2016 MLB Preview

Happy holiday from the ZP: Left Fielder! Today is Opening Day, when 30 teams think they have a chance, and the long winter without baseball comes to an end.

This year, there is even more intrigue, where 15 American League teams think they have a chance at the post-season, while in the NL, powerhouses square off to make it to the promise land. Who will make it to October and who will be left looking from the outside? The ZP: Left Fielder previews the 2016 MLB season:

National League Central:

1. Cubs

This team is stacked. A team coming fresh off an NLCS appearance went out and got a top 3 starter and two big-time free agent hitters. Looking up and down the lineup, it is difficult to figure out who to pitch to. The only thing that could stop the Cubs is expectations, although Joe Maddon will keep them cool under pressure.

2. Pirates (Wild Card)

The Pirates are well on their way to creating a quirky dynasty: playoffs every year, but always at risk for a quick Wild Card exit. McCutchen is as reliable as it gets, and the pitching is deep enough to keep them going strong in the tough NL Central.

3. Cardinals

After three straight years of divisional titles, the Cardinals are looking at the toughest competition yet. They always find a way to stay alive, and they have a stable of young hitters to go toe-to-toe with the Cubs, but they are not nearly where they have been over the past decade. A small step back sees the Cardinals on the outside looking in.

4. Brewers

Milwaukee is in rebuilding mode, and the pieces are in place to see the future as pretty bright. That future isn’t here yet, though, because it will be a long year of losing for the Brew Crew. Young players arriving throughout the summer will give Brewers fans something to look forward to in 2017 and beyond.

5. Reds

The Reds were so bad this past calendar year that they even failed to sell off their resources like they wanted to. They didn’t get nearly what they should have for Todd Fraizer and Aroldis Chapman, and Jay Bruce didn’t move at all. This team will be miserable until July, when they can sell off everyone not named Votto (and maybe even a guy named Votto).

National League West:

1. Dodgers

Losing Zack Greinke can’t be good for a team, but the Dodgers went out and added enough depth to try to replace his success by committee. The Dodgers are crazy deep, and should take home their fourth straight divisional crown.

2. Giants (Wild Card)

Yeah, yeah, we know, it’s an even year. And I’m not dumb enough to bet against them making the playoffs. But the Giants just aren’t deep enough with strong enough players to be the powerhouse that you would expect of a dynasty coming in on their hot year. The infield is stacked, and MadBum is the real deal, but an old outfield and too many question marks makes this team a hot pick for a bust this year.

3. Diamondbacks

With one of the bolder offseasons in recent memory, the Diamondbacks look like they’re ready to strike. The loss of AJ Pollock makes a playoff spot look difficult, but the Snakes look good for the next two or three years.

4. Rockies

Until the Rockies can convince a pitcher to join the Mile High Party, this team will never be able to compete against the stacked NL West. Nolan Arenado will be fun to watch, and Carlos Gonzalez will spend the rest of his career under the cloud of the trading block until a deal gets done.

5. Padres

From World Series threat to the joke of the division, the Padres have done everything wrong since this time last year. A team made up of good parts made a bad whole, and doesn’t look like it is going to get any better in the coming year.

National League East:

1. Nationals

Last year’s biggest disappointment, the Nationals are going to come into the new season as the second best team in the National League East. That will only serve them well, as an improved lineup that stays healthy will follow a contract year from Stephen Strasburg into the playoffs.

2. Mets

Officially the boldest prediction of the year, the Mets will miss the playoffs altogether. Starting pitching is as good as it gets, but the offensive and defensive sides of the ball will let down a staff that will almost certainly have to carry the team.

3. Marlins

Some people want to pick the Marlins as their sexy dark horse this week. I’m not buying it. Giancarlo Stanton is a monster, but only when he stays healthy. The rest of the team is overwhelmingly mediocre, and isn’t enough to find themselves in the playoffs, especially in a strong division.

