by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

The Chicago Cubs are the favorite team to win the 2016 World Series, with odds of 4 to 1. So, we know this is a weird year. Second, I am not playing favorites here, this is my honest projection for this season, and especially as you will see with the two teams I broadcast games for the A’s and the Angels.   I hope your team goes all the way, but remember it is only baseball, enjoy. Here is one of my favorite quotes, from one of my all-time favorite baseball writers.

“Baseball is a game where a curve is an optical illusion, a screwball can be a pitch or a person, stealing is legal and you can spit anywhere you like except in the umpire’s eye or on the ball'”. ~Jim Murray

 Since this article originates in the west coast, I will begin here first.

 American League (West)

 1-Houston Astros. They finished in second place with 86-76 record just two games behind the division champions Texas Rangers. This was a great improvement from 2014 when they ended in last place with a 70-92 record, 26 games behind the LA Angels of Anaheim. Rookie of the Year Carlos Correa is already one of the best shortstops in the major leagues at 21 years of age. Correa did not begin the season with the team, but played in 99 games and ended with an average of .279 with 22 home runs and 68 runs batted in, with great fielding at shortstop he reminds me a lot of a young Alex Rodriguez. Lefty Dallas Keuchel won the American League Cy Young Award with a 20-8 record, 2.48 ERA, started 33 games and pitched a total of 232 innings, offering 216 strikeouts and walking only 51. He is one of the best pitchers in baseball. A very good and young pitching staff also with Collin McHugh 19-7, 3.89 with a great cutter is a very capable and a very dependable pitcher, they also acquired Doug Fister from the Washington Nationals. Luke Gregerson was their closer, but they also acquired Ken Giles from the Phillies. This is a young very talented team that has as good of a chance to win this division as anybody else.

 2-Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish is back, could lead that rotation again. together with Derek Holland, Cole Hamels and Martin Perez. Good experienced team, good position players in Cecil Fielder, Adrian Beltre, Mitch Moreland, Elvis Andrus, Shin-Soo Choo plus.  They could win division also, if they stay healthy they are a scary and productive offense and they play at a park where the ball just goes and goes and goes, like that Bunny battery commercial.However,Josh Hamilton is dealing with knee soreness(what else is new)and that will prevent him from being ready for the start of the season; it is uncertain when he will be back, but the team is saying sometime in May. If they win division like last season(98-74)I will not be surprised.

 3-Seattle Mariners. Scott Servais is the new manager. This is my mystery team, maybe they can finally pull it together. A player by the name of Stefen Romero who can play anywhere, impressed me a lot in Spring Training. This is King Felix Hernandez’ team(in my book one of the five best pitchers in the game)but Taijuan Waljer is the key here, only 23 years old, he could come into his own this season. The Mariners underachieved last season with a 76-86 record, finishing next to last and it cost good man Lloyd McClendon his job as manager. Nelson Cruz still the home run king. Great city, great park, can they become a great team?

4-Los Angeles Angels. Jered Weaver will not open the season for them for the first time in eight seasons, that #1 belongs young Garret Richards. Did not pick up a left fielder. It is Daniel Nava and Craig Gentry in a platoon for Mike Scioscia, the longest tenured manager in the majors(17th season with the Halos) Mike Trout needs protection in lineup, has won two All Star Game MVPs, in-a row, nobody has ever won three in a row.  New shortstop, Andrelton Simmons from Atlanta for veteran shortstop Eric Aybar and Andrelton Simmons is one of the best defensive players in the game, also a new third baseman in Yunel Escobar. Rotation could struggle, bullpen is good. Great young pitching prospect is Victor Alcantara, Fluid team, they can go up or down. Manager Scioscia seem to be happy with new General Manager Billy Eppler, who came from the NY Yankees. Cannot pick them any higher. 

 5-Okland Athletics. Best thing for the A’s is to have a strong start of the season, and maybe that would make them forget a very disappointed 2015. Many new members on this team again, which is the norm in recent years, let’s hope their #1 pitcher Sonny Gray stays with the team the whole season. They rebuilt their bullpen, with John Axford, Liam Hendricks and Rich Hill.  Sean Manaea has a terrific young arm, could be brought up if rotation is not doing well. Pitching overall could be better than their offense. As they begin the season, this is the rotation: Sonny Gray, Rich Hill, Chris Bassitt, Kendall Graveman and Felix Doubront, I believe Billy Burns is an underrated leadoff hitter(faster runner from home to first in the American League, and also good defensive center fielder, although sometimes he missjudges, he usually makes it up with his speed. Big test for San Jose’s own Mark Cahna on his second campaign in the show. Without a doubt Bob Melvin  is one of the best skippers in the game, but he is Bob Melvin, not Harry Houdini.

 American League(Central)

 1-Kansas City Royals, They’re still the class of the division. As simple as that. Dessignated Hitter Kendrys Morales, led the league in RBI(53)with two outs.

2-Detroit Tigers. Did anybody forget, the kitties finished in the cellar last season, they could content this year.

