Top 10 predictions for MLB season 2014 (sports illustrated)

[Ohtaniland]

Hoping he's right on Trout, Pujols and Hamilton.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20140103/baseball-predictions-2014/#ixzz2pNPtTGId

 

[Bruce Nye]

I think we have consensus on this.

[Tyler]

No matter what happens the previous year/s, that lineup will make anybody excited. Now that we know who not to pitch (Blanton + Hanson), finally, and have added two young lefties as well as bullpen help.. plus Richards is finally given the trust to be a starter. I'm excited about the likelihood of a pretty balanced team and decent depth making the playoffs seem possible. The players just need to perform. 

 

If we can add another veteran starter to the rotation, then I'll like our chances even more.

Edited January 4, 2014 by Shane

[wopphil]

If Pujols and Hamilton combine for 60+ home runs and Trout stays healthy, this will be the best offense in baseball.

[sneaky_flute]

Hamilton was barely a 30 HR hitter with Texas so that's a strange prediction. 

 

And i'd put KC's and Texas' pitching staff above the A's.

[sneaky_flute]

And saying Seattle won't make the playoffs isn't exactly a bold prediction. They signed Cano and followed that up by signing Logan Morrison. 

[Guest]

Padres will make the playoffs? LOL. That list is utter garbage.

[tdawg87]

Hamilton was barely a 30 HR hitter with Texas so that's a strange prediction. 

 

Considering he hit 32+ homeruns 3 out of the 5 years he was there, including one year where he hit 43, yeah I guess you are right.

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

10. Billy Beane's you-know-what finally works in the playoffs.

The well-rounded club put together by Oakland's general manager will win its first World Series in 25 years. The A's, who have won just one postseason series in eight tries under Beane's leadership, have either above-average players or capable platoons at every position, plus a dynamic young rotation and the makings of the game's best bullpen. They'll defeat the Nationals -- who will do in 2014 what they were supposed to do in '13 by reaching the Fall Classic -- and return the championship trophy to the Bay Area for the third time in five seasons.

That would suck!!

[Brent Maguire]

I'm going to guess that Pujols hits 28 HR while Hamilton hits 26.

If Hamilton's dreadful season against lefties last year was an aberration, I could maybe see 30 HR.

[nikkachez]

I could see Pujols, Hamilton, and Trout hit 30 homeruns, Calhoun and Ibanez could hit 20-25 in my opinion, Freese could hit 15-20, Howie should be in the 10-15 range, I think Aybar could repeat his 2010 totals of 10 bombs ditto with Iannetta, Conger should provide a little thump. If everyone's healthy, Hamilton's comfortable, Calhoun does turn into the player we all believe he is, and Ibanez can continue to find the fountain of youth, we have the the best lineup in the game

[Second Base]

I wouldn't mind this at all.  If Trout wins AL MVP, it will mean the Angels made the playoffs.  If both Pujols and Hamilton hit 30+ HR's, it will like also mean the Angels will have made the playoffs.  It would also mean Trout would probably threaten to break the record for most runs scored in a single season. 

[IowaAngels27]

I could see Pujols, Hamilton, and Trout hit 30 homeruns, Calhoun and Ibanez could hit 20-25 in my opinion, Freese could hit 15-20, Howie should be in the 10-15 range, I think Aybar could repeat his 2010 totals of 10 bombs ditto with Iannetta, Conger should provide a little thump. If everyone's healthy, Hamilton's comfortable, Calhoun does turn into the player we all believe he is, and Ibanez can continue to find the fountain of youth, we have the the best lineup in the game

Very optimistic, but really hoping this is the case!

[Redondo]

No matter what happens the previous year/s, that lineup will make anybody excited. Now that we know who not to pitch (Blanton + Hanson), finally, and have added two young lefties as well as bullpen help.. plus Richards is finally given the trust to be a starter. I'm excited about the likelihood of a pretty balanced team and decent depth making the playoffs seem possible. The players just need to perform. 

 

If we can add another veteran starter to the rotation, then I'll like our chances even more.

 

Agree.

 

Really like the young arms we got. And I am hoping that having Baylor for hitting coach will wake up the vets that have been slumping. No need to mention names.

 

Another quality vet arm for the starting rotation and this club looks good going into Spring Training. I did say quality Jerry.

[HaloMilliVanilli]

The Padres making the playoffs isn't laughable at all.  Seems each year someone makes the playoffs as a complete surprise.  Nobody expected the Indians to make the playoffs last year.  Why not the Padres as a wildcard?  One just never knows who will underperform and who will surprise.

[Second Base]

Padres are a really easy team to root for in my opinion.  They're a geographical and divisional rival to the Angels' rival which is the Dodgers.  Their manager is a former Angel coach.  Their GM and our GM have history.  They're a fellow California team.  They don't have overly obnoxious fans and no premadonna players. 

[Docwaukee]

Padres are a really easy team to root for in my opinion.  They're a geographical and divisional rival to the Angels' rival which is the Dodgers.  Their manager is a former Angel coach.  Their GM and our GM have history.  They're a fellow California team.  They don't have overly obnoxious fans and no premadonna players. 

except Carlos Quentin.  Other than that, I agree. 

[deepdrive]

I think Pujols @ 30 is a stretch. The guy has Tim Salmon power, not Glaus/Trumbo power. The first three months are just too mentally brutal on him to project 30 HRs.

[tdawg87]

I think Pujols @ 30 is a stretch. The guy has Tim Salmon power, not Glaus/Trumbo power. The first three months are just too mentally brutal on him to project 30 HRs.

 

Well, he hit 30 in his first year here despite basically missing the first month of the season. And he was on pace for close to 30 last year on one foot, so I don't think it's too much of a stretch.

[deepdrive]

I'm not saying he can't do it. I'm just saying as a prediction, I think it's more likely a miss than correct.

 

Maybe what I meant by 'stretch' is different than how it's being taken.

 

I don't know the record sites. How many times did Tim hit 30 or more HRs?

[Docwaukee]

Albert has not his 30 hrs once.  Last year.  I'm thinking he hits closer to 40 this year than 30.  But that's just me. 

[Brent Maguire]

35ish home runs would be awesome. 

 

I still think he's going to hit around 27-30 HR next year though. 

[AngelsAndRamsFan]

I'd be happy if Pujols hit around 30 HR's, but I'm more interested/concerned with his OBP and OPS. I'd love it if he could have a .360+ OBP and at least a .900 OPS. (I never thought I would love those numbers in Pujols' third year with the Angels).

[Brent Maguire]

I think a realistic season from Pujols looks something like .285/.360/.520

 

If we get more production then that, great. If not, I'll take those numbers. 

[Docwaukee]

I think Trout is gonna surprise people with his power this year and hit 35-40. 

 

This team is going to be an offensive juggernaut.  I'm thinking 810-830 runs.