Baseball is right around the corner, and as we prepare this week for pitchers and catchers to descend on Florida and Arizona, hope springs eternal for many of the players, managers, and especially those fans who have been agonizing through a long winter of discontent – and presidential primaries.
For those who are avid supporters of their favorite teams, as well as those casual observers, here’s an A-Z pre-season primer to get you in the mood for Grapefruit and Cactus League games.
A – Arizona Diamondbacks/Atlanta Braves
The Diamondbacks are much improved with young stud players like Paul Goldschmidt and the recent acquisition of Zack Greinke. Can the boys of the desert put together a competitive team, and challenge the likes of the Dodgers and the Giants, in what is a very competitive National League West?
The Braves are a team in transition, or seem to be, after several years of mediocrity. This is the last year they will be playing at Turner Field in Atlanta. There’s no reason to think, with the current lineup and pitching staff, that they will be able to compete with the National League Champion New York Mets, the always stocked Nationals, and the improving Marlins.
B – Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles spent a ton of money in the off-season, and are the hook for $128M in salaries for 2016. Their toying with Yoenis Cespedes, allowed slugger Chris Davis to resign a long-term deal to stay in Baltimore, and the additions of left fielder Hyun-soo Kim, and pitcher Darren O’Day should make the birds a competitive team in the quirky American League East. Buck Showalter, one of the best managers in the business, may propel the O’s to win 85 or more games.
C – Chicago Cubs and the other C’s
The Cubbies are truly the most intriguing team to enter the 2016 season. They have either been picked to win their first World Series in over 100 years, or at least compete for the best record in baseball. General Manager Theo Epstein and Manger Joe Maddon have assembled a roster of pitchers and catchers over the last two seasons that are the envy of Major League Baseball. They were oh so close last year, and lost to a clearly better New York Mets pitching staff in the National League Championship Series, but look for them to have that win at all cost mentality this season. Could this be the end of the Cubs losing ways and the billy goat curse?
The step-child of the Cubs, the Chicago White Sox, along with the Cincinnati Reds, the Cleveland Indians, and Colorado Rockies, are all teams that have big question marks coming into the new season. The only team that seems to be on a path to winning more games than losing, is the Indians. They showed last year that they can compete in a very tough division, and if they can get some better pitching, and clutch hitting throughout the summer, the Tribe may be in the mix.
The wildcard is the White Sox, who have a great roster on paper with the addition of former Reds Todd Frazier, but was a team that had a horrible offensive output last season, and there’s no reason to believe that they can make a dramatic turnaround in one year to challenge the World Champion Royals or the Tigers for division supremacy.
The Reds and Rockies may years that fans will want to forget. Sure, it’s fun to play in Colorado where the balls fly like rockets, and scores are like football games, but if you can’t hold the opponents to a higher run output, it may be a long season. The Reds have totally cleaned house, and are starting over. For those great Cincinnati fans, this may be the year when the team loses 100 games – something unheard from the proud Reds.
D – Detroit Tigers
Do the Tigers have enough to return to the top of their division? The team is getting older, despite arguably having the best player in baseball in Miguel Cabrera, but can Justin Verlander return to Cy Young form, and the rest of the Tigers make up enough ground to challenge those Royals down the stretch of a very long 162 game season?
E – Errors
The days of quality fielding seems to be a thing of the past, as offense has taken center stage. Fans love the scoring, but what happened to those players who were able to make highlight reel dives, catches, and double-play eye turners from the past. Baseball purists may be waiting a while for this basic exercise to return.
F – Florida Marlins
The addition of former Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, may sell tickets in Miami and fill that crazy new downtown stadium, but it doesn’t mean that they will be able to compete in a division that has the Mets and Nationals. Sure, they are improved, and have a great young core of pitchers, but it may be a few years before the Marlins return to prominence. The problem for Mattingly may be that owner Jeffrey Loria has a quick trigger finger, and he may not last that long to see the benefits.
G – Giants
There’s quite a few S’s, so the decision to put the Giants all alone under G made sense. If history repeats itself, the team should win another world championship – since it’s an even year. The additions of free agents Johnny Cueto, Denard Span, and Jeff Samardzija, shows that the Giants are going for it this season, and challenge the hated Dodgers for the National League West title.
