2017 Season Predictions Post: Mevs

This is one of the longest predictions of Diamond Hoggers. Every year, right on time; we show up and tell you how the season to come is going to play out right on the eve of it all beginning. You can check out my 2016 season predictions post – I nailed some stuff – how about telling you the Cubbies would win it all in seven; in one of the most legendary World Series’ ever? Nailed it. I missed very badly on a lot of other things I felt pretty sure about however. So allow me to kick off this series by telling you what’s going to happen in 2017. I promise, this will be the most accurate season predictions post EVER.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

EAST
1. Boston Red Sox
2. Toronto Blue Jays*
3. Boston Orioles
4. New York Yankees
5. Tampa Bay Rays

CENTRAL
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Kansas City Royals
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota Twins

WEST
1. Houston Astros
2. Anaheim Angels*
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Oakland Athletics

NATIONAL LEAGUE

EAST
1. Washington Nationals
2. New York Mets
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Miami Marlins

CENTRAL
1. Chicago Cubs
2. St. Louis Cardinals*
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. Cincinnati Reds

WEST
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants*
3. Colorado Rockies
4. Arizona DiamondBacks
5. San Diego Padres

*Wild Card teams

PLAYOFFS

Wild Card Games:
Toronto Blue Jays over Anaheim Angels
St. Louis Cardinals over San Francisco Giants

Division Series:
Boston Red Sox over Toronto Blue Jays
Houston Astros over Cleveland Indians
Los Angeles Dodgers over Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs over St. Louis Cardinals

ALCS / NLCS:
Boston Red Sox over Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago Cubs

World Series:
Boston Red Sox over Los Angeles Dodgers

AL MVP
1. Mookie Betts
2. Mike Trout
3. Carlos Correa

NL MVP
1. Kris Bryant
2. Trea Turner
3. Nolan Arenado

AL CY YOUNG
1. Corey Kluber
2. Chris Sale
3. Kevin Gausman

NL CY YOUNG
1. Stephen Strasburg
2. Clayton Kershaw
3. Noah Syndergaard

AL Rookie of the Year
1. Jharel Cotton
2. Andrew Benintendi
3. Yoan Moncada

NL Rookie of the Year
1. Robert Gsellman
2. Dansby Swanson
3. Hunter Renfroe

AL Comeback Player of the Year
1. Mike Moustakas
2. Michael Brantley
3. Matt Holliday

NL Comeback Player of the Year
1. Bryce Harper
2. Andrew McCutchen
3. Matt Harvey

AL Bold Predictions

1. Everyone has the Indians going back to the World Series – but not so fast. The Indians are not better on paper than Boston or even Houston. And they won’t make the ALCS. The hangover from last year’s game seven and full series collapse is too great to overcome. The Indians lose the ALDS to the Houston Astros in lifeless fashion; just like their American League opponents did last season so they could reach the World Series.

2. Finally someone enters the conversation for best player in baseball other than Mike Trout. Mookie Betts wins the MVP award by hitting .340+, 20 home runs, 100 RBI, and 40 steals. He wins the batting title. He leads Boston to their pennant they couldn’t get with Big Papi in 2016.

3. However, Trout has his usual Trout season. He hits .300 with 35 homers and 30 steals and leads the Cinderella Angels to the Wildcard by the skin of his teeth, in one of the most heroic efforts of his career. The Angels defense, patchwork rotation, and solid bullpen with a little magic leads them to an unlikely 88 wins.

4. The A’s are made interesting by their rotation. Sean Manea strikes out 195 hitters and Jharel Cotton wins the American League Rookie of the Year.

5. Gary Sanchez hits the same amount of home runs he had last season in twice as many games, sobering the Bronx on the young slugger.

NL Bold Predictions

1. Bryce Harper makes a run at the Triple Crown, but does NOT finish in the top three of MVP voting. He does something that costs him votes with the media, and Trea Turner pulls votes away from him with his own incredible season. Harper does however win the Comeback Player of the Year Award.

2. Kris Bryant repeats as NL MVP, and Corey Seager doesn’t land in the top three. But in a twist of irony, the Dodgers knock off the Cubs in surprising fashion in the NLCS en route to their first World Series since 1988.

3. The bottom falls out of the Miami Marlins in the wake of Jose Fernandez’s death. Their starting rotation is a mess, and a decent season from Giancarlo Stanton needs to be a monster season and isn’t. Dee Gordon continues to be ordinary. Kyle Barraclough ends up on a surgery table. The Marlins enter their sale in an abyss as an organization, sadly.

4. The Colorado Rockies have an upstart, Cinderella effort and lose in a one-game playoff; game 163 of the regular season to send the San Francisco Giants to the Wildcard Playoff game.

5. One of the Mets big four starts (at least one) has Tommy-John Surgery, but the loss hurts a little bit less because Robert Gsellman emerges to win 16 games and strike out over nine hitters per nine innings, winning NL Rookie of the Year.

Other Predictions:
[ESPN – Awards] [ESPN – Team Predictions] [Yahoo] [SI – Awards] [CBS Sports] [USA Today] [SB Nation] [USA Today – For The Win] [Real GM] [NESN – Awards] [Ken Rosenthal] [