With pitchers and catchers reporting in 44 days, now is better than never to run through my bold predictions for every MLB team. If you know anything about me, I get as bold as I can when it comes to these, like, to the point where I can be diagnosed as medically insane. Let us get rolling, shall we?
Baltimore Orioles
- Jonathan Schoop hits more home runs than Chris Davis
- J.J. Hardy hits 30 home runs
- Bud Norris leads the team in wins, ERA, strikeouts and WHIP
- Adam Jones hits 40 home runs
- David Lough finishes the season with an average over .250
- Ryan Flaherty plays more games at third base than Manny Machado (I hope not)
- Christian Walker becomes the starting first baseman by July with Pearce in RF and Davis at DH
- All of the Spring Training headlines will be about Brian Matusz trying to be starter again
- Delmon Young has a higher WAR than Chris Davis
- Darren O’Day becomes the closer
- Matt Wieters is traded at the deadline
- T.J. McFarland has more starts than Ubaldo Jimenez
- Dylan Bundy joins the rotation; Wei-Yin Chen is moved to the bullpen
- Jonathan Schoop participates in the Home Run Derby
Boston Red Sox
- Their team’s starter’s ERA is lower than the Yankees’
- Hanley Ramirez has the lowest dWAR and UZR among qualifying outfielders
- Allen Craig hits higher than .230
- Dustin Pedroia hits lower than .260
- Jackie Bradley Jr. plays more games in Pawtucket than in Boston
- Daniel Nava is the starter in right field
- Shane Victorino is traded in Spring Training
- Pablo Sandoval hits more home runs than David Ortiz
- They somehow make a trade for Cole Hamels
- Edward Mujica has more saves than Koji Uehara
New York Yankees
- Dellin Betances leads the MLB in saves
- C.C. Sabathia starts more than 15 games
- Masahiro Tanaka has Tommy John Surgery
- Alex Rodriguez plays more games at first base than Mark Teixeira
- Garrett Jones plays more games at first base than Mark Teixeira
- Brian McCann plays more games at first base than Mark Teixeira
- Alex Rodriguez hits more than 15 home runs while hitting below .240
- Jacoby Ellsbury leads the team in average at .280
- Tyler Austin plays more games in right field than Carlos Beltran
Tampa Bay Rays
- Kevin Kiermaier leads the team in batting average, OPS, WAR and total bases
- Steven Souza plays in more games than David DeJesus
- Jake Odorizzi finishes with ERA higher than 4.30
- Jake McGee finishes with more than 30 saves
- Chris Archer leads in ERA, FIP, and WHIP
- The Rays finish ahead of the Yankees in the AL East
Toronto Blue Jays
- Marcus Stroman finishes with an ERA lower than 3
- Brett Cecil is the closer out of Spring Training; loses the job by June
- Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion do not make a trip to the D.L.
- Russell Martin hits below .240
- Dioner Navarro plays more games at first base than Justin Smoak
- Justin Smoak gets DFA’d
- Edwin Encarnacion hits more than 40 home runs
- The Blue Jays sign more former Orioles
- Russell Martin hits more home runs than Josh Donaldson
- Josh Donaldson only fights Manny Machado once
Chicago White Sox
- Jose Abreu hits 50 home runs; leads whole league
- Jose Quintana finishes with a lower ERA than Chris Sale
- David Robertson has double digit blown saves; loses closer job in August
- Adam Eaton leads the team in average and OBP
- Adam Eaton: All Star
- Avisail Garcia plays more games than Dayan Viciedo
Cleveland Indians
- Corey Kluber has a lower ERA than 2.44
- Out of Brandon Moss, Carlos Santana and Nick Swisher, Brandon Moss plays the least amount of games at first base
- Michael Brantley leads league in batting average, finishes 2nd in MVP voting
- Jason Kipnis hits above .280
- Yan Gomes hits 35 home runs; leads team
- Scott Atchison looks more and more like a coach; actually believes he is one; becomes one
Detroit Tigers
- Al Alburquerque forgets how to spell his name
- Buck Farmer realizes true calling, becomes a farmer
- Justin Verlander finishes with ERA higher than 4.50
- Joe Nathan finishes with 25 saves and 15 blown saves
- Yoenis Cespedes hits more home runs than Miguel Cabrera
- J.D. Martinez finishes with a higher batting average than Victor Martinez
- Alex Avila does not get a concussion
- Alfredo Simon finishes with a lower ERA than David Price
Kansas City Royals
