2024 Pre-Season Profile: Colorado Rockies

 #28

The Colorado Rockies are stuck in one of the toughest divisions in all of baseball (there seem to be a lot of those this year...).  Will they be able to make a little noise in the top heavy NL West in 2024?

2023 Predictions

#27

MIH - Kris Bryant

MIP - German Marquez

PTW - Ezequiel Tovar

FP - Charlie Blackmon will not end the season in a Rockies uniform.

2023 Results

#28

Highest WAR (Position) - Nolan Jones

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Kyle Freeland

The arch of the 2023 Colorado Rockies was not a good one.  Two of their most established pitchers went down with Tommy John surgery mid-season, most of their lineup struggled to be average, and their big budget star has struggled to stay healthy, only playing in 122 games over 2 seasons.  Even when he is healthy, Kris Bryant has been inconsistent at best.  In 2023, he was just bad.  The one bright spot in 2023 was the emergence of Nolan Jones, who looks like a star in the making.

Additions / Subtractions

When you are a rebuilding team in a strong division with a megadeal contract weighing down your payroll, there's not much to do in the off-season besides develop the young talent you have.  They barely made any fringe moves to accent their roster with veterans.  The most notable adds this off-season were starting pitchers Cal Quantrill and Dakota Hudson, filling in the spots of German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela as they recover from the dreaded elbow surgery.  There aren't really any notable subtractions, and the offensive personnel is pretty much the same as they ended last year with.

Most Important Hitter

Nolan Jones

After a true breakout year in 2023, many people are now talking about Nolan Jones as the "best player you haven't heard of."  Although the expectations are warranted after a 138 OPS+ in 2023 with 20 homers, 20 steals, 62 RBI's, and a .297 average in just 106 games, that is a high bar for someone with just 134 total big league games under their belt.  With that said, if Nolan Jones is able to continue his growth and truly becomes the star many are expecting, he could be a face of the franchise moving forward.

Most Important Pitcher

Dakota Hudson

Dakota Hudson is probably the most interesting flier the Rockies are taking this year.  Once a highly-touted prospect, Hudson showed flashes of brilliance over the last 6 seasons in St. Louis, but he could never develop much consistency in performance or health.  Now he has a fresh start entering his age 29 season.  With the injuries in the Rockies rotation, Dakota Hudson is going to have every opportunity to prove what he can do.  If he does, he could stabilize a rotation that never has any stability.

Prospect to Watch

Zac Veen

The Rockies currently sport the 19th best farm system with 4 Top 100 prospects, but none of them are expected to be ready this season.  However, a former Top 100 prospect could be ready in Zac Veen.  With the 9th overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the Rockies went with this high school prep outfielder that looked poised to be a star.  The start of his professional career showed that promise, but a wrist injury last season slowed his progress.  Now that Veen is healthy again, look for his swing to come back, his growth to continue, and for him to be manning a corner outfield spot opposite Nolan Jones before the end of the season.

2024 Prediction

5th in NL West

The Rockies are stuck in the cellar.  Their best case scenario in 2024 is to develop some of their young talent, establish a respectable rotation, watch Nolan Jones become a star ... and get beat up by the rest of their division.  In a few years, this could turn around, but not yet.

Fearless Prediction

Kris Bryant wins the 2024 Comeback Player of the Year.

You get a feeling that Kris Bryant has been so unreliable in his first two seasons in Denver that any contributions they get from him in 2024 are just a bonus to the player development they are working on with the rest of the roster.  However, you have to think Bryant still has something left in the tank.  He just has to stay healthy.  He's slated to be the everyday first baseman to try and keep him healthy.  If he plays over 100 games, he has a shot at the comeback title, which is one of the only awards Kris Bryant hasn't won in his crazy up-and-down career.

2023 Pre-Season Profile: Colorado Rockies

 #27

The Colorado Rockies were about as irrelevant as could be in 2022 trying to split the difference between rebuilding and contending.  Could they start to turn things around in 2023?

