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!!!

2012 Hall of Fame Ballot

    In light of yesterday's steroid topic, I decided to talk about the Hall of Fame. With the Hall of Fame voting to take place in the first weeks of 2013, I wanted to share my ballot with you. Players on the ballot for the first time this year are: Curt Schilling, Mike Piazza, Barry Bonds, Craig Biggio, Sammy Sosa, Jeff Bagwell, and Roger Clemens.

Schilling won 58 games and
a World Series title with  in 4 seasons
with Arizona (2000-03)

    Given these first-time names, here is my ballot for this year and their notable career numbers:
Curt Schilling (Pitcher)- 216 wins, 3116 strikeouts, and an 11-2 postseason record
Mike Piazza (Catcher)- 427 home runs, career .308 batting average, 12-time All-Star
Craig Biggio (Second Base)- 3060 career hits, 1175 runs batted in, .281 batting average

    There are also a few other non-first-timers who I believe should make the cut:
Edgar Martinez (Designated Hitter)- 2247 hits, 309 home runs, 1261 runs batted in, .312 batting average
Tim Raines (Left Field)- 2605 hits,1571 runs, .294 batting average

    Justification time! First: the first-timers. Curt Schilling had more than 3000 strikeouts, which is a notable milestone for any pitcher. The thing that makes Schilling a sure thing though, is his postseason record. An 11-2 record and 3 shutouts when it matters most is why he gets the nod. Mike Piazza had an impressive .308 career batting average and is regarded as one of the greatest catchers of all-time. Most impressively, Piazza has the most home runs all-time by any catcher. The easiest decision for me was putting Craig Biggio on my ballot. If there is such thing as a sure-fire Hall of Fame statistic for me, it's 3000 hits in a career. Therefore, Biggio's 3060 hits leaves no doubt in my mind that he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Piazza is the all-time leader
in home runs by a catcher (427)

    The reason I have Edgar Martinez on my ballot is because of how hard it is to put up his numbers as a purely designated hitter. When Martinez broke into the league in 1987, the designated hitter was fairly new, so I consider Martinez to be the one who brought the DH into the limelight. His 309 homers and .312 average as a DH gives him the nod for me. Tim Raines has what I consider borderline Hall numbers, but I think it's Tim's time. Now, you'll notice that Jeff Bagwell wasn't among the first-timers to make it on the ballot. Much like Raines, Bagwell has classic border-line numbers. Bagwell will definitely get into the Hall, but it'll be an exercise in patience.

    Three who are not on my ballot are Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Sammy Sosa. Even though, statistically these three rank among the greatest, it is their links to steroids that keep them off my ballot, now and forever.  Golden Globe corespondent Bob Ryan called Clemens, Sosa, and Bonds the "Toxic Trio"
Even though Clemens has more than 300 career wins, Sosa is towards the top of the all-time home run list, and Bonds is the home run king, all of those numbers can be thrown out because of their steroid use. It pains me to say that because I grew up watching and rooting for these three, but they are leading the charge to ruin the game, and that is why they will NEVER get my vote for the hall of Fame.

    Hall of Fame voting takes place in early January. Who will be next to receive the  highest honor in any sport and be enshrined into the Hall of Fame?

There Can Only Be One

  It's playoff time people!!! 162 games have gone past, and now we have the best baseball left to look forward to. All ten of these teams have done what it takes to get here, and now it's a dogfight to the finish, as there can only be one champion. As there will be two Wild Card play-in games, I am here to analyze and predict each match-up until I have selected a champion. Let's get started.

AL Wildcard Play-In game: Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles
  Even though the Rangers have stumbled as of late and fallen out of first place in the last calender year, and the Orioles are the surprise, feel-good team of the season, I believe it will be the Rangers' playoff experience that will win this game. The have won the American League Championship, yet come up short in the World Series two years in a row. This team is hungry and they will not let themselves lose this game. The Orioles are a young, talented team with the runaway Coach of the Year, Buck Showalter. They will be back, but their inexperience in the playoffs will cost them. But again, they'll be back. They're talented.

