Five BOLD Predictions for the 2016 MLB Season

Well Opening Day is today and I couldn’t be more excited.  It’s honestly the worst when such a fantastic spectacle like playoff baseball has to end so suddenly and leave people in the dark for the next five months.   Especially since the 2015 MLB postseason was one for the books.  Now as we look forward to 2016 there are obviously a lot of story lines to follow, some crazier than others.  What I wanted to do here was just have a little fun and look at five slightly possible, but highly improbable things that could happen in 2016. But probably not.  So here it is, the bold (and I mean bold) predictions blog for the 2016 MLB season. Enjoy.

1. Josh Donaldson wins the American League Triple Crown.

(Ben Margot/Associated Press)

It hasn’t been done since 2012.  Before that it hadn’t been done since 1967.  But how can I put it past someone on such an offensively charged lineup as the Toronto Blue Jays? During his MVP season last year, Donaldson led the AL in RBI’s while finishing tied for third in home runs and just falling outside the top ten in batting average.  Not to mention leading in both total runs and total bases while finishing second in slugging.  With the Jays having such an offensive force, Donaldson could continue his massive production in 2016 and come out on top in all three triple crown categories.

2. The Chicago Cubs don’t win the NL Central. 

(Chicago Cubs)

This is almost too incredible to talk about but I feel like it’s necessary. Have the Cubs suddenly gone from underrated to overhyped?  You would think not, and personally I don’t have an answer but a team this young and this good has not been in this kind of position in a while.  Last year the Cubs pieced together a season unlike anything many of us had ever seen, fueled by a very young and talented (and HEALTHY) group of guys.  And this year they still have their core players along with a strengthened rotation. But now everyone is picking them to win the division, and we can’t be so sure of how they’ll react this season.  Don’t forget, the team hasn’t won a pennant in over 70 years and to throw such high expectations all of a sudden on a team that's thrived off of being the underdog may prove to negatively affect them. We’ll see.

3. Giancarlo Stanton hits 60 home runs.

(Charles LeClaire, USA Today Sports)

The guy can rake and we all know it.  And when he’s healthy, good Lord.  The steroid era has been safely left in the rearview so the days of 65-70 home run seasons (sadly) are extinct.   But go back to last year, when Stanton suffered a broken hand on June 29 that pretty much ended his season.  Up to that point he had already mashed 27 home runs...in just 74 games.  Now that he’s ready to play this season he should be eager to do what he does best: light up pitchers.  If he stays healthy, Stanton is capable of reaching the 60-home run mark, something that hasn’t been done since Barry Bonds set the single season record of 73 in 2001.

4. The Cleveland Indians win the AL Central. 

(Peter Aiken, Custom)

While their offense is by no means up to par with Kansas City, especially since Michael Brantley will start the season on the DL, their rotation will prove to be their most valuable asset.  Last season Corey Kluber backed up his 2014 Cy Young campaign by finishing third in the AL in strikeouts, fourth in strikeouts per nine innings, and first in complete games.  His 9-16 record was not indicative of how well he pitched last season.  Following Kluber will be Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, two very good and very capable arms.  Corrasco averaged over 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 2015 and finished fifth in total strikeouts.  Salazar pieced together a steady 14 wins in his first full season in the MLB.  When Brantley comes back, he will add to an already dynamic top of the lineup in Jason Kipnis and Francisco Lindor, with Carlos Santana offering protection from the cleanup spot.  Additions of Mike Napoli and Juan Uribe will help make the club balanced and poised to give Kansas City a run this year.

5. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fire Mike Scioscia.

(Kevin Sullivan)

Has there been a bigger bust in all of baseball over the last five years or so?  The Angels were STACKED back in 2012 but failed to make the playoffs.  Some of the names on that 2012 team? Oh just Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, Howie Kendrick, Zack Greinke, Garret Richards, and CJ Wilson. To name a few.  One division title, also the only playoff appearance (in which they were swept), since 2009 should make Angels fans pretty restless considering the AL West, until recently, was a fairly weak division.  Being a large market team, the Angels have no hesitation spending big money but Scioscia’s recent inability to consistently find the postseason with that money might send him packing.

While these scenarios are interesting to think about, at least in my opinion, they are still pretty unlikely.  You may disagree with some or even all of them.  Hell, even I disagree with some! Like I said before though, this blog was just meant to have some fun with some situations before the season got underway.  Who knows? Maybe one or two of them may happen.  Enjoy the 2016 season.  Baseball is back. It’s about freakin’ time.