2022 Predictions

#28 - 5th in NL West

MIH - Kris Bryant

MIP - German Marquez

PTW - Elehuris Montero

2022 Results

#23 - 68-94, 5th in NL West

Highest WAR (Position) - Brendan Rodgers

Highest WAR (Pitcher) - Daniel Bard

The Rockies were in a weird spot in 2022.  They are a few years removed from selling off the face of their franchise (Nolan Arenado), and they watched their star shortstop leave in free agency (Trevor Story).  They looked like they were a prime candidate for a teardown and rebuild.  Then they signed Kris Bryant to a megadeal.  They didn't have a ton of young talent contributing, while their lineup was a random combination of journeyman veterans (C.J. Cron, Jose Iglesias, Randal Grichuk, Daniel Bard) and the remnants of the "glory days" of the Rockies (Charlie Blackmon).  The one exception might be Brendan Rodgers, who is finally establishing himself as an everyday big leaguer.  For the most part though, the Rockies were stuck in the middle with nowhere to go.

Additions / Subtractions

The Rockies might have had the least active offseason of any team.  They let a few veterans leave in free agency like Jose Iglesias, Sam Hilliard, and Alex Colome.  They took some fliers on a few guys like pitchers Brent Suter and Ty Blach, and shortstop Cole Tucker.  That's about it.

Most Important Hitter

Kris Bryant

Part of what hijacked any promise and potential of the 2022 season is the fact that their big investment, Kris Bryant, only played 42 games in the first season of his 7 year deal.  The former Rookie of the Year, MVP, and World Series champion was productive when he actually played, earning an OPS+ of 127.  Now he's entering his age 31 season, and the biggest question the Rockies face entering this season revolves around Bryant's health.  Was 2022 an anomaly, or was it a sign of a body breaking down?  The Rockies are invested in his health, and their success for the foreseeable future depends on him being in the lineup every day.

Most Important Pitcher

German Marquez

The perpetual question surrounding the Rockies every season is if they can pitch.  All their starters right now are fairly established, but none of them have emerged as stars.  They also have a pretty bare farm system in terms of pitchers if they are looking for immediate help this season too.  One of the most interesting pitchers they have that needs to have a big year is German Marquez.  After an All Star season in 2021, he had the worst season of his career in 2022.  Now he needs to bounce back and get back to being a solid starter behind Kyle Freeland at the top of the rotation.

Prospect to Watch

Ezequiel Tovar

One difference between 2022 and 2023 for the Rockies is they have a top tier prospect ready to make an impact at the big league level.  Ezequiel Tovar is the gem of the Rockies' system (which is average at best).  Ranked the #25 prospect in all of baseball, Tovar is slated to be the Opening Day starting shortstop for the Rockies this year after making his debut at the end of last season.  He is a Gold Glove caliber shortstop that is starting to show he can be an impact bat in the lineup.

2023 Prediction

5th in NL West

The Rockies still feel stuck.  They are in one of the most competitive divisions in baseball so they can't contend, they don't have a farm system full of big league ready talent so they can't hand it over to the young guys, they don't have any stars left to trade to replenish their farm system (unless they already try to flip Kris Bryant) so they can't reset.  They are stuck.  They might take some steps forward, but I don't see them leaving the cellar of the NL West this season.

Fearless Prediction

Charlie Blackmon will not end the season in a Rockies uniform.

The last pillar of the Rockies glory years is Charlie Blackmon.  He has had an amazing career in Colorado, winning a batting title, 2 Silver Sluggers, and making 4 All Star Games.  However, his numbers have taken a nose dive the last 2 or 3 seasons.  He is entering his age 36 season and the last year of his contract with the Rockies.  Look for him being a possible trade candidate down the stretch or maybe even a DFA candidate if his production doesn't rebound in 2023.  I hope that's not the case for one of the best Rockies to ever put on the jersey.