NL Wildcard Play-In Game: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves
  The defending champion St. Louis Cardinals have something to prove as they try to repeat as champs, but in my opinion, this will be no contest. For one thing, the Braves have defeated the Cardinals 5 out 6 times this season. Not to mention that the red hot Kris Medlen will get the ball for the Braves, and the Braves have won the last 23 games Medlen has started. The Cardinals are a good team, but they will not be repeating.

NLDS: Cincinnati Reds vs. San Francisco Giants

  The Reds are coming in with the second best record in the entire league, and are hosting this series, but this will not help them win. I believe the Giants will pull the upset and defeat the Reds in 7 games. Even though the Reds have a Cy Young candidate and a former NL MVP in Johnny Cueto and Joey Votto, the San Francisco Giants have ace pitcher Matt Cain and the likely 2012 NL MVP Buster Posey. The Giants have also had one of the best starting pitching rotations in the league. The Giants also have the sixth best starter ERA in the major leagues (3.75), so runs will also be at a premium. This, and the Giants' solid defense will win them this game and send the to the NLCS.

NLDS: Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves

  This will probably be the tightest and most competitive match-ups of the playoffs, because these teams are division rivals and are VERY familiar with each other. The Nationals are the league's best team and have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, this is the first playoff appearance by a Washington team since World War II, and this team is full of young players with little to no playoff experience. Even though it wasn't a problem during the remainder of the season, I believe this is when Washington will really feel Strasburg's absence. Despite all that, I think there is one crucial factor working for the Braves in these playoffs: Chipper Jones. This is his last playoff run, and I believe the Braves will play their most inspired baseball of the season. Braves Nation wants to send their beloved third baseman out as a champion. Plus, with Chipper leaving, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are out to prove that they can be the faces of this franchise for years to come after Chipper. Their great pitching, stellar defense, and solid hitting, combined with the fire in their bellies to win for Chipper, will send them past their division rivals to the NLCS.

ALDS: Oakland Athletics vs. New York Yankees

  Let's keep this short and sweet.The Athletics are this year's Cinderella team, as no one expected them to be here. but all good things must come to an end, and the ALDS will be the end of the road for Oakland. The Yankees are simply better and will move on. Nothing against Oakland, but I wouldn't be surprised if this 

series didn't make it to Game 6.

ALDS: Texas Rangers vs. Detroit Tigers

  This will be a 7-game series, as these two teams are evenly matched: good pitching, a lot of power, and solid defense. Yes, the Tigers have Prince Fielder, Justin Verlander, and probable MVP Miguel Cabrera (who won the first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967), but as previously stated, the Rangers have a goal: get back to the World Series for a third straight year, and, unlike the previous two years, win it. Painful memories of the last two years, a squad full of talent, and pure want will fuel them into the next round.

NLCS: Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves 

  This series will be one where runs truly must be earned, and I'm not just talking about good pitching. The Braves and the Reds are first and second in the National League in fielding percentage, as they don't make many errors. Therefore, there won't be any free runs. I think it will be the Braves' power, the consistency of Kris Medlen and Craig Kimbrel. and the playoff experience of Tim Hudson and Chipper Jones that will send the Braves to their first World Series since winning it all in 1995. Plus, closer Craig Kimbrel had 42 saves (second straight year with 40+ saves), and a ridiculous 1.01 ERA. If the Braves have the leading heading into the ninth inning, they will win.

ALCS: Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees

  Even though both of these teams struggled to close out the regular season, this should be a great series. I expect it to go at least 6 games. However, the Rangers will make it to the World Series for the third straight year when all is said and done. I know I keep saying it, but the Rangers are on a mission to wipe away the scarring memories of two World Series losses in a row, and nothing will stand in their way.

