Opening Day 2014 Is Here!

Photo Courtesy of: Wikimedia

abrowncoat under CC BY-SA 2.0 License

The wait is finally over!  One of the greatest days in all of sports has arrived!  With that in mind, here is how I see everything playing out as we enjoy what should be a national holiday.

AL East

Tampa Bay Rays: 97-65
Boston Red Sox: 95-67
New York Yankees: 92-70
Baltimore Orioles: 85-77
Toronto Blue Jays: 82-80

The AL East is usually one of the better divisions in baseball year in and year out and this year will be no exception.  Having said that, it will be a three team race down the stretch.  In the end, I think Joe Maddon's bunch will find a way to get it done like they always seem to do.

AL Central

Detroit Tigers: 95-67
Cleveland Indians: 93-69
Kansas City Royals: 90-72
Chicago White Sox: 85-77
Minnesota Twins: 79-83

The AL Central will come down to another three team race.  Will all the money being spent, there should be no reason why the Tigers should be at the top of the division yet again.  Miguel Cabrera will probably be Miguel Cabrera, or something close to that, even though that new contract will be an albatross as the years go by.  The only question marks for the Motor City cats are Brad Ausmus' impact as manager and the shortstop situation with the absence of Jose Iglesias.

AL West

Oakland Athletics: 94-68
Texas Rangers: 92-70
Los Angeles Angels: 87-75
Seattle Mariners: 82-80
Houston Astros: 60-102

I feel like a broken record.  Even though both teams have injury concerns, I can't bet against the Rangers and Athletics to battle it out for the top spot.  If the injured players on the A's and Rangers miss a significant amount of time, then I could possibly see the Angels moving closer to the top.  As was the case the last couple of years, it will come down to the pitching and defense.  Let's just hope that sometime over the next 7 years, Mike Trout will get a taste of the postseason.

NL East

Washington Nationals: 95-67
Atlanta Braves: 91-71
Philadelphia Phillies: 80-82
New York Mets: 75-87
Miami Marlins: 72-90

The Nats are the most complete team in the NL East.  I think new manager Matt Williams will do a great job guiding the squad in 2014.  The Atlanta Braves will still be competitive but the absence of pitchers Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy will make it hard for the Bravos to repeat as division champs.

NL Central

St. Louis Cardinals: 99-63
Pittsburgh Pirates: 97-65
Cincinnati Reds: 90-72
Milwaukee Brewers: 79-83
Chicago Cubs: 69-93

The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates will be the cream of the crop in the NL Central.  Regardless of the final standings at the end of the year, one team will win the division while the other will be a Wild Card.

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers: 96-66
San Francisco Giants: 90-72
San Diego Padres: 83-79
Arizona Diamondbacks: 81-81
Colorado Rockies: 76-86

With the number one payroll in baseball, the boys in blue should be the kings of the NL West.  The only question will be how much time will go by before fans in L.A. can see their beloved Dodgers on television?

Playoffs

AL Wild Card: Red Sox over Indians.

ALDS: Rays over Red Sox in 5, A's over Tigers in 4.

ALCS: Rays over A's in 6.

NL Wild Card: Pirates over Braves.

NLDS: Cardinals over Pirates in 5, Dodgers over Nationals in 4.

NLCS: Cardinals over Dodgers in 7.

World Series: Cardinals over Rays in 7.

Tim Musick
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