Photo Credit: Keith Alison. No edits made. The 2014 MLB season will feature challenges and replay.[/caption]The 2013 Major League Baseball season concluded Thursday, October 31, 2013 with the Boston Red Sox earning their third world series championship since 2004, after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in six games. Since the ending of the season, a few large transactions have occurred leading to revamped squads, plus the addition of replay into the game add up to another exciting season of America’s Pastime.
Below is a prediction of every division. (The Major League Baseball playoffs are separated into two brackets with the American League and National League each having five teams. There are three division winners along with two wild card members who make the playoffs in each League. The Playoffs culminate with the two league winners playing in the World Series.)
American League East-
The American League East has been known as one of, if not the best division in baseball for some time, which was assisted by the Boston Red Sox capturing the 2013 World Series. 2014 should be no different, as all five teams in the division have enough talent and capability to not only make the postseason, but advance deep into it. The Red Sox should again be one of the most talented in baseball as the majority of their squad returns for the 2014 season. Along with a rejuvenated David Ortiz, Boston could again be on of the top offenses in the league. However, Boston could lack offense later in the season, as they have an older ball club, which could lead to more losses with a mediocre pitching staff. The New York Yankees have had a major splash during the off-season after failing to make the playoffs for just the second time since 1994. The ‘Bronx Bombers’ added stars such as former Red Sox Jacoby Ellsbury, plus power hitters Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, while also winning the bid for Japanese hurler Masahiro Tanaka to improve a pitching staff that was less than stellar last season. The Yankees will also have Derek Jeter back after missing most of last season, and appear to be poised for a postseason run. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays all have the ability to win the division, but seem to lack strength in one aspect that will keep them from playing in October.
Prediction: Winner- Rays
Wildcard Team(s)- Yankees
American League Central-
The AL Central will most likely remain the same as it has it recent years as a division with one strong team, and a team that has potential to hang around and possibly sneak into the playoffs. The dominant team for the past few seasons has been the Detroit Tigers, and that appears to be the case once again in 2014. The Tigers lineup contains back-to-back AL MVP and a guy who hit for the triple crown two years ago in Miguel Cabrera. To go along with Cabrera and a powerful lineup, the Tigers have two Cy Young award winners in their pitching rotation in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, plus up and comer Rick Porcello. Despite losing perennial home run hitter Prince Fielder, Detroit shows no signs of falling off. Two teams in the division that could make a run at the wildcard spot are the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals. The Indians, who made the playoffs last season under new manager Terry Francona, maintain the majority of their team from a season ago. However, it is hard to envision them being able to duplicate their unforeseen success from a year ago. The Royals also had a surprise season last year, and were able to stay in the playoff hunt for the majority of the season. Despite having a good young core of talent, it seems as if Kansas City is still a year or two away from a playoff berth.
Prediction: Winner- Tigers
Wild Card Team(s)- None
American League West-
The AL West is similar to the NL Central as it is a division with three strong teams and another that could make a playoff push. The reigning champion, the Oakland Athletics return a good lineup with power bats Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick, while also having a reliable pitching staff featuring young star Sonny Gray. Oakland enters the season as a favorite for the first time in recent years, after being overlooked the previous two seasons, despite back-to-back playoff appearances. The Texas Rangers enter 2014 after a disappointing season that featured them missing the playoffs for the first time since 2009. To boost an already strong lineup, the Rangers added star home run hitter Prince Fielder, in a trade that sent veteran Ian Kinsler to Detroit. The Rangers have a decent pitching staff which is headlined by Japanese star Yu Darvish. The final strong team would be the Los Angeles Angels. The Angels have probably the most stars in their lineup out of all clubs, featuring Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, David Freese, and MVP favorite Mike Trout. Los Angeles also has a nice pitching rotation with the likes of Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson. The Seattle Mariners made a splash in the offseason, with the signing of all-star second baseman Robinson Cano to a 10 year, 240 million dollar contract, adding him to a team that already has Felix Hernandez. Despite having two of the leagues best, the Mariners seem to be a few additions away from contending for the division crown.
