Final Predictions 2014

***The Season Preview and Predictions that follow are not betting advice in any way shape or form.  Please do not bet any money based in any part on these predictions.***

This looks like it will be another great season.  This could be one of the most competitive seasons in years and there are few teams who look like they have no chance at all to make the playoffs.  So get ready because it is a long, fun trip to October.  I hope everyone enjoys the ride as much as I will.

Head of the Class: 

There are a few teams that appear to be head and shoulders above the rest of their division and are clear cut favorites to dominate.  The Tigers, Dodgers, Reds and Nationals look to be the favorites but each have serious issues to contend with.  No one is a sure thing.

Look Out Below:

There could be some serious fall off for some teams like the Phillies, Indians, Athletics, Rangers and Cardinals.  The Phillies are trying hard to make one more push with the core of players that has given them their greatest success but things are already starting off shaky.  The Indians have a great ace in Justin Masterson but talks of a new contract have broken off and if you don't think something like that can effect a season just ask Cal Ripken who discussed it in his autobiography.  The Athletics  have revamped their pitching staff but have already suffered some injuries and will have to hope they can out slug the Rangers and Angels.  Speaking of pitching injuries, the Rangers have already lost Derek Holland and Matt Harrison for long stretches and have lost significant offensive numbers when David Murphy, Cruz, Pierzynski and Kinsler left.  They replaced them with Fielder and Choo but it may not be enough.

Ready to Strike?:
The Royals have patiently rebuilt their team and had it not been for the slow start last year they likely would have been a playoff team.  With a healthy and focused Royals group and a Tigers team still featuring some serious weaknesses the Royals are in prime position.

Serious Contenders:
The Brewers looked like they were heading toward the bottom again but have nicely rebounded to field a team that could shock a lot of people.  Players like Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura are underrated talents who may keep Milwaukee in the playoff contention.

Rock Bottom:
The Marlins, Cubs, Rockies, White Sox and Astros are clearly at the absolute bottom of the league.  The team with the most hope for the future is the Astros.  Although they have been terrible for the last few years the future looks bright.  In adding Dexter Fowler to a young group that includes Altuve and Jason Castro, the Astros have given a veteran presence to an organization with one of the best farm systems.

Here is a final prediction of what I believe the standings will look like at the end of the year:
American League East
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Tampa Bay Rays
3. New York Yankees
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Toronto Blue Jays

American League Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Kansas City Royals (First Wild Card)
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

 American League West
1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
2. Oakland Athletics (Second Wild Card)
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Houston Astros

Wild Card Game:  Kansas City Royals over Oakland Athletics
American League Divisional Series: 
Detroit Tigers over Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Boston Red Sox over Kansas City Royals
American League Championship Series:
Boston Red Sox over Detroit Tigers

American League Most Valuable Player: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
American League Cy Young Award Winner: James Shields (Kansas City Royals)

National League East

1. Washington Nationals

2. Atlanta Braves

3. Philadelphia Phillies

4. New York Mets

5. Miami Marlins

National League Central

1. Cincinnati Reds

2. St. Louis Cardinals (Wild Card)

3. Milwaukee Brewers

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

5. Chicago Cubs

National League West Preview

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2. San Francisco Giants (Second Wild Card)

3. Arizona Diamondbacks

4. San Diego Padres

5. Colorado Rockies

National League Wild Card Game: 
St.Louis Cardinals over San Francisco Giants

National League Division Series:
Washington Nationals over St.Louis Cardinals

Los Angeles Dodgers over Cincinnati Reds

National League Championship Series: 
Los Angeles Dodgers over Washington Nationals

National League Most Valuable Player:  Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants)

National League Cy Young Award Winner:  Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals)

WORLD SERIES:

Los Angeles Dodgers 
over
Boston Red Sox

1916 World Series Program Courtesy of Baseball Almanac

TRIVIA QUESTION:

If my predictions are correct (don't worry, they never are) this season will be a rematch of the 1916 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Brooklyn Robins (who are now the Los Angeles Dodgers).  During Game 2 of the 1916 World Series, two pitchers matched up in the longest extra inning game in World Series History.  Boston's pitcher went the entire game throwing shutout ball.  Brooklyn's pitcher threw the entire game without allowing a run before giving up a walk, sac bunt and an RBI single in the bottom of the final frame to end the game at 1-0.  Who were the two pitchers in this game and how many innings did it last?

Answer to Last Week's Trivia Question:

Because the Diamondbacks and Rockies are newer organizations and the Padres don't have a tremendously rich history, the NL West has the reputation of not being as successful as a division when compared to the other two National League divisions.  The first team from the West to represent the National League in the World Series after the 1994 switch to the three division format was the 1998 Padres.  The Diamondbacks followed that up in 2001 and the Giants lost to the Angels in 2002. The Rockies were next in 2007.  The Giants won the World Series in both 2010 and 2012 making it 6 National League titles for the divisions.  Surprisingly, despite the winning tradition, the Dodgers are the only team from this division not to have appeared in the World Series since the new divisional format began in 1994.