michael Morse – The Mariners’ acquisition of Michael Morse from the Nationals could be one of the hidden gems of the offseason, and I think it’s one that helps this team compete for a playoff spot. This may seem like a surprise to some, but Morse can help this team along with the young pieces around him.
3rd Place – Oakland Athletics
Player To Watch: LF Yoenis Cespedes – If you didn’t see this Cuban defector play much for Oakland last season, you missed out. Cespedes is an absolute monster who can hit the ball from Oakland across the bay to San Francisco. He is a five-tool player who plays defense and can run the bases too. If he stays healthy all year, he’ll compete for the MVP award.
4th Place – Texas Rangers
Player To Watch: P Yu Darvish – I think Texas takes a big step back this season, but the one guy who could keep that from happening is Yu Darvish. We all got to see what Darvish is capable of last season in the majors, and even before that in international play. He will have to be a Cy Young type pitcher to get the Rangers back to the playoffs.
5th Place – Houston Astros
Player To Watch: 2B Jose Altuve – If there aren’t many nice things to say about the Marlins, wait until you hear about the Astros. At least Miami has a superstar in Giancarlo Stanton to watch. Houston has Jose Altuve, who is by no means a superstar, but an All-Star player and an exciting speedy guy that hits at the top of the order. That’s literally all that this potential 100-loss team has to look towards this year, their first in the American League.
3 Responses
I like the picks. I still like the Royals this season. I could see the Royals surpassing both the White Sox and the Indians in the Central. I know they traded away Myers, but I think the addition of Davis and Shields will have an immediate impact in KC.
I don’t disagree with any of your predictions, I’m guessing that the * denotes the wild card teams? I think the Blue Jays have the potential to be this years Marlins (not just b/c they have their ENTIRE roster from last year) but as the team with high expectations that fails to meet them.
I know they went to the world series but with the best pitcher in baseball, a triple crown winner and a guy who has been mvp several times youd think they could win more than 88 games. My evaluation? Tigers are overrated this year. The team that made the most improvements was the royals thats why i pick them to win.