3-Chicago White Sox. Quiet this off season. But they signed Todd Frazier, and lost Jeff Samardzija.

4-Minnesota Twins. Miguel Sano, is El Hombre, but they still have much work to do as a team.

5-Cleveland Indians. Terry Francona is a very good manager, but that offense is very weak.

 American League(East)

 1-Boston Red  Sox. About time they rise to the top again.However, Pablo Sandoval, who is in the second year of a five-year, $95 million deal, would be starting the 2016 season on the bench, the 29-year-old was saying all the right things Defense was the defining factor in benching Panda, as Travis Shaw will star Opening Day at third base. I still like the Red Sox and Panda will hopefully produce what they are expecting from him. With lefty David Price leading that good rotation, they have enough hitting. This team could go from last to first.

2-Toronto Blue Jays. Should at least make it as a wild card, but not surprised if they win division.

3-New York Yankees. Potential best bullpen in the game(Miller-Betances-Chapman)but, that might be not enough. Will have to wait  another year for 28th World Series title.

4-Tampa Bay Rays. They are undefeated in Havana, but they will not move there. There are plans for a new park  for the Rays in Tampa.

5-Baltimore Orioles. Chris Davis 47 home runs last season, Adam Jones and Manny Machado are big stars, but not enough pitching. For the birds, is last place.

 National League(West)

1-San Francisco Giants

Just using my common sense in this division, I have to pick the Giants. Not only they signed starters Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to strengthen what I believe is the best starting rotation in this division, but they also acquired outfielder Denard Span, a legitimate lead-off hitter. Madison Bumgarder is one of the best pitchers in the game and will lead that rotation to a division title. The big question mark will be how Matt Cain returns, that could be the difference between winning the division and winning the pennant. Pagan, Posey, Pence, should provide sufficient offense, plus others in the Bruce Bochy cast would be an interesting story, The Giants have been winning World Series every two years since 2010..so they are due, is 2016! A very weird format since they did not win for the first time until their 52nd season in San Francisco.

 2-Arizona Diamondbacks. Now with the great Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller also a good signing. A very good offense and If the Giants machine blow their engine, the snakes will win division.

 3-Los Angeles Dodgers. Now minus Zack Greinke, means Clayton Kershaw has to win every time. Rest of rotation? Can their new manager handle the Novela in uniform named Yasiel Puig?

 4-San Diego Padres, What else is new?  Four place is “normal “in San Diego these days. Fish Tacos are very good there.

 5-Colorado Rockies. Good manager, Walt Weiss, again with a bad team. Most be the thin air…

 National League(Central)

1-Chicago Cubs. They won 97 last season, and expectations are high. A great manager in Joe Maddon, they win this division.

2-Pittsburhg Pirates. Could also win this division, they might have the most complete team in the National League. Watch them, they are fun!’

3-St Louis Cardinals. The only team in MLB to win 100 last year. Sorry, way short this season, Jason Heyward and John Lackey defected to the Cubs, their biggest rivals.

4-Milwaukee Brewers. Now they publicly said they are rebuilding. Ryan Braun still could go for prospects. Great baseball market, not winning this year

5-Cincinnati Reds. Living in last place continues, rent is low, I think owners like it there.

 National League(East)

1-New York Mets. Real Estate is “Location, Location”, but for the Metropolitanos  is “Rotation, Rotation” Harvey-Syndergard-DeGrom-Mazt, and don’t forget 42 year old Bartolo, he throws nothing but strikes.

2-Washington National. Our good friend Dusty Baker could win the Lotto with this team, headed by Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer.
3-Miami Marlins. Can Giancarlo Stanton stay healthy, he is a super-power hitter, and then Jose Fernandez on the mound. Could be fun to watch The Fish

4-Atlanta Braves. Tough job for the only Hispanic manager left in MLB, Fredi Gonzalez(Cuban)

5-Philadelphia Phillies. Not even Rocky Balboa could save them.

So that you can have more fun, I let you pick the Playoffs teams as well as World Series.

Play Ball and Good Luck everybody!

 BONUS NOTES OF THIS 2016 SEASON: Kansas City goes for third straight pennant, since 1969 only Orioles and A’S(twice)and New York Yankees(twice)have done it.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy needs 90 wins to move into second place for Giants all-time wins for a manager., With 90 he will pass Bill Terry, and Dusty Baker, now manager  of Cincinnati.

If Chicago Cubs win 100 games, it would be the first time since 1935 for that team. Alex Rodriguez who said he is retiring after next season(2017) could become this season the fourth player in history with 6,000 total bases. San Diego Padres will start this season as the only current franchise without a pitcher throwing a no hitter., Did you know? Pitcher Octavio Dotel has the current all-time major league record of playing with the most teams? Get hold of this…the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic pitchers during a 15 year career from 1998 to 2013 pitched for 13 different teams. And that’s the record my friends for any player in major league history. He most have the biggest individual player collection of uniforms in history.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the TV Spanish voice for LA Angels baseball and the Spanish radio voice for the Oakland A’s and does News and Commentary right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com