Some things about the coming season are obvious. The National League will be competitive.The American League is mostly predestined. The Marlins and half of the American League will be terrible. Injuries and breakout seasons make it harder to predict the rest, from who will make the playoffs and advance to which players will take home trophies, but it’s fun to take a stab at it. Below is one fan’s prediction for how 2019 will shake out. Feel free to cut and paste and pop your own version into the comments.
NL East: Mets
NL Central: Cubs
NL West: Dodgers
NL Wild Card 1: Cardinals
NL Wild Card 2: Rockies
Just missed: Phillies, Nationals, Brewers
AL East: Yankees
AL Central: Indians
AL West: Astros
AL Wild Card 1: Red Sox
AL Wild Card 2: Twins
Just missed: Angels, A’s, Rays
ALCS: Astros over Yankees
NLCS: Cubs over Mets
World Series: Astros over Cubs
AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Nolan Arenado
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander
NL Cy Young: Jacob deGrom
AL Rookie of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
NL Rookie of the Year: Nick Senzel
NL East
Mets 91-71
Phillies 88-74
Nationals 86-76
Braves 82-80
Marlins 59-103
Noah Syndergaard will strike out 250, Zack Wheeler will win 15 games and Jacob deGrom will win a second consecutive Cy Young Award.
Michael Conforto and Pete Alonso will each hit 30+ home runs and Amed Rosario will steal 30+ bases.
Jeff McNeil and Robinson Cano will both hit over .300 and Brandon Nimmo will lead the team with a .410 OBP.
The Mets will have injuries, but not enough to derail their season. Notably, Jed Lowrie, Todd Frazier and Wilson Ramos will all spend time on the IL, leading GM Brodie Van Waganen to rethink his penchant for older players.
The Mets will fight it out all year with the Nationals and Phillies, but the Braves will be a disappointment.
Yoenis Cespedes will return in August but only as a part-time player.
Pitching carries the Mets into the playoffs and the offense provides enough scoring. Defense is their undoing in the playoffs.
predictions after opening day:
1. 30 teams begin the season and 30 teams will end the season.
2. The Mets will have one or more regulars that spend at least 1 month on DL.
3. Each of the major awards will be filled, and offered to (hopefully) the best player
4. Fans will continue to be dumped on by increasing ticket and concession prices, making fans the only stake holder in the sport to continually lose money.
5. Baseball, despite endless Ks, shifts, and HR, will still by far be the most beautiful of sports.
6. Each team will have wins and losses.
At least this is what I can predict without some combination of tarot cards, palm reading, and a magic 8 ball.
Penchant for Older Players?? I don’t believe we know that yet
The roster seems well balanced .
NL East Mets AL East Boston*
NL Cent Brewers AL Cent Indians
NL West Dodgers AL West Houston
Wildcards Cubs.Rockies Yankees.A’s
NL Division Mets vs Dodgers AL Division Astros vs Red Sox’s
WS Dodgers vs Astros
Dodgers win in 7
*If Boston signs Kimbrel. If not just flip flop with Yankees
MVP’s Trout, Arenado
CY’s Snell.. DeGrom
ROY Guerrero jr. Tatis Jr.