MLB 2011: 25 Bold Predictions For Next Year
The 2011 MLB season is just over three months away and already the free agent movement has caused a stir in the league power polls.
While the rest of the free agent situation gets sorted out and teams continue to strengthen, or weaken, we know that baseball is almost upon us.
With that in mind, every season has its surprises, for good and for bad.
The 2011 season will be no different in Major League Baseball, but it is always fun to take a look at what the season may have in store us.
So, let us take a look around the league and make 25 bold predictions for baseball in 2011.
Three Players Will Hit 50 Home Runs
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Where have all our big home run hitters gone?
While Jose Bautista racked up 54 last season, his jump from 13 to 54 is a bit ridiculous.
Prior to that, nobody had hit 50 since A-Rod and Prince Fielder in 2007.
While it looks like pitchers have gotten the best of their counterparts as of late, I think it is time for a power surge from the players at the plate.
Ryan Howard, Adam Dunn, Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder have all been regulars at the top of league's home run marks and maybe we'll see a surprise two jump in on the fun as well.
Robinson Cano Will Win The Triple Crown
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While Albert Pujols may truly have the best shot at winning the Triple Crown, who's to say the streaky Cano can't string together a consistently hot season?
Cano's career batting average is only .310 and he just hit his most home runs (29) and RBIs (109) ever, but maybe this season Robbie can get hot and stay hot.
The Yanks lineup will certainly provide him with opportunities and Cano is at the spot in his career when he should start to dominate.
Robinson Cano Will Win The AL MVP
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Naturally, if Cano is making a run at the Triple Crown, then he is taking the MVP with him too.
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The Boston Red Sox Will Win 100 Games For The First Time Since 1946
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The pitching staff.
The brutal amount of lefty hitters in the lineup.
The Red Sox will be a force and will win 100 or more games this season.
Joey Votto and Albert Pujols Will Beat Each Other For NL Triple Crown
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Albert Pujols had two of the three categories last year for the Triple Crown, but fell short in batting average.
Joey Votto was in the top three for all three of the categories.
This season, while both should play exceptionally well, one will spoil the other's bid at an NL Triple Crown.
Joey Votto Will Repeat As NL MVP
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Similar, if not better, numbers in 2011 and Joey Votto will again bring home the NL's Most Valuable Player award.
Pujols will again be battling and will be a close second.
The Blue Jays WILL Trade Vernon Wells
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An insanely large contract, $86 million over the next 4 years, is standing in the way.
But I have faith in the Blue Jays to get this done.
Vernon will wear another uniform this season.
C.C. Sabathia Wins 23 Games, Cy Young
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The free spending Yankees didn't get Cliff Lee.
Oh well.
They still have C.C. and he's coming back even stronger this season, just to prove a point.
Tim Lincecum Wins NL Cy Young
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I'm sure "the Freak" would trade in a Cy Young for World Series ring any day, but 2011 will not be that kind again.
The Giants will be good, but instead of repeating, Timmy is going to have to settle for his third Cy Young in four years.
The Mets Pull The Plug on Terry Collins Before All-Star Break
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Something just does not sit right with the Mets.
They pay too much money for players, consistently make questionable hires and simply make bad decisions as an organization.
Who is to say this season is different?
Felix Hernandez Will Post an ERA Under 2.00
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Felix has it rough out in Seattle.
The 2010 Cy Young Winner only won 13 games with all the wonderful run support he got out the Mariners' bats and this season does not look to be better.
Felix will be even better though.
Speaking of the Mariners...
The Mariners Will Lose 100 Games ... Again
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Tough times for a once proud organization.
The M's do not look to be much better this season and will lose 100 games for the second straight year, with what will most likely be the worst record in baseball.
Jose Bautista Will Hit Under 25 Home Runs
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Not necessarily all that bold (it seems to be a trend to pick on Mr. Baustita and his home run count), but really...
It's not going to happen again and he will most likely hit around 30 home runs...
...more specifically we'll say 25.
Jayson Werth Will Be A Bomb In Washington
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I don't like to pick on the Nationals, especially with Stephen Strausberg out, but Werth will not be worth his money.
Without the other Phillies around him and the pressure of producing up to a large contract, Werth's time in Washington is not going to be fun.
The Chicago Cubs Will Once Again Not Play Any Postseason Baseball
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Not really bold, more of a piling on effect, but its not good in Chicago.
The Cubs did not get much better by adding a mediocre first baseman in Carlos Pena and their pitching staff could implode at any minute.
Sit and relax, Cubs fans, it's going to be a while.
The Atlanta Braves Will Bottom Out ... But Jason Heyward Is For Real
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The Braves won 91 games a season ago and I think we can all expect that to drop a bit.
An offense that features only a few hitters with major fire power (Uggla, McCann and Heyward) will not be enough in that division to sniff the Phillies.
On a positive note, Jason Heyward will be a machine this season and start crushing baseballs.
Watch out for that young man.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Will Bounce Back
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Matt Kemp's 2010 was a sight for sore eyes, but the young outfielder will bounce back in 2011 and bring his team with him.
If Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw can ever be consistent, the pair of them could be a force to be reckoned with and the Dodger brass will just have to fill in the other three potential free agents who were on staff last season.
The White Sox Will Knock The Twins Off The Top of The AL Central
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A quality rotation and a good portion of young bats, with the addition of Adam Dunn, give the White Sox a beefy little lineup to fight with.
After winning 88 games a season ago and watching the playoffs from home, the White Sox are going to take the division away from the Twins and leave them out in the cold during the postseason.
The Yankees and Red Sox Will Fight at Least 3 Times in Their Games
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The Yankees and Red Sox are about to enter a season of hate.
The Sox missed out on the playoffs while the Yankees couldn't hit anything in the postseason.
Both teams, flushed with anger, will bring this rivalry storming back to the top of the AL East and the eyes of everyone in the country.
Andy Pettite Will Pitch Again
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The Yankees' need for a left-handed arm will be too much and Pettite will give the Yanks one more season.
While money chucking New Yorkers will do everything in their power to bring someone else in, fans will be excited to see Andy take the mound one more time in a postseason showdown.
New York Will Beat Boston in The ALCS
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Fortunately for the Red Sox, they will win 100 games and the AL East.
Unfortunately, they will run into an angry Yankee team and it will all be for naught.
St. Louis Will Defeat Philadelphia in The NLCS
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Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt will be tough to beat.
So is Albert Pujols, and after being bested out of the Triple Crown again, he takes out his frustrations on the "three aces" of Philadelphia.
New York Yankees Will Win The World Series
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The Yankees will come up from that Wild Card Spot, knock off the Cardinals and take their 28th World Series Title.
C.C. will win MVP honors and the Yankees will once again be hated by everyone that is not a fan.
The World Series Ratings Will Boost .... Because The Yankees Are In It
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Watching the Rangers and the Giants play in last season's World Series was an awesome time, but apparently the rest of the country did not care.
Fortunately, as Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and St. Louis will all be playing in their respective League Championship Series games, it is safe to say the ratings will jump back up.
Brian Wilson's Beard ....
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Will remain unbeaten. Nobody can put on a better show than that.
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