2021 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago Cubs

 #21

The Chicago Cubs pulled out a division win in 2020, but were swept out of the expanded playoff field pretty quick.  Now there are talks of cutting payroll and a potential tearing down of the roster that broke the dreaded curse.  Will 2021 see more success or be the start of the rebuild?

2020 Predictions

#18 - 4th in NL Central

MIH - Willson Contreras

MIP - Yu Darvish

PTW - Nico Hoerner

2020 Results

#9 - 34-26, 1st in NL Central, lost in Wild Card Round

Everyone thought the Cubs were due for a down year in 2020 (at least I did).  Instead, behind rookie manager David Ross, the Cubs won the division and hosted a first round playoff series against the surprise of the 2020 season, the Miami Marlins.  The Cubs were eliminated without winning a game, leaving many to wonder if 2020 was actually a successful season or not.

Additions / Subtractions

The Cubs offseason was defined by two things: who left and who is still there.  First, leaving the club were Cy Young finalist Yu Darvish, veteran pitcher Jon Lester, and slugger Kyle Schwarber.  Also leaving was team president Theo Epstein, the man responsible for breaking the championship curses in both Boston and Chicago.  The one still there is Kris Bryant.  The Cubs are in the business of cutting payroll right now, and Bryant is due to have a big payday after the 2021 season.  Rumors swirled all offseason that he would be traded, but he is still manning the hot corner for the Cubs.  Coming in were some minor pickups like Joc Pederson, Zach Davies, and Jake Arrieta to fill in for the departing players.

Most Important Hitter

Kris Bryant

So much heading into this season revolves around Kris Bryant for the Cubs.  It reminds me some of the Rockies heading into last season being held hostage by the Nolan Arenado trade talks.  At the same time, Bryant is coming off a pretty disappointing 2020 season.  He barely cracked a .200 average with a 73 OPS+ in the shortened season.  Now Bryant is in his contract year (which many would argue shouldn't be happening thanks to service time manipulation).  Bryant's success in 2021 could lead to greater team success for the Cubs.  It could also lead to greater trade value at the deadline this year.  It could also lead to a bigger payday for Bryant next offseason.  Poor production could easily lead to more drama over what the Cubs are going to do with Kris Bryant.

Most Important Pitcher

Kyle Hendricks

With the departures of Yu Darvish and Jon Lester, the Cubs' rotation is lacking a lot of star power and established dominance.  The holdover in the rotation is Kyle Hendricks.  Ever since he made his debut in 2014, he has quietly been a dominant force for the Cubs using control and finesse in a way that draws comparisons to Greg Maddux.  Now he is by far the main man for the Cubs.  He is going to need to continue his dominance and mentor some young pitchers ready to make an impact for the bug club.

Prospect to Watch

Brailyn Marquez

One of those young arms Hendricks will be mentoring is Brailyn Marquez.  The top prospect in the Cubs' farm system, the 22 year old lefty got one appearance in 2020 that went pretty horrifically.  Now he is competing for a spot in the rotation.  If he doesn't break Spring Training with the big club, look for him to be a call up sometime soon.

2021 Prediction

4th in NL Central

The Cubs still have a lot of talent, but the NL Central is a pretty deep division (with the exception of the Pirates).  The depth of the division, as well as the questions around what direction the team is heading, will keep the Cubs from having a huge impact in 2021.  With that said, in that division, you can't really count them out.

Fearless Prediction

There will only player in the dugot from the Cubs' World Series roster on Opening Day 2022 will be manager David Ross.

What was supposed to be a long-lasting dynasty appears to be all but over 5 years later.  All indications show there is no way Kris Bryant returns next season.  He might not even last till the end of this season.  Anthony Rizzo is in the last year of his deal, as is Javy Baez.  Jake Arrieta is only back for one year.  Willson Contreras appears to be an attractive trade chip that could be moved.  That leaves just Jason Heyward and Kyle Hendricks.  If the Cubs go full rebuild here, one or both of those players could also be moved.  The likelihood that happens is low, but it's possible the entirety of that magical team will be gone very soon.

