It's that time of year again--that blissful period when prognosticators across the land put forth columns offering predictions about the upcoming baseball season. Given the nature of sports and John Sterling's favorite phrase unrelated to Jayson Nix, it's a fruitless exercise, but it's generally still fun to do anyway, if not only for bragging rights. A solid portion of the Pinstripe Alley writing staff contributed to my prediction queries during spring training, and now, just a day away from the first meaningful Yankees baseball in almost half a year, here they are. It's definitely an exciting time.
Below are the predictions I requested and the staff's answers. Are we crazy? Are we channeling Nostradamus? Let us know! (Keep in mind that some staff members made their predictions before numerous injuries occurred during the second half of spring training.)
More importantly, I highly encourage you to make your own predictions and see if you can beat us!
1) 2014 AL standings:
AL East |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Tanya |
Yankees |
Rays |
Red Sox |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Jason |
Red Sox |
Yankees |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Andrew |
Rays |
Yankees |
Red Sox |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Caitlin |
Red Sox |
Yankees |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Greg |
Yankees |
Rays |
Orioles |
Red Sox |
Blue Jays |
Provenzano |
Red Sox |
Rays |
Yankees |
Blue Jays |
Orioles |
Michael |
Red Sox |
Yankees |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Ferenchick |
Yankees |
Red Sox |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Jesse |
Red Sox |
Rays |
Yankees |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Harlan |
Rays |
Yankees |
Red Sox |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
John |
Rays |
Yankees |
Red Sox |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Derek |
Red Sox |
Rays |
Yankees |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Scott |
Red Sox |
Yankees |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Chris |
Rays |
Red Sox |
Yankees |
Blue Jays |
Orioles |
Jim |
Yankees |
Red Sox |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
Consensus |
Red Sox |
Yankees |
Rays |
Orioles |
Blue Jays |
AL Central |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Tanya |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins |
Jason |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
Twins |
White Sox |
Andrew |
Tigers |
Royals |
Twins |
Indians |
White Sox |
Caitlin |
Tigers |
Indians |
Royals |
White Sox |
Twins |
Greg |
Royals |
Tigers |
Indians |
Twins |
White Sox |
Provenzano |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins |
Michael |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
Twins |
White Sox |
Ferenchick |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins |
Jesse |
Tigers |
Indians |
Royals |
Twins |
White Sox |
Harlan |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
Twins |
White Sox |
John |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins |
Derek |
Tigers |
Indians |
Royals |
White Sox |
Twins |
Scott |
Tigers |
Indians |
Royals |
Twins |
White Sox |
Chris |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins |
Jim |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins |
Consensus |
Tigers |
Royals |
Indians |
White Sox |
Twins
|
AL West |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Tanya |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Jason |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Andrew |
A's |
Angels |
Rangers |
Mariners |
Astros |
Caitlin |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Greg |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Provenzano |
A's |
Angels |
Rangers |
Mariners |
Astros |
Michael |
Rangers |
A's |
Mariners |
Angels |
Astros |
Ferenchick |
Rangers |
A's |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Jesse |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Harlan |
Rangers |
Angels |
A's |
Mariners |
Astros |
John |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Derek |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Scott |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Chris |
A's |
Angels |
Rangers |
Mariners |
Astros |
Jim |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
