What’s the beginning of a sport’s new season without some predictions that people can look back on and laugh at?
AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez, NYY
AL Cy Young: Jon Lester, BOS
AL rookie of the year: Brett Lawrie, TOR (Wishful thinking perhaps?)
AL manager: Buck Showalter, BAL
NL MVP: Albert Pujols, STL
NL Cy Young: Zach Greinke, MIL
NL rookie of the year: Aroldis Chapman, CIN
NL manager: Ron Roenicke, MIL
Breakout stars: Aroldis Chapman (if he gets to close), Brandon Morrow, Brandon Belt, Gordon Beckham.
Potential bust players: Aroldis Chapman (no big role, no big value), Buster Posey, Justin Smoak, Jason Heyward, Joe Mauer, Adrian Gonzalez.
Best storylines: Buck Showalter’s Orioles vs. the AL east … Pittsburgh trying for .500 … The back end of the Yankees rotation … Boycott at the all-star game … Morneau’s continued concussion troubles … The pitchers rule the sport for the second year in a row … At least one perfect game … Ozzie Guillen says something insane/racist … The Mets fall apart, yet again.
Teams that will surprise: Baltimore and Florida.
Star that will get traded: Felix Hernandez, Jonathan Papelbon, Jose Reyes, Justin Upton.
Bust teams: Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
AL playoff teams: Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees.
NL playoff teams: Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers.
World Series: Red Sox over Phillies.
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