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The big thread of probably wrong baseball predictions

I can’t even tell you what I’m having for lunch.

Humans love making predictions. We love thinking about what the future holds, even if none of us really have a good idea of what that will be. A hundred years ago, people had some very odd thoughts on what life might be like today, but they were probably no worse at predicting the future than we are.

We love sports for their unpredictability. We cheer the underdogs, we remember the upsets, we look bug-eyed at the amazing plays were weren’t expecting. We thought baseball was really predictable last year, and yet none of us correctly picked the Boston Red Sox to win the championship, or even win the pennant. Even in the age of the “superteams”, baseball remains hard to predict.

I collected predictions on the 2019 season from our writing staff as well as over 200 responses from readers like you, and here is what I got - a bunch of answers that will almost certainly be wrong. And that’s just fine by me.

Royals predictions

2019 Royals predictions

Predictions Best Royals position player Best Royals pitcher Royals' record Standings
Predictions Best Royals position player Best Royals pitcher Royals' record Standings
Jesse Anderson Adalberto Mondesi Brad Keller 75-87 3rd
Michael Augustine Adalberto Mondesi Brad Keller 81-81 3rd
Crai Brown Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 65-97 3rd
Alex Duvall Adalberto Mondesi Jakob Junis 72-90 4th
Ryan Heffernon Whit Merrifield Danny Duffy 71-91 4th
Hokius Adalberto Mondesi Kyle Zimmer 71-91 4th
Josh Keiser Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 73-89 3rd
Matthew LaMar Adalberto Mondesi Kyle Zimmer 75-87 3rd
Ryan Landreth Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 70-92 3rd
Bradford Lee Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 75-87 3rd
David Lesky Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 71-91 4th
Shaun Newkirk Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 69-93 4th
Max Rieper Adalberto Mondesi Jakob Junis 72-90 4th
sterlingice Whit Merrifield Jakob Junis 72-90 4th

Reader vote

Royals position player WAR leader: Adalberto Mondesi 47.5%, Whit Merrifield 47%

Royals pitcher WAR leader: Brad Keller 36.1%, Jakob Junis 32.3%, Brad Boxberger 9.9%

Critical spirits! None of our writers chose the Royals to have a winning record, although they all predict the team to improve considerably. The readers seem to be a lot more bullish on Brad Keller than the writers. No surprise that most seem to think the best player will either be Whit Merrifield or Adalberto Mondesi.

American League predictions

2019 American League predictions

Predictions AL East AL Central AL West AL Wildcard AL Wildcard
Predictions AL East AL Central AL West AL Wildcard AL Wildcard
Jesse Anderson Boston Cleveland Houston New York Los Angeles
Michael Augustine New York Cleveland Houston Boston Tampa Bay
Craig Brown New York Cleveland Houston Boston Los Angeles
Alex Duvall New York Cleveland Houston Boston Tampa Bay
Ryan Heffernon New York Cleveland Houston Tampa Bay Boston
Hokius New York Cleveland Houston Boston Tampa Bay
Josh Keiser New York Cleveland Houston Boston Minnesota
Matthew LaMar Boston Cleveland Houston New York Tampa Bay
Ryan Landreth Boston Cleveland Houston Tampa Bay New York
Bradford Lee New York Cleveland Houston Boston Oakland
David Lesky New York Cleveland Houston Boston Minnesota
Shaun Newkirk New York Cleveland Houston Boston Minnesota
Max Rieper New York Cleveland Houston Boston Minnesota
sterlingice New York Cleveland Houston Boston Minnesota

Reader vote

AL East: Boston 56.4%, New York 41.6%

AL Central: Cleveland 82.2%, Minnesota 8.9%, Kansas City 6.9%

AL West: Houston 86%, Los Angeles 8.5%, Oakland 3.5%

AL Wildcards (two): New York 51%, Boston 39.1%, Los Angeles 30%, Oakland 23.8%, Tampa Bay 15.3%, Houston 9.9%, Seattle 8.4%, Kansas City 5.9%, Minnesota 5.4%, Cleveland 5.4%

The American League seems fairly predictable, although there is some split over who will win the East.

