2017 NL Central Preview

1. 
   Chicago Cubs - Do I really need to explain this?

Bold prediction: The Cubs will have six players hit 20 or more homers.

Breakout player: Mike Montgomery SP

2. 
   St Louis Cardinals - Like it or not, the Cardinals have as much depth as the Cubs. They also have the talent to not only keep up, but to win the division. Don't expect the St Louis to be railroaded in the Central like they were last year. Dexter Fowler is a great addition.

Bold prediction: The Cardinals make a move for a big bat at the deadline. Perhaps Jose Abreu?

Breakout player: Luke Weaver SP

3. 
   Pittsburgh Pirates - Since the emergence of the Mets and Cubs in the National League, the Pirates have become the odd man out along with the Cardinals. There's plenty there though to remain competitive and get back to the postseason. Andrew McCutcheon needs to bounce back in a big way. Look for the Pirates to deal one of their surplus of outfielders to find more pitching depth.

Bold prediction: McCutcheon and Josh Bell are shipped off for a big arm.

Breakout player: Josh Bell 1B

4. 
   Milwaukee Brewers - The Brewers rebuild is nearly complete. With some terrific pitchers and hitters ready to help them win, it's just not going to be this year. Long year for the Brew Crew but good times are near.

Bold prediction: Ryan Braun moves on to a contender and the Brewers add some more pieces to get them into contention in a few years.

Breakout player: Zach Davies SP

5. 
   Cincinnati Reds - It seems like the Reds are a long ways off. I actually think they are closer than people think. I think they've done a good job of just stockpiling high ceiling guys. The Reds are going to have a long year this year though. You'll start to see some of the guys that should have an impact in the Queen City soon.

Bold prediction: The Reds play spoiler in September and frustrate some teams and their fans.

Breakout player: Jose Peraza 2B

2017 NL East Preview

1. 
   Washington Nationals - From the reigning Cy Young award winner to one of the best young sluggers in the game and perhaps another exciting young shortstop to join a plethora of them across baseball, the Nationals have the look of one of the best teams in baseball. I look for a huge bounce back year from Bryce Harper. The Nationals don't have a very complete lineup but it's exceptional in a lot of places making it very tough.

Bold prediction: Bryce Harper will hit 60 HRs.

Breakout player(s): Trea Turner SS/Joe Ross SP/Koda Glover RP

2. 
   New York Mets - Here's my theory: The 2017 New York Mets will win the world series. Lucas Duda is playing for likely the only payday of his career. Neil Walker is playing for probably his last payday of his career. Same for Jose Reyes and Jay Bruce. It's time for Matt Harvey to start putting together some consistency before he hits the free agent market in a few years. Jacob deGrom looks good in the spring. Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler have a lot to prove. I think there's all the makings of a big season from a lot of Mets and if there's one thing I know, you can bank on guys playing for more money (see what I did there?).

Bold prediction: Was them winning the World Series not bold enough? Here's one - The Mets have three pitchers in the top 5 of the Cy Young award voting.

Breakout player: Bob Gsellman SP

3. 
   Atlanta Braves - I'm not going to lie, I still have no idea what the Braves are doing but good grief do they have an impressive collection of young arms and Bartolo Colon. It's not the flashiest lineup but it should be good enough to give the Nationals and Mets a run for their money atop the division.

Bold prediction: The Braves keep themselves in the pennant race enough to make a few deadline moves. For fun I'm going to predict they add Evan Longoria near the deadline.

4. 
   Miami Marlins - If you don't feel for the Marlins and what happened to them with Jose Fernandez, you're just cold blooded. It'll be hard not to root for the Fish this year and while they have some great players, I just don't think the Fish have enough pitching to keep up in the pitching rich NL East. I think people finally saw how good Christian Yelich is during the WBC.

Bold prediction: Giancarlo Stanton engages Bryce Harper in a Mark McGwire/Sammy Sosa like home run showdown.

Breakout player: JT Realmuto C

5. 
   Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies, like the Braves have a really good collection of young pitchers. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility the Braves, Marlins and Phillies each finish at .500 or close to it. Philadelphia has something special brewing and if their collection of young arms start to contribute, the bandwagon is going to start to fill up fast.

Bold prediction: Philadelphia will get the nod to host the 2019 All Star 🌟 game, making the NL the host for the fifth time in six years.

Breakout player: Odubel Herrera OF

2017 AL West Preview

1. 
   Houston Astros - I really love this team. One through nine in this order, there's no breaks. On the surface, the pitching leaves a little to be desired but I think there's enough there to win the division and I think that's what they do.

Bold prediction: We find out Yuli Guriel needs more seasoning, AJ Reed forces Houston to find another position for Guriel, which may not be possible given the depth the organization has.

Breakout player: Joe Musgrove SP

2. 
   Seattle Mariners - I've never been one to go all in with Seattle. If ever there was a year to do it, this would be the one and I'm just not going to fall into that trap. This team is going to score a lot of runs and they should pitch really well. But I'm not going to fall for the perpetual tease that is the Seattle Mariners. Don't @ me.

Bold prediction: The Ms play in the highest scoring American League Wild Card game to date.

Breakout player: Mitch Haniger OF

3. 
   Texas Rangers - In my opinion, the Rangers sold the cattle and livestock of the operation and now they're left with enough assets to look pretty from the highway but it's all downhill from there. They've got some nice pieces but I'm not sold they have enough to get back to the playoffs. Just too many questions for me. Back end of the rotation. Corner outfield spots. Bullpen is a huge question in my mind.

Bold prediction: Carlos Gomez returns to being a 20/20 player is the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year.

Breakout player: Tanner Scheppers RP

4. 
   Oakland Athletics - There's a lot to like about the A’s. In my mind, the team they start the year with will look vastly different than the one they end the year with. There's lots of young talent coming and it should give Oakland fans a lot of optimism, but I'm not optimistic they have enough to win now.

Bold prediction: Sean Manea emerges as one of the top young pitchers in the game and wins at least 16 games.

Breakout player: Ryon Healy 3B/DH

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5. 
   Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Give Mike Trout a lot of credit. He is committing to a real dumpster fire on the west coast. No farm system. A pitching staff of who's who to go through the offices of Dr James Andrews. And an offense that tops the AARP list of highest earners. The Angels will not only be the West's cellar dwellers for years, but the American League and baseball’s.

Bold prediction: Not even the sympathy vote is enough to win Trout the MVP this year. It's not a popular opinion or even likely, but the Angels need to trade him and get lots and lots of prospects.

Breakout player: If I have to pick one, CJ Cron 1B/DH

2017 AL Central Preview

1. 
   Cleveland Indians - Perhaps the best pitching staff in all the American League, if not baseball, the Tribe is in great position to maintain their claim as AL champs. Corey Kluber is going to deliver but to me, the key for Cleveland is what they get out of Danny Salazar and Carlos Carasco. If they can get 25-30 starts from each, there's no reason the Indians shouldn't get back to the World Series.
   

2017 AL East Preview

1. 
   Boston Red Sox - A loaded lineup from top to bottom, the Red Sox boast the game's top prospect, the offseason’s biggest splash, and one of the game's best young players. It's hard not to see the Red Sox winning the AL East.