2019 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago Cubs

#14

The Chicago Cubs have not been able to repeat the success that won them their historic World Series in 2016.  Will 2019 bring them back to elite or mark the possible end of their run that broke the curse?

2018 Predictions

1st in NL Central, win World Series

2018 Results

95-68, 2nd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lost Wild Card Game

First, I didn't quite get to all my articles last season so I do not have a Fearless Prediction to carry over.  However, you could say predicting them to win two World Series in three years was quite a fearless prediction.  Unfortunately, that didn't happen.  It seems impossible for a 95 win season to be a disappointment, but it was in Chicago.  Although their record still showed success, they struggled all season with injuries and offense.  They lost a playoff game for the division title against the Brewers, then lost the Wild Card Game against the Rockies.  When they needed to win a game, they couldn't.

Additions / Subtractions

With the amount of money they have committed to several players as they have made this run over the last few seasons, the Cubs really had no financial flexibility to go out and acquire anyone.  In fact, they are entering 2019 with almost the exact same roster as they ended last season with.  Daniel Murphy has moved on after being acquired mid-season last year.  Daniel Descalso was brought in to replace Tommy La Stella as a backup utility infielder.  That's about all they did.

Most Important Hitter

Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant started off his career winning Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the MVP in 2016 before winning the World Series.  2017 wasn't up to his MVP level, but 2018 was his worst season to date.  Injuries limited him to 102 games.  When he played, he was below his lofty standards, only hitting .272 (.295 the year before) with 13 home runs (lowest total before that was 26) and an OPS+ of 118 (lowest before that was 135 his rookie year).  After being a 6 or 7 win player in terms of WAR each season up until this point, 2018 saw him total a 1.9 WAR.  If the Cubs are going to be elite in 2019, Kris Bryant needs to be elite once again.

Most Important Pitcher

Yu Darvish

Some questioned the Cubs last offseason when they decided to sign Yu Darvish to a 6 year deal after he seemed to fall apart in the World Series the year before for the Dodgers.  It was questioned even more when Darvish was only able to make 8 starts and total 40 innings in 2018 due to injuries.  He says he is entering 2019 100% healthy which will be needed.  Darvish still has the ability to be dominant, and the Cubs have a rotation that is aging and shown signs of inconsistency.  Darvish can stabilize the rotation and be the leader he is being paid to be.

Prospect to Watch

Adbert Alzolay

When the Cubs were preparing for their World Series run, they had one of the best farm systems in all of baseball.  Now, is it tends to happen, their system is one of the worst as all their top prospects are now several years into their career.  Others they have traded away to bring in players to help them now, like the 2016 trade of Gleyber Torres to the Yankees for Aroldis Chapman.  Or the 2017 trade of Eloy Jimenez to the White Sox for Jose Quintana.  Now they are left with a system that only boasts one player in the top 100, and he is still at least a couple years away.  Their best opportunity for meaningful contributions comes from Adbert Alzolay, a 24 year old right-handed starter.  He missed a good portion of last season with an injury so he won't be ready right away, but look for him to be a helpful arm through the dog days of summer.

2019 Prediction

3rd in NL Central

The way I see it, #11-14 on this list will be teams that are competing for a playoff spot all the way down to the final games, but come up just short.  The Cubs may have a renewed focus and energy this season, but they also now see themselves int he most competitive division in baseball.  Even if their win total is nearing 90 games again, it is possible that is only good for 3rd place in this stacked division.  Some of their core players are aging and past their prime, and I think their window with this core is quickly closing.

Fearless Prediction

This will be Joe Maddon's last season as Cubs manager.

There has been much speculation about this throughout the offseason.  Joe Maddon is in the last year of his contract, and no progress has been made towards an extension.  Several speculate that Maddon might want to see what happens this season first before he decides if he wants to come back.  Some say he might just be done managing.  However you look at it, chances are this is the Cubs last run with the manager that finally brought a World Series title back to Wrigley.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago Cubs

#3

The Chicago Cubs made history in 2016 and finally ended the curse that kept them from winning a championship since 1908.  Can they make history again in 2017 and repeat?

