Well the baseball season is underway, but not the Mariners regular season, so
technically I'm not too late for this.
Like every year, I will predict an order of finish for each division in
baseball, some end of season awards, and Mariners leaders in each
category.
NL EAST
1. Washington Nationals
2. New York Mets
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Miami Marlins
5. Philadelphia Phillies
Summary: The Nats are too loaded to not at least get 2nd, and if anyone in the Mets rotation struggles or gets hurt (like last year), it'll be hard for them to win the division. The Braves are a young team getting better and the Marlins aren't doing much. The Phillies still aren't making progress.
NL CENTRAL
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Milwaukee Brewers
Summary: The Cubbies will get a playoff spot, no doubt. The Cards are almost always in it. The Buccos will compete but there's too much competition. It's a toss-up for last between the Brew Crew and the Reds.
NL WEST
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres
Summary: I normally pick the Giants to win the division, but they're due for a down year, and if MadBum gets hurt they are in big trouble. The Dodgers are too talented to not compete for a playoff spot, and the Diamondbacks are a team on the rise. The Rockies will be a decent team and the Padres will probably finish in last.
AL EAST
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. Baltimore Orioles
4. New York Yankees
5. Tampa Bay Rays
Summary: The BoSox loaded up for a championship run, acquiring ace Chris Sale this offseason. The Blue Jays are a well-built team and will vie for a playoff spot again. The O's will be decent, but not great. The Yankees will have pitching issues. The Rays are relying on guys like Logan Morrison and Brad Miller still.
AL CENTRAL
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota Twins
Summary: The Indians are built like the early 2000's Red Sox, who Terry Francona also managed, so they will be a very competitive team. The Royals still have a bunch of talent and might be motivated to win for the death of Yordano Ventura. The Tigers are aging and won't be able to play good enough D. The White Sox lost Sale and are a team without a leader. The Twins are still the Twins.
AL WEST
1. Texas Rangers
2. Houston Astros
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
5. Oakland Athletics
Summary: The Rangers are loaded and will be motivated by their heartbreaking opening round loss to the Jays last year. The 'Stros are still young and should play decent, if erratic, ball. The Mariners meanwhile, well, you'll have to read below. The Angels and A's will finish like last year.
NL Wild Cards: Cardinals and Mets
AL Wild Cards: Blue Jays and Royals
MLB PLAYOFFS:
Wild Cards: Cardinals over Mets, Blue Jays over Royals
NL Divisional Round:
Cardinals vs. Cubs: Cardinals win
Nationals vs. Dodgers: Dodgers win
AL Divisional Round:
Blue Jays vs. Red Sox: Red Sox win
Indians vs. Rangers: Indians win
League Championship round:
NL: Cardinals vs. Dodgers: Dodgers win
AL: Red Sox vs. Indians: Red Sox win
World Series:
Dodgers vs. Red Sox: Red Sox win in 6 games
Red Sox are 2017 World Series Champions. You heard it here first. The Cubs have a surprising first round exit to their bitter rivals, the Cardinals.
MLB Awards:
AL MVP: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
NL MVP: Corey Seager, Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Red Sox
NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard, Mets
AL Rookie: Tyler O'Neill, Mariners
NL Rookie: Dansby Swanson, Braves
Comment: Betts and Seager signal a new wave of baseball. Sale and Syndergaard lead their staffs. O'Neill is a real long shot, but if he gets his shot early enough I could see him emerging. The Braves are a young team who will be propelled by their young SS Swanson.
SEATTLE MARINERS PREDICTIONS
Record: 79-81
Yep. for the 5th straight time, the Mariners follow up a winning season with a losing season, although not by much. The hitting will be fine for the most part, but the rotation is way too shaky. Felix may well be on the decline. Iwakuma is old and might be done. Paxton is inconsistent and injury-prone, and Smyly and Gallardo are barely legit starters. If multiple starters get hurt, the Mariners are in for a world of hurt. The bullpen is not much, if any, better. There's a bunch of no names and unprovens. Sure, Diaz is electrifying, but he struggled towards the end of last year. Let's not forget the World Baseball Classic, which Felix and Diaz pitched in, which might cause them to falter down the stretch.
