National League Central

* – indicates new to team

1. Chicago Cubs

They are easily the favorites to repeat this year and could be for many more seasons.

2. St. Louis Cardinals

While they aren’t the flashiest team, they have plenty of depth to plug up any holes.

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates could be in a transitional year with rumors swirling about trading McCutchen.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

They’re still a year or two away from being potential contenders.

5. Cincinnati Reds

The rebuilding project has begun with the offseason trade of Brandon Phillips. Continue reading →

Spring Is In The Air

Is it a coincidence that Spring Training starts around Valentine’s Day? While I like talking about football, basketball and hockey, I love when it’s time for baseball. The sound of the ball hitting the glove or being struck by a bat. This is my first love when it comes to sports. Continue reading →

2016 MLB Trade Deadline Review

As with past deadline deals these will be highly scrutinized for many years. Instantly we see and decide who got the better end of the deal, but we really won’t know until at least two or three seasons down the road. The only way to know in real time is if the team getting the established major leaguer goes on to win a World Series. Time will tell if that happens this year with the flurry of names (a few marquee ones) being dealt this July.

Continue reading →

2016 MLB All-Star Teams

For the 86th year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball turns its sights to Petco Park in San Diego, California. This will be the first time the MLB All-Star game will be played at the San Diego Padres new ballpark. It was first opened back in 2004. 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 34 players for each league.

Continue reading →

2016 MLB World Series & Awards Predictions

MLB Awards

NL MVP – OF Bryce Harper Washington Nationals

AL MVP – OF Mike Trout Los Angeles Angels

NL Cy Young – Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers

AL Cy Young – Chris Archer Tampa Bay Rays

NL Rookie of the Year – SS Corey Seager Los Angeles Dodgers

AL Rookie of the Year – OF Byron Buxton Minnesota Twins

NL Manager of the Year – Bruce Bochy San Francisco Giants

AL Manager of the Year – A.J. Hinch Houston Astros

Postseason Projections

NL Division Winners – Cubs, Giants, Mets

NL Wild Card Winners – Cardinals, Pirates

AL Division Winners – Royals, Blue Jays, Astros

AL Wild Card Winners – Rangers, Red Sox

NLCS – Giants over Cubs

ALCS – Royals over Astros

World Series – Royals over Giants