2014 Major League Baseball prediction and discussion thread.

[Joe Biden 2020]

The 2014 Major League Baseball season is underway after two games Down Under between the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks.  The Dodgers took both of those.  Opening Night State Side featured the Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres and San Diego won 3-1 on a late 8th inning rally complements of Dodger set up man and former San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson.  Opening Day 2013 is on Monday, March 31, 2014 with 13 games on the docket from Noon to Midnight Central Time.

So, what are your 2014 season predictions?

Let this be a good discussion thread of the 2014 season.

[MaxQue]

We want Montreal Expos back.

[Хahar 🤔]

That eighth inning alone was more fun than all of 2013.

[free my dawg]

EDITED:

AL East:

1. Red Sox - Ellsbury may be gone, but that's no big deal. Xander Bogaerts is an upgrade over Drew, and I think Middlebrooks bounces back. And who knows about Grady Sizemore? 94-68
2. Rays - Joe Maddon helps a lot, and David Price is in his contract year. It'll be close, but the Rays have a chance at winning this year. 92-70
3. Orioles - Not big on Jimenez at all. Cruz is good, but expect similar returns. 86-76
4. Yankees - McCann is going to be awesome for them, but I think Tanaka will be a #3 starter and Ellsbury's basically guaranteed to miss 20-40 games. Plus there's going to be a massive hole at 2B (come on, we all know Roberts is gonna get hurt). Still a .500 team. 81-81
5. Blue Jays - If they were in any other division, they would be around .500. 72-90

AL Central:

1. Tigers - Tigers gonna Tiger. 98-64
2. Royals - This is the year they turn the corner. Aoki is no slouch either. 93-69 (WC)
3. Indians - Meh. Just meh. 84-78
4. White Sox - Most definitely had an under the radar offseason, but still not good enough to beat the Indians. 70-92.
5. Twins - hhehehe. 66-96.

AL West:

1. Rangers - Smart offseason, by far the winners. 94-68
2. Athletics - Lots to like about this team going forward. Kazmir is my sleeper pick of the year. 92-70
3. Angels - Not bad, but not as good as the Rays or Royals. 85-77.
4. Mariners - Cano isn't gonna help them pass the Angels. 76-86.
5. Astros - heading out of "absolute walking disaster" territory, but not quite there yet. 54-108.

NL East:

1. Nationals - Their pitching staff isn't even fair, and a healthy Harper should do wonders for this year. 97-65.
2. Braves - Quiet offseason, but whatever. 95-67 (WC)
3. Mets - Progress! 75-87
4. Phillies - Unacceptable offseason. Lee and Hamels save this team from being the worst in the league. 67-95
5. Marlins - lol. 64-99

NL Central:

1. Cardinals - Far and away the best team in baseball. 105-57.
2. Pirates - Love this team going forward. 95-67 (WC)
3. Reds - Losing Arroyo/Choo hurts, but they're still not that bad. 91-71.
4. Cubs - Marginal offseason, but Castro should bounce back and Rizzo should break out just enough to get out of the cellar. 72-90
5. Brewers - Good on paper, crap on the field. 71-91.

NL West:

1. Dodgers - Depends on how healthy Kemp is. Can be anywhere from 93-100 wins. 96-76.
2. Giants - Decent core, but not good enough to make the playoffs. 84-78
3. Padres - Much-improved. 80-82
4. Diamondbacks - Still a .500 team. 79-83
5. Rockies - I can count a few good people on this team, but I'm honestly not too keen. 76-86.

Playoffs:

WC:
Rays over Athletics
Royals over Rays

Braves over Pirates

Division:

Sox over Rangers in 4
Tigers over Royals in 4

Cardinals over Braves in 4
Nationals over Dodgers in 5

Championship:

Sox over Tigers in 7

Cardinals over Nationals in 6

World Series:

Cardinals over Sox in 6. I turn into a drunk, crying mess.

