
By Amy McGinnis
This past week (finally!) marked the day I had been waiting for since October … pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater for Phillies’ spring training. Suddenly, my world makes sense again. Now that training has begun, we can take a look at what’s in store for the 2013 season. I’ve made my predictions; I’d love to be wrong about them, though. I don’t see the Phils advancing into the postseason this year. That being said, I’d also like to say that one of my many favorite things about baseball is that anything can happen over the course of 162 games.
American League East. In the AL East, I have Toronto winning the division. The Blue Jays managed to benefit from the failed Miami Marlins experiment, and they look poised to begin a new era in Toronto. Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey, Josh Johnson, and Mark Buehrle make for a solid pitching rotation. Edwin Encarnación (.280/42/110 in 2012), Jose Bautista, and Melky Cabrera should provide consistent offense. The only real competition I see in the AL East is Tampa Bay. In 2012, the Tampa Bay Rays led Major League Baseball with an ERA of 3.19 and led the American League with strikeouts (1.383 for those of you who are counting). Fernando Rodney set a relief record with a 0.60 ERA, and 20-game-winner and Cy Young recipient David Price posted a 2.56 ERA. For the record, I can see Baltimore and New York battling to stay out of fifth place. The Yankees are beginning spring training with four players (Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and CC Sabathia) who were injured. Age is a factor, too, considering that of Ichiro Suzuki, Mariano Rivera, Hiroki Kuroda, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, and Andy Pettitte, the average age is 40 years.
American League Central. In AL Central, I predict a win by Detroit. Jim Leyland has signed a one-year extension to his contract, and Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera (.330/44/139 in 2012) won’t even turn 30 until this April. Starting pitchers Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Doug Fister should prove to be a sound rotation, and Victor Martinez and Prince Fielder should help to generate plenty of offense. Cleveland is probably the only team in the AL Central division that could be capable of coming close to challenging Detroit, thanks to Michael Bourn and Michael Brantley in the outfield, and Carlos Santana, Jason Kipnis, and Asdrubal Cabrera in the infield.
American League West. Although I’d like to see competition from Texas, I predict that the Angels will take the AL West. The Rangers have Ian Kinsler, Adrian Beltre, and Elvis Andrus in the infield, Yu Darvish as a starting pitcher, and Joe Nathan as their closer. That might sound impressive, if not for the threat in Anaheim. Mike Trout (who has been of legal drinking age for all of six months now) posted .326/30/83 last season. Allow that to sink in for a minute. With Albert Pujols at first, Ryan Madson in the bullpen, Mark Trumbo as DH, and now Josh Hamilton in the outfield, there’s no reason that the Angels shouldn’t win the AL West.
National League East. I’d like to preface this section by saying that these are my predictions, not what I hope occurs. Obviously, I’d love to see the Phils own the NL East and storm through the postseason to bring us another parade down Broad Street. I’m not so sure it will happen quite that way in 2013, but I think that Philadelphia has a decent shot at the Wild Card. That being said, it pains me to say that I think Atlanta will dominate the division this season. Starting pitchers Mike Minor and Kris Medlen are both young; Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are, too. Aside from youth, the Braves have Craig Kimbrel as their closer and Brian McCann behind the plate. I know I’ve said it many times, but I really do love to hate both of them. I’d say the proverbial cherry on top is Atlanta’s outfield – Upton, Upton, and Heyward. The Phils will surely continue to rely on pitching, even if Roy Halladay is banged up. Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee, as long as they stay healthy, should provide solid left-handed pitching in the rotation. We finally have an 8th inning relief pitcher in Mike Adams; that role hasn’t been filled since we let Ryan Madson go. I predict a .260/33/112 season for Ryan Howard, and I think it’s safe to say that the infield is not a big concern for the Phils right now. I’m interested to see how the outfield takes shape during spring training, though. Washington poses a threat in the NL East, especially with Stephen Strasburg (as long as he doesn’t have inning limitations), Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann in the pitching rotation. A Nats implosion would bring me a lot of joy, especially if I could see Bryce Harper cry. (A baseball nerd can dream, can’t she?)
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Tags: American League, Amy McGinnis, Baseball, MLB, National League, Predictions
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