This week marks the start of the 2013 Major League Baseball season and so far it looks poised to be a good one. With the rise of the young Washington Nationals last season, the San Francisco Giants having won two of the past three World Series, the Detroit Tigers having the past two American League Most Valuable Players and a variety of other situations on teams, the MLB will not lack in storylines this year. And between all the storylines, there will also be baseball to be played. Which teams will emerge as the best will not be known for sure until October, but I can give you a glimpse of what the season will look like in the MLB.
The AL East has been the powerhouse division in the MLB for years and it looks like 2013 will not change that. Last season, the Yankees beat out the Baltimore Orioles to win the division. The Orioles did get into the playoffs thanks to a wild card spot. While they did not make the playoffs, the Tampa Bay Rays did have a 90 win season. The Orioles and Rays looked poised to make runs again in the division this season while the Yankees are set to struggle between injuries and an offseason loss of power hitters. The Toronto Blue Jays may take over the Yankees’ spot in the division after an offseason in which they acquired numerous stars from the Florida Marlins.
I am not sold on the Blue Jays, however, following the woes of the players they acquired on the Marlins last season, I think the Orioles will take over the Yankees on top of the division. The Rays should be right on the Orioles’ tail throughout the season and despite all of the issues, watch out for the Yankees. The Yankees will most likely find a way to hang with the Rays and Orioles and maybe grab a second wild card spot.
The AL Central has been dominated in recent years by the Tigers and it does not look likely to change. The Tigers have possibly both the best pitcher and best hitter in baseball in Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. They are also coming off consecutive AL Championship series appearances and an embarrassing showing in the World Series last season. There is no reason to think that the Tigers will not win the AL Central again this season. They do not have much competition from other teams in the division mainly because other teams are not as well-rounded. But even if they had the competition, this Tigers team is one of the most talented in the AL.
The AL West has recently seen a shift in power from the Angels to the Texas Rangers. This season could put those two powers up against each other, however, with the reigning West champion Oakland Athletics in the mix. On paper, the Angels have the most talented roster in the MLB, but last season the on-paper talent did not add up to a spot in the playoffs. This season, it is hard to imagine that a team with Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout will fail to miss the playoffs. Despite the odd season last year, I cannot pick against the Angels. I think the Athletics will be the team to give them a run for their money and maybe grab a wild card spot. The Rangers may struggle after losing Hamilton and a few others this past offseason.
The NL East is the division that may give the AL East a run for its money this season in terms of the best division in baseball. The Nationals had the best record in all of the MLB last season while the Atlanta Braves got a wild card spot in the playoffs. The Philadelphia Phillies had a rough 2012, but like the Angels they have the talent to compete. If the Phillies can stay healthy and perform at expected levels, they may compete with the Braves for a wild card spot. The Nationals should win the division again without too much of a challenge from the Braves because they are just that good of a team.
The NL Central has recently been won often by the Cincinnati Reds, who may face their biggest challenge this season from the young Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates made a run at the division last season, but stumbled down the stretch. This season, watch experience help the Pirates. The St. Louis Cardinals will be in the mix too, after winning a wild card spot in 2012. I say the Reds win the division again while the Cardinals and Pirates compete for a wild card spot.
The NL West produced the 2012 World Series champion Giants. I think the Giants are built to win the division again this year, if not the World Series again. They are a talented team that obviously clicks together, a fact shown by their 2010 and 2012 World Championships. The Los Angeles Dodgers also feature a lot of talent, although it is older talent that has not won together yet. The Dodgers may post a good record in 2013, although I do not think they have much for the Giants.
The early favorites to make the World Series are the Nationals and Tigers. I think they are strong choices to make it, although I like the Giants and Angels. I foresee a rematch of the 2002 World Series after the Giants pull of another great late season run and the Angels team finally molds together. Only time will tell what will happen, however, and you will have to tune into the 2013 MLB season to see it all.
