2019 MLB All-Star Teams

For the 90th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball turns its sights to Progressive Field (formerly Jacobs Field or “The Jake”) in Cleveland, Ohio. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in Cleveland was in 1997. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either, nor the commissioner’s office. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.

AVG – Batting Average

ERA – Earned Run Average

HR – Home Runs

RBI – Runs Batted In

SV – Saves

BAA – Batting Average Against

WHIP – Walks/Hits Per Innings Pitched

K – Strikeouts

Stats are accurate as of July 5

* – asterisk indicates starter Continue reading →

2019 MLB World Series & Awards Predictions

MLB Awards

NL MVP – 1B Paul Goldschmidt – St. Louis Cardinals

AL MVP – OF Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels

NL Cy Young – Aaron Nola – Philadelphia Phillies

AL Cy Young – Gerrit Cole – Houston Astros

NL Rookie of the Year – OF Victor Robles – Washington Nationals

AL Rookie of the Year – OF Eloy Jimenez – Chicago White Sox

NL Manager of the Year – Craig Counsell – Milwaukee Brewers

AL Manager of the Year – Rocco Baldelli – Minnesota Twins

Postseason Projections

NL Division Winners – Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers

NL Wild Card Winners – Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals

AL Division Winners – Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians

AL Wild Card Winners – Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins

NLCS – Dodgers over Brewers

ALCS – Yankees over Astros

World Series – Dodgers over Yankees in 6 games

National League Central

* – indicates new to team

+ – indicates injury

1. Milwaukee Brewers

Last year they were within one game of reaching the World Series. They’re motivated to cash in this year.

2. St. Louis Cardinals

They are instantly back in contention with Paul Goldschmidt in the middle of their lineup.

3. Chicago Cubs

This could be an interesting year as manager Joe Maddon doesn’t have an extension and there are rumblings about the future of Kris Bryant.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

By no means are they among the worst teams in the National League. They just play in a stacked division.

5. Cincinnati Reds

With the moves they made they could be classified as a ‘sleeper’ team this season.

Player to Watch: OF Christian Yelich – Milwaukee Brewers

Best Acquisition: 1B Paul Goldschmidt – St. Louis Cardinals

New Kid on the Block: 2B Keston Hiura – Milwaukee Brewers Continue reading →

NFC West

1. Los Angeles Rams

The sky is the limit with this group as they suddenly got better than last years group.

2. San Francisco 49ers

There’s no denying that what QB Jimmy Garoppolo did last year was simply amazing.

3. Seattle Seahawks

It’s a transition year for this franchise and a lot is riding on how they will react to it.

4. Arizona Cardinals

Everything has changed from the head coach, to the quarterback and even the defensive scheme. Continue reading →

2018 MLB All-Star Teams

For the 88th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball turns its sights to Nationals Park in Washington D.C. This will be the first MLB All-Star game played at Nationals Park and the first in the nation’s capital since 1969 at RFK Stadium, the home of the then Washington Senators. Now every year there is always a lot of discussion and some of it a little dated about how the teams are put together. No system will ever be perfect. Fans don’t always get it right and managers won’t either. The fact that the players are able to vote for participants was a great choice and they know who is deserving. Regardless of who should or shouldn’t be in the game lets just accept that the best players will always be involved one way or another. Here are my all-stars keeping with the rules that every team be represented and a total of 32 players for each league.