MLB PREVIEW: 2015 MLB PREDICTIONS

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for The Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

Now that I have analyzed every roster over  past month I am ready to make my 2014 predictions. In the past  I have been pretty good a picking 5-or-6 playoffs teams with always two horrendous missteps. If I could get anything right it would be my World Series winner, but I know a July trade or significant injury will shape the season in a way that I cannot calculate at this point.
I know the obvious never wins it all, but the team is too loaded to not at least get to the dance. Let's pick the same team to win it all two years in a row. I'll predict the Barack Obama Classic - his home town versus where he resides now....

2015 MLB Predicted Standings (playoff teams in red)

AL East (predicted win total)

Orioles (90-72)
Red Sox (87-75)
Yankees (86-76)
Blue Jays (77-85)
Rays (73-89)

AL Central
White Sox (93-69)
Tigers (92-70)
Indians (88-74)
Royals (81-81)
Twins (67-95)

AL West
Angels (96-66)
Mariners (89-73)
A's (80-82)
Rangers (70-92)
Astros (68-94)

NL West
Dodgers (96-66)
Padres (83-79)
Giants (79-83)
Rockies (71-91)
Diamondbacks (67-95)

NL Central

Cardinals (93-69)
Pirates (85-77)
Cubs (80-82)
Brewers (77-85)
Reds (76-86)

NL East
Nationals (101-61)
Marlins (89-73)
Mets (82-80)
Braves (72-90)
Phillies (65-97)

2015 MLB Playoff Predictions

NLWC: Marlins over Pirates
NLDS: Nationals over Marlins
NLDS: Cardinals over Dodgers

ALWC: Mariners over Tigers
ALDS: Mariners over Angels
ALDS: White Sox over Orioles

NLCS: Nationals over Cardinals
ALCS: White Sox over Mariners

World Series: Nationals over White Sox

2015 Award Winners Predictions

AL MVP: Jose Abreu (White Sox)
NL MVP: Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins)

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez (Mariners)
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers)

AL Rookie of the Year: Blake Swihart (Red Sox)
NL Rookie of the Year: Joc Pederson (Dodgers)

AL Manager of the Year: Robin Ventura (White Sox)
NL Manager of the Year: Terry Collins (Mets)

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Prince Fielder (Rangers)
NL Comeback Player of the Year: Matt Harvey (Mets)

MLB PREVIEW: Let's Play Two. Los Angeles Angels and Washington Nationals

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#2.

PROJECTED LINEUP
RF Kole Calhoun
CF Mike Trout
SS Erick Aybar
1B Albert Pujols
LF Matt Joyce
DH CJ Cron
3B David Freese
C Chris Iannetta
2B Johnny Giavotella

PROJECTED ROTATION
Jered Weaver
Garrett Richards
CJ Wilson
Matt Shoemaker
Andrew Heaney

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Huston Street
Set-up:  Joe Smith

Top Prospect: Andrew Heaney (P)

BREAKOUT - Having no clear cut breakout player is actually a good thing in the Angels case. The Halos have proven players that are ready to win. Led by MVP Mike Trout and Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, this group has chance to duplicate last year's 98 wins and make a run toward their second championship in franchise history.

SPRING STORYLINES - Mike Scioscia is definitely on the hot seat and the Upper Darby and Penn State native needs to win with this group in order to keep the job he has held since 2000. The curious case of Josh Hamilton will be early April discussion, but their play on the field will be the talk of the town come July.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 98-64 (1st in AL West)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 96-66 (1st in AL West)

#1.

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Denard Span
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Yunel Escobar
C Wilson Ramos

PROJECTED ROTATION
Max Scherzer
Stephen Strasburg
Jordan Zimmermann
Doug Fister
Gio Gonzalez

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Drew Storen
Set-up Man:Casey Jansenn

Top Prospect: Lucas Giolito (P)

BREAKOUT - Some thought Drew Storen would never be the same after the 2012 playoff loss to the Cardinals, but at the end of last season the former first round pick proved he is ready to be lights out that is ready to be lights out. With one of the best rotations since the Phillies Four Aces, the Nats pitching staff is poised to be one of the best of all-time.

SPRING STORYLINES - I decided to project the Nats lineup on this blog for when the team is healthy. They have so many injury question marks right now it could be a slow start for the favorites to go to the Fall Classic. Injuries to Anthony Rendon, Denard Span, and Jayson Werth are concerning, but the Nats also have some solid depth to fill in for the time being.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 96-66 (1st in NL East)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 101-61 (2nd in NL East)

**Check back tomorrow for the 2015 MLB Predictions

MLB PREVIEW: Let's Play Two. Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#4.

PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Adam Eaton
LF Melky Cabrera
1B Jose Abreu
DH Adam LaRoche
RF Avisail Garcia
SS Alexei Ramirez
3B Conor Gillaspie
C Tyler Flowers
2B Micah Johnson

PROJECTED ROTATION
Chris Sale
Jeff Samardzija
Jose Quintana
John Danks
Hector Noesi

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: David Robertson
Set-up: Zach Putnam

Top Prospect: Carlos Rodon (P)

BREAKOUT - Health is the only thing holding Adam Eaton back from being a dynamic leadoff hitter. With a possible MVP threat in Jose Abreu hitting behind him, Eaton should easily score 100 runs this year and be a catalyst for a revamped roster. The key is staying on the field for Eaton and if he does, he will have his best year to date.

SPRING STORYLINES - The Sox made tweaks to every aspect of the fourth place club and now look like true contenders to supplant the Tigers atop one of the best divisions in baseball. There are four clubs that could easily win this division  (sorry Twins), but with the additions of David Robertson, Jeff Samardzija, and Melky Cabrera, confidence is high on the South Side.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 73-89 (4th in AL Central)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 92-70 (1st in AL Central)

#3.

PROJECTED LINEUP
SS Jimmy Rollins
LF Carl Crawford
RF Yasiel Puig
1B Adrian Gonzalez
2B Howie Kendrick
CF Joc Pederson
3B Juan Uribe
C Yasmani Grandal

PROJECTED ROTATION
Clayton Kershaw
Zack Greinke
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Brandon McCarthy
Brett Anderson

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer: Kenley Jansen
Set-up Man: Joel Peralta

Top Prospect: Corey Seager (SS)

BREAKOUT - While the Chicago Cubs Kris Bryant stole the spotlight this spring, quietly another rookie raked in Arizona. Joc Pederson won the center field job pretty convincing, forcing Andre Ethier to come out of the bench for the boys in blue. Pederson has a chance to make a difference for the Dodgers by playing good defense and extending the lineup to have offensive threats 1-through-8, and 1-through-9 if Clayton Kershaw is in the lineup.

SPRING STORYLINES - Not just the Hollywood lights are shining bright on this ball club, but the entire baseball world is looking at Donny Baseball's bunch. The Dodgers and their high payroll are expected to produce championship after championship. You know they are going to win at least every fifth day with MVP and Cy Young Clayton Kershaw on the mound, but injuries and depth are hidden issues here. The closer is hurt and the rotation is iffy. They should be in the division mix, but who knows how far this team can go in the playoffs.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 94-68 (1st in NL West)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 95-67 (1st in NL West)

**Check back tomorrow for the Angels and Nationals