Tagged: MLB
2016 MLB win/loss projections
| Team | 2015 win total | 2016 Over/Under
(Las Vegas Superbook) |
2016 FanGraphs win projections | Personal Prediction |
| Baltimore Orioles | 81 | 78.5 | 78 | Under |
| Boston Red Sox | 78 | 87.5 | 91 | Over |
| New York Yankees | 87 | 86.5 | 85 | Under |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 80 | 81.5 | 82 | Under |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 93 | 86.5 | 83 | Under |
| Chicago White Sox | 76 | 80.5 | 81 | Over |
| Cleveland Indians | 81 | 85.5 | 85 | Over |
| Detroit Tigers | 74 | 80.5 | 81 | Over |
| Kansas City Royals | 95 | 83.5 | 79 | Over |
| Minnesota Twins | 83 | 79.5 | 78 | Under |
| Houston Astros | 86 | 88.5 | 86 | Under |
| Los Angeles Angels | 85 | 81.5 | 81 | Under |
| Oakland A’s | 68 | 75.5 | 79 | Over |
| Seattle Mariners | 76 | 82.5 | 83 | Over |
| Texas Rangers | 88 | 83.5 | 81 | Over |
| Atlanta Braves | 67 | 67.5 | 68 | Over |
| Miami Marlins | 71 | 78.5 | 81 | Under |
| New York Mets | 90 | 89.5 | 85 | Over |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 63 | 64.5 | 66 | Over |
| Washington Nationals | 83 | 89.5 | 88 | Over |
| Chicago Cubs | 97 | 93.5 | 94 | Under |
| Cincinnati Reds | 64 | 69.5 | 73 | Under |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 68 | 69.5 | 69 | Under |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 98 | 86.5 | 84 | Over |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 100 | 87.5 | 84 | Over |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 79 | 81.5 | 79 | Over |
| Colorado Rockies | 68 | 71.5 | 74 | Under |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 92 | 89.5 | 91 | Over |
| San Diego Padres | 74 | 73.5 | 74 | Under |
| San Francisco Giants | 84 | 88.5 | 85 | Over |
Quick Thoughts:
- I’m taking 17 overs and 13 unders, which means absolutely nothing and will likely be wrong as there are so many variables that take place throughout the course of a season.
- FanGraphs is split down the middle and predicts 15 teams to go under and 15 to go over.
- After having three 90-win teams a season ago, the NL Central is only projected to have one team reach the 90-win mark this season – the Cubs. This doesn’t mean the division lacks talent, but last year was such an anomoly that a regression is almost guaranteed.
- Despite all the hype the D-backs generated over the offseason the NL West is expected to be a two-team race between the Dodgers and Giants. Both Las Vegas and FanGraphs expect the D-backs to finish third.
- The Red Sox are expected to take a big leap forward this season after adding David Price and Craig Kimbrel to the pitching staff. After winning 78 games last year, Boston is expected to win the AL East in 2016.
All (traded) prospects team
This time of year a lot of attention is given to players donning new uniforms. Plenty of players swapped teams, either via trade or free agency, and everyone wants to know how those players will impact their new squads.
However, established veterans aren’t the only players with new addresses — several prospects were traded over the winter as well. While the recently traded prospects may not be on the Opening Day roster, several of them will debut later in the season and may help lift your favorite team into the playoffs.
Here’s a look at some of the top prospects that were traded over the offseason. Among them are eight from MLBpipeline.com’s Top 100 prospects – four pitchers and four position players.
C Jacob Nottingham
Nottingham has been traded twice in the past eight months – he was dealt from Houston to as part of the Scott Kazmir trade in July before the A’s recently shipped him off to the Brewers – but may have found a home in Milwaukee. The 20-year old catcher hit a combined .316 in 2015 and is the best catching prospect in the Brewers’ system. Jonathan Lucroy is the club’s starter, but Nottingham will be a non-roster invitee at Spring Training and very well could be the Brewers catcher of the future.
1B Daniel Palka
Palka is listed as a first baseman, but spent just 37 games at the position in 2015. Meanwhile, he spent 88 games in the outfield, mostly in right (69 games). Palka, a third round selection in the 2013 draft, was traded from the D-backs to the Twins in exchange for Chris Herrmann. The 24-year old hit .280 in 129 games with Class-A Visalia last season.