My 2016 Predictions

1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

Jake Arrieta will spend at least 1-2 months on the DL.

2016 Results

103-58, 1st in NL Central, won the World Series

Going into the 2016 season, few would argue against the fact that the Cubs were the most talented team in the league.  Being so young, I thought they were one or two years away from finally putting it all together.  I was wrong.  They dominated the regular season and showed that destiny was on their side by making their way all the way to the championship.  It is impressive to pull off something like this when the pressure of so much futility is on your backs.  The Cubs overcame that and did the impossible.  As for my Fearless Prediction, Jake Arrieta may not have ended up on the DL, but he did see a drop off in production as his work load finally caught up with him.

Additions / Subtractions

The scary part when you think about the 2017 Cubs is they are bringing back almost the exact same roster they had in 2016.  Very few changes were made simply because so much of their roster is so young.  Aroldis Chapman went back to the Yankees, but the Cubs traded Jorge Soler to the Royals for the dominant Wade Davis.  Jason Hammel signed elsewhere in free agency, but he was replaced with veteran Brett Anderson.  Dexter Fowler signed with the Cardinals, but he was replaced internally with the Cubs' outstanding farm system.  Not to mention, Kyle Schwarber is now healthy, considered one of the best young hitters in baseball.

Most Important Hitter

Jason Heyward

If anyone on the Cubs was disappointed by the way the 2016 season turned out, it was Jason Heyward.  After signing the huge contract before 2016, Heyward's bat fell asleep, leading to a .230 average with 7 home runs and 49 RBI's.  This led to Heyward watching most of the postseason from the bench.  The Cubs are talented all over the field, but unless Heyward starts to produce at the plate like he is capable of, 2016 might be remembered for both the World Series win and one of the worst free agent contracts ever given.

Most Important Pitcher

Kyle Hendricks

For the second year in a row, a pitcher for the Cubs came out of nowhere and is now considered one of the best in the game.  2015 brought us Jake Arrieta.  2016 brought us Kyle Hendricks.  Although the Cubs' lineup is filled with young talent, their starting rotation is quite old, with Hendricks the only pitcher under 30 starting the year in the rotation.  With Jon Lester continuing to age and Jake Arrieta entering his contract year, the Cubs need Hendricks to emerge as the ace of the staff moving into the future.

Player to Watch

Albert Almora, Jr.

The player benefiting the most from the absence of Dexter Fowler in the Cubs' outfield is rookie Albert Almora, Jr.  Almora got a decent run last season, playing in 47 games.  He barely kept his rookie status for 2017, and now he is entering the season as the team's starting centerfielder.  The Cubs have an outstanding farm system, but Almora is one of the few great prospects they have that is poised to make an impact for the Cubs this season.  Some might have an impact through trade, but Almora will be patrolling the outfield for the Cubs for awhile.

2017 Prediction

1st in NL Central, lose in NLCS

The Cubs are once again the most talented team in baseball.  I see them once again having the best record in baseball.  With all that said, it is extremely hard to win back-to-back World Series championships.  It hasn't happened in almost 20 years, and it has only happened three times for a National League team.  (One of those three just happens to be the last time the Cubs won...)  The Cubs will have a good run, but I see the age of their pitching catch up to them, leaving them just short of the World Series.

Fearless Prediction

The Chicago Cubs will set the record for most wins in a season in 2017.

I see the Cubs writing a similar script to the Golden State Warriors in 2017.  The Warriors were the up-and-coming team everyone loved that played their way to a championship in 2015.  The 2016 Warriors won more games than any other NBA team in history, but they couldn't win the title.  I see the Cubs following a similar path.  Everyone loved the 2016 Cubs as they won their title.  With the makeup of this team, I could see them respond this season by having a historic run.  However, it seems every historic run ends in something less than a championship.  Look for the Cubs to top the 116 win total set by the 2001 Mariners and the 1906 Cubs.

