I posted this at the beginning of March. Now the season is less than a week away so I am putting this up again. However, this time I am also adding, as promised, my predictions for the end of season awards. I made only one change in the standings flip flopping the White Sox and Twins.
For now here are my predictions on how the final standings will end up and who will be in the post season and World Series, as well as my predictions for end of the season awards. Hopefully I will have better results than 2015.
MLB DIVISION FINAL STANDINGS 2016
AL EAST
TAMPA BAY – Best pitching the division, finally have some offense and a superior defense. If they stay injury free this could be 2008 again.
TORONTO – Loads of offense to score runs, but the pitching may get overworked and could hold them back.
BOSTON – Yes, they have David Price now, but the rest of the staff is iffy. Offense is pretty solid, but Ramirez at 1B and a shaky defense will hurt.
NEW YORK– They are older and older, too many questions pitching wise and how much offense can this old group muster? Girardi has a lot of holes.
BALTIMORE – Like most, the O’s pitching is suspect for the most part. Not sure how much Weiters can add to the offense. Rebuilding time in O town.
AL CENTRAL
DETROIT – They still have a solid offense and the addition of Zimmerman to the starting staff is big. If Verlander comes back 100% they could lock it up.
KANSAS CITY – The reigning champs are still to be feared with an all around solid club. However, Detroit just may prove to be too much this year.
MINNESOTA – Pitching will tell the story. However, they have a bona fide future star with Byun Park, the Korean slugger and they are on the rise.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX – They have added big offense with Todd Frazier, pitching looks stronger. The La Roche fallout could have a long term effect.
CLEVELAND – Sorry Terry, you have some excellent pieces, Kluber, Kipnis, Lindor, etc. but still not enough yet. Indians will rebuild for the future.
AL WEST
HOUSTON –The Astros were no fluke and are the real deal. Correa, Altuve, Kuechel, Springer, etc. This is a very strong team all around.
TEXAS – The Rangers have the offense, they have a solid defense. Hamels, Darvish will need help pitching wise or else they can’t win it.
SEATTLE – New manager, new front office, new faces to help King Felix and the rest. They will contend just not strong enough…..yet.
OAKLAND– Another unpredictable year ahead as the A’s continue to shuffle things around. Too many question marks in 2016, but they always surprise.
LOS ANGELES (ANAHEIM) – Sorry, but even with Trout and a healthy Pujols, the Angels just don’t have enough. It will be a long year in Disney country.
AL WILD CARDS – KANSAS CITY & TEXAS
AL CHAMPION – TAMPA BAY
NL EAST
NEW YORK METS – No fluke here and with the best pitching the NL the Mets should repeat. They have Cespedes back to lead a good offense and defense.
MIAMI – Mattingly and Barry Bonds are going to make a huge difference in this team. Pitching will be okay, but the offense should be monstrous. Watch out.
WASHINGTON – I like Dusty Baker, but the game has passed him by and he won’t be able to resurrect this listing ship, even with Bryce Harper and Strasburg.
PHILADEPHIA – Where do we begin? They have more holes than Swiss cheese and the pieces brought in may not even get them to .500.
ATLANTA– Atlanta fans know it, the Braves, other than Freeman, are in total rebuild mode. This may be one of the Braves worst seasons since the 1980’s.
NL CENTRAL
CHICAGO CUBS – The Cubs finally have it all from Maddon right on down to the 25th man on the roster. They have offense, pitching, defense and depth.
PITTSBURGH – The Pirates have made a nice turn around the last couple of years, but still have a few missing parts. It’s Pirates bridesmaid time again.
- LOUIS – Question marks with the pitching, the outfield and first base. Still a good ballclub, but time and the division may have finally caught up with them.
MILWAUKEE – Only because the Reds are in the division is why the Brewers won’t finish last. Other than Braun, there is little to like here.
CINCINNATI– They unloaded Frazier and Chapman and Jay Bruce could be gone soon. Pitching is a mess, bullpen is questionable. A 100 loss season?
NL WEST
SAN FRANCISCO – It starts with Bruce Bochy and goes from there. They are solid up and down and the pitching is among the best. It won’t be easy though.
ARIZONA – Forget the stadium issue, this will be the big surprise team of 2016. Goldschmidt and company provide big offense, Grienke leads a formidable staff.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS – A huge payroll, a new manager, headaches and problems to solve. Kershaw can’t do it alone and getting 85 wins won’t be easy.
SAN DIEGO – Their new manager has a lot of problems to solve pitching wise and offensively. Another tough year is ahead for the Padres.
COLORADO – The Rockies have some legit building blocks for the future (Arenado, Blackmon), but the Rockies might be looking at their worst season yet.
NL WILD CARDS – MIAMI & ARIZONA
NL CHAMPS – CHICAGO CUBS
WORLD SERIES – CUBS – RAYS ……………TAMPA BAY RAYS in 7 games.
Just think of the story line with a World Series like this. It is a media and TV network dream! Joe Maddon, the former Rays manager who guided them to the WS in 2008 and the most successful run in their history. Now he is the manager of the Cubs who would be going to their first World Series since 1945!
No, I am not being a “homer” in my selection of the Tampa Bay Rays. I truly believe they can do this in 2016. At any rate, there are my predictions for the upcoming major league season.
Now here are my predictions for the end of season awards in each league.
AL MVP – Carlos Correa – Astros
AL Home Run Champ – Jose Bautista – Blue Jays
AL Cy Young – Chris Archer – Rays
AL Rookie of the Year – Byron Buxton or Jose Berrios – Twins
AL Manager of the Year – A.J. Hinch
NL MVP – Paul Goldschmidt – Diamondbacks
NL Home Run Champ – Giancarlo Stanton
NL Cy Young – Zack Grienke – Diamondbacks
NL Rookie of the Year – Steven Matz – Mets
NL Manager of the Year – Chip Hale
We’ll revisit this at the end of the year and during awards time to see just how bad or good we did. Would love to hear from you and your thoughts.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