2B Jose Peraza
Sent to the Reds as part of a three-player trade in December, Peraza was one of the higher-profile prospects dealt over the offseason. Ranked No. 71 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100, the 21-year old Peraza is coming off a season in which he hit .293 in 118 games at the Triple-A level. Peraza made his Major League debut last season and hit .182 in seven games with the Dodgers.
3B Carlos Asuaje
Despite being listed as a third baseman, the former 11th round pick spent the bulk of both the 2015 regular season and Arizona Fall League at second base. Asuaje hit .251 in AA last season and was dealt to San Diego as part of the package that sent Craig Kimbrel to Boston. It should also be noted that Javier Guerra, the No. 58 prospect in baseball, was also involved in the trade.
SS Dansby Swanson
There is only room for one shortstop in this lineup and therefore Swanson is the reason Guerra was left off this list. Swanson, regarded at the eighth-best prospect in all of baseball, had a busy 2015. After leading the Vanderbilt Commodores to the College World Series Finals, the D-backs selected Swanson with the No. 1 pick in the draft. However, before the shortstop could make his professional debut, he was hit in the face with a pitch in a simulated game. Eventually, Swanson played in 22 games and hit .289 before he was sent to Atlanta as part of a blockbuster deal.
OF Boog Powell
For the second time in as many years, Powell was traded during the winter. Oakland sent Powell to Tampa Bay prior to the 2015 season and the Rays dealt the outfielder to the Mariners prior to 2016. A 20th round selection out of Orange Coast Community College, Powell has good speed and may make his debut this season as a backup outfielder.
OF Manuel Margot
Margot, along with Guerra and Asuaje, was also sent from Boston to San Diego in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. Margot hit .271 in 64 games in AA last season and is ranked as the 45th-best prospect in baseball.
OF Trayce Thompson
With 122 Major League at-bats to his name, Thompson barely qualifies for this list, but until he hits that magic number (130), he’s still a prospect. After an impressive debut with the White Sox, Thompson was sent to the Dodgers as part of a three-team deal. The 24-year old outfielder hit .295 in 44 games with the White Sox last season and was able to play each of the three outfield positions. Thompson played 18 games in right, 12 in left and 10 in center.
LHP Logan Allen
When Allen was traded from the Red Sox to the Padres, he became the first player traded under the new rule which allows a player to be traded in their draft year following the conclusion of the World Series. The Red Sox drafted Allen out of high school in the eighth round of the 2015 draft. The 18-year old lefty got his professional career off to a nice start last season as he pitched in eight games and gave up three earned runs in 24 1/3 innings.
LHP Sean Newcomb
The No. 21 prospect in all of baseball was highest-rated pitching prospect to be moved over the offseason. The Angels sent both Newcomb and Chris Ellis to Atlanta as part of a package to acquire Andrleton Simmons. While Newcomb has terrific stuff (a fastball that can climb to the upper 90s) and averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings last season, he does struggle with command at times (averaged five walks per nine innings in 2015).
RHP Chris Ellis
A third round selection in 2014, Ellis has impressed so far. The 23-year old was promoted to AA midway through the season and proceeded to go 7-4 with a 3.92 ERA in 15 starts. Ellis, along with Newcomb and Aaron Blair, will be a non-roster invitee at Braves camp this spring.
RHP Aaron Blair
The Braves acquired the No. 56 prospect in baseball from Arizona as part of a trade that sent Shelby Miller out west. Blair was selected 36th overall in 2013 and is coming off a strong season. Pitching in both AA and Triple-A, Blair went 13-5 with a 2.92 ERA.
RHP Trevor Williams
After striking out a career-high 7.7 batters per nine innings in 2015, Williams was dealt from the Marlins to the Pirates. Williams spent the bulk of last season in AA, but did make the jump to Triple-A and will face even stiffer competition as a non-roster invitee at Pirates’ camp.