4. Braves

The Braves have decided to scrap the 2016 season and rebuild, but took the fastest route to a rebuild. Ender Inciarte is a soon-to-be perennial All-Star, and Danby Swanson is going to be a superstar. If they can put things together quickly, this team could be good as soon as the start of next season. Just not this year.

5. Phillies

Oh, poor Philadelphia. The Phillies will try to beat their city-mate 76ers’ ineptitude, and rebuild for a long-term future. A few names stand out as fun to watch, including Aaron Nola and Mikhail Franco, but, on the whole, this will be another miserable summer in Philadelphia.

American League Central:

1. Royals

Are we ready to believe in the Royals yet? Kansas City has been to the World Series twice, won it once, and is bringing back nearly all of the same pieces. When will this team run out of magic? Not yet, at least.

2. Tigers

Detroit has been in win-now mode for a very long time and, until last year, it was working. With the additions of Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton, they continue to try to compete in the immediate, possibly forsaking the future. Here’s to hoping for a return to greatness for Justin Verlander.

3. Twins

If potential was enough, the Twins would be a very intriguing team. Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano are expected to be superstars, and Brian Dozier brings veteran experience. Their ptiching is a little weak, and they are probably a year away from being major players in the Central.

4. White Sox

Oh, poor White Sox. They can’t seem to decide if they are rebuilding or competing. After a spring filled with drama, the White Sox will show flashes of brillaince (thank you, Jose Abreu, Chris Sale and Todd Frazier) among long stretches of mediocrity (thank you, everyone else).

5. Indians

The Mets of the American League, the Indians are stacked at pitching. Well, they have three good pitchers. When you look at the other 23 guys on the roster, you see a lot to be desired. Corey Kluber will spend another year wasting his prime on a bad team with no hope for October.

American League West:

1. Astros

A young, exciting team that was six outs away from the ALCS, the Astros are putting things together for a long run of contention. Carlos Correa is a strong threat for MVP, and Dallas Keuchel is a stud. The Astros are here to stay, and should be a World Series favorite out of the AL.

2. Rangers (Wild Card)

The Rangers are the best team you’ve never heard of. Their offense took off in June last year, and they never looked back, even so far as to push the powerhouse Blue Jays to the brink of elimination last year. With an entire season of Cole Hamels and a return of Yu Darvish, this team is one to be feared.

3. Angels

Maybe we should call this team Trout and Co. Behind the superstar, there really isn’t much to talk about. This team has some players that will keep them interesting, but there just isn’t enough to play with here for a real competition.

4. Mariners

Last year’s most disappointing team is looking to repeat for the title again. After an offseason with a massive quantity of moves, the Mariners look exactly as meh as they were last year. Unless the right guys catch fire, we will be scratching our heads again in September.

5. As

For the first time in a while, Oakland was relatively quiet in an offseason. That isn’t a good thing for a team that finished near the bottom of the AL West last year. It doesn’t look good for the Sonny Gray led A’s, who will have to consider dealing the ace at the deadline.

American League East:

1. Red Sox

The Red Sox have made “worst to first” their new personal motto. Well, last year they were bad, but not THAT bad. And after adding David Price to an already potent lineup, expect the Red Sox to challenge Toronto for Eastern supremacy.

2. Blue Jays (Wild Card)

Last year, the Blue Jays could out-hit anyone. This year, their lack of pitching will come back to bite them in the butt. With contract disputes with two of their three best hitters, this doesn’t bode well for the Blue Jays, who have to spend their entire season looking over their shoulder.

3. Rays

I desperately wanted to predict an AL East Division Championship for this Rays team. Their pitching is stacked, they have a lineup full of consistency (if not stardom), and the Rays management just knows how to win. I see them in it until September, then losing steam because of deadline acquisitions by division rivals.

4. Yankees

Many people think the Yankees will be in the thick of a playoff race late in the year. With their aging lineup and questionable rotation, that is wishful thinking. The Yankees will always be the Yankees, but this year, they aren’t going to be in October.

