MLB Spring Training 2015: Exhibition Schedule and Predictions for Top Teams
Never forget the warm coziness of spring training, where hope wafts through the air like a freshly baked pie among fans who are certain that this is their team's year.
It's the perfect time for optimists to go overboard for their preferred MLB franchises. The prospect who scorched a double through the gap looks like the next Wade Boggs, and that young hurler darting gas down the plate is reminiscent of a young Pedro Martinez.
For those who don't mind getting carried off on a sea of unreasonable expectations, here's a look at some exhibition action to watch, with the full schedule available on MLB.com.
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| March 10 | Yankees vs. Orioles | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 10 | Cubs vs. Indians | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 10 | Giants vs. Padres | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 11 | Mets vs. Marlins | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 11 | Cardinals vs. Braves | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 11 | Dodgers vs. Cubs | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 12 | Blue Jays vs. Rays | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 12 | Mariners vs. Athletics | 3:00 p.m. |
| March 12 | Royals vs. Indians | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 13 | Astros vs. Nationals | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 13 | Twins vs. Pirates | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 13 | Yankees vs. Red Sox | 7:05 p.m. |
| March 14 | Rockies vs. Reds | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 14 | Rangers vs. Padres | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 14 | Astros vs. Braves | 6:05 p.m. |
| March 15 | Mets vs. Rays | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 15 | Angels vs. White Sox | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 15 | Dodgers vs. Mariners | 4:05 p.m. |
| March 16 | Tigers vs. Cardinals | 1:05 p.m. |
| March 16 | White Sox vs. Diamondbacks | 4:10 p.m. |
| March 16 | Rangers vs. Angels | 4:10 p.m. |
A select two teams especially abound with buzz after eventful offseasons. Fed up with losing, these front offices oversaw roster overhauls with the goal of immediately vaulting into postseason contention.
They're both viable candidates worth dissecting, but fans might not like the final projections.
Chicago White Sox
After bumbling through a 73-89 season, the Chicago White Sox retooled their entire roster to make a run at the American League Central crown.
| 1B/DH | Adam LaRoche | .259/.362/.455, 26 HR |
| OF | Melky Cabrera | .301/.351/.458, 16 HR |
| SP | Jeff Samardzija | 2.99 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 1.8 BB/9 |
| RP | David Robertson | 3.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 13.4 K/9 |
| RP | Zach Duke | 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 11.4 K/9 |
Last year, the offense ranked eighth in slugging percentage (.398) behind breakout star Jose Abreu but 20th in on-base percentage (.310). Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche are both above-average bats to nudge them in the right direction, but they especially need a healthy season from Adam Eaton.
Over a brief career often interrupted by injuries, the speedy outfielder has posted a .350 on-base percentage. If the 5'8" spark plug can set the table all year, this offense will soar up the scoring leaderboard.
Working in Chicago's favor, last year's two playoff representatives from the AL Central are both trending downward. The Kansas City Royals lost James Shields, and the Detroit Tigers are watching their veterans corrode as Max Scherzer skipped town.
Their biggest threat lies in the Cleveland Indians, who acquired Brandon Moss for pennies and can look forward to bounce-back campaigns from Jason Kipnis and Danny Salazar. Of course, they'll need Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco to sustain their breakout performances.
Chicago's biggest wild card is Carlos Rodon. Last year's No. 3 amateur draft pick has looked sharp early in spring and is confident he can make an immediate impact on the big league roster. Per MLB's Twitter page:
He may have to, as Chris Sale could miss Opening Day after fracturing his foot while unloading his truck. Since the ace shouldn't miss significant time, the White Sox still qualify as contenders.
Chicago is awfully close to snapping out of a six-year playoff funk but still lacks pitching depth to round out a top-heavy rotation and bullpen. Unless Rodon enthralls from the get-go, the club will fall shy of Cleveland for the division crown.
Predicted Finish: 85-77 (Second in AL Central)
San Diego Padres
Don't be shocked if the San Diego Padres prove to be more style than substance.
A year after ranking last in every notable offensive category, the Padres acquired not one, not two but three glossy new outfielders in Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers.
Yasmani Grandal, who went to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Kemp trade, led the team with 15 home runs last year. There's no doubt the offense will improve, because it's nearly impossible for any lineup to perform worse.
Kemp sure sounds confident in the new group's prowess, per MLB's Twitter account:
Unfortunately, the unit's defense will eat into its offensive offerings. Myers contributed minus-7.0 Defensive Runs Saved in left field in limited time last season and will likely be forced to patrol center.
Graded as last year's worst defensive outfielder with a minus-23 DRS, Kemp's defensive utility looks far worse when extending the sample's starting point to 2010.
| Matt Kemp | -84 |
| Melvin Upton Jr. | -35 |
| Alfonso Soriano | -34 |
| Shin-Soo Choo | -34 |
| Dexter Fowler | -34 |
And what about the infield? Whereas most clubs derive significant power from first base, San Diego rolls with Yonder Alonso, who hit an underwhelming .240/.285/.397 last season. Will Middlebrooks and his .284 career on-base percentage won't offer much of an upgrade at third, either.
Outfield acquisitions aside, pitching is still the team's strength. Although signing a heavily worked, 33-year-old starter with diminishing velocity and strikeout numbers screams trouble down the road, James Shields will temporarily fend off steep regression inside the pitcher-friendly Petco Park.
Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy and Andrew Cashner round out a strong rotation, but Cashner was limited to 19 starts last year and has yet to throw over 175 innings in a season. That unit can't just be good; it will have to carry a work-in-progress offense and putrid defense to meet lofty expectations.
It's all about perspective. While the Padres can achieve their first winning season since 2010, they certainly won't best the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. Instead, expect a low-80s win total, which doesn't rule them out of a wide-open hunt for one of two wild-card bids.
Predicted Finish: 83-79 (Second in NL West)
Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs.
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