RHP Frankie Montas
Montas just cracked the Top-100, coming in at No. 95, but the Dodgers will have to wait to see their new prospect in action. Montas underwent rib surgery Friday and is expected to miss the next two to four months. The right-hander posted a 2.97 ERA in 23 AA starts last season before pitching 15 innings (4.80 ERA) with the White Sox late in the year.
RHP Mark Appel
Mark Appel’s career has not gone according to plan, but perhaps the change of scenery can get the 24-year old back on track. Appel, the No. 1 selection of the 2013 draft, was sent from Houston to Philadelphia in a deal that brought closer Ken Giles to the Astros. The right-hander is currently listed as the No. 70 prospect in baseball.
RHP Tyler Wagner
The D-backs gave up a couple players earlier on this list, but this time Arizona is the team acquiring the top prospect. Wagner, a former fourth-round selection, threw well in AA last season. The right-hander won the Southern League ERA title as he went 11-5 with a 2.25 ERA. However, once he was called up to the Major Leagues, he made three starts with the Brewers and gave up 11 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.
Quick look back at 2015 first round draft picks
It’s way, way too early to definitively determine how any club did in the 2015 MLB Draft, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look back at how some of the players fared in their professional debuts.
Numbers aren’t everything, especially when evaluating prospects, but nevertheless I opted to look at some of the numbers last year’s first round picks put up in their introductions to pro ball.
It’s also worth noting that a few players taken in the first round a year ago were invited to Major League Spring Training as non-roster invitees. While it’s unlikely these players make the club on Opening Day, the experience of being in a Major League camp will be beneficial and can potentially speed up development.
D-backs: Dansby Swanson
The shortstop missed some time after he was hit in the face by a pitch in a simulated game, but went on to hit .289 in 22 games with the Hillsboro Hops.
Swanson was, of course, traded to the Braves during the off season and will be in Major League camp.
Astros: Alex Bregman
Bregman hit .294 with four homers and 34 RBIs in 66 games. The shortstop will be a non-roster invitee this year as well.
Rockies: Brendan Rodgers
The Colorado shortstop prospect hit .273 in 37 games.
Rangers: Dillon Tate
Tate appeared in six games and struck out eight batters in nine innings. The right-hander gave up a total of one run on three hits.
Astros: Kyle Tucker
Tucker, an outfielder, hit .246 and stole 18 bases in 62 games.
Twins: Tyler Jay
The left-hander posted a 3.93 ERA over 18 1/3 innings. He appeared in 19 games.
Red Sox: Andrew Benintendi
Benintendi, an outfielder, hit .313 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs in 54 games.
White Sox: Carson Fulmer
After registering a 1.96 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched, Fulmer earned himself a spot in Major League camp this spring.
Cubs: Ian Happ
The outfielder hit .259 and drew 40 walks in 67 games.
Phillies: Cornelius Randolph
The shortstop out of Griffin High School in Georgia hit .302 in 52 games.
Reds: Tyler Stephenson
Stephenson, a catcher, hit .268, including a homer and 15 doubles, in 54 games.
Marlins: Josh Naylor
The first baseman hit .327 in 25 games.
Rays: Garrett Whitley
The outfielder struggled a bit in his debut, hitting just .174 in 42 games.
Braves: Kolby Allard
The left-hander appeared in just three games, but threw well. Allard gave up one hit and struck out 12 in six innings.
Brewers: Trent Clark
The outfield prospect missed some time with a concussion, but hit .309 in 55 games.
Yankees: James Kaprielian
Kaprielian is a non-roster invitee at Yankees camp this season. The right-hander out of UCLA appeared in five games last year and had a 3.97 ERA over 11 1/3 innings. Kaprielian struck out 14 and walked four.
Indians: Brady Aiken
The lefty didn’t appear in any games last season as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Giants: Phil Bickford
Bickford finished with a 2.01 ERA. The right-hander struck out 32 in his 10 games.
Pirates: Kevin Newman
The shortstop hit .257 in 61 games.
A’s: Richie Martin
Martin, a shortstop prospect, hit .237 in 51 games.
Royals: Ashe Russell
Russell threw 36 1/3 innings over 11 games and had a 4.21 ERA.
Tigers: Beau Burrows
Burrows appeared in 10 games and threw 28 total innings. The righty had a 1.61 ERA after walking 11 and striking out 33.