5. Orioles

The Orioles are the team to beat up on in the American League East. Their lineup is suspect, their pitching is sad, and the team just won’t be able to keep pace with the powerhouses that occupy their division.

November 26th: MLB Free Agent Preview

The Hot Stove is the best time of the year, as each team tries to find the key ingredient that will throw them over the top into contention. This year, there is a glut of free agents who have the potential to change their new team drastically. The bidding war for each will be fierce, but here is the ZP: Left Fielder’s take on the final destination for each of the top free agents:

David Price - Blue Jays: Most expect Price to land in Chicago, but I wouldn’t count out the Blue Jays to bring him back. Toronto was on the cusp of a world series, and pitching is not the area to skimp if they want to get back. A great offense is only as good as the pitchers who support it, so expect to see Price get a big offer to stay at his new home.

Zack Greinke - Dodgers: The Dodgers have won a lot, but have nothing in their trophy case to show for it. Greinke isn’t the reason for that, though, and his dominance as a one-two punch with Kershaw makes him too valuable to let go. He scores big bucks from Los Angeles.

Johnny Cueto - Red Sox: The Red Sox need an ace, and Cueto has been on their radar for a long time. His second half last year was a little scary, but the Red Sox proved last year that they aren’t afraid to take a gamble (even when they should be).

Jordan Zimmermann - Cubs: Many like David Price as the Cubs top target, but they would be better off getting two decent-sized fish, rather than one big one. Jordan Zimmermann has been rock solid over the last few years, and would solidify the middle of the Chicago staff.

Jeff Samardzija - Cubs: A reunion between Shark and the North Side would be the perfect solution to the starting depth of the Cubs. They already have a relationship, and, with the money saved from Zimmermann as opposed to Price, Samardzija becomes the fourth starter in a staff that is as scary as the lineup that backs it up.

Jason Heyward - Giants: This may be my oldest prediction of them all. Everyone will want to pick the Giants to win it all this year. It is, after all, an even numbered year. I’m sure the Giants know that, and a little bit of pressure might force them to upgrade their lineup. Heyward would bring some life to an outfield that looks a little old. Heyward’s bat, combined with a second-tier starter, will make the Giants a terrifying team.

Justin Upton - Orioles: The Orioles want a big hitter, and Jay Bruce may be their top choice. They may not have the farmhands to get it done, though, so Upton is a very attractive option for left field. Upton alongside Jones would be a great pairing both in the lineup and in the outfield, and he would become the new centerpiece of a mild rebuild project in Baltimore.

Yoenis Cespedes - Angels: The Angels are familiar with Cespedes from his days in Oakland, and he would be an excellent bat to protect Trout and Pujols. That, combined with the fact that this would become the best defensive outfield in the American League makes Cespedes a good bet for the Angels.

Ian Desmond - Padres: Everyone knows the Padres want a shortstop. They have wanted one for 18 months. And Desmond is the real deal when it comes to shortstop. He can’t field particularly well, but what he lacks with his glove, he makes up for with his bat. Desmond is going to score big bucks, and the Padres will be happy to give them to him.

Alex Gordon - Royals: I would love to say that Gordon goes to Chicago to bring defensive wizardry and a scary bat to an already terrifying Cubs offense, but there is no way that the Royals let their man walk away. Gordon was the heart and soul of this team for so long, and he will get a hero’s welcome to return.

Ben Zobrist - Mets: The Mets will lose Daniel Murphy and Yoenis Cespedes, two central pieces of their World Series runner-up offense. To make up for it, they are going to make a big push for the ultimate Swiss-Army knife ballplayer, Zobrist. He will bring a reliable bat and a versatile glove to a team that has the pitching to make it big, but needs experience and contributors to back them up.

