2017 Baseball Preview: Predictions

It's almost baseball season. To commemorate this occasion and officially open Ski-U-Blog, I have previewed the season with a triplet of posts on the upcoming season. Here is the third, my predictions for the upcoming season's standings, awards, and playoffs.

Standings

American League

East

z-Red Sox, 92-70

w-Blue Jays, 86-76

Yankees, 83-79

Orioles, 81-81

Rays, 79-83

Central

z-Indians, 94-68

Tigers, 82-80

Royals, 77-85

Twins, 74-88

White Sox, 66-92

West

z-Astros, 90-72

w-Mariners, 84-78

Rangers, 83-79

Angels, 80-82

Athletics, 74-88

National League

East

z-Nationals, 93-69

Mets, 86-78

Marlins, 75-87

Braves, 72-90

Phillies, 68-94

Central

z-Cubs, 98-64

w-Cardinals, 87-75

Pirates, 82-80

Brewers, 76-86

Reds, 68-94

West

z-Dodgers, 93-69

w-Giants, 87-75

Rockies, 82-80

Diamondbacks, 72-90

Padres, 65-97 

Awards

American League

MVP: Mike Trout, LAA

Cy Young: Corey Kluber, CLE

Rookie of the Year: Andrew Benintendi, BOS

Hank Aaron: Mike Trout, LAA

Manager of the Year: Scott Servais, SEA

Comments: Until further notice, Trout is the best player in baseball. I don’t know if the writers are smart enough to give him MVP a second year in a row, but I’m far more confident in Trout playing like a MVP than I am anyone else. Manny Machado, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor, and Carlos Correa are, in that order, my picks for most likely to threaten Trout for the award.

Whether or not a manager deserves it, Servais will get major props for, as I think will happen, the Mariners making the postseason. Terry Francona is still the AL’s best manager, with Joe Girardi probably coming after him.

National League:

MVP: Corey Seager, LAD

Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, LAD

Rookie of the Year: Dansby Swanson, ATL

Hank Aaron: Bryce Harper, WAS

Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, CHC

Comments: Seager wasn’t far off MVP last season, and Kershaw is the king of pitching at the moment, so it’s not difficult to predict a Dodger sweep of the biggest two awards. Obviously, Seager has to worry about Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper, the previous two winners, potentially taking MVP instead.

Maddon not winning last year probably will probably stick with voters when the Cubs win the most games in the league again, so while I think incredibly highly of Bruce Bochy and Dave Roberts, I think the writers will name Maddon Manager of the Year. Any of the three are likely to be fine choices.

Postseason

Wild Card

AL: Mariners over Blue Jays

NL: Giants over Cardinals

Division Series

ALDS: Indians over Mariners in 3, Astros over Red Sox in 5

NLDS: Cubs over Giants in 4, Nationals over Dodgers in 5

Championship Series

ALCS: Indians over Astros in 5

NLCS: Cubs over Nationals in 6

World Series

Cubs over Indians in 7

Series MVP: Anthony Rizzo