2014 MLB Predictions – American League: The New York Yankees Are Back
I love baseball season, and last season was the most profitable across any sport in my professional handicapping career. I can’t express how excited we are for the season to start, but to help build anticipation we’ll be posting daily preseason predictions. This post and the next will break down the American and National League. The following post will outline our basic strategy. We’ll have predictions and progressions, and I’ll try to share some of my private forum from the VIP Club where applicable. Cheers
AL East
1. New York Yankees (92-70): The Yankees are back… well, sort of. Questions abound with Tex, Pineda, and Jeter recovering from injuries that caused fully lost seasons, but I think the Yankees have gotten substantially better. The outfield might be the best in baseball, and if Jeter and Tex are healthy the infield is serviceable. McCann is the upgrade at catcher that the Yankees have needed since Posada got old, and the rotation looks solid. CC still is the ace by name, but I think Tanaka will anchor this staff. If Pineda can perform, Nova can repeat his success, Kuroda has one more good year in him, and CC can be mediocre, the Yankees have enough. I think they’ll be very good this year, and may even win the division.
2. Boston Red Sox (90-72): Who saw Boston coming last year? Wow, what a season. The coaching and pitching seemed to make all the difference, and their long-time clubhouse leaders finally corrected the Bobby V. era… They lost their CF to the Yankees, but they’re mostly the same team. Solid pitching, and a decent lineup will have Boston competitive again, but they won’t sneak up on anyone this year in the most competitive division in baseball.
3. Tampa Bay Rays (85-77): The Rays are well coached, and it’s amazing what they do with such a grab bag of talent. I like Jennings, I like the rotation, but they keep losing arms. It looks like this year might be David Price’s turn – or not. Who knows with this team? Either way, I think with the way the Yankees reloaded and the way Boston played last year, the Rays are third-best at best.
3. Baltimore Orioles (85-77): I love Buck, but I have some serious doubts about the Orioles this season. I don’t think they have the pitching, and I think they lack playoff-caliber depth. They’ll be good, but they won’t have enough to compete at the top of this division.
5. Toronto Blue Jays (77-85): The Jays can outslug anyone, but they still don’t have the pitching to be competitive. If some of their bigger bats regress, or if the injury ninja attacks again, they’re going to be a mess. Mostly, I think they’ll be what they’ve been for a while… the weakest team in a stacked division.
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers (95-67): Awesome lineup, solid pitching… maybe a weakness in the bullpen, but they’re the best team in a mediocre division.
2. Cleveland Indians (84-78): I like their pitching and I love their coach, but this team doesn’t have enough to compete with the big boys in the American League. I think they’ll be good again, but I don’t think they’ll steal a Wild Card spot like last season. I don’t see where the runs will come from.
3. Kansas City Royals (83-79): Every year I want the Royals to be good, and every year they aren’t. I don’t think this year will be any different. My heart says they have the lineup and some of the pitching to be competitive, but my mind says there’s a losing culture here that won’t soon end. Almost, though… maybe.
4. Chicago White Sox (70-92): How good is Chris Sale? Unfortunately, this team is terrible.
5. Minnesota Twins (69-93): Ron’s run in Minny might be over if they don’t provide some fresh talent. The Twins are a minor league team these days – maybe they’ll grow up this season but it doesn’t seem likely to me.
AL West
1. Texas Rangers (92-70): I like the Rangers. I love their lineup in a hitters’ park and I think they’ve got the pitching this year. I think they’re one of the worst-coached teams in baseball, but I’m not sure if that will matter. I think they take the AL West.
2. LA Angels (88-74): Was there a more disappointing team than the Angels last season? I think they’ll bounce back. This team is too talented across the board to be so mediocre. I don’t think they can possibly be so terrible twice.
3. Oakland Athletics (84-78): I think the Athletics were an anomaly last season. I don’t think they hit well enough to sustain that kind of winning. I love their rotation and really think they can compete, but it’s hard to win games 1-0 every time. I don’t think they’re a playoff team this year.
4. Seattle Mariners (70-92): I hate you, Robinson Cano. I wish you nothing but pain and misery in Seattle. This prediction is the start of that. Two pitchers, two former Yankees, and a garbage roster. This is not a playoff team.
5. Houston Astros (60-102): This is the worst team in baseball. They’ve got one decent pitcher that would be a fourth starter on most legitimate teams, and a second baseman that can play, but this is not a good team. No chance.
Questions, Comments? Disagree? Feel free to sound off! We love your feedback and miss discussing baseball. Just a few more days, folks!
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