Happy Opening Day!!! One of my favorite things to do every year is take the month before the baseball season starts and do a preseason write-up and prediction article for each team. Thanks to the lockout, a shortened Spring Training, and the crazy flurry of free agency signings during that shortened Spring Training, I did not have a chance to write these before the season starts. With that said, I want to get my predictions out there in some way before the season gets going too much. So here are teams #30-#21 in my pre-season power rankings.
#30
Oakland A's
2021 Prediction: #8, 1st in AL West, lose in ALDS
2021 Fearless Prediction: Before Opening Day 2022, Matt Chapman and Matt Olson will be traded, a new ballpark deal is done, or the A's will announce a relocation.
2021 Result: #13, 86-76, 3rd in AL West
Most Important Hitter: Sean Murphy
Most Important Pitcher: Frankie Montas
Prospect to Watch: Cristian Pache
2022 Prediction: 5th in AL West
After a lackluster end to 2021, the A's (as I predicted) traded away or let walk away almost their entire roster (including their manager). Now the A's are starting over as they do every few years, but this one feels different. They stripped the roster down to the studs without a next wave ready to compete. Their most important players are the only ones left, and it's only a matter of time before they get traded too. Are they trying to alienate the fanbase to make a move to Las Vegas easier? Maybe. On a side note, what is Oakland doing? Do they just hate having sports? They have already watched the Raiders move to Vegas, the Warriors move to San Francisco, and now the A's are on their way out since they refuse to build a new stadium to replace the worst facility in American professional sports. Sad to see for a once proud sports city.
#29
Pittsburgh Pirates
2021 Prediction: #30, 5th in NL Central
2021 Fearless Prediction: Ke'Bryan Hayes will be an All Star and Rookie of the Year in 2021.
2021 Result: #27, 61-101, 5th in NL Central
Most Important Hitter: Bryan Reynolds
Most Important Pitcher: Mitch Keller
Prospect to Watch: Oneil Cruz
2022 Prediction: 5th in NL Central
The Pirates are a pretty lousy organization, shown by the fact that they just shelled out their biggest contract in franchise history at ... wait for it ... $70 million. Then Ke'Bryan Hayes goes out and gets hurt in the first inning of Opening Day. They seem to be the only team still concerned about service time manipulation by keeping Oneil Cruz in the minors to start the year because I think they are the only team that can't afford to sign a good player to a real contract. Until they learn how to spend, they will only be good if they get lucky.
#28
Colorado Rockies
2021 Prediction: #28, 5th in NL West
2021 Fearless Prediction: Trevor Story will be traded before the Trade Deadline.
2021 Result: #21, 74-87, 4th in NL West
Most Important Hitter: Kris Bryant
Most Important Pitcher: German Marquez
Prospect to Watch: Elehuris Montero
2022 Prediction: 5th in NL West
The Rockies had an interesting offseason where they watched one of their stars leave in free agency while they brought another in. What looked like a full blown rebuild got an uplift. They don't have a lot of established players heading into this year though. They should bounce back quick, but this year might be rough.
#27
Arizona Diamondbacks
2021 Prediction: #27, 4th in NL West
2021 Fearless Prediction: Madison Bumgarner will not be on the Diamondbacks roster at the start of 2022.
2021 Result: #29, 52-110, 5th in NL West
Most Important Hitter: Pavin Smith
Most Important Pitcher: Zac Gallen
Prospect to Watch: Alek Thomas
2022 Prediction: 4th in NL West
It's easy for the top of the NL West to rack up as many wins as they do when they have two door mats like the Rockies and Diamondbacks to deal with as many times as they do. The Diamondbacks are trying, but they are so far behind the rest of the division (Rockies excluded) that it will take awhile for them to be relevant again.
#26
Cincinnati Reds
2021 Prediction: #19, 3rd in NL Central
2021 Fearless Prediction: Over half of the Reds' Opening Day lineup will no longer be on the roster Opening Day 2022.
2021 Result: #14, 83-79, 3rd in NL Central
Most Important Hitter: Jonathan India
Most Important Pitcher: Luis Castillo
Prospect to Watch: Hunter Greene
2022 Prediction: 4th in NL Central
My fearless prediction came true as the Reds unloaded a ton of their strong core and hit the full reset button. They have a lot of promise with guys like reigning ROY Jonathan India and phenom Hunter Greene, but their step back will take a few years to bounce back from.
#25
Baltimore Orioles
2021 Prediction: #25, 4th in AL East
2021 Fearless Prediction: Trey Mancini will win Comeback Player of the Year.
2021 Result: #30, 52-110, 5th in AL East
Most Important Hitter: Cedric Mullins
Most Important Pitcher: John Means
Prospect to Watch: Adley Rutschman
2022 Prediction: 5th in AL East
It feels like the Orioles are starting to turn the corner. The problem is they are in a division with 4 other teams that are World Series contenders. They won't compete this year, but they will be interesting.
#24
Washington Nationals
2021 Prediction: #12, 3rd in NL East
2021 Fearless Prediction: Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman will play their last games in a Nationals uniform in 2021.
2021 Result: #26, 65-97, 5th in NL East
Most Important Hitter: Josh Bell
Most Important Pitcher: Josiah Gray
Prospect to Watch: Cade Cavalli
2022 Prediction: 5th in NL East
It was time for the Nationals to take their step back and start to rebuild, but what a run they had! They have another couple steps to fall back all the way before they start building back up, but when they do, they should still have possibly the best hitter of his generation in Juan Soto.
#23
Miami Marlins
2021 Prediction: #20, 5th in NL East
2021 Fearless Prediction: 2021 will be the last time the Miami Marlins finish in the cellar of the NL East for the next decade.
2021 Result: #25, 67-95, 4th in NL East
Most Important Hitter: Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Most Important Pitcher: Jesus Luzardo
Prospect to Watch: Max Meyer
2022 Prediction: 4th in NL East
The Marlins fell back down to earth in 2021 after a magical 60 games in 2020. Now they are back on schedule with a lot of fun young talent. It will be tough to compete with the top of the division, but they will cause headaches for the top teams throughout the season.
#22
Cleveland Guardians
2021 Prediction: #17, 3rd in AL Central
2021 Fearless Prediction: Shane Bieber will win a second straight Cy Young Award.
2021 Result: #16, 80-82, 2nd in AL Central
Most Important Hitter: Jose Ramirez
Most Important Pitcher: Shane Bieber
Prospect to Watch: Logan Allen
2022 Prediction: 5th in AL Central
The Guardians rely on one or two players more than any other team in the league. If Jose Ramirez or Shane Bieber get hurt, they really don't have much of anything. That's why they finally committed and paid Ramirez. Scoring runs will be tough this year, but they can still pitch. Bieber is the best and the leader, but not all they have. My biggest issue with the Guardians this year ... can we stop this trend of rebranding a franchise but not changing a thing besides the name of the jersey? The Guardians, the Commanders ... new name, exact same jersey. It's going to take forever for people to get the name right because they look just like they did before. Start over!
#21
Kansas City Royals
2021 Prediction: #24, 5th in AL Central
2021 Fearless Prediction: The Royals will sell at least two starting pitchers before the Trade Deadline.
2021 Result: #22, 74-88, 4th in AL Central
Most Important Hitter: Salvador Perez
Most Important Pitcher: Zack Greinke
Prospect to Watch: Bobby Witt Jr.
2022 Prediction: 4th in AL Central
This season for the Royals is all about veterans imparting wisdom on the young up and coming starts. That's why they bring back Zack Greinke. This season in KC is all about Bobby Witt Jr. though. How quickly he breaks out will determine how successful their season is.
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