More MLB Predictions

    Opening Day is Monday and the first game of the season is Sunday Night, and I couldn't be more excited. In an earlier post, I gave my predictions for season standings, but now I'm back to make some more specific picks.

National League Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers)-No surprise here. Having one three of the last four Cy Young Awards and looking as good as ever makes Clayton Kershaw an easy pick to win. Sure, there are other very worthy candidates like Jon Lester, Matt Harvey, Max Scherzer and Adam Wainwright, but with the hold that Kershaw has had on the award recently, another pitcher wouldn't just have to win it, but take it from him.

Felix Hernandez celebrating his  perfect game in 2013

American League Cy Young: Felix Hernandez (Seattle Mariners)-Felix Hernandez has also had his share of success, winning the Cy Young in 2010. Now that Seattle appears to be on a winning track again, success in numbers is sure to follow the usually rock-solid Hernandez.

NL MVP: Yasiel Puig (Los Angeles Dodgers)-Let it go on record as showing that I do not personally care for Yasiel Puig's style of play, but you can't argue that he is tremendously valuable to his team. Puig is not afraid to take the extra base on a base hit, which can sometimes prove costly, but other times can lead to extra runs. He provides a spark of energy when he's in the lineup that seemingly fades when he's not. He led the Dodgers in batting average in 2014 and had a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) rating of 5.4.

AL MVP: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels)-Mike Trout was named most valuable player a year ago, and was thought to have been snubbed when he finished second to Miguel Cabrera in 2013. This is an easy choice. His play speaks for itself. He is easily one of baseball's most exciting players, and is quickly becoming the league's most popular player, if he isn't already.

Bryant is expected to debut for the Cubs late-April/early May

NL Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs)-Kris Bryant will not start the season with the Chicago Cubs, but will likely find himself in the big leagues by the end of April. He led the nation in home runs as a senior in college, led the minor leagues in long balls a year ago, and continued this pattern in during Spring Training, just about doubling the home run total of the next closest guy. Bryant is arguably the most anticipated prospect since the Nationals' Stephen Strasburg. Despite his big power numbers, Bryant isn't just a power threat, as he can hit the ball to all fields. When baseball fans finally do see Kris in a Cubs uniform, they will not be disappointed.

AL Rookie of the Year: Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins)-Like Bryant, we also won't see Twins prospect Bryon Buxton to start the season, but it shouldn't be long. Buxton has been at the top of the MLB Prospects list just as long as Bryant has. He is a five-tool player and future Twins teammate Torii Hunter has called Buxton "Mike Trout 2", and that has fans in Minnesota, as well as fans all over baseball, pretty excited.

NL Manager of the Year: Joe Madden (Chicago Cubs)-Joe Madden is no stranger to winning Manager of the Year, doing so twice with the Tampa Bay Rays back in 2008 and again in 2011. Now the head man of the Chicago Cubs, this Cubs team has Chicago fans more excited than they have been in a long time. The Cubs are one of the most promising teams in the league and are expected to remain there for the next few years. Notably, the Chicago Cubs have not seen a World Series championship in 107 years, but everyone around baseball, players and fans alike, have good reason to believe that the longest championship drought in all of sports won't be a drought much longer.

Brad Ausmus, Tigers manager

AL Manager of the Year: Brad Ausmus (Detroit Tigers) Brad Ausmus is a young manager, going into his second season as the skipper of the Tigers. Even with the loss of 2013 Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, the Tigers are excited about the season. With the addition of Yoenis Cespedes and the likelihood of having Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera back healthy, the Tigers are in a position to win now. In fact, ESPN in the Magazine has them winning the AL Central and capturing the American League crown. I believe that Ausmus has all of the resources to make this happen, which is why he is my pick for 2015 AL Manager of the Year.

NL Biggest Surprise Team: Atlanta Braves-It's true that the Atlanta Braves lost many of their heavy hitters, such as Jason Heyward and Justin Upton. Because of this, many believe that the Braves will have a down year. So much so that ESPN the Magazine has the Braves finishing fourth in the NL East. Everyone expects the Braves to be in the cellar, but nobody told the Braves. The morale and chemistry on the team in Atlanta is very high. Not only do the Braves players expect to win, but they expect to contend for a championship this year. No one is expecting them to succeed, which is why I think they will. Watch out for this Braves team.

AL Biggest Surprise Team: Houston Astros- The Astros are building a very strong foundation with their young club. They have a new manger, veteran leaders in Evan Gattis and Jed Lowrie, and a plethora of young prospects, both in Houston, and waiting in the wings in the minors. Before too long, expect this team to be a tough out.

NL Most Dissapointing Team: San Francisco Giants- The Giants will likely have a down year, but it's not for lack of trying. The simple truth is that the Giants are on a vicious cycle of winning a championship one year then missing the playoffs altogether the next. This has been going on since they won their first title back in 2010. There is no reason to believe that the cycle will break this year, especially with the loss of All-Star third baseman Pablo Sandoval. I expect the Giants to miss the playoffs this year, but fully expect to be talking about a championship run for them next year. That's just what they do.

AL Most Disappointing Team: New York Yankees- Derek Jeter is gone, C.C. Sabathia can't stay healthy, and A-Rod is a punchline. These are just a few of the reasons why the Yankees are in bad shape. The Yankees have no real potential for offensive production, and expect nothing from Alex Rodriguez. With one of the thinnest and most under-developed farm systems in the league, it doesn't seem like help is on the way. The only way the Yankees can improve their team in the near future is through free agency and trades. However, nobody seems to want to do business with the Yankees for fear of getting nothing in return. The once proud New York Yankees are dying on the vine.

Strasburg will have bounce back year in 2015

NL Bold Prediction: Stephen Strasburg will win more than 15 games- Stephen Strasburg was once a highly-anticipated prospect for the Washington Nationals. After, Tommy John surgery, having an attempted comeback thwarted by an innings limit, and less than stellar numbers, Strasburg is due for a great year. His talent is too great to avoid it. 2015 will be that year. With the addition of Max Scherzer, and the emergence of Jordan Zimmerman, the pressure will finally be off of Strasburg. He will be more relaxed and his numbers on the mound will reflect that. My bold prediction is that Stephen Strasburg will win at least 15 games for the Nationals in 2015.

AL Bold Prediction: The Kansas City Royals will have three 25+ home run hitters- The Royals may not have hit many home runs last year, but that was more the stadium's fault than anything else. However, the Royals' bats came alive in the playoffs as they found their power. They are coming into 2015 with a bunch of guys in their lineup who are capable of tremendous power-Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, and the newly-acquired Alex Rios. The Royals WILL hit this year. My bold prediction this year is that, of this five power hitters, at least three of them will hit 25 home runs or more.

    We are three days away from Opening Day and baseball season is very long. Anything can happen in a season that is 162 games, and some crazy things are bound to happen in that time. Who's ready for baseball?! I know I am!!!