When the calendar hits the end of October, we can all look back at what I write here and get a good chuckle of how wrong I will be.
A season ago, the Chicago Cubs played with my emotions and reached the National League Championship series. It was a big thud after that, as the New York Mets swept the Cubs. I guess it was OK, since no one thought Chicago would be there. Now, the experts in Las Vegas have the Cubs as the favorite to win it all.
Hell will officially freeze over in this time of global warming this year, as the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series.
I am a diehard Cubs fan from the early days of WGN. I remember watching the 1984 team on a little black and white TV during fourth grade at Sonoma Heights Elementary School. Maybe I should have learned my ABCs instead of watching WGN. Now, I can’t even watch the Cubs on WGN, with all the changes in television contracts.
Chicago is full of young talent that has the possibility of turning into something special. You start out with Addison Russell at shortstop and Kris Bryant at third base. There is no controversy about Bryant being on the opening day roster this season.
You throw in Anthony Rizzo at first base and newcomer Ben Zobrist at second. Zobrist won the World Series with Kansas City last year and brings a veteran presence to the lineup. Kyle Schwarber was a surprise addition last year and Dexter Fowler and Jason Heyward will patrol the outfield. The lineup is scary. However, my concern is pitching. The Cubs will need to make a deal at the trade deadline for a couple pitchers.
My prediction is the Cubs will go 99-63.
Let’s begin with the American League East, where Toronto is my favorite to win a division that is not as good as it has been in the past. Boston has been on a yo-yo the last few years, going from last to first to last. Plus they have a $30 million dollar third baseman on the bench, because he can’t control his weight. Tampa Bay is intriguing with some great young players.
The AL Central is Kansas City’s to lose. The Royals have been to the World Series the last two years. Until someone beats them, it is their division.
The division can still be up for grabs though, with Detroit, Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox having chances to make a statement. Some have said Minnesota is a team to watch out for.
A couple of years ago, everyone was asking what the heck the Houston Astros were doing. Houston ignored all the naysayers and reached the playoffs last year. I don’t know if they can do it again this year. I think Anaheim finally gets it together and wins the division.
Your playoff teams will be Toronto (AL East), Kansas City (AL Central), Anaheim (AL West), Cleveland (wild card) and Seattle (wild card). Toronto beats Kansas City for the AL championship.
Washington was the flavor of choice a season ago, but the Nationals quickly fizzled out in the playoffs. They have bigger problems. Take the fight in the dugout late last season. The New York Mets may have the best pitching rotation in baseball. They made gains on offense and are the class of the division.
St. Louis has been the king of the NL Central, but the Cardinals have said goodbye to popular players and not falling for the big contracts. They have built their team through the farm system, and it is one that is modeled throughout the rest of MLB.
Pittsburgh has been a feel-good story for the last couple of years, and that will continue. Cincinnati is not the same club as in the past, and does anyone remember Milwaukee.
Apparently, money is not an option for the Los Angeles Dodgers and their quest for a world championship. Injuries have killed this team in spring training. We will see what $275 million buys you. Clayton Kershaw had an unbelievable 2015, but has forgotten to show up in the playoffs the last couple of years.
It is 2016, so San Francisco is going to win the World Series. It happened in 2012 and 2014.
If you watched the Reno Aces for a couple of years now, they have turned into the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona went on a spending spree in the off-season and we will see how that turns out. Losing A.J. Pollock is a killer.
Your playoff teams will be New York (NL East), Chicago (NL Central), San Francisco (NL West), Pittsburgh (wild card) and Arizona (wild card). Chicago beats San Francisco for the NL championship.
Chicago beats Toronto in six games to win the World Series.
Winnemucca Publishing Sports Editor Tony Erquiaga can be reached at t.erquiaga@winnemuccapublishing.net.
