We’re usually wrong with this stuff. Waaaay wrong.
All of us picked the Phillies to win the NL East in 2012. We all picked the Nationals in 2013. Last season we leaned heavy on the Cardinals and Red Sox and most of us thought the Rangers would be good. All of which is to say that, once again, we’re all likely going to whiff on this year’s picks, too. Bank on it.
But we make our picks anyway because that’s what professional baseball writers do. And because it’s fun. And, unlike some folks out there, we own our wrongness. Those other analysts merely adopt the wrong. But we’re born in it, molded by it.
So, obviously, we don’t take this exercise entirely seriously. No battle plan survives engagement with the enemy and such. If you save these and throw them back in our face come October, well, you’re sort of missing the point. If these predictions make you angry or resentful or convinces you that someone harbors bias or a vendetta against all that you love, you probably need to see a therapist.
Whatever the case, it’s fun to try to predict the future, darn it, so here we are. Wild card picks have an asterisk next to them.
CRAIG
AL East: Orioles, Red Sox*, Yankees, Blue Jays, Rays
AL Central: Indians, White Sox, Tigers, Royals, Twins
AL West: Angels, Mariners*, A’s, Astros, Rangers
NL East: Nationals, Marlins, Mets, Braves, Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals, Pirates*, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
NL West: Dodgers, Giants*, Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies
World Series: Dodgers vs. Mariners -- Dodgers win
AARON
AL East: Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, Rays, Yankees
AL Central: Indians, Tigers*, Royals, White Sox, Twins
AL West: Mariners, A’s*, Angels, Astros, Rangers
NL East: Nationals, Mets, Marlins, Braves, Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals, Pirates*, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
NL West: Dodgers, Giants*, Padres, Diamondbacks, Rockies
World Series: Nationals vs. Mariners -- Nationals win
D.J.
AL East: Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rays
AL Central: Tigers, *Indians, White Sox, Royals, Twins
AL West: Angels, *Mariners, Athletics, Astros, Rangers
NL East: Nationals, Mets, Marlins, Braves, Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals, *Pirates, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
NL West: Dodgers, *Padres, Giants, Rockies, Diamondbacks
World Series: Dodgers vs. Angels - Dodgers win
DREW
AL East: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles, Yankees, Rays
AL Central: Indians, White Sox*, Tigers, Royals, Twins
AL West: Mariners, Angels*, Athletics, Astros, Rangers
NL East: Nationals, Marlins*, Mets, Braves, Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals, Pirates*, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
NL West: Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Rockies, Diamondbacks
World Series: Nationals vs. White Sox — Nationals win
BILL
AL East: Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, Yankees
AL Central: White Sox, Tigers*, Royals, Indians, Twins
AL West: Mariners, Angels**, Athletics, Rangers, Astros
NL East: Nationals, Marlins, Mets, Braves, Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
NL West: Dodgers, Padres*, Giants**, Diamondbacks, Rockies
World Series: Nationals vs. White Sox, Nationals win in 5
MATTHEW
AL East: Red Sox, Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rays
AL Central: Tigers, Indians*, White Sox, Royals, Twins
AL West: Mariners, Angels*, Athletics, Astros, Rangers
NL East: Nationals, Marlins*, Mets, Braves, Phillies
NL Central: Cardinals, Pirates*, Cubs, Brewers, Reds
NL West: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, Rockies, Diamondbacks
World Series: Cardinals over Mariners