MLB 2016: Season in Review & Postseason Predictions

The longest grind of the sports year has come to an end as game 162 was played in the baseball season.  (Well, game 161 for four teams for a variety of reasons.)  As always, the season was a wild ride, and now we gear up for some incredible postseason baseball where anything can happen.  Let's stop and take a look at the season that was, how my preseason predictions fared, and what to expect from the Fall Classic.

AL East

My Preseason Predictions

1.  Toronto Blue Jays*

2.  Boston Red Sox

3.  Tampa Bay Rays

4.  Baltimore Orioles

5.  New York Yankees

Final 2016 Standings

1.  Boston Red Sox*

2.  Baltimore Orioles*

3.  Toronto Blue Jays*

4.  New York Yankees

5.  Tampa Bay Rays

I knew the Red Sox would be back, but I didn't know just how good they would be or that David Ortiz would be historic in his final season.  The Orioles constantly surprise as Buck Showalter proves once again to be one of the best managers in baseball.  One of the biggest surprises of the season was Mark Trumbo leading the league in home runs.  Toronto was able to sneak their way into the playoffs.  I had predicted a division title for the Blue Jays, but some injuries held them back.  At least my World Series prediction is still in tact!  I knew the New York Yankees were taking steps back with Chapman being traded (BOLD PREDICTION FULFILLED) along with Miller, Teixeira retiring, and A-Rod being forced into retirement.  What I didn't predict is how quickly the kids would come out and play like everyone expects Yankees to play.  The Tampa Bay Rays didn't have much going for them entering the season, however they always seem to surprise.  Not this year, as they found themselves in the cellar.

AL Central

My Preseason Predictions

1.  Detroit Tigers*

2.  Kansas City Royals*

3.  Minnesota Twins

4.  Cleveland Indians

5.  Chicago White Sox

Final 2016 Standings

1.  Cleveland Indians*

2.  Detroit Tigers

3.  Kansas City Royals

4.  Chicago White Sox

5.  Minnesota Twins

I completely underestimated the Indians.  Not only did the pitching dominate, but the offense was able to produce without Michael Brantley.  The Tigers came up just short as they weren't eliminated until the last day.  They are looking older and older.  Their window might be closed.  The Royals incredible run comes to an end in 2016 as injuries derailed their season over and over.  The White Sox started hot but quickly faded to the back of the division.  Robin Ventura leaving (BOLD PREDICTION FULFILLED) might be a sign of the rebuilding that should have started several years ago.  The Twins were the biggest disappointment of the season as they almost made the playoffs in 2015 only end the season as the only team with 100 losses.

AL East

My Preseason Predictions

1.  Houston Astros*

2.  Texas Rangers*

3.  Seattle Mariners

4.  Los Angeles Angels

5.  Oakland A's

Final 2016 Standings

1.  Texas Rangers*

2.  Seattle Mariners

3.  Houston Astros

4.  Los Angeles Angels

5.  Oakland A's

I had the Rangers in the playoffs as a Wild Card, but they showed that last year was no fluke as they dominated the division once again.  The Mariners surprised as they took their rebuilt roster to the doorstep of the playoffs.  Coming up short extends the Mariners' streak without a playoff berth to 15 seasons, the longest active streak in baseball.  The Astros had a bit of a regression this season after a surprising postseason run last year.  Watch for them to come storming back in 2017.  The Angels still have the best player in the world, but they are wasting his prime years as they have no support for him.  Oakland ended the year in full rebuild mode, getting rid of most of their Opening Day roster (BOLD PREDICTION FULFILLED).