2012 World Series: Texas Rangers vs. Atlanta Braves

  Okay, so I know that everyone, including myself, thought that last year's World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and these Texas Rangers was the best in history, but if this was the World Series match-up, as I believe it will be, it could become just that. These are the two teams in this year's playoffs that have the most to lose. As has been stated, the Rangers are trying to avoid a third straight World Series loss, and the Braves want to send Chipper out on top. This potential match-up would be one of the most passionate and intense match-ups in history and would be about as good as a World Series could get. In the end, I believe the third time will be the charm for the Texas Rangers, defeating the Atlanta Braves in 6 games to win the 2012 World Series, finally accomplishing the ultimate goal for the first time in franchise history. Yes, I know, that will put a bitter end to the stellar career of future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, but he'll be able to ride into the sunset knowing that he was one of the best switch hitter's to ever play the game. Not to mention that he has that one World Series title from 1995 on his Cooperstown resume.

  So there you have it. With the 2012 MLB Playoffs just around the corner, it should be a great couple of weeks as we begin the battle for a new champion. Tune in Friday at 5:07pm, to see it all begin. Ten teams, one goal, but only one can be crowned the 2012 World Series Champion. Let's do it!

Gold Is A Player's Best Friend

   One of the most coveted single season individual awards is a Gold Glove. Gold Gloves are given to the best defensive player at each position at the end of each season. However, when it comes to the outfield, the award is given to the three best outfielders in each league...not necessarily the best at the three separate outfield positions. With that being said, these are my current front runners by position for this hallowed award.

American League Gold Gloves

First Base: Mark Teixeira (NYY)

Second Base: Dustin Ackley (SEA)

Shortstop: Brendan Ryan (SEA) -Despite Seattle's struggles, their middle infielders, Dustin Ackley and Brendan Ryan sweep the Gold Gloves for those positions. This is something good that the M's can take away from a rather disappointing first half.                             

Third Base: Miguel Cabrera (DET)

Catcher: A.J. Pierzynski (CHW)

Outfield 1: Curtis Granderson (NYY)

Outfield 2: Austin Jackson (DET)

Outfield 3: Michael Brantley (CLE) -With perfect 1.000 fielding percentages, Granderson and Jackson are no-brainers Gold Glovers thus far. The conflict, however, comes with the third outfield award. Texas outfielder Craig Gentry also had a 1.000, but since Gentry is not an everyday player, I gave Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Brantley the final spot.

Pitcher: Felix Hernandez (SEA)

National League Gold Gloves

First Base: Freddie Freeman (ATL)

Second Base: Brandon Phillips (CIN) -Even though Darwin Barney of the Chicago Cubs has slightly better numbers, Phillips has been very good for a winning team, and that gives him the edge.

Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins (PHI)

Third Base: Chase Headley (SD) -Third base in the National League has been a difficult position to play this season. No one had great numbers, with the exception of Philadelphia's Placido Polanco, who has only played 78 games due to injury. Thus, Headley gets the nod, only as, what seems to be the least of many evils at third base so far this season.

Catcher: Yadier Molina (STL)

Outfield 1: Alfonso Soriano (CHC)

Outfield 2: Andrew McCutchen (PIT)

Outfield 3: Shane Victorino (PHI/LAD) -Despite being traded to the Dodgers at the deadline, his consistent play in the field and the fact that he still remains in the NL helps him grab the last outfield spot.

Pitcher: Mark Buehrle (MIA)

    Be sure to check back soon for playoff predictions and opinions on current story lines in and around Major League Baseball. See ya 'round!

                                                                                                                                   

Halfway Home

    With the All-Star break passing by a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would share my thoughts on the major awards through the first half of the season. Let's get started, shall we?

Most Valuable Player

Josh Hamilton (TEX) and Andrew McCutchen (PIT)

   From the onset of this season, Josh Hamilton has provided a spark for the Texas Rangers. For the past two years, Hamilton has been instrumental in the Rangers postseason success, reaching the World Series two straight years. So far in 2012, Hamilton is second in the American League in home runs (29), and is tied for first in runs batted in (84). He has slumped a bit in the month of July, but he is healthy again and the Rangers are in first place in the AL West, so he should be back to form in no time. Despite a terrible .173 batting average in July, he is still putting up MVP-caliber numbers. Not to mention that he did hit 4 home runs in one game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 8th.