National League predictions

2019 National League predictions

Predictions NL East NL Central NL West NL Wildcard NL Wildcard
Predictions NL East NL Central NL West NL Wildcard NL Wildcard
Jesse Anderson Washington Milwaukee Colorado Chicago San Diego
Michael Augustine New York Chicago Colorado Atlanta Washington
Craig Brown New York Chicago Los Angeles Milwaukee Washington
Alex Duvall Washington Chicago Colorado Atlanta Milwaukee
Ryan Heffernon Washington Chicago Los Angeles St. Louis Philadelphia
Hokius Philadelphia St. Louis San Diego Atlanta Chicago
Josh Keiser Philadelphia Chicago Los Angeles Atlanta Washington
Matthew LaMar Philadelphia Chicago Los Angeles St. Louis Arizona
Ryan Landreth Philadelphia Chicago Colorado Atlanta Los Angeles
Bradford Lee Atlanta Milwaukee Los Angeles Philadelphia Chicago
David Lesky Washington St. Louis Los Angeles Philadelphia Milwaukee
Shaun Newkirk Washington Chicago Los Angeles St. Louis Philadelphia
Max Rieper Washington Milwaukee Colorado Atlanta St. Louis
sterlingice Philadelphia Milwaukee Los Angeles Washington Chicago

Reader vote

NL East: Philadelphia 50.5%, Atlanta 34.5%, Washington 10.5%, New York 4.5%

NL Central: Milwaukee 56.9%, Chicago 24.8%, St. Louis 15.3%, Cincinnati 3%

NL West: Los Angeles 74.1%, Colorado 17.4%, San Diego 4%, Arizona 4%

NL Wild cards (two): St. Louis 32.2%, Atlanta 29.7%, Chicago 27.2%, Colorado 20.8%, Milwaukee 19.3%, Philadelphia 19.3%, Los Angeles 11.4%, San Diego 10.4%, Arizona 7.4%, Washington 6.9%, Cincinnati 5.9%

The Bryce Harper signing seemed to sway readers to pick the Phillies as the only non-repeat division winner.

Award predictions

2019 MLB Award predictions

Predictions AL MVP NL MVP AL Cy Young NL Cy Young AL Rookie of the Year NL Rookie of the Year
Predictions AL MVP NL MVP AL Cy Young NL Cy Young AL Rookie of the Year NL Rookie of the Year
Jesse Anderson Mike Trout, LAA Anthony Rendon, WSN Justin Verlander, HOU Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Fernando Tatis, SDP
Michael Augustine Mookie Betts, BOS Ronald Acuna, ATL Trevor Bauer, CLE Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Fernando Tatis, SDP
Craig Brown Mike Trout, LAA Nolan Arenado, COL Gerrit Cole, HOU Noah Syndergaard, NYM Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Victor Robles, WSN
Alex Duvall Mike Trout, LAA Trea Turner, WSN Gerrit Cole, HOU Walker Buehler, LAD Eloy Jimenez, CHW Touki Toussant, ATL
Ryan Heffernon Mike Trout, LAA Anthony Rendon, WSN Chris Sale, BOS Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Fernando Tatis, SDP
Hokius Mike Trout, LAA Bryce Harper, PHI Trevor Bauer, CLE Aaron Nola, PHI Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Touki Toussant, ATL
Josh Keiser Mike Trout, LAA Nolan Arenado, COL Chris Sale, BOS Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Victor Robles, WSN
Matthew LaMar Mike Trout, LAA Nolan Arenado, COL Justin Verlander, HOU Clayton Kershaw, LAD Eloy Jimenez, CHW Fernando Tatis, SDP
Ryan Landreth Aaron Judge, NYY Bryce Harper, PHI Justin Verlander, HOU Aaron Nola, PHI Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Fernando Tatis, SDP
Bradford Lee Mike Trout, LAA Nolan Arenado, COL Chris Sale, BOS Aaron Nola, PHI Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Fernando Tatis, SDP
David Lesky Alex Bregman, HOU Anthony Rendon, WSN Jose Berrios, MIN Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Luis Urias, SDP
Shaun Newkirk Mike Trout, LAA Kris Bryant, CHC Gerrit Cole, HOU Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Chris Paddack, SDP
Max Rieper Alex Bregman, HOU Nolan Arenado, COL Marcus Stroman, TOR Stephen Strasburg, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Francisco Mejia, SDP
sterlingice Mike Trout, LAA Paul Goldschmidt, STL Chris Sale, BOS Max Scherzer, WSN Vladimir Guerrero, TOR Nick Senzel, CIN

