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The 2017 Royals Review Prediction thread

Everyone will improve!

MLB: Spring Training-Cleveland Indians at Kansas City Royals Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Predicting human behavior is hard. Just ask the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Or President Hillary Clinton. Yet, we humans continue to do it. I feel like we're getting better, and even though analytical projections have taken a hit in the last year, they're not totally worthless. They still beat crystal balls, tarot cards, and gut feelings.

Still, we here at Royals Review are just as wrong as anyone. You can take a look at how wrong we were in our 2016 prediction thread. Matt Jackson was the only savant wise enough to predict the Royals would win 81 games. Four of us correctly predicted the Cubs would end their championship drought, but no one picked the Indians to win the pennant.

Here are some more bad predictions on the 2017 season that will likely be wrong.

Royals Predictions W-L Player WAR leader Pitcher WAR leader
Josh Duggan 84-78 Mike Moustakas Danny Duffy
Farmhand 85-77 Alex Gordon Danny Duffy
Ryan Heffernon 84-78 Lorenzo Cain Danny Duffy
Hokius 87-75 Mike Moustakas Danny Duffy
Matthew LaMar 83-79 Alex Gordon Danny Duffy
Shaun Newkirk 78-84 Lorenzo Cain Danny Duffy
Max Rieper 78-84 Mike Moustakas Danny Duffy
sterlingice 87-75 Lorenzo Cain Danny Duffy
Timothy Webber 76-86 Lorenzo Cain Danny Duffy

Shaun Newkirk: I don't think there is that much separating the Royals from the Twins. The Twins top four (Brian Dozier, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler) is about as good as the Royals top four (Cain, Perez, Moustakas, Gordon). The rotations are about the same too (surprisingly). If you can believe it, the difference between Ervin Santana and Danny Duffy projection-wise isn't that much. From there it's a bunch of vets and question marks for both.

Ryan Heffernon: I think they do have one last gasp of air left in them, but I don't think it will replicate 2015. If everything goes right, yes. But the AL will be tough.

Timothy Webber: There are some very plausible scenarios where the Royals could finish either 15 games above or 15 games below .500. I think that things never quite come together this year and the team sputters out down the stretch.

Farmhand: The Royals will circle a Wild Card spot like a three-legged coyote, always sniffing but not able to fight off the pack.

MLB standings (bold indicates projected Wild Card team)

AL East
Josh Duggan Red Sox Blue Jays Yankees Orioles Rays
Farmhand Blue Jays Red Sox Yankees Orioles Rays
Ryan Heffernon Red Sox Blue Jays Yankees Orioles Rays
Hokius Red Sox Blue Jays Yankees Rays Orioles
Matthew LaMar Red Sox Yankees Blue Jays Orioles Rays
Shaun Newkirk Red Sox Blue Jays Yankees Orioles Rays
Max Rieper Blue Jays Red Sox Yankees Rays Orioles
sterlingice Red Sox Blue Jays Orioles Rays Yankees
Timothy Webber Red Sox Blue Jays Yankees Orioles Rays

Max Rieper: Finishing last is all part of Buck Showalter's strategic plan to make the playoffs. He's the chessmaster! You simple-minded fools don't get it!

AL Central
Josh Duggan Indians Royals Tigers Twins White Sox
Farmhand Indians Royals Tigers Twins White Sox
Ryan Heffernon Indians Tigers Royals Twins White Sox
Hokius Indians Royals Tigers Twins White Sox
Matthew LaMar Indians Tigers Royals Twins White Sox
Shaun Newkirk Indians Tigers Royals Twins White Sox
Max Rieper Indians Tigers Royals Twins White Sox
sterlingice Indians Royals Tigers Twins White Sox
Timothy Webber Indians Tigers Twins Royals White Sox

Max Rieper: The White Sox will be bad. Groin-grabbingly bad. The Twins will make a run at the Royals for third.

AL West
Josh Duggan Astros Mariners Rangers Angels Athletics
Farmhand Astros Mariners Rangers Athletics Angels
Ryan Heffernon Astros Rangers Mariners Angels Athletics
Hokius Astros Mariners Rangers Angels Athletics
Matthew LaMar Astros Mariners Rangers Athletics Angels
Shaun Newkirk Astros Rangers Mariners Angels Athletics
Max Rieper Astros Mariners Rangers Athletics Angels
sterlingice Rangers Astros Mariners Angels Athletics
Timothy Webber Rangers Astros Mariners Angels Athletics

sterlingice: The current incarnation of the Rangers seems to exceed projections with the exception of their really injured season in 2014. The Astros are more talented. But they were probably more talented last year and finished 11 games back.

Ryan Heffernon: I almost drank the Mariners Kool-aid. I kinda like that team, but they have failed me in the past.

NL East
Josh Duggan Mets Nationals Braves Marlins Phillies
Farmhand Mets Nationals Marlins Braves Phillies
Ryan Heffernon Nationals Mets Marlins Phillies Braves
Hokius Nationals Mets Marlins Phillies Braves
Matthew LaMar Nationals Mets Marlins Phillies Braves
Shaun Newkirk Nationals Mets Marlins Braves Phillies
Max Rieper Nationals Mets Braves Phillies Marlins
sterlingice Mets Nationals Marlins Braves Phillies
Timothy Webber Nationals Marlins Mets Phillies Braves

Max Rieper: The Nationals win the division on the last day of the year when Bryce Harper smacks a game-winning home run, leading to a spate of articles about how selfish he was to not allow his teammates to win the game.

