BASEBALL IS BACK!!
Its officially the most wonderful time of the year (until Opening Day, anyway). The Patriots just won the Super Bowl, spring break is right around the corner, and PITCHERS AND CATCHERS HAVE REPORTED! Honestly, I can't wait for baseball to be back. It means feeling like the Sox are going to win the World Series one day, and wondering if they'll finish in last place the next (seriously, though, its stressful). It also means fantasy baseball joy and pain, and Yankee hating. Baseball: I've missed you.
So what does the MLB look like this year? In the National League, there is a few "givens". The Phillies, Braves, Brewers, and Reds will suck. The Cubs and Nationals will be very good. As for the rest of the league, who really knows what it will look like I'm not sure what to make of the Pirates, Cardinals, and Mets; and the same goes for the teams out west. It's going to be interesting for sure. Theres a more detailed MLB preview coming; but for now I'll say my NL playoff teams are the Nationals, Cubs, Giants, Cardinals, and Dodgers.
The American League is a little less confusing. The Red Sox and Indians are clearly the two best teams in the league. Between these two, they have six of the top seven starting pitchers in the AL. I'd be shocked if they don't win their respective divisions. The basement of the AL will likely consist of the Rays, White Sox, and Athletics. As for the rest, its hard to put a finger on it. Edwin Encarnacion's departure from Toronto will hurt them more than people think, especially with Bautista and Tulowitzki past their primes. So I really don't like Toronto. Teams like the Yankees and Astros are young and interesting, and it will be interesting to see what comes of them. Like I said earlier, we'll have a full slate of predictions later on, but for now my AL playoff teams are the Red Sox, Indians, Rangers, Yankees, and Astros.
One thing that can be said for sure, is that the MLB is going to be fun to watch this year. I think (and hope) that the World Series will feature the Red Sox and Cubs. I really hope. But for now, I'm just glad that baseball is back.