Cardinals: Nick Plummer
The Cardinals will get a look at Plummer, an outfielder, in Major League camp. In 51 games last season he hit .228.
Dodgers: Walker Buehler
The right-hander spent the 2015 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Orioles: DJ Stewart
Stewart hit .218 in 62 games.
Angels: Taylor Ward
The catcher had an impressive debut and will look to make an equally strong showing as a non-roster invitee this spring. Ward hit .341 with 31 RBIs and 11 extra-base hits in 56 games.
3 reasons why: Blue Jays will win the World Series
As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:
Blue Jays (16/1 odds to win World Series):
The 2015 Blue Jays made the playoffs for the first time since 1993, which was certainly a step in the right direction. But what can the team do to take that one step further? Toronto won’t have David Price anchoring the rotation in 2016, but the club does return Josh Donaldson, the reigning American League MVP, and will have the benefit of Troy Tulowitzki for an entire season. The Blue Jays didn’t have a splashy off-season and although a lot of people are picking the Red Sox in the AL East, Toronto can’t be ignored.
Last year: After winning 93 games and reaching the ALCS in 2015, the Blue Jays, per FanGraphs, are projected to win 84 games in 2016. Of course, that’s just a projection and the true number will be determined on the field. The Blue Jays were one of the surprise stories in baseball last season and if the team can continue that momentum, 2016 may be just as special. Experience is the best teacher and the Blue Jays learned a lot last season. Not only did the club learn what it’s like to play meaningful games late in the season, but it also learned about playoff baseball. The Blue Jays won the ALDS, learning how to win a playoff series, and lost in the ALCS, meaning the team left the 2015 campaign with a bitter taste in its mouth. If the Blue Jays remember how it felt to end the season on a loss and turn that feeling into motivation, 2016 has a chance to be special.
Offense: The Blue Jays led the league in runs with 891 last season and were second in team batting average (.269). Yes, playing in the Rogers Centre helps, but either way, the Blue Jays can hit. From Donaldson to Tulowitzki to Jose Bautista to Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto’s lineup is loaded. The 2016 club may not be as potent as the 2015 version simply because it’s hard to lead the league in hitting every year, but this year’s team won’t be in the bottom half of the league either. Toronto may not have the most feared pitching staff in the game, but with the offensive firepower they possess, it may not matter.
Left side of infield: The left side of the Blue Jays’ infield combined for 58 homers and 193 RBIs last season. Of course Tulowitzki wasn’t in Toronto for the entire season and the shortstop is always a bit of an injury risk, but when he’s healthy he’s among the best offensive shortstops in the game. If Donaldson and Tulowitzki are both healthy for the bulk of the season, the Blue Jays will be in good shape.
3 reasons why: Nationals will win World Series
As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:
Nationals (14/1 odds to win World Series): Perhaps Dusty Baker is the answer. The Nationals were the clear favorite to win the National League a season ago, but that prediction never quite worked out. While people aren’t as high on the Nationals as they were a season ago, it’s not as if everyone is counting them out either.
Bryce Harper: Part of the reason you totally bet against the Nationals is because of their 23-year old superstar right fielder. Bryce Harper, the reigning National League MVP, is coming off a career year. Harper hit .330 with 42 homers and 99 RBIs in 2015 and although those numbers were all careers highs, Harper has the talent to do it again. Harper’s fantastic season didn’t help the Nationals reach their goals as a team last season, but if he gets more help from his supporting cast, the 2016 season may be different.
Rotation: While Harper leads the offense, Max Scherzer ans Stephen Strasburg anchor the rotation. In 2015 Scherzer (14-12, 2.79 ERA) proved he was a threat to throw a perfect game every fifth day, while Strasburg and his 95 MPH fastball blew hitters away. Gio Gonzalez’s ERA has risen each of the last three seasons, but the left-hander is still a quality arm capable of carving up an opposing lineup.
