For the 95th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in Atlanta was in 2000. The All-Star game should have been played in Atlanta during the 2021 season, but commissioner Rob Manfred decided to score political points and moved it Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. 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.
Continue readingDiamondbacks
National League West
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
What more will they add to the roster that will have Shohei Ohtani return to the mound to pitch this season?
2. San Diego Padres
They will continue to play second fiddle in the division to the Dodgers, but they will remain a force in the National League overall.
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
After just missing out on the Postseason last year, look for them to rally back with the likes of Corbin Burnes atop their rotation.
4. San Francisco Giants
Losing Blake Snell is gonna sting, but seeing him go south to the Dodgers has to feel worse.
5. Colorado Rockies
There is still potential in the Rocky Mountains. Even if that potential is to be worse than the Chicago White Sox were in 2024.
Player to Watch: DH/P Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers
Best Acquisition: P Corbin Burnes – Arizona Diamondbacks
New Kid on the Block: P Roki Sasaki – Los Angeles Dodgers
Continue reading2024 MLB All-Star Teams
StandardFor the 94th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in Arlington was in 1995. 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 13th
* – asterisk indicates starter
Continue reading2024 MLB World Series & Awards Predictions
StandardMLB Awards
NL MVP – OF Ronald Acuna Jr. – Atlanta Braves
AL MVP – C Adley Rutschman – Baltimore Orioles
NL Cy Young – Tyler Glasnow – Los Angeles Dodgers
AL Cy Young – Kevin Gausman – Toronto Blue Jays
NL Rookie of the Year – OF Jackson Chourio – Milwaukee Brewers
AL Rookie of the Year – INF Jackson Holliday – Baltimore Orioles
NL Manager of the Year – David Bell – Cincinnati Reds
AL Manager of the Year – Brandon Hyde – Baltimore Orioles
Postseason Projections
NL Division Winners – Braves, Dodgers, Cubs
NL Wild Card Winners – Diamondbacks, Phillies, Reds
AL Division Winners – Orioles, Astros, Twins
AL Wild Card Winners – Rangers, Blue Jays, Mariners
NLCS – Braves over Dodgers
ALCS – Orioles over Astros
World Series – Braves over Orioles
National League West
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
A lot has been said about how much money they have spent this past offseason. Even with their offseason splurges, they haven’t been back to the World Series since winning it in 2020.
2. Arizona Diamondbacks
They shocked the baseball world by getting to the World Series last year. With the way their offseason went, they want to prove it wasn’t a fluke.
3. San Francisco Giants
It could all go well and they get back into the Postseason or could come crashing down. Bringing in Bob Melvin as the manager would suggest that it will work out.
4. San Diego Padres
For all that this franchise has done the past few seasons, it’s probably best that they fly under the radar.
5. Colorado Rockies
If not for a draft lottery now, they would be guaranteed the number one pick in the 2025 MLB Draft.
Player to Watch: P Tyler Glasnow – Los Angeles Dodgers
Best Acquisition: DH/P Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Dodgers
New Kid on the Block: OF Jackson Merrill – San Diego Padres
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