Consensus |
A's |
Rangers |
Angels |
Mariners |
Astros |
2) 2014 NL standings
NL East |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Tanya |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Jason |
Braves |
Nationals |
Phillies |
Mets |
Marlins |
Andrew |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Caitlin |
Nationals |
Braves |
Phillies |
Mets |
Marlins |
Greg |
Nationals |
Braves |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Mets |
Provenzano |
Nationals |
Braves |
Phillies |
Mets |
Marlins |
Michael |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Ferenchick |
Nationals |
Braves |
Phillies |
Mets |
Marlins |
Jesse |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Marlins |
Phillies |
Harlan |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
John |
Nationals |
Braves |
Marlins |
Phillies |
Mets |
Derek |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Scott |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Chris |
Nationals |
Braves |
Phillies |
Mets |
Marlins |
Jim |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
Consensus |
Nationals |
Braves |
Mets |
Phillies |
Marlins |
NL Central |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Tanya |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Pirates |
Cubs |
Brewers |
Jason |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Cubs |
Brewers |
Andrew |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Cubs |
Brewers |
Caitlin |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Greg |
Pirates |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Provenzano |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Pirates |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Michael |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Ferenchick |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Pirates |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Jesse |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Pirates |
Cubs |
Brewers |
Harlan |
Reds |
Cardinals |
Brewers |
Pirates |
Cubs |
John |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Cubs |
Brewers |
Derek |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Pirates |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Scott |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Chris |
Cardinals |
Pirates |
Reds |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Jim |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Priates |
Brewers |
Cubs |
Consensus |
Cardinals |
Reds |
Pirates |
Brewers |
Cubs |
NL West |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
5th |
Tanya |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Giants |
Padres |
Rockies |
Jason |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Rockies |
Andrew |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Diamondbacks |
Rockies |
Padres |
Caitlin |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Rockies |
Giants |
Greg |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Diamondbacks |
Rockers |
Padres |
Provenzano |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Giants |
Rockies |
Michael |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Giants |
Rockies |
Ferenchick |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Rockies |
Jesse |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Padres |
Diamondbacks |
Rockies |
Harlan |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Rockies |
John |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Rockies |
Giants |
Derek |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Giants |
Rockies |
Scott |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Diamondbacks |
Padres |
Rockies |
Chris |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Padres |
Diamondbacks |
Rockies |
Jim |
Dodgers |
Giants |
Padres |
Diamondbacks |
Rockies |
Consensus |
Dodgers |
Diamondbacks |
Giants |
Padres |
Rockies |
3) Tanaka ERA, D-Rob Sv, McCann/Beltran HR, Gardner/Ellsbury SB, and Jeter G
NYY Misc. |
Tanaka ERA |
D-Rob Sv |
McCann HR |
Beltran HR |
Gardner SB |
Ellsbury SB |
Jeter G |
Tanya |
3.21 |
42 |
31 |
23 |
36 |
53 |
99 |
Jason |
3.15 |
35 |
26 |
21 |
29 |
35 |
120 |
Andrew |
3.56 |
37 |
23 |
30 |
35 |
38 |
125 |
Caitlin |
3.33 |
34 |
27 |
23 |
38 |
47 |
130 |
Greg |
3.16 |
47 |
29 |
31 |
47 |
51 |
131 |
Provenzano |
3.40 |
35 |
30 |
25 |
35 |
45 |
100 |
Michael |
