Time for predictions

[msgkings322]

I'll post this on the main MLB board too but I know some of y'all aren't visitors there.

With the teams basically ready to go (a few names still to be signed), who do we see winning divisions, making wild cards, and my favorite topic: which teams will be the big surprises, both out and underperforming?

NL:

Division winners: Giants (a bit homerish here), Cubs, Mets (kind of consensus here)
Wild cards: Dodgers, Cardinals

Upside surprise: Marlins
Downside surprise: D-backs

AL (much harder for me to choose)

Division winners: Astros, Royals, Red Sox
Wild cards: Rangers, White Sox

Upside surprise: White Sox
Downside surprise: Angels

 

[RamsFan88]

NL: Giants, Pirates, Mets
WC: Cubs, D'Backs

AL: Astros, Royals, Yankees
WC: Red Sox, Rangers

 

[Mays-Fan]

If the Giants stay healthy, especially the SP's, they will win 95+ games, and maybe 100.

 

[msgkings322]

If the Giants stay healthy, especially the SP's, they will win 95+ games, and maybe 100.

Love the enthusiasm, and I agree a healthy club has a good shot at 95 or so. But I was looking for a bit more predicting, ya know?

 

[Mays-Fan]

Love the enthusiasm, and I agree a healthy club has a good shot at 95 or so. But I was looking for a bit more predicting, ya know?

Hey, it's early, ya know. I gotta get limbered up...

 

[calsnowskier]

I posted this to the MLB board...

NL Divisions

Giants
Cubs
Mets

Wild cards

Cardinals
Dodgers

AL Divisions

Astros
Royals
Yankees

Wild cards

Rangers
Blue Jays

Giants over Astros

 

[msgkings322]

I posted this to the MLB board...

NL Divisions

Giants
Cubs
Mets

Wild cards

Cardinals
Dodgers

AL Divisions

Astros
Royals
Yankees

Wild cards

Rangers
Blue Jays

Giants over Astros

Biggest upside and downside surprises? Also looks like your only playoff team difference from 2015 is the Giants instead of the Pirates. More of the same mostly?

Vegas still has the Giants with a great shot to win the WS, only the Cubs have better odds now.

 

[calsnowskier]

Biggest upside and downside surprises? Also looks like your only playoff team difference from 2015 is the Giants instead of the Pirates. More of the same mostly?

Vegas still has the Giants with a great shot to win the WS, only the Cubs have better odds now.

I don't see a lot if shuffling from last year. In the NL, only the DBacks have stepped up into contention, so the NL would, as expected, look similar.

In the AL...

West - really just 2 teams (maybe a 3rd?)

LA - they did NOTHING. More of the same.
Oak - Beane is still around. They ain't going anywhere.
Astros - they are SCARY.
Rangers - solid pitching.
Mariners - maybe?

East

Yankees - they are playing 6-inning games
Red Sox - OK, they added Price. But they still have a cancerous clubhouse.
Blue Jays - they list Price. Legit hit.
Rays - next...
Orioles - no improvement.

Central - toss up.

In all of baseball, it was basically the rich getting richer (and Arizona).

 

[Hangman]

Giants win 95 games and win their 4th World Series with Buster and the even year streak continues.

 

[msgkings322]

Giants win 95 games and win their 4th World Series with Buster and the even year streak continues.

Nice! And that's with a C-/D+ offseason. If they had actually done anything right this offseason they'd win 100+!

 

[LHG]

NL West - Giants
NL Central - Saint Louis
NL East - Washington
NL Wild Cards - Chicago, New York

AL West - Houston
AL Central - Kansas City
AL East - Toronto
AL Wild Cards - Texas, Seattle

Surprise teams - Washington, Seattle, Tampa (barely miss 2nd wild card)
Disappointing teams - Los Angeles, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh (but not by much)

2016 WS - SF vs. KC in 2014 rematch. Of course, we all know who wins it.

By the way, this is hardly an impartial analysis. This is not what I think is most likely to happen, just more what I'd like to see, but there are about 5 other teams I think could make the playoffs.

 

[Hangman]

Nice! And that's with a C-/D+ offseason. If they had actually done anything right this offseason they'd win 100+!

If they resign Lincecum it will go up to an A.

 

[SFGRTB]

NL West - Giants
NL Central - Saint Louis
NL East - Washington
NL Wild Cards - Chicago, New York

AL West - Houston
AL Central - Kansas City
AL East - Toronto
AL Wild Cards - Texas, Seattle

Surprise teams - Washington, Seattle, Tampa (barely miss 2nd wild card)
Disappointing teams - Los Angeles, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh (but not by much)

2016 WS - SF vs. KC in 2014 rematch. Of course, we all know who wins it.

By the way, this is hardly an impartial analysis. This is not what I think is most likely to happen, just more what I'd like to see, but there are about 5 other teams I think could make the playoffs.

I like the Seattle and Tampa surprise teams. I think the AL West is pretty open at this point. I'm sticking with the AL East in disappointments, but I think it's Boston. The rest of their rotation is still pretty bad. I really like their bullpen though. And they have some nice hitters. But I think the Yankees and Jays are too much. They won't be able to out-score Toronto, and if the Yankees get an early lead, the game is o-v-e-r.

I can't figure out the AL Central. The Tigers improved, the White Sox improved, the Twins kinda remind me of last years Astros. The Indians have 3 of the better pitchers in the game, but their the only team that didn't do much to improve. Then of course the Royals are the Royals.

IMO the NL is much easier to figure out. The bad teams all got worse on purpose. The good teams all added nice pieces. I think there is high expectations for the top 8 teams, and I think all those teams will do well. So I guess the Marlins will be my "surprise" team, they'll beat up on the Braves and Phillies and steal some from the Mets. My disappointment team is the Cubs. I think they will be fantastic, and win the division. But I think the expectation is World Series or BUST. And I'm going with BUST.

 

[tzill]

NL West -- Giants
NL Central -- Chubbs
NL East -- Gnats
NL Wild Cards -- Doyers, Mutts

AL West -- Asstros
AL Centrals -- Native Americans
NL East -- RedSux
AL Wild Cards -- SpankMes, Marinade

2016 WS -- Giants over RedSux in 5

 

[dredinis21]

Nice! And that's with a C-/D+ offseason. If they had actually done anything right this offseason they'd win 100+!

^^^And oh, by the way, that's gravity at work...

*drops mic*

 

[GiantsPackersChamps2011]

NL:

Division winners: Dodgers, Cubs, Mets
Wild cards: Giants, Nationals

Upside surprise: Marlins (I don't even like this pick but the options are slim)
Downside surprise: Cardinals

AL

Division winners: Astros, Royals, Red Sox
Wild cards: Tigers, Blue Jays

Upside surprise: Twins
Downside surprise: Rangers

 

[dredinis21]

NL
Giants win division, win 94. Cueto wins 20, MadBum 19, both ERA under 3

Other Division winners: Mets, Cards

Dodgers get the WC along with Cubs

DBacks miss the playoffs by 1.5 games

AL
Royals, Red Sox, Astros

WC is Yankees, Tigers

Even year = Giants win another WS

 

[Hangman]

So close to the start of training camp. I can't wait.

 

[calsnowskier]

What is the date for Pitchers and Catchers?

 

[1phlapdown]

I'll be heading to Scottsdale again this year, but driving instead of flying. I hate flying nowadays. Friggin doggies game is already sold out. Fuck.