NL East

My Preseason Predictions

1.  New York Mets*

2.  Washington Nationals

3.  Miami Marlins

4.  Atlanta Braves

5.  Philadelphia Phillies

Final 2016 Standings

1.  Washington Nationals*

2.  New York Mets*

3.  Miami Marlins

4.  Philadelphia Phillies

5.  Atlanta Braves

I knew Dusty Baker would be a difference maker for the Nationals, however I didn't know he would be this much of a difference maker.  He turned this team back into an elite squad in one year.  The Mets somehow made it back into the playoffs even though their insane pitching rotation is a mess.  The Marlins had a positive season pointing in the right direction for the future until this last week.  The sudden and tragic passing of superstar Jose Fernandez not only came to define their season, but it has the potential to define every season for the next decade as his absence will be felt for years to come.  (Next year's All Star Game in Miami will be tough without #16 there...)  The Phillies seem to be progressing well in their rebuild as it looks like they might be an impact team sooner than was expected.  The Braves started about as bad as possible, however they ended the season on a positive note and should be riding some good momentum into their new SunTrust Park in 2017.

NL Central

My Preseason Predictions

1.  Chicago Cubs*

2.  Pittsburgh Pirates*

3.  St. Louis Cardinals

4.  Cincinnati Reds

5.  Milwaukee Brewers

Final 2016 Standings

1.  Chicago Cubs*

2.  St. Louis Cardinals

3.  Pittsburgh Pirates

4.  Milwaukee Brewers

5.  Cincinnati Reds

I knew the Cubs were going to be good.  I had no idea they were going to be this good.  I correctly predicted that the Cardinals were finally going to miss the playoffs.  They just needed too many pieces to fall into place.  The Pirates were disappointing this season and are now talking about entertaining trade offers for superstar Andrew McCutchen.  The Brewers are in rebuild mode after trading Jonathan Lucroy to the Rangers (BOLD PREDICTION FULFILLED).  The Reds are stuck somewhere between rebuilding and being stuck with big veteran contracts.  They might not have bottomed out yet.

NL West

My Preseason Predictions

1.  San Francisco Giants*

2.  Los Angeles Dodgers*

3.  Arizona Diamondbacks

4.  Colorado Rockies

5.  San Diego Padres

Final 2016 Standings

1.  Los Angeles Dodgers*

2.  San Francisco Giants*

3.  Colorado Rockies

4.  Arizona Diamondbacks

5.  San Diego Padres

The Dodgers impressed this season under rookie manager Dave Roberts.  Even with an extended injury to Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers dominated.  (I was so close on my prediction with the Dodgers, but no one wanted Yasiel Puig so he wasn't traded.)  I had the Giants winning the division, which they might have done if they didn't go through one of the most inexplicable second half collapses in recent memory.  They still snuck in to the postseason though so watch out.  The Rockies are showing they are very close to being a contender in this division.  (Again, SO close on my prediction, but they chose to keep CarGo.)  The Diamondbacks proved that their season was over before it started when AJ Pollock went down the weekend before Opening Day.  It also didn't help to have disappointing seasons from their two biggest offseason acquisitions: Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller.  The Padres are trying to be relevant, but their front office is proving to be a little inadequate.

Season Awards

AL Manager of the Year

1.  Terry Francona

2.  John Farrell

3.  Buck Showalter

Showalter seems to do more with less every season.  John Farrell turned around the Red Sox with aging superstars, a resurgence of Hanley Ramirez at first base, and Pablo Sandoval spending the whole season on the DL.  However, nothing beats what Terry Francona has done in Cleveland.  He is one of the best coaches of the 21st century.

NL Manager of the Year

1.  Dusty Baker

2.  Dave Roberts

3.  Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon might end up winning this as he somehow exceeded the highest expectations on any team in recent memory.  Rookie manager Dave Roberts took a dumpster fire in the Dodgers and won the division despite having a piecemeal starting rotation all season.  However, Dusty Baker showed that old school baseball people still have a place in the new school of sabermetrics.  His work with the Nationals was incredible this season.