H – Houston Astros
This is a team that was so bad, for so long, that it’s difficult for many prognosticators and fans to take them seriously. They were much improved last year, but had a pretty average record after May, and barely made it to the play-in game against the Yankees, or put the Royals away in the divisional round after being up two games to none. They are young, hungry, and seem poised to have a great year, but the jury is still out on how they will be able to handle a long season of expectations.
I and J – Inside the park home runs and the jokes of baseball
Players seem much faster now, and the number of the homers that don’t leave the stadium are on the rise. Hopefully, fans will be able to see more of this special feat in 2016.
The Philadelphia Phillies are truly a pitiful bunch. Apologies to the Phanatic and the Phans of a team that was close to winning multiple championships a few years ago. Bad signings, underachieving and overpaid players with long contracts, and not much of farm system, leaves the Phillies as the bottom of baseball once again. Philadelphia fans seem to be used to being perennial losers every year. It comes as a rite of passage for the city.
K – Kansas City Royals
The defending world champions are once again looking to repeat the last two seasons’ success. The fact is, they wanted it more than the Mets in the World Series, and were committed to achieving that goal from day one in spring training. Sure, a lot of folks don’t like manager Ned Yost and the way he calls a game, but how can anyone knock a team that was one game of winning it all two years ago, and then dismantling the best pitching staff in baseball?
L – The Dodgers and Angels of Los Angeles
The Dodgers are a case study for baseball lovers and haters of the team. They have a solid lineup, probably the best pitcher in baseball – Clayton Kershaw, and seem to be on the precipice of something great, but just can’t seem to get their act together. No one has spent more money on free agents that the Dodgers, but for some reason that doesn’t resonate into championships. Just ask the Yankees. They need to watch out for the Giants (see above).
The Angels were always the solid team that occupied a portion of the City of Angels, despite changing their name every few years. Mike Trout is a perennial all star and MVP candidate, and they have a core of some good young talent, but it may not be good enough to win the American League West crown, and return the team to the playoffs. It may be a long year for Mike Scioscia, who has led the team the last 16 years, but has only won one championship in 2002. Good teams, but fade in the end.
M – Milwaukee Brewers/Minnesota Twins
The Brewers are a team that no one hates, and with good reason. They can’t seem to ever field a competitive team. They have a great following of beer and brat lovers, but never put together a roster that can compete with the rest of the league – National or American. Once again, they will be mired near the basement, but fans do love coming to Miller Park.
The Twins were certainly overachievers last year, ending up with a winning record, despite not having a very good roster. This year, they may not be able to duplicate that effort, because the teams ahead of them may be that much better. Still, the Twins can surprise a lot of folks and make problems for the teams in their division.
N – New York Yankees/Mets
The once proud 27-time world champion New York Yankees, used to be the kings of New York City but may have taken a back seat to their cross town rivals from Queens. The Bronx Bombers having an aging lineup, and who knows how much more Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez, and Carol Beltran have left in the tank. Compounding that is the pitching staff which, if healthy all year, can win 90 games, and compete for the division, but everything is a big if with the Yankees this season.
The New York Mets, and their stable of young arms, are the class of baseball. Give it to General Manager Sandy Alderson and Manager Terry Collins for getting this team back to relevance after many years of blowing it at the end of the season. Their mid-season deals for Yoenis Cespedes, and Juan Uribe, and the Wilmer Flores debacle, propelled the Mets to the division crown, playoff wins against the Dodgers and Cubs, and an appearance in the fall classic for the first time in fifteen years. They will now have a big bull’s eye on their backs this season, and if the arms can stay healthy, David Wright can play 100 games, and Cespedes duplicates last year’s numbers, the Mets should be back playing October baseball.
O – Oakland A’s
The team across the bay from their Giants neighbors have yet to live up to expectations. Billy Beane and his money ball seems to work for half a season, but seems to fail in the end, turning the team into the same old, same old each year. The ballpark is old and the fans are starting to wonder if they will ever see another championship team in Oakland. It’s going to be another long season for the A’s, and at what point does the ownership, and fans, run Beane out of town?