3.51 |
38 |
28 |
35 |
32 |
54 |
115 |
Ferenchick |
3.49 |
40 |
29 |
20 |
38 |
49 |
120 |
Jesse |
3.70 |
45 |
29 |
22 |
40 |
55 |
110 |
Harlan |
3.28 |
40 |
24 |
26 |
25 |
37 |
95 |
John |
3.80 |
32 |
23 |
29 |
34 |
42 |
125 |
Derek |
3.20 |
35 |
25 |
25 |
30 |
50 |
120 |
Scott |
3.55 |
42 |
26 |
30 |
30 |
45 |
120 |
Chris |
3.09 |
40 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
40 |
89 |
Jim |
3.91 |
38 |
25 |
20 |
31 |
39 |
97 |
Average |
3.42 |
39 |
27 |
26 |
34 |
45 |
113 |
4) Yankee leaders: AVG, HR, ERA, and WAR
NYY leaders |
AVG |
HR |
ERA |
WAR |
Tanya |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Jason |
Carlos Beltran |
Brian McCann |
Hiroki Kuroda |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Andrew |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Carlos Beltran |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Caitlin |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Greg |
Brian McCann |
Carlos Beltran |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Provenzano |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Michael |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Carlos Beltran |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Ferenchick |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Hiroki Kuroda |
Brian McCann |
Jesse |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Harlan |
Carlos Beltran |
Mark Teixeira |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
John |
Derek Jeter |
Carlos Beltran |
Ivan Nova |
Hiroki Kuroda |
Derek |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Scott |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Carlos Beltran |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Chris |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Carlos Beltran |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Jim |
Carlos Beltran |
Alfonso Soriano |
CC Sabathia |
Brian McCann |
Consensus |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
Brian McCann |
Ivan Nova |
Jacoby Ellsbury |
5) MLB leaders: AVG, HR, ERA, and WAR
MLB leaders |
AVG |
HR |
ERA |
WAR |
Tanya |
Miguel Cabrera |
Chris Davis |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Jason |
Mike Trout |
Miguel Cabrera |
Jose Fernandez |
Mike Trout |
Andrew |
Joe Mauer |
Miguel Cabrera |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Caitlin |
Miguel Cabrera |
Chris Davis |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Greg |
Mike Trout |
Miguel Cabrera |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Provenzano |
Mike Trout |
Chris Davis |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Michael |
Miguel Cabrera |
Giancarlo Stanton |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Ferenchick |
Miguel Cabrera |
Chris Davis |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Jesse |
Miguel Cabrera |
Miguel Cabrera |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Harlan |
Joey Votto |
Giancarlo Stanton |
Stephen Strasburg |
Mike Trout |
John |
Miguel Cabrera |
Paul Goldschmidt |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Derek |
Miguel Cabrera |
Chris Davis |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Scott |
Miguel Cabrera |
Miguel Cabrera |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Chris |
Miguel Cabrera |
Chris Davis |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Jim |
Miguel Cabrera |
Miguel Cabrera |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
Consensus |
Miguel Cabrera |
Davis-Cabrera |
Clayton Kershaw |
Mike Trout |
6) Most team wins & losses, first manager fired
MLB Misc. |
Most team wins |
Most team losses |
1st manager fired |
Tanya |
Cardinals (97) |
Astros (101) |
Ned Yost (KC) |
Jason |
Tigers (98) |
Astros (90) |
Mike Scioscia (LAA) |
Andrew |
Nationals (97) |
Astros (95) |
John Gibbons (TOR) |
Caitlin |
Tigers (97) |
Astros (102) |
Ron Gardenhire (MIN) |
Greg |
Yankees (102) |
Astros (113) |
Ned Yost (KC) |
Provenzano |
Dodgers (99) |
Astros (97) |
Ryne Sandberg (PHI) |
Michael |
Dodgers (97) |
Marlins (99) |
Mike Scioscia (LAA) |
Ferenchick |
Dodgers (100) |
Marlins (101) |
Ned Yost (KC) |
Jesse |
Cardinals (97) |
Astros (100) |
Ned Yost (KC) |
Harlan |
Nationals (97) |
Astros (103) |
John Gibbons (TOR) |
John |
Cardinals (96) |
Astros (108) |
Bruce Bochy (SF) |
Derek |
Nationals (95) |
Astros (96) |
John Gibbons (TOR) |
Scott |