- Yordano Ventura leads the team in ERA, FIP & WHIP
- Jeremy Guthrie finishes with a lower ERA than Jason Vargas
- Salvador Perez plays less than 140 games
- Jarrod Dyson plays more games in right field than Alex Rios
- Mike Moustakas finishes with an average below .200
- Out of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, Brandon Finnegan and Greg Holland, Kelvin Herrera finishes with the highest ERA
- Alex Gordon hits exactly .250
Minnesota Twins
- Joe Mauer hits higher than .290
- Aaron Hicks hits higher than .250, becomes the every day center fielder
- Oswaldo Arcia finishes with 15 more home runs than Torii Hunter
- Ervin Santana smells baseball too much, finishes with ERA over 4.10
- Phil Hughes finishes with ERA below 3.50
- Ricky Nolasco gets DFA’d
- Eduardo Nunez plays more games in left field than Jordan Schafer
Houston Astros
- The Astros finish in third place
- Chris Carter hits a baseball out of Minute Maid Park
- L.J. Hoes plays more games in left field than Robbie Grossman
- Jose Altuve, Dexter Fowler, George Springer and Jed Lowrie all hit higher than .280
- Jon Singleton hits above .200
- Dallas Keuchel finishes with an ERA below 2.90
Los Angeles Angels
- C.J. Cron plays more games than Albert Pujols at first base
- Collin Cowgill plays more games in the outfield than Josh Hamilton
- Johnny Giavotella plays more games than Josh Rutledge at second base
- Mike Trout hits above .325
- Drew Butera hits more home runs than Josh Hamilton
- Jered Weaver finishes with a higher ERA than Hector Santiago
Oakland Athletics
- Out of Mark Canha, Ike Davis, Nate Freiman, and Rangel Ravelo, Nate Freiman plays the most games at first base
- Ike Davis gets DFA’d
- Eric Sogard hits higher than .230
- Brett Lawrie plays in 100 games
- Billy Butler leads the team in home runs with 18
- Scott Kazmir leads the team in ERA, FIP and WHIP
- Sean Doolittle walks less than 5 people
- Stephen Vogt plays in more games than John Jaso
Seattle Mariners
- The Mariners win the AL West
- Nelson Cruz hits 25 home runs
- Kyle Seager finishes with a higher average than Robinson Cano
- Austin Jackson strikes out 200 times
- James Jones plays more games in the outfield than Seth Smith
- Nelson Cruz plays more games in the outfield than Seth Smith
- Chris Taylor becomes the every day short stop
- Jesus Montero gets suspended again, doesn’t play any games in the MLB
- Mike Zunino hits higher than .230
- Taijuan Walker pitches more than 100 innings
- Felix Hernandez finishes with an ERA lower than 2
- Fernando Rodney finishes with 50 saves
Texas Rangers
- Yu Darvish finishes with a 3.50 ERA and under 13 wins
- Prince Fielder plays more than 100 games
- Adam Rosales does not get DFA’d
- Roughned Odor becomes the every day second baseman
- Jurickson Profar spend all season in AAA
- Elvis Andrus hits higher than .280
- Shin-Soo Choo hits lower than .240
Atlanta Braves
- Craig Kimbrel blows 8 saves
- The Braves outfield has the worst combined dWAR in baseball
- B.J. Upton finishes with an average below .190
- Zoilo Almonte starts in more games than Jose Constanza
- Nick Markakis plays in less than 140 games
- Andrelton Simmons hits higher than .250, is still best defender in baseball
Miami Marlins
- Giancarlo Stanton hits 45 home runs, is the NL MVP
- Jose Fernandez pitches by May
- Henderson Alvarez finishes with an ERA under 2.50
- Adeiny Hechavarria hits higher than .280
- Christian Yelich hits higher than .300
- The Marlins win the NL East, go to the NLCS
New York Mets
- Bartolo Colon gets three hits
- Matt Harvey pitches by June
- Jacob deGrom leads the team in ERA
- Jenrry Mejia saves 35 games
- Noah Syndergaard gets called up in September
- Lucas Duda hits 35 home runs
- Daniel Murphy hits .300
- Ruben Tejada DFA’d
- Michael Cuddyer plays more games in RF than Curtis Granderson
- Juan Lagares plays in more than 140 games
- David Wright hits less than 6 home runs
Philadelphia Phillies
- The Phillies finish with the worst record in baseball
- Cliff Lee gets Tommy John Surgery
- Cole Hamels gets traded
- Jonathan Papelbon loses the closer job; finishes with 10 saves
- Ryan Howard hits below .210 and hits below 20 home runs
- Grady Sizemore plays in more games than Dom Brown in left field
- Ben Revere hits three home runs
