Looking ahead at
2013 it feels like a new era in baseball.
As many veterans fade, there will be many new names stepping up. As some former dynasties fade, new ones are
beginning. Here are my predictions for
the upcoming season.
American
League
AL East winner – Baltimore
Orioles
AL Central winner – Detroit Tigers
AL West winner – Angels of Anaheim
AL Wild Card Teams (2) – Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics
AL MVP – Mike
Trout (LAA)
AL Cy Young – Justin Verlander (DET)
AL Rookie of the Year –Jackie Bradley (BOS)
AL Manager of the Year – Terry Francona (CLE)
The American League will be very different in 2013 thanks
to the end of the most recent Yankees regime.
As they go forward without Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and a patchwork
outfield, 2013 figures to be a transitional year for the Yankees. The Red Sox are still rebuilding with their
third manager in three years On the
rise: the young Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Oakland Athletics.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim would have won the
National League West had the season started May 1. Without full contributions from Mark Trumbo
and Mike Trout until May, the 89-win team could have been much better had they
been there from the start. With full
seasons from the sophomore duo and the addition of Josh Hamilton, the Angels
appear ready to take the National League West.
The Boston Red Sox signed Shane Victorino to be centerfielder in 2014 and take up space in right field until Jackie Bradley was ready. Well, Jackie Bradley is here. The Red Sox also signed Jonny Gomes who will have to sit (or DH while David Ortiz is out). Bradley made the Red Sox change plans and he is my pick for 2013 Rookie of the Year.
Terry Francona's
Cleveland Indians will make great strides in 2013. With a new leader, new attitude, and new
additions Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Mark Reynolds and Drew Stubbs, the
Indians have a new lineup.
What will keep the Indians and Angels behind the Tigers though is
pitching. Justin Verlander is going to
be the top starter he always has been, and with a new deal in hand should lead
the Detroit Tigers back to the World Series but this time victorious.
National
League
NL East winner – Washington
Nationals
NL Central winner – Cincinnati Reds
NL West winner – San Francisco Giants
NL Wild Card Teams (2) – Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves
NL MVP – Buster
Posey (SF)
NL Cy Young – Cole Hamels (PHI)
NL Rookie of the Year – Jedd Gyorko (SD)
NL Manager of the Year – Dusty Baker (CIN)
The Nationals are
improved from 2012 with the addition of closer Rafael Soriano and with the
Stephen Strasburg innings count meter gone.
As I have regularly stated this offseason I do not think the Atlanta
Braves are improved from the 2012 Braves.
Prado/Jones/Bourn I still find superior to Upton/Upton/Francisco. The Braves are left without an experienced
leadoff hitter. Andrelton Simmons will
be an amazing player in the league, but he will come with a learning
curve. He will torture the Phillies for
years.
Cole Hamels will
finally be the Phillies ace and I think we will see the best Cole Hamels season
yet. He's my pick for the 2013 National
League Cy Young. San Diego Padres third
baseman Jedd Gyorko is my Rookie of the Year choice. He will begin the year in place of the
injured Chase Headley and move to second base thereafter. He was the reason that the Padres were
listening to trade offers for Headley last year and could revisit those again.
As you can see, I
am not high on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Zack
Greinke and Hanley Ramirez are already hurt
and accumulating high-priced veterans is not the way to go. Expect great things from Clayton Kershaw and
Matt Kemp, but Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett are not their old selves and Juan
Uribe will play too much.
2013 World Series
World Series
matchup – Nationals vs. Tigers
World Series champion and # of games – Tigers in 6
Phillies
predictions
Total number of
Phillies wins – 92
How many games will Roy Halladay win? 13
Who will spend the
most games batting leadoff? Ben Revere
Which Phillies pitcher will lead the team in wins? Cole Hamels
How many home runs will Ryan Howard hit? 37
Start with the 81
win Phillies of last year and add a full
season of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.
Add a consistent Michael Young over injured Placido Polanco. Ben Revere is an upgrade over Shane
Victorino. Domonic Brown has
arrived. Add Mike Adams to the team that
blew 13 8th inning leads. Subtract all
of the Hector Luna, Ty Wigginton, Chad Qualls, and Michael Schwimer of last
year and I don't have trouble thinking the Phillies can win 11 more games than
last year.
I think that the
Phillies are playoff-bound. After they
are in, anything can happen. Yes, the
Nationals appear to be my pick to be in the World Series, but we know all too
well that the teams picked never seem to get in. Let us hope that the Phillies are that
alternative.
