Baseball is hard. Predicting it is even harder. But why let that pesky reality stand in the way of a fun exercise? Leading up to Opening Day, we asked our writers for their bold predictions, and they came through.
We went through this process last year, too. It turns out we had a few pretty good prognosticators in the house, though they proved to be the exception. The results:
❌ Misses (18):
Red Sox,
White Sox,
Guardians,
Rockies,
Astros,
Royals,
Angels,
Dodgers,
Marlins,
Brewers,
Yankees,
Athletics,
Padres,
Giants,
Cardinals,
Rangers,
Blue Jays
✅ Hits (7):
Diamondbacks,
Braves,
Orioles,
Reds,
Tigers,
Phillies,
Pirates,
Mariners
🔮 Nostradamus (5):
Cubs,
Twins,
Nationals,
Mets,
Rays
Like we said, predicting baseball is hard.
But a new season brings new hope and new possibilities. Our writers did not shy away from being bold, with extra credit handed out for awards predictions. The bolder the better, we say. Now let’s begin.
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This year’s bold prediction: A year after becoming the first Diamondbacks player to win a Rookie of the Year award, Corbin Carroll becomes the first Diamondback to win the MVP — and the first to have a 30/30 season. — Tyler Kepner
Boldness level: 🔥🔥
Last year’s bold prediction: The Diamondbacks lead the majors in steals in 2023.
Outcome: Well, they came close, finishing second to the Runnin’ Reds of Cincinnati. However, the Snakes spent the postseason practicing their 4×100 relays, and they’re a decent bet to do so again in 2024.
Grade: ✅
This year’s bold prediction: The Braves’ offense won’t be as prolific as it was in 2023, but their pitching will be better. The net result will be a third consecutive 100-win season and seventh straight NL East title, followed by a return to the NLCS for the first time since 2021 and a rematch with the Dodgers. The Braves win the pennant, then win a second World Series title in a four-year span. — David O’Brien
Boldness level: 🔥
Last year’s bold prediction: The Braves win a sixth consecutive NL East title despite an extremely difficult division that features the record-setting payroll of the Mets (coming off a 101-win season) and big additions by the pennant-winning Phillies.
Outcome: Good: 104 wins. Not so good: what happened after winning the division.
Grade: ✅
This year’s bold prediction: There’s so much Orioles hullabaloo focused on the quality (and quantity) of their young position players, you might not have noticed all the ace pitchers going down with injuries across the league. So, while you’re wondering whether Jackson Holliday will be called up in time to win Rookie of the Year, Corbin Burnes is going to steal the show by winning his second Cy Young just in time to hit the free-agent market this winter. And that always works out, right Blake Snell? — Chad Jennings
Boldness level: 🔥🔥
Last year’s bold prediction: An Oriole will win AL Rookie of the Year for the first time since Gregg Olson in 1989.
Outcome: Sure, he was the favorite all along, but Gunnar Henderson fulfilled his destiny.
Grade: ✅
This year’s bold prediction: If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, then here we are. Everyone is predicting…
This article was originally published by a theathletic.com . Read the Original article here. .