Prediction: Winner- Athletics
Wild Card Team(s)- Angels
National League East-
The NL East enters the 2014 with a two team race for division winner, between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals. The Nationals failed to make the playoffs last season after having major expectations entering the season, and finished with just a 86-76 record. Despite Washington’s disappointment last season, the team has a strong young core, including former number one draft picks and phenoms, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper. Other than Strasburg, the squads pitching rotation also includes talented lefty Gio Gonzalez and a reliable Jordan Zimmerman. The teams lineup is also very strong, making it hard to see any weak spot on this Nationals team. The Braves also disappointed last season, but in an entirely different way than their competitors in the nations capital. The Braves finished one game behind the world series runner-up St. Louis Cardinals, but failed to advance to the NLCS during the playoffs. The Braves maintain their potent lineup from last year, that includes names such as Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Dan Uggla, and the Upton brothers, while also featuring a stable pitching staff. Not to mention that Atlanta is as close to a guarantee to win a game when heading into the ninth inning as any team in the bigs, with shutdown closer Craig Kimbrel. The remaining teams in the division appear to be non factors, which sets up for an exciting race between two of the Major League’s best.
Prediction: Winner- Nationals
Wild Card Team(s)- Braves
National League Central-
The NL Central returns two playoff teams from a year ago, in the Pittsburgh Pirates and World Series runner-up St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals show no signs of declining from their National League pennant success of last season. The squad returns one of the best lineups in the National League which bolsters the like of Matt Holliday and Matt Carpenter, plus arguably the best catcher in the game, Yadier Molina, who hit .319, with 12 home runs and 80 rbi’s, while also finishing third in the NL MVP voting. The pitching staff Molina will be catching will also be strong once again with Cy Young award runner-up Adam Wainwright, and rising star Michael Wacha. The Pirates also return a star of their own in reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen and power threat Pedro Alvarez. Pittsburgh also has a good young pitching staff including former number one pick Gerrit Cole, that could win them low scoring games. The Cincinnati Reds, who also made the playoffs a season ago, also have the ability to win the division due to players such as Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Jay Bruce. However, it is unlikely that anyone will be able to beat out the Cardinals in the division.
Prediction: Winner- Cardinals
Wild Card Team(s)- None
National League West-
The NL West shapes up to be much like the NL East, as it seems to be a two team race for the division crown. One of these contenders is the Los Angeles Dodgers, who advanced to the NLCS one season ago, before falling to the Cardinals. The Dodgers return two time and reigning Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw, who finished with a record of just 16-9, but tossed a league leading 1.83 ERA, while throwing the second most innings pitched at 236. Los Angeles also returns a potent lineup that holds Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, Carl Crawford, and young star Yasiel Puig. The Dodgers rival for the division title, the San Francisco Giants, also bring back a star laden pitching staff and lineup that has contributed to two World Series championships in the past 4 years. The Giants squad includes Buster Posey, Matt Cain, Hunter Pence, Madison Bumgarner, Tim lincecum, and Pablo Sandoval. While Arizona seems to have a promising team, it is doubtful that this will not be another division with two strong teams and a few mediocre squads.
Prediction: Winner- Dodgers
Wild Card Team(s)- Giants
World Series-
The 2014 Major League Baseball World Series will be fought over by the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. The matchup will be intriguing as it will be the Cardinals potent lineup versus the Rays excellent pitching staff. In the end the Cardinals will be victorious in six games, and will earn their second title in four years.
Awards-
AL MVP- Mike Trout
NL MVP- Yadier Molina
AL CY Young- David Price
NL CY Young- Stephen Strasburg
AL Rookie of the Year- Jose Abreu
NL Rookie of the Year- Kolten Wong
AL Manager of the Year- Joe Girardi
NL Manager of the Year- Mike Matheny
AL Comeback Player of the Year- Derek Jeter
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