Reader vote

AL MVP: Mike Trout, LAA 56.9%; Mookie Betts, BOS 7.9%; Aaron Judge, NYY 5.4%; Alex Bregman, HOU 5%; Jose Altuve, HOU 4%; J.D. Martinez, BOS 4%; Francisco Lindor, CLE 3%; Someone else 9.9%

NL MVP: Nolan Arenado, COL 20.3%; Bryce Harper, PHI 15.3%; Paul Goldschmidt, STL 12.9%; Ronald Acuna, ATL 10.4%; Christian Yelich, MIL 8.9%; Manny Machado, SDP 5.4%; Kris Bryant, CHC 4.5%; Someone else 15.3%

AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, BOS 28.4%; Justin Verlander, HOU 12.4%; Gerrit Cole, HOU 9%; Corey Kluber, CLE 6.5%; Blake Snell, TBR 6%; James Paxton, NYY 4.5%; Someone else 28.9%

NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer, WSN 39.8%; Jacob deGrom, NYM 14.4%; Aaron Nola, PHI 10.9%; Noah Syndergaard, NYM 6%; Clayton Kershaw, LAD 4.5%; Stephen Strasburg, WSN 4.5%; Someone else 14.9%

AL Rookie of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., TOR 47.8%; Eloy Jimenez, CHW 17.4%; Yusei Kikuchi, SEA 5.5%; Someone else 24.4%

NL Rookie of the Year: Fernando Tatis, Jr. SDP 33.3%; Victor Robles, WSN 20.4%; Francsico Mejia, SDP 10%; Touki Toussant, ATL 7%; Peter Alonso, NYM 5%; Nick Senzel, CIN 4.5%; Someone else 19.4%

All right, who will win the whole shebang?

World Series predictions

2019 World Series predictions

Predictions World Series
Predictions World Series
Jesse Anderson Red Sox over Nationals
Michael Augustine Yankees over Braves
Craig Brown Astros over Cubs
Alex Duvall Nationals over Astros
Ryan Heffernon Yankees over Nationals
Hokius Astros over Phillies
Josh Keiser Astros over Braves
Matthew LaMar Red Sox over Phillies
Ryan Landreth Phillies over Rays
Bradford Lee Astros over Phillies
David Lesky Dodgers over Astros
Shaun Newkirk Astros over Nationals
Max Rieper Astros over Nationals
sterlingice Dodgers over Astros

Reader vote

American League pennant: Houston 35.7%, New York 30.1%, Boston 22.4%, Kansas City 4.6%, Cleveland 3.1%

National League pennant: Milwaukee 27.9%, Philadelphia 18.9%, Los Angeles, 14.9%, Atlanta 11.9%, St. Louis 8.%, Chicago 7.5%, Washington 4%, Colorado 4%

World Series champion: Houston 22.9%, NY Yankees 20.3%, Boston 16.7%, Milwaukee 16.7%, Philadelphia 4.2%, LA Dodgers 3.6%, Kansas City 3.6%

What are your predictions for the season?