AL Cy Young

1.  Aaron Sanchez

2.  Rick Porcello

3.  JA Happ

The Blue Jays had several pitchers step up and have career years.  JA Happ returned to Toronto and won 20 games, a rare feat in today's game.  Boston's Rick Porcello finally seemed to put everything together as he led the league in wins with 22.  However, Aaron Sanchez was the most impressive pitcher in the AL this season.  Toronto's young ace was even held back due to an innings limit, but still posted some impressive numbers.

NL Cy Young

1.  Kyle Hendricks

2.  Madison Bumgarner

3.  Jon Lester

Jon Lester showed that he is still the elite starter he was in Boston.  He definitely had more in the tank than many gave him credit for.  Madison Bumgarner once again had an elite season, which makes many teams nervous as they enter the postseason.  However, for the second year in a row, the best pitcher in the National League is a Cubs pitchers nobody knew before the season.  Kyle Hendricks had an unbelievable year that overshadowed what Lester did as well as last year's Cy Young winner, Jake Arrieta.

AL MVP

1.  David Ortiz

2.  Mike Trout

3.  Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano went from the most disappointing season of his career in 2015 to career highs in many stats in 2016.  He kept coming up big in the right spots, playing his best baseball in September while his team tried to make the postseason.  The best player on the planet, no matter how bad his team is, is still Mike Trout.  He just keeps getting better.  However, this season belonged to David Ortiz.  He played his best when it was his last.  Look for him to try and be the first DH to win MVP.

NL MVP

1.  Kris Bryant

2.  Daniel Murphy

3.  Nolan Arenado

One of these days, Nolan Arenado will be recognized for how great he really is.  He led the league in home runs and RBI's this season while playing Gold Glove caliber third base.  Daniel Murphy followed up his amazing postseason last year with an MVP caliber season this year for the Nationals.  However, when in doubt, the MVP is the best player on the best team.  The Cubs were by far the best team, and Kris Bryant was by far their best player.  Look for him to win the award in his sophomore season.

Playoff Predictions

Wild Card Round

Blue Jays def. Orioles

Giants def. Mets

The Blue Jays have waited all season to get back in this position after 2015's postseason.  The game is in Toronto, which is one of the craziest venues in all of baseball.  Toronto will win.  The NL Wild Card game will be a classic.  Noah Syndergaard, the only healthy ace for the Mets, is on the mound against the possibly the best postseason pitcher of all time in Madison Bumgarner.  Look for the Mets to be MadBummed.

Divisional Series

Blue Jays def. Rangers

Red Sox def. Indians

Giants def. Cubs

Nationals def. Dodgers

The first matchup is an epic rematch from last year.  There is no way the Blue Jays let the Rangers beat them again.  The Red Sox just have too much firepower for an injury-plagued Indians team.  The Cubs are the team everyone is looking to as the favorite, but the Giants have been there before many times and feature the rotation with the proven pedigree.  I said in my preseason predictions that the Cubs would dominate the regular season, but their pitching would run out of steam in the playoffs.  I'm holding to it.  The most intriguing matchup might be the Nats and the Dodgers.  Both teams finally played how everyone thought they could.  I give the edge to the team with the more experienced manager.

Championship Series

Blue Jays def. Red Sox

Giants def. Nationals

The storybook ending for David Ortiz would be to go out on top with a ring.  However, I really think this is the right time for the Blue Jays.  Their pitching is outstanding with Happ, Sanchez, and Marcus Stroman.  They might have the best lineup in the league.  It would be an upset, but I think it's time for the Blue Jays to get back to the World Series.  In the National League, it's Dusty Baker's Nationals going up against his former team in the Giants.  Bumgarner, Cueto, and Samardzija can shut down any lineup.  They know how to peak in the playoffs, and I don't see anything different happening this time around.

World Series

Giants def. Blue Jays

Why not go with my original prediction!  I predicted Giants over Blue Jays back before the season started, and I am going to stick to my guns.  After all, it is an even numbered year.  Besides that, the Giants just know how to get it done in the playoffs.  It will be a fun series, but look for a similar result to what we are used to seeing.

World Series MVP

Madison Bumgarner