However, there will be some bright spots this year. A no hitter from Smyly or Paxton? Seager gets another all-star nod? But if this team doesn't have a winning record this year, it might be time to start thinking if they're cursed. At least with a decent enough LOSING record Scott Servais should hold on to his job.
Mariners leaders:
AVG: Robinson Cano
HR: Nelson Cruz
RBI: Kyle Seager
SB: Jarrod Dyson
Wins: Smyly
Saves: Diaz
Mariners team "awards":
Unsung hero: Mitch Hanniger
MVP: Seager
Cy Young: Smyly
Rookie: Tyler O'Neill
Let-down: Zunino
Defensive star: Jarrod Dyson
Out of nowhere: Taylor Motter
Comment: Hanniger has been quoted by Edgar Martinez to be the one Mariner hitter who will surprise us most, so I'm listening to 'Gar. Seager will play all around fantastic baseball, hopefully getting off to a fast start. Smyly will benefit from great D, so long as he can stay healthy. Zunino hopefully will bring his average up a bit and his K's down, but I won't hold my breath. Dyson will have some highlight reel catches in the outfield. Motter will be an electric presence off the bench and be involved in some game-winning and crucial plays.
Let's hope I'm wrong and the M's qualify for their first playoff spot in 16 years. I would never be more happy to be proven wrong. All in all, a winning season would be considered successful because the M's haven't had back-to-back winning seasons since '02-'03. But the playoffs are the goal, even if it's a wild card spot. There's two of them, so the M's have to do their best to at least snag one of them. But an AL West championship isn't out of the question. Again, let's hope I'm wrong. I am just basing this on history, and feel like I am being optimistic for that. Go M's, and good luck in 2017!
NL EAST
1. Washington Nationals
2. New York Mets
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Miami Marlins
5. Philadelphia Phillies
Summary: The Nats are too loaded to not at least get 2nd, and if anyone in the Mets rotation struggles or gets hurt (like last year), it'll be hard for them to win the division. The Braves are a young team getting better and the Marlins aren't doing much. The Phillies still aren't making progress.
NL CENTRAL
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. Milwaukee Brewers
Summary: The Cubbies will get a playoff spot, no doubt. The Cards are almost always in it. The Buccos will compete but there's too much competition. It's a toss-up for last between the Brew Crew and the Reds.
NL WEST
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
3. San Francisco Giants
4. Colorado Rockies
5. San Diego Padres
Summary: I normally pick the Giants to win the division, but they're due for a down year, and if MadBum gets hurt they are in big trouble. The Dodgers are too talented to not compete for a playoff spot, and the Diamondbacks are a team on the rise. The Rockies will be a decent team and the Padres will probably finish in last.
AL EAST
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. Baltimore Orioles
4. New York Yankees
5. Tampa Bay Rays
Summary: The BoSox loaded up for a championship run, acquiring ace Chris Sale this offseason. The Blue Jays are a well-built team and will vie for a playoff spot again. The O's will be decent, but not great. The Yankees will have pitching issues. The Rays are relying on guys like Logan Morrison and Brad Miller still.
AL CENTRAL
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota Twins
Summary: The Indians are built like the early 2000's Red Sox, who Terry Francona also managed, so they will be a very competitive team. The Royals still have a bunch of talent and might be motivated to win for the death of Yordano Ventura. The Tigers are aging and won't be able to play good enough D. The White Sox lost Sale and are a team without a leader. The Twins are still the Twins.
