MLB preseason predictions are fun but ultimately, completely meaningless. No one is going to remember (or care) if you picked the Astros to win the AL West, or if you have the Nationals winning the World Series.
As I pointed out back in October, our staff’s predictions for the 2015 season were generally awful. Our playoff predictions at the beginning of October were woeful (only one of us had either the Royals *or* Mets winning the pennant). The bold predictions we made last year also fell flat, and the HOT TAKE predictions I made this year will likely end up just as terrible.
That being said, everyone loves predictions, so here are our staff’s predictions for the 2016 season. Feel free to laugh at us and call us names in six months.
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In summary…
- The only AL team all of us picked to make the playoffs is the Astros (six division, one Wild Card)
- Six of us have the Rangers in the playoffs
- Five of us picked the Blue Jays and Royals to make the playoffs
- We still don’t know what to make of the Indians, as only four of us have them as a playoff team
- Their offseason revamps didn’t sell us – only three of us have the Red Sox and Rays reaching the Postseason, and only two picked the White Sox
- Over in the National League, all seven of us have the Cubs winning the NL Central
- Five of us have the reigning NL champion Mets and the long-time NL Central kingpin Cardinals back in the playoffs
- Also, it’s an even year, and five of us have the Giants going back to the Postseason
- The Nationals and Dodgers were picked by four writers to reach the playoffs
- Three of us liked the Pirates to head back to the playoffs, and just two of us like the Diamondbacks this season
As for the playoffs, it’s scattered – four of us have the Astros in the American League, two have the Jays, and one has the Indians. In the NL, the split is the same – four for the Cubs, two for the Giants, and one for the Mets.
In terms of individual awards, it’s largely a mixed bag. Six of our seven writers (myself excluded) have Corey Seager winning the NL Rookie of the Year. Five of us have Byron Buxton as the AL Rookie of the Year. Mike Trout and Chris Sale are favored for the AL MVP and Cy Young awards with three votes each, while Anthony Rizzo leads the NL MVP field with three.
As for the NL Cy Young, three Mets starters received votes – but only Matt Harvey and Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers picked up more than one vote, with each grabbing a pair.
Enjoy the season, everyone!
