For the 92nd year of the Midsummer Classic, baseball goes to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The last time the mid-summer classic was played in LA was in 1980. 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 readingReds
National League Central
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. Milwaukee Brewers
Their pitching staff is among the best in baseball. Can the bats match the output their arms provide?
2. St. Louis Cardinals
It will be a farewell tour for the ‘Big 3’ of Wainwright, Molina and Pujols as they march towards another October together.
3. Chicago Cubs
The transition to a new era on the Northside begins with a new crop of youngsters taking the reins.
4. Cincinnati Reds
They have slashed payroll once again and it cost them Jesse Winker in the process.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
There isn’t much to say as the ‘Jolly Roger’ won’t be raised very much in Pittsburgh.
Player to Watch: P Corbin Burnes – Milwaukee Brewers
Best Acquisition: OF Seiya Suzuki – Chicago Cubs
New Kid on the Block: P Hunter Greene – Cincinnati Reds
Continue readingNational League Central
Standard* – indicates new to team
+ – indicates injury
1. St. Louis Cardinals
The acquisition of Nolan Arenado was a gift that they won’t soon squander.
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Their pitching staff has a few question marks, but their lineup is stacked and will keep them in contention.
3. Chicago Cubs
The signals that ownership has sent out indicates that this will be the last season with this current group of players.
4. Cincinnati Reds
It didn’t work last year and now they’ve lost their Cy Young winner in Trevor Bauer.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
And the title of the worst team in baseball goes to…
Player to Watch: 3B Kris Bryant – Chicago Cubs
Best Acquisition: 3B Nolan Arenado – St. Louis Cardinals
New Kid on the Block: OF Dylan Carlson – St. Louis Cardinals Continue reading
2020 Wild Card Series Preview
StandardAmerican League Wild Card Series
1. Tampa Bay Rays vs. 8. Toronto Blue Jays
Don’t scoff at the Rays being the best team in a 60-game season. They did accomplished this feat in ways most teams can’t. Continue reading
2020 MLB World Series & Awards Predictions
StandardMLB Awards
NL MVP – SS Javier Baez – Chicago Cubs
AL MVP – OF Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels
NL Cy Young – Mike Soroka – Atlanta Braves
AL Cy Young – Mike Clevinger – Cleveland Indians
NL Rookie of the Year – 3B Carter Kieboom – Washington Nationals
AL Rookie of the Year – OF Luis Robert – Chicago White Sox
NL Manager of the Year – Mike Shildt – St. Louis Cardinals
AL Manager of the Year – Bob Melvin – Oakland Athletics Continue reading