After previewing the Mets on Wednesday and the Yankees yesterday, we’re all set for our overall MLB predictions today. (The season begins Sunday night, with the Texas Rangers playing the Houston Astros on ESPN.) But before we do that, a note on Johan.
The Mets announced last night that Johan Santana will have yet another surgery on his left shoulder, ending his season and his Mets career. It’s certainly possible this is the end of Santana’s entire career; two surgeries on the same throwing shoulder is never good. But for now, we’ll concern ourselves just with his Mets career.
The team’s ownership, which will pay him $31 million this year, has given him the following amounts of money per each baseball activity:
Per strikeout: $228,785.36
Per start: $1,261,467.89
Per win: $2,989,130.43
So, yikes. But there was the small business of that no-hitter. Was it worth it? $137.5 million for that Mets moment? Some might argue yes. The Mets have certainly spent their money worse elsewhere.
Anyway: On to the predictions. We’ve added up all the games to make sure the math works out, which should not be confused with anything slightly resembling accuracy.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
East
New York Yankees 89-73
Tampa Bay Rays 88-74
Toronto Blue Jays 84-78
Boston Red Sox 82-80
Baltimore Orioles 72-90
Central
Detroit Tigers 89-73
Kansas City Royals 81-81
Cleveland Indians 78-84
Chicago White Sox 74-88
Minnesota Twins 65-97
West
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 91-71
Texas Rangers 90-72
Seattle Mariners 77-85
Oakland Athletics 76-86
Houston Astros 62-100
NATIONAL LEAGUE
East
Washington Nationals 101-61
Atlanta Braves 90-72
Philadelphia Phillies 78-84
New York Mets 77-85
Florida Marlins 67-95
Central
Cincinnati Reds 95-67
St. Louis Cardinals 90-72
Milwaukee Brewers 82-80
Pittsburgh Pirates 78-84
Chicago Cubs 76-86
West
San Francisco Giants 89-73
Los Angeles Dodgers 84-78
Arizona Diamondbacks 81-81
San Diego Padres 76-86
Colorado Rockies 68-94
AL MVP: Robinson Cano, NY Yankees
AL CY YOUNG: Felix Hernandex, Seattle
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jurickson Profar, Texas
NL MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington
NL CY YOUNG: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles
NL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Shelby Miller, St. Louis
PLAYOFFS
AL WILDCARD: Tampa Bay over Texas
NL WILDCARD: Atlanta over St. Louis
ALDS: LA Angels of Anaheim over Tampa Bay, Detroit over NY Yankees
NLDS: Washington over Atlanta, Cincinnati over San Francisco
ALCS: LA Angels of Anaheim over Detroit
NLCS: Cincinnati over Washington
World Series: LA Angels of Anaheim over Cincinnati
Season starts in, like, 55 hours, you guys.
