2014 MLB Preview

So Budweiser is petitioning to make opening day in Major League Baseball an official national holiday. As of March 21^st, the St. Louis brewing company had the required 100,000 signatures to bring the petition before the White House. The question now is how the administration will respond. Even though he can’t name any of the team’s players, our commander-in-chief is a huge Chicago White Sox fan, so we have that going for us. Plus who doesn't deserve another day off from work? While we’re at it, why not make the Monday after the Super Bowl and the first Friday of March Madness national holidays too? Sign me up.

In all honestly, I can appreciate what Budweiser is trying to do. The first day of the baseball season is a special day many people look forward to every year. It marks the beginning of spring, and thousands of fans across the country skip work anyway to go to the ballpark. It would recognize and celebrate America’s pastime. Most importantly, every team is given a clean slate entering the new season, where anything is possible.

The Boston Red Sox proved that last year, coming out of nowhere to win the World Series. Nobody (including this writer) could have predicted what they did. They had the right chemistry, good pitching led by a solid bullpen, were well managed, and stayed healthy. Things just fell into the right place.

Can the Red Sox repeat their magical season from 2013? According to recent history, probably not. No team has repeated as World Series champions since the New York Yankees in 2000. So with that logic, who has the best chance to be playing in late October? Along with Boston there are several quality teams that can make a postseason run in October, including Detroit, Oakland, Tampa Bay, Washington, St. Louis, the Dodgers and San Francisco. It might be a team that nobody expects and catches fire like the Red Sox last year. And regardless what happens with the petition for Opening Day, it’s always a good excuse to grab some Bud heavies. What’s more American than that?

American League

Division Winners: Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics

Wild Card Winners: Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays

American League Champion: Detroit Tigers

A.L. MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

A.L. Cy Young: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

A.L. Rookie of the Year: Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox

National League

Division Winners: Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers

Wild Card Winners: Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants

National League Champion: Washington Nationals

N.L. MVP: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

N.L. Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

N.L. Rookie of the Year: Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds

World Series: Washington Nationals over Detroit Tigers

A.L. East (Projected Finish)

1. Boston Red Sox

2. Tampa Bay Rays

3. New York Yankees

4. Baltimore Orioles

5. Toronto Blue Jays

Koji Uehara

The New York Yankees are up to their same old tricks. Spend, spend and spend some more. They invested heavily in Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and newcomer Masahiro Tanaka. It’s no doubt that the Yankees have improved, but if last year proved anything it’s that big spending doesn’t always lead to a playoff spot. Tanaka has the makings of a future ace, but their hopes will still be riding on C.C. Sabathia, who’s ERA, win totals and velocity have declined over the past three seasons. He will have to stay healthy and be a reliable number one starter if the Yankees are going to contend in an already competitive division. Tampa Bay is one of the current models of success in baseball by developing talent through their farm system. Both the Rays and the Red Sox are bringing back similar rosters that met in last year's division series, but the champs losing table setter Ellsbury might dip into their run production. The Sox still own one of the best bullpens in baseball anchored by hidden gem Koji Uehara, which made a huge difference last October. If their pitching can hold up, Boston holds a slight edge over Tampa in the division.

A.L. Central

1. Detroit Tigers

2. Kansas City Royals

3. Cleveland Indians

4. Chicago White Sox

5. Minnesota Twins

Miguel Cabrera

Last season the Cleveland Indians surprised everyone by winning their last ten games to clinch the second wild-card spot. A lot of Cleveland’s success can be contributed to first year skipper and A.L. Manager of the Year Terry Francona, who should have the Indians competing for the playoffs again with a young and talented starting rotation. In Cleveland's way are the Kansas City Royals, who bolstered their first winning record last year since 2003. Their young offensive core is a year older and more experienced, and new additions Norichika Aoki and Omar Infante at the top of the lineup should increase their run production. The division still belongs to the Detroit Tigers, who have two time reigning MVP Miguel Cabrera and aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. They have a new manager in Braud Ausmus, but this group has enough talent to win their fourth straight division title and make another deep playoff run.

A.L. West

1. Oakland Athletics

2. Texas Rangers

3. Los Angeles Angels

4. Seattle Mariners

5. Houston Astros

Yu Darvish

The Angels own some of the biggest offensive names in baseball with Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. But after Jared Weaver and C.J. Wilson, the rest of their rotation falls off. The Rangers should see an increase in their offensive production by bringing in Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder into an already potent lineup. They have one of the best aces in Yu Darvish, but after that their starting pitching is a big question mark. Darvish will need the rest of the rotation to keep opposing runs in check in hitter friendly Arlington for Texas to compete for the playoffs. Oakland has a similar small-market model to Tampa Bay, winning on pitching depth and wise spending. It helps that they play the lowly Houston Astros nineteen times during the regular season, but their strong bullpen should keep them in games. Manager Bud Melvin will have them competing for their third straight division title.

N.L. East

1. Washington Nationals

2. Atlanta Braves

3. New York Mets

4. Philadelphia Phillies

5. Miami Marlins

Stephen Strasburg

Due to injuries and age, veterans Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies have seen their plate appearances and production slip since their 2008 World Series title. The Phillies also lost work horse and ace Roy Holliday to retirement. Utley and Howard are entering the season healthy, but bringing in veteran A.J. Burnett to the rotation with Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels will not be enough to compete for the division. The Mets are heading in the right direction, but losing Matt Harvey to Tommy John surgery last year did not help. That leaves the Braves and the Nationals. The Braves are definitely young and talented, but losing starters Brandon Beachy, Kris Medlen and Mike Minor to injuries opens the door for the Nats, who underachieved last year before finishing the season 26-12. Washington has one of the top starting rotations in baseball, and if Stephen Strasburg can throw 200 innings for the first time in his career, then the Nationals will have the opportunity to play deep into October.

N.L. Central

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Cincinnati Reds

3. Pittsburgh Pirates

4. Milwaukee Brewers

5. Chicago Cubs

Andrew McCutchen

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally broke their playoff drought after a dismal twenty-one years, and MVP Andrew McCutchen and N.L. Manager of the year Clint Hurdle should have the Pirates competing again. With a healthy Johnny Cueto returning to a starting rotation with Mat Latos and Homer Bailey, the Reds have a slight edge in pitching though. Rookie of the year candidate Billy Hamilton is a speedster on the base paths, and should add to an already talented offense. But the Cardinals have the same team returning that made it to the World Series last year. Their depth at pitching and experience should lead them to a division title and another playoff appearance.

N.L. West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2. San Francisco Giants

3. San Diego Padres

4. Arizona Diamondbacks

5. Colorado Rockies

Clayton Kershaw

Both the Dodgers and the Giants have a chance to compete for the division this season. San Francisco added reliable starter Tim Hudson to their rotation. If Tim Lincecum can return to his Cy Young form, then the Giants have four quality starters that also includes Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner. The Dodgers though have one of the most potent offenses in baseball if Carl Crawford, Hanley Ramirez and Matt Kemp can all stay healthy. Yasiel Puig is one of the most dynamic players that baseball has seen in a while, and could be a break out candidate in his first full season in the majors. It also helps when you have the best pitcher in baseball in reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw. If all things go right for the Dodgers, they should win their second straight division title.