Easy path? NL East, two team race: Once again the Nationals are the favorites to win the NL East, but that didn’t work out so well last season. Per FanGraphs, the Nationals are projected to win 90 games, three more than the second-place Mets. The Marlins, at 81 wins, are expected to finish third. Crazier things have happened, but the NL East looks to be a two team and if the Nationals can beat up on the Marlins, Phillies and Braves – winning the games they are supposed to win – they can be in contention late in the season with a chance to get back to the postseason.
3 reasons why: Royals will win the World Series
As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:
Royals (16/1 odds to win World Series): Reaching the World Series in three consecutive seasons is hard, but not impossible. A team has reached the World Series in three or more straight seasons 18 times (the 1988-’90 A’s being the most recent) throughout the history of Major League Baseball. If the Royals are able to win another American League pennant, they will certainly be worthy of the dynasty talk that will accompany their run. Of course, for the Royals to reach another World Series, a lot has to go right. But the good news is the Royals also have a lot of factors working in their favor.
Why not?: The Royals are clearly the team to beat in the AL. Kansas City has won 184 regular seasons games (an average of 92 per year) over the past two seasons, so it’s not as if their success has been a fluke. As stated above, reaching another World Series will be tough, but the Royals are the defending champions and until that changes, they deserve to be mentioned in any postseason discussion.
Lack of roster turnover: Resigning Alex Gordon was huge. Sometimes when a team wins a title, they have a lot of questions to answer in free agency as players want to get paid and therefore leave for greener pastures. However, this was not the case with the Royals. Kansas City is bringing back the bulk of its team as it looks for another ring. While this is obviously important for the simple fact that this group won together last year and is capable of winning again, it is also significant because several of the Royals starters are homegrown. The Royals have a very tight-knit group because their players have been together from their time in the Minor Leagues. Kansas City has a clubhouse chemistry that’s not easy to match and it’s a direct result of all the homegrown talent.
Bullpen: The bullpen has played a huge role in the Royals success over the past two seasons and it likely will be a factor in 2016 as well. Many teams have recently tried to imitate the Royals ‘pen – by stockpiling flamethrowers for the late innings – but even if the approach is more common now than it was a couple years ago, that doesn’t make it any less effective. The Royals’ relievers posted a 3.30 ERA in 2014 (10th-best in baseball) and a 2.72 ERA (second best in baseball) in 2015. The AL Central has improved in 2016, but if the back end of the Royals’ ‘pen is just as dominant as it has been, the Royals will be in good shape once again.
3 reasons why: Mets will win the World Series
As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:
Mets (8/1 odds to win World Series): The Mets, per FanGraphs, are projected to finish two games behind the Nationals in the National League East. But, of course, the Nationals were supposed to run away with the division in 2015 and the Mets won it by seven games. The Mets then relied on a dominant pitching staff to win the NL Pennant. In the process, Mets proved they have what it takes to reach the World Series, now they just have to win it.
Pitching: Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon. The Mets’ rotation was a huge reason why the team fared so well in 2015 and everyone is coming back, plus the team is expected to add Zack Wheeler – who posted a 3.54 ERA and struck out 187 batters in 185 1/3 innings in 2014, but then had Tommy John surgery – at some point too. DeGrom (2.88 postseason ERA), Syndergaard (3.32 postseason ERA), Harvey (3.04 postseason ERA) and Matz (3.68 postseason ERA) all pitched well under pressure last season and that experience can only help them moving forward.
Experience: Regular season baseball and postseason baseball are completely different and just because a player or team is successful for the first six months of the season doesn’t mean they will thrive under the bright lights of October. However, the Mets proved that they can win in the postseason. The playoffs are all about pitching and clutch hitting and the team was able to do both of those things last season. There is no substitute for experience and everything the Mets went through in 2015, should be to their benefit in 2016.
Off-season acquisitions: The Mets biggest off-season acquisition was resigning Yoenis Cespedes. However, the club also made some improvments up the middle, adding Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker. Cespedes obviously helped the Mets get into the playoffs with a torrid second half. The 30-year old outfielder hit .287 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs in his 57 games with the Mets. Walker has spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Pirates and proven to be a very capable second baseman. Walker hit .269 last season and has a .989 fielding percentage. Cabrera hit .265 with the Rays last season, hit best batting agerage since hitting .270 in 2012.
