Here we go for the new season!
AL East: Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Rays
AL Central: Indians, Twins, Royals, White Sox, Tigers
AL West: Astros, Angels, Mariners, Rangers, A's
NL East: Nationals, Mets, Phillies, Braves, Marlins
NL Central: Cubs, Cardinals, Brewers, Reds, Pirates
NL West: Dodgers, Giants, D-Backs, Rockies, Padres
The last-place teams are easy picks, as all are in the early stages of a rebuilding process, except for the Padres who signed Eric Hosmer in the off season. Giants have improved through off season moves and should have a better season than in 2017. Yankees have obviously improved also. Indians have suffered free-agency losses and will win fewer games than in 2017, but should hold on for another division title given their weak competition in the AL Central.
10/12/18 update. The season ended in exciting fashion, with ties in the NL Central and NL West, necessitating one-game playoffs to determine the division winners. In each case, the losers went on to secure a wild card berth. The Brewers beat the Cubs in the Central, and in the West it was Dodgers over the Rockies,. The Rockies beat the Cubs in the Wild Card game the next day, and then went on to lose the Division Series to the powerful Dodgers.
The Red Sox set a new franchise record with 108 wins. Other surprises were the Brewers, who finished on a nice season-ending winning streak to tie the Cubs and then win the one-game playoff, the Athletics, who won 97 games and secured a Wild Card berth, and the Braves, who won the NL East by 8 games over the disappointing Nationals.
My predictions were beaten by USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and Bleacher Report. My worst miscues were picking the Royals 3rd, picking the Reds 4th, and picking the Giants 2nd.
Monday, March 26, 2018
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