Last week we gave you our predictions for the National league. Now, here we go with Part 2 and our look at the American League and how we see it shaping up. I would love to have your comments and feedback.
AL EAST
BOSTON – They will win the division but not make the WS. They have a solid offense with Betts, Benintendi, Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, etc. they have a solid defense in most areas. The big problem is the starters are aging and the bullpen has some big question mark. Thanks to the offense the Sox can win 95 and it will be enough to win the division.
TAMPA BAY – They won 90 last year with a great combo of pitching, defense, timely offense and creating the “opener”. The acquisitions they made in the off season are major improvements with Morton, Zunino, Diaz and Garcia coming on board. Meadows will be a break out star and if KK can stay healthy and play 140 + games the Rays offensively and defensively will be better. With Snell, Morton, Glasnow (a future Cy Young), Honeywell the starters will be fine. This is a better team than 2018 and they can match last year or better it.
YANKEES – Everyone thinks this team can win it all. Maybe, if they stay healthy and some players have a career year and the defense is better. The starting pitching is a major question mark. How long will CC last? How soon before Tanaka has to have TJS? How many starts before Paxton goes on the DL….again? The bullpen is lights out, but they can’t do it all. Yes they have offense, but here again how long before a Stanton, Judge, etc. go to the DL, and is Tulo the answer? Enough to win 90 games tops.
Toronto – The Jays are in a rebuild and it will be a couple of years before they are serious contenders. They have some decent youngsters and new manager Charlie Montoya may get more out of them than expected (meaning 75-80 wins), but the big reason to watch the Jays is the emergence of future superstar Vlad Guerrero Jr. he IS the real deal.
Baltimore – Hmmm, well they do need a 5th team in the division so they fill that role and that’s about it. The may become a contender by the time the Rays lease at the Trop runs out (2027).
AL CENTRAL
MINNESOTA – New manager Rocco Baldelli is going to be the surprise of MLB in 2019 and will win MOY and his Twins win the weak Central with less than 90 wins. The deals, trades and signings the Twins have made are solid. With a healthy Sano, the additions of CJ Cron, Nelson Cruz, Marwin Gonzalez and others plus the maturation of Polanco and Buxton the Twins will be tough.
CLEVELAND – They love Tito, but the Indians will need more than love. The pitching with Kluber, Bauers and Clevinger is nice, but health is always a concern. The offense, even with the likes of former Ray Jake Bauers, Santana, Lindor, etc. is just not enough. Unless they can pull a rabbit out of the hat, I don’t see Cleveland with more than 86 wins and no post season.
CHICAGO – This is an improved team who could be a troublemaker in the division. They have a decent core returning with Moncada, Abreu, Davidson, etc. that can provide some offense. Pitching wise the pen is better with the acquisitions of Herrera and Colome. The starters are still a work in progress, but Rodon and Giolito look to improve. If all goes well the Sox could finish .500.
KANSAS CITY –While they are in a rebuild they have several very good pieces beginning with Merrifield who can play everywhere, hits and can run. They also have the kid Mondesi, a speed burner who will be an All Star in due time. The addition if Hamilton might help some. Lack of power and so so pitching Duffy, Keller, Junis, etc. is not earth shattering. Reaching 75 wins will be a KC miracle.
DETROIT – How quickly times change. The Tigers have a couple of good pieces, one of which they want to move (Castellanos) and Miggy is back which means very little now. The simple fact is the Tigers are pretty much the Orioles of the Central Division and getting anywhere near .500 is going to be very difficult.
AL WEST
HOUSTON – They lost Keuchel and Morton from the rotation but with Verlander and Cole they are still solid. The loss of Marwin Gonzalez will hurt but the Astros have so much talent with Altuve, Springer, Bregman plus Brantley is a very good addition. The pen with Devenski, Osuna, etc. should good. There will be no 3rd 100 win season as they will top out at 97 wins.
LOS ANGELES – A shame the best player in the game can’t get to the post season, but 2019 Trout and his Angels might sneak in as the second WC. Ohtani will strictly DH and be in the 20 homer range. There are a few other decent bats, but it will be the pitching that will make or break the Angels. If Harvey and Cahill come through we could see 88-89 wins and a 2nd WC, but???
OAKLAND – They will not win 97 games in 2019 and probably not 90. They have plenty of offense with two of the best players in the game in Chapman and Khris Davis, plus other pieces. The question will be, as it is for most teams, the pitching. The bullpen is well tested and good, but the starting staff is the make or break point for the A’s. I don‘t see them in the post season.
SEATTLE – Jerry DiPoto should be nicknamed “Trader Sam”. The Mariners move players around more than Allied Van Lines. From one week to the next you never know who will be a Mariner. Once again it is a mix of old, new, untested and hope. Mallex Smith and Encarnacion will help, Mitch Haniger is a bona fide star but the pitching is a toss up with Felix no longer King. This is going to be a tough season and they might just get over .500………..maybe.
TEXAS – Not quite the Orioles or Tigers but close. There are a lot of “ifs” on this team in every area. I can see Gallo and others gone at the trade deadline. No more Beltre, a pitching coach with no ML experience of any kind. Topping their 67 wins of 2018 and getting to 70 may be a very hard task.
FINAL STANDINGS
AL East
Redsox 95-67
Rays 92-70
Yankees 90-72
Jays 77-85
Orioles 54-108
AL Central
Twins 89-73
Indians 86-76
Whitesox 81-81
Royals 74 -88
Tigers 71-91
AL West
Astros 97-65
Angels 89-73
Athletics 87-75
Mariners 82-80
Rangers 69-93
AL Playoffs
WC : Angels vs Rays = Rays
ALDS
Astros vs Rays = Astros
Redsox vs Twins = Redsox
ALCS
Astros vs Red Sox = Astros
World Series
Astros vs Phillies = Astros
Awards
AL MVP : Mike Trout
AL CY Young : Justin Verlander
AL ROY : Vlad Guerrero Jr.
AL MOY – Rocco Baldelli
There you have my predictions for the 2019 American League season. Part 1 we gave you the National League. In case you missed it, you can find it at: https://aan.xxx/arts-world-our-predictions-for-the-2019-mlb-season/ so now you will be able to have both leagues predictions. We will revisit this at the All Star break just to see how close we are…………………PLAY BALL!!
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