NL Central
Josh Duggan Cubs Pirates Cardinals Brewers Reds
Farmhand Cubs Pirates Reds Brewers Cardinals
Ryan Heffernon Cubs Cardinals Pirates Brewers Reds
Hokius Cubs Cardinals Pirates Brewers Reds
Matthew LaMar Cubs Cardinals Brewers Pirates Reds
Shaun Newkirk Cubs Cardinals Pirates Brewers Reds
Max Rieper Cubs Cardinals Pirates Brewers Reds
sterlingice Cubs Pirates Cardinals Brewers Reds
Timothy Webber Cubs Cardinals Pirates Reds Brewers

sterlingice: The Pirates are a story that intrigues. They did almost nothing this offseason and I don't think they have enough pitching but this is "one last go round" for Cutch as the core and I'm a bit bearish on the Cards, even if it may just be bias.

NL West
Josh Duggan Dodgers Rockies Giants D'backs Padres
Farmhand Dodgers Giants Rockies D'backs Padres
Ryan Heffernon Dodgers Giants D'backs Rockies Padres
Hokius Dodgers Giants Pad Rockies D'backs
Matthew LaMar Dodgers Giants D'backs Rockies Padres
Shaun Newkirk Dodgers Giants Rockies D'backs Padres
Max Rieper Dodgers D'backs Rockies Giants Padres
sterlingice Dodgers Giants Rockies D'backs Padres
Timothy Webber Dodgers Giants D'backs Rockies Padres

Max Rieper: Odd year, man. Giants are going to be awful.

AL MVP AL Cy Young AL Rookie
Josh Duggan Carlos Correa, HOU Corey Kluber, CLE Yoan Moncada, CHW
Farmhand Jose Altuve, HOU Dallas Keuchel, HOU ?
Ryan Heffernon Mike Trout, LAA Danny Duffy, KCR Andrew Benintendi, BOS
Hokius Francisco Lindor, CLE Chris Sale, BOS Yoan Moncada, CHW
Matthew LaMar Francisco Lindor, CLE Corey Kluber, CLE Lucas Giolito, CHW
Shaun Newkirk Mike Trout, LAA Chris Sale, BOS Andrew Benintendi, BOS
Max Rieper Carlos Correa, HOU Marcus Stroman, TOR Aaron Judge, NYY
sterlingice Mike Trout, LAA Yu Darvish, TEX Andrew Benintendi, BOS
Tim Webber Mookie Betts, BOS Corey Kluber, CLE Andrew Benintendi, BOS
NL MVP NL Cy Young NL Rookie
Josh Duggan Clayton Kershaw, LAD Clayton Kershaw, LAD Dansby Swanson, ATL
Farmhand Kris Bryant, CHC Jake Arrieta, CHC ?
Ryan Heffernon Bryce Harper, WAS Clayton Kershaw, LAD Dansby Swanson, ATL
Hokius Bryce Harper, WAS Noah Syndergaard, NYM Dansby Swanson, ATL
Matthew LaMar Corey Seager, LAD Clayton Kershaw, LAD Dansby Swanson, ATL
Shaun Newkirk Bryce Harper, WAS Clayton Kershaw, LAD Dansby Swanson, ATL
Max Rieper Corey Seager, LAD Noah Syndergaard, NYM Dansby Swanson, ATL
sterlingice Andrew McCutchen, PIT Clayton Kershaw, LAD Dansby Swanson, ATL
Tim Webber Kris Bryant, CHC Clayton Kershaw, LAD Dansby Swanson, ATL

Ryan Heffernon: Feel like Andrew Benintendi is the safe choice for Rookie of the Year, but would rather seen Yoan Moncada win it.

ALCS NLCS World Series
Josh Duggan Astros over Indians Cubs over Dodgers Cubs over Astros
Farmhand Astros over Blue Jays Cubs over Dodgers Cubs over Astros
Ryan Heffernon Red Sox over Indians Dodgers over Cubs Dodgers over Red Sox
Hokius Red Sox over Indians Cubs over Dodgers Cubs over Red Sox
Matthew LaMar Indians over Astros Dodgers over Cubs Dodgers over Red Sox
Shaun Newkirk Red Sox over Indians Dodgers over Cubs Red Sox over Dodgers
Max Rieper Astros over Blue Jays Nationals over Cubs Astros over Nationals
sterlingice Indians over Rangers Cubs over Pirates Indians over Cubs
Timothy Webber Red Sox over Blue Jays Cubs over Dodgers Red Sox over Cubs

Timothy Webber: I don't really think Texas will finish with the best record in the American League, but I need a Rangers/Blue Jays playoff series in my life, like, every year. The NL side of the bracket is just so boring that I had to throw Miami in there for fun. The world needs to witness their home run sculpture/monstrosity for at least one playoff game.

Max Rieper: The Blue Jays will become the second team ever to blow a 3-0 lead in a series, when Jose Bautista commits a huge mental error and melts down on the field, allowing the Astros to win the game, and the next three games to win the pennant. The comeback fuels the Astros to win their first championship, causing mass streaking.

What are your predictions?