MLB Season Preview & Predictions
Tweet
Written by Jack Jones - Google +
We’re getting closer and closer to opening day of the 2013 MLB season. It seemed impossible that any team could top what St. Louis did in 2011 en route to winning the World Series. However, the San Francisco Giants may have exceeded the feat. After falling down 0-2 to the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS, the Giants won the final three games all on the road to advance to the NLCS. There, they would fall behind the defending champion Cardinals 3-1 before rallying for three straight victories to advance to the World Series. The Detroit Tigers had no chance of slowing down their momentum as San Francisco swept the series for its second championship in three years. Let’s hope 2013 gives us another wild ride because it has a lot to live up to after the past two years. Without further ado, here are my predictions for the upcoming season for each division.
American League
AL EAST: The New York Yankees held off a surprising charge from the Baltimore Orioles last season to win the AL East. Once again, this division proved to be the toughest in baseball as three teams (NY, Baltimore, Tampa Bay) all won at least 90 games. The Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest splashes this offseason, signing Jose Reyes, Melky Cabrera, Emilio Bonifacio, Josh Johnson, R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle. They are clearly the most talented team in the division. With the other four teams taking a step back this year, I look for Toronto to win it.
AL CENTRAL: The Detroit Tigers didn’t run away with the AL Central last season as expected. They needed a late charge to overtake the Chicago White Sox in 2012. I don’t look for that to be the case in 2013 as the Tigers are every bit as strong as they were a year ago. They added Torri Hunter, while Victor Martinez returns from a knee injury to make this lineup even more explosive than it already was. With Verlander, Scherzer, Fister and Sanchez holding down the rotation, I look for the Tigers to run away with the division in 2013. The other four teams in the AL Central will struggle to finish with a winning record.
AL WEST: The Oakland A’s overtook the Texas Rangers on the final day of the regular season to win the AL West in 2012. Billy Beane worked his magic with this organization once again, but they were ousted in five games in the ALCS by the eventual AL pennant winning Tigers. This was a tough division last year as the Angels won 89 games but didn’t get into the postseason. That all chances in 2013 as the Angels run away with this division and play up to their potential, which is absolutely massive. Texas takes a step back with the loss of some key players like Josh Hamilton. I look for Oakland to be strong once again as it brings everyone back, and for it to get into the postseason as a Wild Card. All four AL West teams will benefit from the addition of the lowly Houston Astros to the division in 2013.
National League
NL EAST: The NL East is the new ‘toughest division in baseball’ heading into 2013. Washington won 98 games last year to win the division, finishing four games ahead of Atlanta’s 94 victories. Philadelphia didn’t meet expectations last year as it struggled to an 81-81 finish. However, I look for all three of these teams to be battling it out well into September for the division title. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all three win 90-plus games in 2013. As for the Mets and Marlins, they are certainly a class below the top three teams. It’s going to be another long year in New York and Miami.
- Washington Nationals
- Atlanta Braves (Wild Card)
- Philadelphia Phillies (Wild Card)
- New York Mets
- Miami Marlins
NL CENTRAL: The Cincinnati Reds went on a huge run after the All-Star break to capture the NL Central crown with a 97-65 finish and plenty of room to spare. Pittsburgh was actually leading this division most of the way before plummeting in the second half for a second straight season. St. Louis squeaked into a Wild Card spot, and came one win shy of advancing to a second straight World Series. The Reds are the best team in this division in 2013. I look for both St. Louis and Milwaukee to win 80-85 games this season, but to fall short of the Wild Card. Pittsburgh will suffer its 21st straight losing season, while Chicago brings up the rear with second straight 100-loss campaign.
NL WEST: The San Francisco Giants won the NL West with a 94-68 campaign in 2012. As you all know, they went on to win the World Series by surviving six elimination games. They did so with clutch pitching in the biggest of games to capture their second championship in three years. The Los Angeles Dodgers made a big trade midway through last season, but it wasn’t enough to get them into the postseason. That won’t be the case in 2013 as the Dodgers enter the year with the highest payroll in MLB history. All that spending is going to pay off big as the Dodgers win this division. I look for the Giants to take a step back, while the Diamondbacks and Rockies are both stronger than they were a year ago. The Padres will bring up the rear as their roster lacks the talent it takes to be competitive in this division.
More Resources:
9 Responses to “MLB Season Preview & Predictions”
Got something to say?
I think your a complete retard for thinking that the yankees are going to come in 3rd in the AL East considering how good they were last season.
Have you forgotten that there are two Wild Card spots in each league this season? Or are you simply suggesting by omission that the Braves and Sox will be the winners of their one-game playoffs?
I was simply suggesting that the Braves and Red Sox would be the two teams to win the single game playoff added to this year’s postseason. I have went ahead and added in my other two Wild Card spots to help with the confusion.
Redsox are without their closer now for the season, and their 4/5′s are big ?’s. Plus Salty and Iglesias aren’t exactly hitters. You can hate the Yankees, but placing them 3rd isn’t a great bet.
@Brian. 1) Bailey is not out for the season. He’s out until Late July, early August as are most team such as the Cincinnati Reds. Iglesias is in Triple AAA so I’m not sure why you’re concerned with his hitting right now. Aviles is the starting SS and has hit over .300 in even years and when given regular at-bats. Salty’s has power and even with his lack of hitting prowess they led the league in runs scored last year. That is without Youkilis and Crawford even having average seasons. I think the Angels are merely paper champs at this point. Texas is still the better Team. Harrison is very underrated and Darvish is legit, plus they still have that stacked line-up while the Angels have a lot of older players and way too many righties in the line-up in my opinion. I do see the Phillies falling finally. No Utley and Howard for a bulk of the season and depending too much on Hunter Pence to have another year similar to last year when his peripheral numbers showed a bit of luck helping his average means they won’t score enough with the improvemens in that division. The Braves have a great staff and I really think Freddie Freeman will hit 28-35 in the middle of that line-up
The yankees finishing 3rd.come on jack plus The rays are not all that! Boston will have a rough time this season.the tigers are going to be unbeleiveable! N.l. Phillies repeat but will go deeper in the playoffs.angels sign pujols makes them better but texas is the better team thats how you predict! Still luv u jack. ha!
Hey i forgot to mention the great young ballclub the k.c. Royals have also in the n.l. The washington nationals wow! they grabbed gio gonzalez and the other youngsters have now a extra year experience under their belts. I am just saying if they pull it together in 2012 it wont surprise me!plus i cant wait for the first one game wildcard playoff in both leagues its going to pump us up!
Those picks are WAY off. You just based them on last season’s standing without doing any research on what’s new with teams. Useless list. C’mon.
How can u say the yankees going to finish with d #2 w.c. Behind bosox and tampa winning the A.L. East div. Have u seen the bosox and tampa line up! Redsoxs line up will not hold together and Rays players r unpredictable? just look at the line up i had enough! Have a good day.