Baseball 2018

March 27, 2018

With the Blackhawks sinking further into their abyss and the Bulls trying to lose, thank you Loyola for giving Chicago and the fans something to root for.  The next best thing is the crack of the bat, ball hitting leather and the start of the baseball season.

Although Milwaukee and St. Louis may have improved, they can fight for the wild card as the Cubs once again will easily win this division. Along with the Astros, this team is the model everyone is trying to copy. Their window keeps getting wider thanks to Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer. The questions marks from last season have been answered. You lose Jake Arrietta and Todd Lackey, and get better acquiring Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood to complete the best pitching staff in baseball. The leadoff hitter situation has been solved with Ian Happ. After Happ are Bryant, Rizzo and Contreras, all of whom are capable of hitting 30 home runs. I also predict a big year for Kyle Schwarber. In what was supposed to be a bad year, including a trip to the minors, he hit 30 home runs. Expect this number to go way up. Javier Baez may not know the strike zone yet still managed to hit 23 home runs. Whatever deficiencies Addison Russell may have at the plate, his defense makes up for it. Same goes for Heyward who is just keeping the seat warm for Bryce Harper. If there are any questions it will be in the bullpen. Barring a barrage of injuries they will make a run in the post season where hopefully Joe Madden doesn’t do his usual bad managing act in October. However, since teams don’t usually win 2 championships in a row, the Cubs may get their second this year.

It doesn't look like the White Sox will be very good, nor will they lose 95 games. There are just too many question marks to be overly optimistic. They only have three players coming off good years. Jose Abreu has been nothing short of spectacular, while Avi Garcia and newly acquired catcher Welington Castillo will try to repeat last year.  Where you’re hoping to see improvement is in the middle. Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson both have great upsides. You just never know how long the process reaching that will take.  One big difference is they finally have a good DH in Matt Davidson. With a year under his belt and playing every day he could be real good with 30 homer potential. He may end up being the third baseman. I don’t think you can rely on Sanchez. Nicky Delmonico can also play third. If not he will be displaced in left when they call up Eloy Jimenez. I can’t remember the last time the opening centerfielder was the same two years in a row.  Adam Engel does not instill confidence. It’s a shame when James Shields is your opening day starter. The hope is he pitches well enough to be traded for prospects. More likely, he’ll be replaced when they call up Michael Kopech. The rest of the starters, being young, are going to have their ups and downs but looked good last September. The biggest weakness is the bullpen. For closers, Sorria hasn’t been good in years. The other option, Nate Jones needs to come in with no one on base since he has control issues. All the returning relievers couldn’t even get me out. Things could get interesting and fun to watch.  Seventy five wins seems about right.