- Chase Utley leaves a game randomly, never to return, saying “he’s had enough”
- Jonathan Papelbon and Jonathan Pettibone accidentily switch jersey by August; neither care anymore
- The Phillies lose more than 110 games
Washington Nationals
- Bryce Harper plays in 150 games, hits 35 home runs
- Danny Espinosa plays more games at third base than Ryan Zimmerman
- Jose Lobaton plays in more games than Wilson Ramos
- Gio Gonzalez finishes with an ERA higher than 3.90
- Doug Fister leads the team in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts
- Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen both finish with more than 20 saves each
- Danny Espinosa DFA’d
Chicago Cubs
- Jake Arrieta finishes with an ERA between 3.10 and 3.50
- Jason Hammel finishes with an ERA below 3.10
- Jon Lester finishes with 230 strikeouts, 2.30 ERA
- Pedro Strop saves 20 games
- Anthony Rizzo hits higher than .290
- Javier Baez leads the NL in strikeouts
- Welington Castillo plays in more games than Miguel Montero
Cincinnati Reds
- Billy Hamilton steals 60 bases
- Brandon Phillips hits less than 15 home runs
- Joey Votto does not lead the team in OBP
- Jay Bruce hits 25 home runs
- Zack Cozards hits higher than .240
- Todd Frazier hits more than 30 home runs
Milwaukee Brewers
- Carlos Gomez hits more than 30 home runs
- Ryan Braun hits less than 20 home runs
- Jean Segura hits exactly .250
- Matt Clark plays in more games than Adam Lind
- Jonathan Lucroy hits 20 home runs
- Will Smith makes “Gettin’ Jiggy With It” his walk out music, saves 20 games
- Matt Garza finishes with an ERA lower than 3.50
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Gregory Polanco plays in more games in right field than Travis Snider
- Travis Snider plays in more games in right field than Corey Hart
- Josh Harrison hits above .300 again
- Neil Walker hits higher than .275
- Pedro Alvarez hits lower than .230
- Andrew McCutchen hits 30 home runs
- Jordy Mercer hits higher than .260
St. Louis Cardinals
- Jason Heyward hits higher than .275
- Matt Holliday hits less than 20 home runs
- Matt Carpenter hits .290
- Kolten Wong hits 15 home runs
- Mark Reynolds hits more home runs than Matt Adams in less games
- Michael Wacha strikes out 120, finishes with an ERA of 3.05
- Seth Maness replaces Trevor Rosenthal as the closer by June
Arizona Diamondbacks
- Mark Trumbo hits less than 10 home runs
- Yasmany Tomas hits more than 20 home runs
- Ender Inciarte plays in more than 130 games, hits above .280
- Aaron Hill hits below .235
- Paul Goldschmidt hits 25 home runs
- Daniel Hudson pitches in more than one game (We’re rooting for ya, Daniel!)
Colorado Rockies
- Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki get traded at the deadline
- Troy Tulowitzki does not go on the DL
- Nolan Arenado hits higher than .290
- Justin Morneau hits below .300
- Charlie Blackmon hits .400 in April again
- Corey Dickerson becomes the everyday left fielder, leading to Gonzalez being traded
- DJ LeMahieu hits higher than .270
Los Angeles Dodgers
- Yasiel Puig hits 20 or more home runs
- Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke both finish with ERA’s under 2.20
- Yasmani Grandal becomes the everyday starter
- Howie Kendrick hits above .300
- Andre Ethier is traded either before Spring Training or at the deadline
- Scott Van Slyke becomes the everyday starter in center field
- Yasiel Puig has 10 outfield assists and zero errors
San Diego Padres
- The Padres do not make the playoffs
- Andrew Cashner pitches 200 innings
- Derek Norris hits less than 10 home runs
- Will Middlebrooks gets DFA’d
- Matt Kemp plays in less than 120 games
- Wil Myers plays in more than 150 games
- Will Venable gets traded
- Justin Upton hits .300
San Francisco Giants
- The Giants do not win the World Series since it is an odd year
- Madison Bumgarner pitches 220 innings, finishes with an ERA under 2.80
- Tim Lincecum becomes a full time bullpen arm
- Sergio Romo has more blown saves than saves
- Hunter Strickland faces Bryce Harper, gives up home run
- Joe Panik plays in more than 100 games
- Hunter Pence plays in 162 games again
- Travis Ishikawa gets DFA’d
- Matt Cain has an ERA over 4.50
These have been my bold predictions. What do you agree/disagree with? Tweet me and let me know what you think.