Dodgers (96) |
Astros (100) |
John Gibbons (TOR) |
Chris |
Dodgers (95) |
Astros (94) |
John Gibbons (TOR) |
Jim |
Dodgers (96) |
Astros (100) |
Ryne Sandberg (PHI) |
Consensus |
Dodgers (97) |
Astros (100) |
John Gibbons (TOR) |
7) MLB Awards
AL Awards |
Rookie of the Year |
Cy Young Award |
MVP |
Tanya |
Masahiro Tanaka |
David Price |
Mike Trout |
Jason |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Chris Sale |
Mike Trout |
Andrew |
Nick Castellanos |
Yu Darvish |
Mike Trout |
Caitlin |
Jose Abreu |
Max Scherzer |
Miguel Cabrera |
Greg |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Mike Trout |
Provenzano |
Xander Bogaerts |
Chris Sale |
Mike Trout |
Michael |
Xander Bogaerts |
Felix Hernandez |
Mike Trout |
Ferenchick |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Yu Darvish |
Mike Trout |
Jesse |
Xander Bogaerts |
Yu Darvish |
Miguel Cabrera |
Harlan |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Yu Darvish |
Mike Trout |
John |
Taijuan Walker |
Yu Darvish |
Miguel Cabrera |
Derek |
Xander Bogaerts |
Felix Hernandez |
Miguel Cabrera |
Scott |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Yu Darvish |
Mike Trout |
Chris |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Felix Hernandez |
Mike Trout |
Jim |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Yu Darvish |
Mike Trout |
Consensus |
Masahiro Tanaka |
Yu Darvish |
Mike Trout |
NL Awards |
Rookie of the Year |
Cy Young Award |
MVP |
Tanya |
Javier Baez |
Jose Fernandez |
Yadier Molina |
Jason |
Oscar Tavares |
Jose Fernandez |
Carlos Gomez |
Andrew |
Chris Owings |
Clayton Kershaw |
Bryce Harper |
Caitlin |
Oscar Tavares |
Clayton Kershaw |
Yadier Molina |
Greg |
Javier Baez |
Clayton Kershaw |
Andrew McCutchen |
Provenzano |
Archie Bradley
|
Jose Fernandez |
Bryce Harper |
Michael |
Billy Hamilton
|
Clayton Kershaw |
Hanley Ramirez |
Ferenchick |
Oscar Tavares |
Clayton Kershaw |
Hanley Ramirez |
Jesse |
Javier Baez |
Clayton Kershaw |
Bryce Harper |
Harlan |
Archie Bradley |
Stephen Strasburg |
Joey Votto |
John |
Archie Bradley |
Clayton Kershaw |
Yadier Molina |
Derek |
Archie Bradley |
Clayton Kershaw |
Andrew McCutchen |
Scott |
Oscar Tavares |
Clayton Kershaw |
Bryce Harper |
Chris |
Javier Baez |
Clayton Kershaw |
Andrew McCutchen |
Jim |
Oscar Tavares
|
Stephen Strasburg |
Buster Posey |
Consensus |
Oscar Tavares |
Clayton Kershaw |
Bryce Harper |
8. PLAYOFFS?!
(Hyphen means the vote was split.)
Playoffs |
ALWC |
NLWC |
ALCS |
NLCS |
WS |
WS Champ |
Tanya |
Rays/Rangers |
Braves/Reds |
Yankees/Rays |
Dodgers/Cardinals |
Dodgers/Yankees |
Dodgers |
Jason |
Yankees/Rangers |
Nationals/Cardinals |
Red Sox/Tigers |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Tigers |
Tigers |
Andrew |
Yankees/Angels |
Braves/Giants |
Yankees/A's |
Cardinals/Nationals |
Nationals/A's |
A's |
Caitlin |
Yankees/Rangers |
Braves/Pirates |
Yankees/Tigers |
Dodgers/Cardinals |
Dodgers/Tigers |
Tigers |
Greg |
Rays/Tigers |
Braves/Cardinals |
Yankees/A's |
Dodgers/Pirates |
Pirates/Yankees |
Yankees |
Provenzano |
Yankees/Rays |
Braves/Reds |
Red Sox/Tigers |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Tigers |
Dodgers |
Michael |
Yankees/A's |
Pirates/Reds |
Yankees/Red Sox |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Yankees |
Dodgers |
Ferenchick |
Red Sox/Rays |
Reds/Giants |
Yankees/Tigers |
Dodgers/Cardinals |
Dodgers/Yankees |
Dodgers |
Jesse |
Rays/Yankees |
Giants/Braves |
Red Sox/Tigers |
Cardinals/Nationals |
Cardinals/Tigers |
Cardinals |
Harlan |
Yankees/Angels |
Cardinals/Brewers |
Rangers/Rays |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Nationals/Rays |
Rays |
John |
Yankees/ Rangers |
Braves/Pirates |
Yankees/A's |
Dodgers/Cardinals |
Cardinals/Yankees |
Yankees |
Derek |
Rays/Yankees |
Braves/Reds |
Red Sox/Tigers |
Cardinals/Nationals |
Nationals/Tigers |
Nationals |
Scott |
Yankees/Rangers |
Braves/Giants |
Yankees/Tigers |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Tigers |
Tigers |
Chris |
A's/Red Sox |
Giants/Braves |
Rays/Tigers |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Rays |
Dodgers |
Jim |
Red Sox/Rangers |
Braves/Reds |
Yankees/A's |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Yankees |
Dodgers |
Consensus
|
Yankees/Rays-Rangers |
Braves/Reds |
Yankees/Tigers |
Dodgers/Nationals |
Dodgers/Yankees-Tigers |
Dodgers |