3 reasons why: Astros will win the World Series
As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:
Astros (18/1 odds to win World Series): Two years ago George Springer was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated with a headline that said, “Your 2017 World Series Champs.” The Astros are certainly capable of winning the World Series in 2017, but they’ll be capable of winning it all in 2016 as well. Houston utilized a wealth of young talent in 2015 to register a winning season for the first time since 2008 and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005. In 2016, the team looks poised to take another step forward.
Young roster: No team wants to string together six straight losing seasons the way the Astros did from 2009-14, but the team made the most of the situation by acquiring plenty of young talent. Most notably, the Astros selected Carlos Correa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 Draft. But the team also selected George Springer and Lance McCullers in 2012. Not to mention, they hit the jackpot selecting Dallas Keuchel in the seventh round of the 2009 Draft.
2015 carryover: The Astros struggled a bit down the stretch, going 37-34 in the second half and 11-16 in September. However, playing meaningful baseball late in the season wasn’t something the Astros were used to. But having gone through that in 2015, the club will be better equipped to handle the late-season grind in 2016. Learning how to win a championship is a process and the Astros took a big step last season.
Correa, Altuve, Gomez: Strong teams are built up the middle and it’s hard to get much better up the middle than the Astros. Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Carlos Gomez make up a pretty good trio and should provide Houston with plenty of highlight reel plays in 2016. Correa, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year Award winner, proved that he’s ready to handle life in the Majors. Over 99 games, the 21-year old hit. 279 with 22 homers and 68 RBIs. Altuve has been an All-Star three of the last four seasons and has 200 or more hits in each of the last two seasons. Gomez struggled a bit once he was traded, but that could simply be a sign of pressing to try and impress his new team. Gomez will enter 2016 acclimated with Houston, and playing in a hitter-friendly park may help him return to being an All-Star caliber player. Throw Gold Glove Award winner Dallas Keuchel in the mix every fifth day as well and it sure looks like a winning formula.
Best players that haven’t made it to the World Series
I was recently listening to the radio and the hosts were discussing some of the top NFL players that had never played in a Super Bowl. The conversation sparked my interest and made me think about some of the best baseball players that have yet to appear in a World Series and here’s what I came up with:
(Although the list just comprised of active players, I tried to stay away from rookies or players that are still young. Ex: Carlos Correa is the best active shortstop to never reach the World Series, but since he’s only played in 105 games, I opted for a veteran at shortstop.)
C Russell Martin – Over the course of his 10-year career, Martin has been to the postseason six times, but has yet to make it to the World Series. The three-time All-Star has been to Championship Series four times – twice in the AL and twice in the NL – most recently, with the Blue Jays in 2015.
1B Paul Goldschmidt – Goldschmidt may be the best first baseman in all of baseball, but he has just one postseason berth to show for it. The 28-year old has been an All-Star each of the past three seasons and is the heart of a line-up that finished second in the National League in runs last season. Likely to Goldschmidt’s pleasure, the D-backs made some big moves in the off-season, acquiring Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller. Perhaps that revamped rotation can get the D-backs back into the playoffs and give Goldschmidt another run at a ring.
2B Dee Gordon – Gordon has been an All-Star each of the past two seasons and was handsomly rewarded with a five-year $50 million contract earlier this month. The speedster played in October in 2013 and ’14, but the Dodgers fell short of the World Series each season.
SS Jose Reyes – Over 13 years, Reyes has been to four All-Star games, won a Silver Slugger Award, led the league in stolen bases three times and is a career .290 hitter. The 32-year old shortstop has an impressive resume on the field, but has only been to October once and missed a chance to play in the World Series by one game. The 2006 Mets lost the NLCS in seven games.
3B Todd Frazier – Frazier has been to the postseason twice, but the Reds fell short in 2012 and 2013. Although Frazier was a big favorite among the Cincinnati fanbase, the fact he was traded from the rebuilding Reds (and out of the incredibly difficult NL Central) to the White Sox certainly helps his odds to get back to the playoffs.
OF Ichiro – A 15-year veteran, 10 time All-Star and soon to be member of the 3,000 hit club. However, despite all the individual success, Ichiro has never been presented with the opportunity to play for the ultimate prize. Ichiro’s teams have made it to the playoffs just twice during his career and both times the Mariners lost in the ALCS.