Daniel Murphy - Angels: The Angels are going to try to out-slug their opponents this year, and Murphy could be an excellent option at third base. His defense is mediocre, but his bat would be deadly, especially if the Murphy of October shows up in April. Money might be an issue, but if the Angels can overcome that, then this is a match made in heaven.

Chris Davis - Cardinals: The Cardinals need power, and Davis is the spokesman for power. He can slot in at first base for them, and maybe even the outfield in a pinch. The Cardinals are looking desperate to keep pace with the surging Cubs and Pirates, and they might make a free agency mistake by signing a high-risk, high-reward hitter like Davis.

January 10th: Deck the Hall

On Tuesday, four baseball players were inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Pitchers Randy Johnson, John Smoltz, and Pedro Martinez, along with second baseman Craig Biggio, joined the ranks of the games best, cementing their legacies in Cooperstown forever.

It took a little while, but Biggio eventually
punched his ticket for the Hall of Fame

Once again, the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire all missed the Hall, receiving less than 35% of the ballot each, far south of the 75% necessary for induction. This means that the home run king, the most decorated Cy Young Award winner, and the two most exciting players of the turn of the century are all on the outside looking in.

This has sparked serious unrest among voters, many of whom argue that there needs to be a change in perspective as we evaluate the worth of these players.

The old-fashioned idea is that cheaters have no place in baseball’s hallowed halls. This is, of course, an understandable approach, considering these individuals violated the very rules of the game they claimed to cherish, and shouldn’t reap rewards for being better than their clean peers if it was done through an unfair advantage.

The new argument is that the statistics and records they own belong in the hall, if nothing else, and that each of these players should be placed in the Hall of Fame, while their connection to steroids should be displayed prominently on their plaques.

Things get even murkier for players who have been discussed in the steroid conversation, but who haven’t ever been found to be nearly as guilty as the likes of Bonds or Clemens. Jeff Bagwell is an excellent example. Bagwell has the stats to get in. Tim Kurkjian referred to him Tuesday as quite possibly one of the top 5 first basemen of all time.  Yet his connection to steroids has kept him out of the hall, with very little evidence to his guilt.

The reality is that there are cheaters already in the Hall of Fame. We don’t know who they are, or else they probably wouldn’t have gotten in. But they are there, and it is incredibly ignorant to assume that the Baseball Writers of America have properly kept out all of the steroid users. They are, then, faced with the challenge of figuring out where to go from there.

One of the other issues with the Hall of Fame voting was brought up by Curt Schilling the day of the announcement. Schilling was on the ballot for the third time. This year, he received 39.2% of the vote, which was up from his first year. His comment was that he hasn’t thrown a pitch in the past year. What makes him one, two, five percent more qualified for the Hall of Fame this year than last? Why make people wait to be in the Hall if they are eventually deserving?

As a whole, the Hall of Fame process is quickly becoming a problem that could drastically belittle the greatness of baseball. As an avid fan, it would be a travesty to see the beautiful game tarnished even further by those who chose to forsake the rules, instead choosing personal advancement over the integrity of the game. That being said, we have reached the Catch-22 where baseball is only doing itself a disservice by continuing to prevent entry for those who hold the greatest achievements in the baseball world. To continue to bar them from the Hall does no further damage to their image, and only works to dilute the value of those already in the Hall.

The door needs to be widened to give entry to all who statistically are among the best in the game. As much as it saddens true baseball lovers, it is important that even the cheaters be granted entry, so that their statistics can give the proper context for all that makes baseball so great. If possible, we need to identify the cheaters and make sure that they’re legacies are known to be tainted, but we cannot take away the fact that the Hall of Fame is meant for the players who performed at the highest level, regardless of the means used to accomplish their feats.

Before the Move

The Hot Stove is heating up, and Jason Heyward got the whole thing going. While he may have changed teams earlier this month, Heyward was a sensation as a rookie for the Braves in 2010, and has been a major contributor for much of the past 5 years.