2022 MLB Predictions

I was debating whether or not I would do this, but someone asked and so I am obliging.  I will be honest, I have not paid as much attention this offseason because I was upset with the lockout and further upset about how the powers that be continue to try and destroy the game.  Suffice it to say, I do not like any of the changes that have been made.  But, it’s still baseball, and so here’s my (largely uneducated) predictions:

 

American League

 

East

 

Toronto Blue Jays

            In my opinion, this is the most exciting team to watch.  They should have made the playoffs last season, and the definitely will this year, especially if they can get a full year from Springer.  Biggio also needs to have a big rebound, but they have probably the best lineup even without him at full speed.

Tampa Bay Rays

            They may not look that great on paper, but this team just finds ways to win and so I can’t pick against them.  It’ll be interesting to see just how good Wander Franco can be.  I was surprised about them trading Meadows, and I wonder how that might effect their offense.

New York Yankees

            They had some really interesting transactions this offseason and it’s really hard to figure how good they will be.  They don’t have a lot of depth, especially in the outfield.

Boston Red Sox

            Lots of question marks with this team is why I have them below the Yankees.  Can they piece together a decent rotation?  Will Trevor Story hit outside Colorado?  Can they win with Jackie Bradley Jr. as a regular? (NO)

Baltimore Orioles

            They have some good pieces, and we should see Adley Rutschman and some of the other prospects get a chance.

 

Central

 

Chicago White Sox

            Though they are the best team in the division on paper by far, they are not a slam dunk to win it.  They have more potential holes than most people will admit, like second base, the outfield, and the rotation.

Minnesota Twins

            I picked them to win last year, and they were easily the most disappointing team.  They were very active in the offseason, adding Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela, and of course Carlos Correa.  I think Alex Kirilloff is going to have a big season.  Can Byron Buxton stay healthy and live up to his potential as one of the best overall players in the game?  Will they bring in some arms to solidify the bullpen?

Detroit Tigers

            The Tigers were also quite active, adding Javier Baez and Austin Meadows among a few others.  They are perhaps the biggest “if” team in baseball.  Best case, they are good enough to land a Wild Card spot.  Worst case, the rotation falls apart and they end up at the bottom of the division.

Kansas City Royals

            They should have a solid offense but a very questionable pitching staff.  I am very much looking forward to seeing what Bobby Witt Jr. can do.

Cleveland Indians (err, Guardians)

            I’m not picking them last just because of their stupid new name (you want to change from the Indians?  Fine.  Why not pick the Spiders, something with history that all the fans wanted?)  They’re almost the opposite of the Royals.  They should have a solid rotation, but they’ll be hard-pressed to get any offense.  I’m shocked they signed Ramirez to an extension.

 

West

 

Houston Astros

            I very nearly did not pick them to win the division, though most people have them a lock.  Will Verlander bounce back?  Will LMJ ever be healthy for a full season?  The biggest problem is that their weakness is up the middle (catcher, shortstop, centerfield), which you never want to have as a weakness.

Seattle Mariners

            They seem improved and could be an exciting young team, but young teams have a tendency to disappoint, it’s just a matter of how long that will be the case.

Texas Rangers

            Kind of out of nowhere they went all in on two big free agents for the double play partners, Semien and Seager.  There’s no way Semien repeats his massive 2021.  Their pitching is also a massive question mark.  They do look like they’re trying to win, however, which is a sign of hope for the fans.

Los Angeles Angels

            What’s their biggest problem every season?  Starting pitching.  What did they do to fix that?  Bring in Syndergaard who pitching all of two innings last year and none in 2020.  It’s another lost season for Trout, and part of me can’t help but laugh.

Oakland Athletics

            They clearly are not even trying to win this season, and it’ll get even worse once they trade Frankie Montas.  They might struggle to win 50 games, let alone 60.

 

National League

 

East

 

Atlanta Braves

            The defending champions are perhaps better than last year, or at least equal.  Yes, there are still some questions about their pitching.  But they look to have a full year from Ozuna and Rosario, Acuna should return soon, and Riley looks like the real deal.  I also think Freeman for Olson is basically a wash.

New York Mets

            They added Scherzer and Starling Marte, two really good additions.  The biggest question is how long deGrom will miss, like last year.

Philadelphia Phillies

            They added Catellanos and Schwarber, two clear offense-only guys, so their lineup is fairly strong.  They also have two very good starters.  But the rest of the rotation and the bullpen???

Miami Marlins

            They have the makings of a good team, but they’re still probably a year away.  They have the potential of having one of the best rotations in baseball.  If their offense clicks like it could, they will seriously contend for a playoff spot.

Washington Nationals

            Yes, Soto might be the best player in the National League, but if he wins the MVP like some people are predicting that’s crazy.  This team looks really bad.

 

Central

 

Milwaukee Brewers

            For the first time…ever, the strength of this team might be the pitching.  They have one of the best bullpens in baseball, and some solid starters in Woodruff and Burnes.  Yelich has to return to MVP form, and Hiura needs to be the bat that they expect him to be.

            --That’s what I wrote last year, and it still holds.  They are slightly less dependent on Hiura, but they still need Yelich to come back from wherever he’s gone the last couple of years.

St. Louis Cardinals

            As someone else said, if you do nothing in the offseason you’re going backwards.  Signing Pujols was a nice sentimental move, but he’s not going to add much, and their biggest hole is the pitching anyways.

Cincinnati Reds

            The bottom three in this division could be very bad.  The Reds still have some good players, but not a lot.

Chicago Cubs

            Yes, they brought in Seiya Suzuki and Marcus Stroman, but the rest of the roster is nothing to write home about.

Pittsburgh Pirates

            What’s to say?  I hate that they are keeping Oneil Cruz in AAA.  Bryan Reynolds is a star, and I hope that Ke’Bryan Hayes gets most of the year healthy.  That’s about it.

 

West

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

            Overrated?  Absolutely.  Best team in baseball?  No.  I hate that they have Trea Turner.  Here’s hoping Cody Bellinger continues to be terrible.

San Francisco Giants

            Adding Rodon makes up for losing Gausmann.  There’s no way they repeat the number of career years they saw last year.

San Diego Padres

            I want to love this team.  I want them to win the division.  Tatis will miss an unknown number of games.  Until they show that they’re going to live up to expectations, I’m going to temper mine.

Arizona Diamondbacks

            These bottom two teams are basically a toss up and will probably both struggle to win 60 games given their division.  I have Arizona slightly higher because they do have some potentially decent pitching.

Colorado Rockies

            Kris Bryant signing here is one of the biggest head-scratchers since…Mike Hampton signed in Colorado.  They might have some offense, but I don’t trust their pitchers outside Marquez.

 

There’s a dramatic change in the playoffs this year and I 1: don’t like it and 2: don’t completely understand it.  Rather than trying to figure out who’s playing whom, I will just list my playoff teams and my World Series matchup.

 

Playoffs:

 

AL:

            Blue Jays

            White Sox

            Astros

            Rays

            Twins

            Yankees

 

NL:

            Braves

            Brewers

            Dodgers

            Giants

            Padres

            Mets

 

World Series: Blue Jays over Brewers

            Great pitching versus great hitting, this time the hitting wins

 

AL MVP: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

AL Cy Young: Lucas Giolito

AL ROY: Bobby Witt Jr.

 

NL MVP: Matt Olson

NL Cy Young: Corbin Burnes

NL ROY: Oneil Cruz