OF Mike Trout – Trout is just 24 years old and probably too young to be included on this list, but a trip to the World Series is seemingly the only box unchecked on his resume. Trout has already set plenty of records and won a plethora of awards, but his playoff experience consists of just three games in 2014.
OF Jose Bautista – The 12-year veteran got his first taste of October baseball in 2015 and certainly did all he could to will the Blue Jays to a title. Bautista hit .293 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 11 games, but Toronto lost in the ALCS to the eventual champion Kansas City Royals.
OF Andrew McCutchen – The five-time All-Star has been at the heart of Pittsburgh’s recent resurgence and although the Pirates have fallen short in recent seasons, three straight playoff berths are definitely a sign things are moving in the right direction. The goal, of course, is to win, not just be close, but McCutchen does find himself in a favorable position here.
Honorable Mentions – Matt Wieters, Anthony Rizzo, Joe Mauer
P Clayton Kershaw – With a 4.59 postseason ERA, Kershaw has certainly disappointed in his 13 postseason games, but nevertheless he’s the top pitcher in the game and has yet to make it to the World Series. Kershaw has played in the NLCS twice (2008 and 2013).
P Zack Greinke – The 12-year veteran has made four trips to the postseason and has pitched fairly well, but hasn’t been able to get to the World Series. However, Greinke joined forces with Goldschmidt this year and perhaps the D-backs potent offense can help get the right-hander off this list.
P Felix Hernandez – Hernandez has won an AL Cy Young Award and been an All-Star six times, but has yet to pitch in the postseason. Despite all Hernandez’s talents, the Mariners have been unable to surround him with enough help to ever reach the playoffs, much less the World Series.
RP Huston Street – Across 11 seasons, Street has been to the playoffs three times, with three different teams. But, all three of those teams fell short. Street’s best shot came in 2006, when the A’s lost to the Tigers in the ALCS.
RP Craig Kimbrel – Kimbrel has been an All-Star in four of his six Major League seasons, but has never been past the NLDS. The right-hander has a career 1.35 postseason ERA in six appearances.
Honorable mentions – Jake Arrieta, Chris Sale, Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman
3 reasons why: St. Louis Cardinals will win World Series
As the 2016 season approaches, I will be taking a look at the 10 teams with the best odds of winning the World Series and examining three reasons why each team may ultimately hoist the trophy. Today’s team:
Cardinals (20/1 odds to win World Series): The Cardinals won 100 games in 2015 and are always in the postseason mix. The Cardinals lost Jason Heyward and John Lackey in free agency and are only projected to win 83 games next seasons – in part because the National League Central is so competitive – but it’s crazy to ever count the Cardinals out.
Adam Wainwright healthy: Any team would be thrilled to add a free agent starter that – has had a sub-3.00 ERA and more than 200 innings in four of the last five seasons and that’s essentially what the Cardinals are doing with Adam Wainwright. While he wasn’t a free agent, the Cardinals are adding him to the mix as he pitched in just four game in 2015 and missed the rest of the season with a torn Achilles. The Cardinals lost John Lackey via free agency, but the return of Wainwright and the addition of Mike Leake have the rotation in good shape.
Experience: The Cardinals have won the NL Central each of the past three seasons and have reached the playoffs in each of the last five years. While the NL Central has certainly gotten tougher over the past couple seasons, the Cardinals know what they are doing and what needs to be done to get to October. Both the Cubs and Pirates are projected to finish ahead of St. Louis, but I’d be pretty nervous to ever bet against the Cardinals.
Management: Mike Matheny has led his team to the playoffs in every season since he took over (2012). Part of that is because of the talented roster and veteran leadership in the Cardinals clubhouse, but Matheny’s role can not be overlooked. GM John Mozeliak has also been very successful. During his tenure the Cardinals have won two NL Pennants, one World Series and made the playoffs several times. Led by Alex Reyes, the Cardinals also have a strong Minor League system. All in all, the Cardinals are in great shape from the top down. There’s a reason why there are regarded as one of the top franchises in baseball and it is those same reasons that keep them in the pennant race each and every year.