Awards (AL/NL):

MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Bryce Harper
ROTY: Xander Bogaerts, Kolten Wong (prev. Oscar Taveras)
Cy Young: David Price, Clayton Kershaw
MOY: Ned Yost, Matt Williams
Comeback Player of the Year: Joakim Soria, Tim Hudson (prev. Feliz)
World Series MVP: Matt Carpenter

[The Dowager Mod]

Red Sox
Tigers
Rangers
Rays (wc)
Royals (wc)
-------------
Nationals
Pirates
Dodgers
Cardinals (wc)
Braves (wc)

No change from this.

[Keystone Phil]

What a game we have in Texas right now!

[Joe Biden 2020]

What a game we have in Texas right now!

Was that the Texas Rangers or the Dallas Cowboys?  Same result, I guess...

[The Dowager Mod]

If the Phillies need to score double digits to win on a regular basis they are screwed.
Rangers get the Disastros and Mariners to beat up on all year.

[Joe Biden 2020]

If the Phillies need to score double digits to win on a regular basis they are screwed.
Rangers get the Disastros and Mariners to beat up on all year.

The Mariners are supposed to be a little better this year, I've heard.  I doubt they will be as big of a push over.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

GO NATS!!!

[Keystone Phil]

If the Phillies need to score double digits to win on a regular basis they are screwed.
Rangers get the Disastros and Mariners to beat up on all year.

Our problem is hitting and now scoring fourteen is a bad thing? Talk about spin.

[Хahar 🤔]

Going to watch the Walgreens play Atlanta on Saturday with a friend who'll be in town. I've never been to the park, although I've seen the Walgreens in San Francisco in each of the last two years. I'm sure it'll be fun.

[Gass3268]

5. Brewers - Good on paper, crap on the field. 71-91.

How did that sweep feel?

[Dr. Cynic]

I don't follow baseball at all, but for the good of Pittsburgh, I want the Pirates to continue to do well. It's been a LOOOOOOONG time coming.

[DINGO Joe]

A couple of random notes:

Houston had a shutout on Monday, in TV ratings--a perfect 0.0.  When the current owner of the Astros bought the team the Sports Network was supposed to be a cornerstone  of the teams ability to compete financially with the big boys.  Hasn't worked out and everybody is suing everybody.

http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/04/09/astros-match-last-years-0-0-tv-rating/


And the Atlanta Braves managed to burn the American flag ( a really big American flag) during their opening night fireworks.

[7,052,770]

I've been saying for years that I would go an entire fantasy season without a single starting pitcher on my roster, and this year, I'm finally going to try it.

[Bull Moose Base]

WS Tigers vs Nationals

[Suburbia]

Does anyone have any predictions for the postseason?

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Does anyone have any predictions for the postseason?

Pirates will beat the Giants at PNC Park and give the Natties a run for their money, but ultimately lose.

Royals will the AL's suprise team to go further than predicated.

[Lambsbread]

Nationals vs. Pirates - Nats in 6
Dodgers vs. Cardinals - Dodgers in 5

Nats vs. Dodgers - Nats in 7

Orioles vs. A's - A's in 7
Angels vs. Tigers - Angels in 6

A's vs. Angels - Angels in 6

Nats vs. Angels - Nats in 7

Nationals win the World Series. Yay.

[The Dowager Mod]

Going with Pirates and Royals.

[NewYorkExpress]

Wild Card Round;

NL; Pirates defeat Giants

AL: Royals defeat A's

NLDS

Pirates defeat Nationals in five

Dodgers defeat Cardinals in four

NLCS

Dodgers defeat Pirates in four

ALDS

Orioles defeat Tigers in five

Angels defeat Royals in five

ALCS

Orioles defeat Angels in seven

World Series

Dodgers defeat Orioles in six

[dead0man]

It's going to be tough for the Cards to beat the Dodgers, but there is so much playoff experience in that locker room that you can never count them out.  Experience and heart trump $s.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Going with Pirates and Royals.

waltermitty wants to be your new best friend.  He predicts them every year. 

[The Dowager Mod]

I am just talking about the wild card play in btw.