AL WEST
1. Texas Rangers
2. Houston Astros
3. Seattle Mariners
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
5. Oakland Athletics
Summary: The Rangers are loaded and will be motivated by their heartbreaking opening round loss to the Jays last year. The 'Stros are still young and should play decent, if erratic, ball. The Mariners meanwhile, well, you'll have to read below. The Angels and A's will finish like last year.
NL Wild Cards: Cardinals and Mets
AL Wild Cards: Blue Jays and Royals
MLB PLAYOFFS:
Wild Cards: Cardinals over Mets, Blue Jays over Royals
NL Divisional Round:
Cardinals vs. Cubs: Cardinals win
Nationals vs. Dodgers: Dodgers win
AL Divisional Round:
Blue Jays vs. Red Sox: Red Sox win
Indians vs. Rangers: Indians win
League Championship round:
NL: Cardinals vs. Dodgers: Dodgers win
AL: Red Sox vs. Indians: Red Sox win
World Series:
Dodgers vs. Red Sox: Red Sox win in 6 games
Red Sox are 2017 World Series Champions. You heard it here first. The Cubs have a surprising first round exit to their bitter rivals, the Cardinals.
MLB Awards:
AL MVP: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
NL MVP: Corey Seager, Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Red Sox
NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard, Mets
AL Rookie: Tyler O'Neill, Mariners
NL Rookie: Dansby Swanson, Braves
Comment: Betts and Seager signal a new wave of baseball. Sale and Syndergaard lead their staffs. O'Neill is a real long shot, but if he gets his shot early enough I could see him emerging. The Braves are a young team who will be propelled by their young SS Swanson.
SEATTLE MARINERS PREDICTIONS
Record: 79-81
Yep. for the 5th straight time, the Mariners follow up a winning season with a losing season, although not by much. The hitting will be fine for the most part, but the rotation is way too shaky. Felix may well be on the decline. Iwakuma is old and might be done. Paxton is inconsistent and injury-prone, and Smyly and Gallardo are barely legit starters. If multiple starters get hurt, the Mariners are in for a world of hurt. The bullpen is not much, if any, better. There's a bunch of no names and unprovens. Sure, Diaz is electrifying, but he struggled towards the end of last year. Let's not forget the World Baseball Classic, which Felix and Diaz pitched in, which might cause them to falter down the stretch.
However, there will be some bright spots this year. A no hitter from Smyly or Paxton? Seager gets another all-star nod? But if this team doesn't have a winning record this year, it might be time to start thinking if they're cursed. At least with a decent enough LOSING record Scott Servais should hold on to his job.
Mariners leaders:
AVG: Robinson Cano
HR: Nelson Cruz
RBI: Kyle Seager
SB: Jarrod Dyson
Wins: Smyly
Saves: Diaz
Mariners team "awards":
Unsung hero: Mitch Hanniger
MVP: Seager
Cy Young: Smyly
Rookie: Tyler O'Neill
Let-down: Zunino
Defensive star: Jarrod Dyson
Out of nowhere: Taylor Motter
Comment: Hanniger has been quoted by Edgar Martinez to be the one Mariner hitter who will surprise us most, so I'm listening to 'Gar. Seager will play all around fantastic baseball, hopefully getting off to a fast start. Smyly will benefit from great D, so long as he can stay healthy. Zunino hopefully will bring his average up a bit and his K's down, but I won't hold my breath. Dyson will have some highlight reel catches in the outfield. Motter will be an electric presence off the bench and be involved in some game-winning and crucial plays.
Let's hope I'm wrong and the M's qualify for their first playoff spot in 16 years. I would never be more happy to be proven wrong. All in all, a winning season would be considered successful because the M's haven't had back-to-back winning seasons since '02-'03. But the playoffs are the goal, even if it's a wild card spot. There's two of them, so the M's have to do their best to at least snag one of them. But an AL West championship isn't out of the question. Again, let's hope I'm wrong. I am just basing this on history, and feel like I am being optimistic for that. Go M's, and good luck in 2017!
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