So I'm going to go over my 2018 MLB preseason predictions below. I feel like I was spot on in more places than I expected considering it was my first year doing it.
Here I'm going to put my prediction in () next to the actual record of the team in bold.
Phillies: (89-73) 81-81
Mets: (88-74) 86-76
Nationals: (87-75) 93-69
Braves: (80-82) 97-65
Marlins: (65-97) 57-105
Cardinals: (97-65) 91-71
Brewers: (85-77) 89-73
Reds: (78-84) 75-87
Cubs: (73-89) 84-78
Pirates: (69-93) 69-93
Dodgers: (94-68) 106-56
Padres: (92-70) 70-92
Rockies: (84-78) 71-91
Diamondbacks: (72-90) 85-77
Giants: (71-91) 77-85
Yankees: (99-63) 103-59
Red Sox: (94-68) 84-78
Blue Jays: (76-86) 67-95
Rays: (75-87) 96-66
Orioles: (60-102) 54-108
Indians: (94-68) 93-69
Twins: (86-76) 101-61
White Sox: (77-85) 72-89
Royals: (72-90) 59-103
Tigers: (69-93) 47-114
Astros: (98-64) 107-55
Mariners: (85-77) 68-94
Athletics: (80-82) 97-65
Angles: (73-89) 72-90
Rangers: (68-94) 78-84
The below is the playoff status of the my preseason picks. I had the Yankees and the Cardinals in the World Series so I was about 3 games away from that becoming a reality.
Phillies: Incorrect
Mets: Incorrect
Cardinals: Correct
Dodgers: Correct
Padres: Incorrect
Yankees: Correct
Red Sox: Incorrect
Indians: Incorrect
Twins: Correct
Astros: Correct
The below are my bold predictions for the year which went semi-shittily. I can do better next year.
1. Billy Hamilton is the steals leader in the MLB with 52.5 steals. He had 22, that’s a no from me dawg.
2. Blackmon will be back and will be a way better value than his adp at 25.8. Blackmon finished at 32 per Yahoo so it was not true but he had a good year.
3. Kris Bryant is he who we think he is? He breaks out this year (again) hits 40 HR at least a .295 average and has over 100 RBI. Bryant had 31HR, .282BA and 77RBI so while having an O.K. year he didn’t nearly get back what he used to be. I still have faith Bryant can get back there as he’s only 27.
4. The Phillies lineup will provide the most top 12 talents at each position. I didn't actually look up this stat but I think it’s safe to say this was wrong.
5. Miggy and Donaldson will provide accurate value for where they are drafted (153.60 & 90.40). Donaldson absolutely returned value (37HR, 96R, 94RBI) and Miggy was probably only alright in OBP leagues.
6. Tatis & Jimenez and at least one other rookie will provide better value than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It was close for Jimenez and Tatis was doing real well until he got hurt. But there were certainly more valuable rookies this year.
7. Catcher is actually 8 players deep but won't be 9-12 (Gary Sanchez,Yasmani Grandal,Willson Contreras, Buster Posey , Yadier Molina, Wilson Ramos,Francisco Cervelli, Danny Jansen and Jorge Alfaro). I’m counting Sanchez, Ramos, Grandal, Contreras.
8. Jacob DeGrom wins at least 15 games. Got 11 but won CY Young, cool with that outcome.
9. Bryce Harper finishes as either the 1st or 2nd best OF in roto leagues this year. He was 35th overall so not close but he had a semi bounce back year.
I’ve got my accolades below for this year. I really thought Grandal was going to win the catcher silver slugger. I’m just going to mark the correct ones in bold below.
AL MVP: Mike Trout
NL MVP: Nolan Arrenado
AL Cy Young: Chris Sale
NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard
AL Rookie of the Year: Eloy Jimenez
NL Rookie of the Year: Pete Alonso
AL Manager of the Year: Scott Servais
NL Manager of the Year: Mike Shildt
AL Reliever of the Year: Roberto Osuna
NL Reliever of the Year: Kenley Jansen
AL Silver Slugger (Catcher): Gary Sanchez
NL Silver Slugger (Catcher): Yasmani Grandal
AL Silver Slugger (1B): Matt Olson
NL Silver Slugger (1B): Paul Goldschmidt
AL Silver Slugger (2B): Jose Altuve
NL Silver Slugger (2B): Daniel Murphy
AL Silver Slugger (SS): Xander Bogaerts
NL Silver Slugger (SS): Alex Bregman
AL Silver Slugger (3B): Jose Ramirez
NL Silver Slugger (3B): Nolan Arenado
AL Silver Slugger (OF): Mike Trout
AL Silver Slugger (OF): Aaron Judge
AL Silver Slugger (OF): George Springer
NL Silver Slugger (OF): Bryce Harper
NL Silver Slugger (OF): Ronald Acuna Jr.
NL Silver Slugger (OF): Charlie Blackmon
AL Silver Slugger (DH): Khris Davis
NL Silver Slugger (P): Jacob DeGrom
AL Comback Player: Carlos Correa
NL Comeback Player: Bryce Harper
Finally we have my busts and breakouts for the year. Going first is my breakout hitters. The first number is their ADP the second is where they finished at the end of the year.
Joey Votto (52.4) (461) NO
Edwin Encarnacion (115.0) (163) Meh
Cody Bellinger (40.8) (5) YES
Daniel Murphy (68.4) (394) NO
Yoan Moncada (164.8) (68) YES
Jean Segura (62.2) (258) NO
Paul DeJong (172.8) (162) YES
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (240.4) (468) NO
Rafael Devers (141.6) (6) YES
Mike Moustakas (139.4) (130) YES
David Dahl (95.2) (270) Noish
Eloy Jimenez (114.8) (186) Maybe
Mallex Smith (114.4) 330 46 steals
Billy Hamilton (156.2) (1065) NO
Andrew McCutchen (131.8) Injured
Pitchers were separate and I’ve outlined them below.
Brad Hand (82.8) (87) YES
Sean Doolittle (101.8) (136) Noish
Ken Giles (141.0) (91) YES
Cody Allen (159.2) (793) NO
Noah Syndergaard (36.4) (179) NO
Stephen Strasburg (56.0) (16) YES
Shane Bieber (147.8) (23) YES
Mike Clevinger (57.8) (47) YES
Robbie Ray (118.4) (172) Meh
Yu Darvish (143.4) (111) YES
It gets a lot worse with my busts for the year, which is opposite of the norm for me.
Javier Baez (18.2) (75) YES
Juan Soto (31.0) (22) NO
Francisco Lindor (14.2) (41) Ish
Matt Carpenter (63.2) (927) YES
J.D. Martinez (5.0) (30) Noish
Jonathan Villar (97.2) (26) NO
A.J. Pollock (93.0) (771) Injured
Yasiel Puig (79.8) (107) Nosih
Eddie Rosario (82.0) (65) NO
Trevor Story (20.2) (15) NO
Miguel Andujar (81.6) Injured
The pitching is very miss or hit or miss in that order.
Justin Verlander (21.2) (1) LOL
Walker Buehler (40.6) (34) NO
James Paxton (51.6) (107) YES
Blake Snell (27.8) (257) YES
Edwin Diaz (51.0) (253) YES
Blake Treinen (62.0) (335) YES
Felipe Vazquez (89.0) (58) NO
Raisel Iglesias (124.6) (124) NO
Jacob deGrom (11.4) (8) NO
Charlie Morton (115.6) (24) NO
That’s a wrap and I’ll be doing the same next year and for my football predictions.