P – Pittsburgh Pirates
This is a very dynamic bunch of players, that look a little like the Royals, but just can’t seem to figure out how to beat the Cardinals, and now the Cubs. Andrew McCutchen is one of the best all-around players in baseball, and the core of the team is solid, but how long can the Pirates be also-rans in this division? This may be the year that they put everything together, and all the stars line up, making it a three team horserace to the division crown.
Q – Quality
Baseball has certainly seemed to turn the corner after the steroid era, and has become America’s pastime again. Record crowds are showing up to the ballparks around the league, and small market clubs have made their presence felt, despite smaller payrolls. Everyone hopes this trend continues in 2016.
R – Red Sox
Yes, they could have been put under the letter B, but it seems that the team from New England needs their own space. After last year’s disappointing season, the Red Sox may have the biggest turnaround in the league this season. If they stay healthy, the additions of David Price and Craig Kimbrel will certainly help the pitching staff, as well as young sensations like Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, veterans Dustin Pedroia, and the last season for Big Papi David Ortiz, may propel the Sox to the division crown, and another trip to the World Series.
S – St. Louis Cardinals/San Diego Padres/Seattle Mariners
The Cardinals are text book in how to run a major league franchise. How they are able to, year after year, put together such a well-rounded roster of players that can not only pitch, but hit, is a testament to their overall organization. No one can count out the Red Birds, and don’t be surprised if the Cubs and Pirates are looking up at the team when September rolls around.
The Padres and Mariners are west coast wannabes that disappoint the fan base each and every year. Despite the fact that they try to assemble a roster that looks competitive, they both can’t seem to get over the hill, and make a run in either of their respective divisions. Good baseball fans, who seem to take losing in stride every year.
T- Tampa Bay Rays/Texas Rangers/Toronto Blue Jays
The cream of the crop here is the Blue Jays. Talk about a team that wants to win – and now. They have a great lineup, top to bottom, and the pitching will only improve, if everyone stays healthy. Now, can they put everything together from April to September, and beat out the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles to give themselves a division crown? That remains to be seen, but don’t underestimate this team and their desire to win.
The Rangers seem to be a team in transition, and look to return to prominence in the American League West, which may be the weakest in baseball. There’s no doubt that they have money to spend, and will look to do anything they can to get the team back to the postseason.
The Rays, unfortunately, are young and talented, but are mired in a division that has the aforementioned Jays, Yanks, Red Sox, and Orioles. They would have to have everything fall their way to be able to overcome the division rivals, and be a .500 team.
U and V. Umpires and Victories
Like Football, it seems that instant replays will become a normal occurrence in baseball, and the umpires will be less and less a part of the game. That’s a shame, because the sport was one of the last remaining bastions of ‘old school’, and inserting a time-consuming replay for managers to challenge plays takes away that human element.
Every fan wants victories for their team, and those that read the daily quips from spring training, hope that they can bring a winning formula home in April, and not be out of any hope by late April.
W – Washington Nationals
This is the best team over the last five years that has never won a single playoff series. What is it about the Nats that make the team self implode year after year? They are extremely talented, and have the all-world Bryce Harper, but can’t get their act together – and it doesn’t seem that the team likes each other very much. There’s a lot of personalities, some good, some bad, but a feeling of unity is lacking. They may end up being a very good 90-win squad that goes nowhere, once again.
X, Y and Z. Xtra Innings, Yu Darvish, and Ben Zobrist
Is there anything better for true baseball purists to have a game, whether with great pitching or lots of runs to go to extra frames? The days of doubleheaders are over, but anything more than nine innings, goes a long way for those that shell out hundreds for tickets each game.
Yu Darvish used to be one of the best arms in baseball, but injuries have certainly set him back, and we will see he can return to be the dominating pitcher he once was, and propel the Rangers to more victories in 2016.
Ben Zobrist loved playing for Kansas City so much, he used the Royal for his new child’s middle name. Unfortunately, he left for greener pastures in Chicago, where he hopes to bring a crown to the Windy City, and those crazed, starved fans.
The 2016 baseball season is on the near horizon, and fans all over the country are excited about their teams, where everyone starts in first place on day one. Despite the clear winners and losers, nothing can take away the youthful exuberance of men, women, and children, who will once again, look to the baseball gods to bring them an exciting eight months of home runs, no-hitters, and maybe even a trip to the big show in the fall. One can only hope.