    It's no secret that the Pittsburgh Pirates are one of the surprise teams in baseball this year.The Pirates are 58-44 and in second place in the National League West, 3 games behind the red-hot Cincinnati Reds. The driving force behind the Pirates success thus far is center fielder Andrew McCutchen, who is having arguably the best year of his career. He is batting a Major League best .368, is third best in the National League with 22 home runs and is tied for 6th in runs batted in with 66. He is one home run away from tying his career high of 23 and is currently shattering his career best in batting average by 82 points...an almost unheard of improvement from one season to the next. My other candidates for NL MVP are San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera and New York Mets third baseman David Wright, but for now, McCutchen is my front runner.

Cy Young Award-Best Starting Pitcher in Each League

Chris Sale (CHW) and R.A. Dickey (NYM)

    Chris Sale may only be a first year starter, but numbers would suggest that one year was all he needed to be a Cy Young candidate. He is ranked third in the AL in both wins (12) and earned run average or ERA (2.61). Sale is also third in the AL in WHIP (Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched) posting a solid 1.02, and tied for 10th in strikeouts with 114. Sale is the ace on a Chicago White Sox staff that is fighting for a playoff spot and his success could propel Chicago deep into the playoffs.

    Should he win, New York's R.A. Dickey certainly wouldn't be your typical Cy Young recipient. But then again, there is nothing typical about the way Dickey pitches. He is a knuckle ball pitcher, the only one in the major leagues today. However, what makes Dickey different than other knuckle ball pitchers even, is that the average knuckle ball travels between 60 and 70 miles per hour, and Dickey's knuckle ball has been clocked at around 83-85 miles per hour, making it even harder for hitters to pick up this whirlwind of a pitch. Dickey is tied for the major league lead with 14 wins, second the the NL with 147 strikeouts and has the second fewest losses in the major leagues (2). Probably the most baffling thing about Dickey's success this year is the point in his career in which this success came. Dickey is 37 years old in his 10th year in the league, the New York Mets are his 4th team, and he had only had 10 or more wins in a season one other time. This goes to show you that there isn't necessarily a timetable or prime for success. Now, I know that  knuckle ball pitchers can be a controversial issue with some, but as of right now, Dickey is the best choice for the Cy Young Award.

Rookie of the Year

Mike Trout (LAA) and Bryce Harper (WSH)

    There is no surprise that L.A.'s Mike Trout or Washington's Bryce Harper should be named Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues. Neither player started the season on their big league rosters, but were quickly called up to the Major Leagues and even more quickly impacted their clubs and turned them around. 

    The Nationals were fighting for first place in their division early in the season when Harper joined the team on April 27 and provided them the spark they needed to build a 3.5 game lead on the Atlanta Braves in the NL East as well as currently having the best record in baseball at 61-40. Harper also arguably plays the game harder than anyone in the league...the way it should be played.

    The Angels on the other hand, were bottom dwellers from the beginning of the 2012 season, which was surprising due to the major offseason acquisitions of Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. There were talks of multiple World Series titles immediately following the arrival of Pujols and Wilson, but when Trout was called up to the Angels on April 28th, the Angels were sitting at the bottom of the division and the league at 6-14. Since Trout joined the team however, the Angels have come to life. The Angels have gone 42-24 with Trout on the team and have once again become competitive for a playoff spot, as expected. Oh, and Trout has been the owner of the 'Reigning Web Gem' on ESPN's Baseball Tonight for over 3 weeks! Just saying.

Manager of the Year

Bob Melvin (OAK) and Clint Hurdle (PIT)

    There is no doubt in my mind that Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin should receive the award for AL Manager of the Year. In his second year as Oakland's Manager, he has helped return the A's to relevance. In his first 201 games as Oakland's manager dating back to the middle of last season, Melvin is 103-98, including a surprising 56-46 record so far in 2012. Before Melvin, the Athletics struggled to stay out     of last place and one calender year later, they are fighting for first place and a playoff spot. Melvin took a group of players previously rejected by other teams and turned them in to this year's Cinderella story in baseball.

   The same can be said for the Pittsburgh Pirates and manager Clint Hurdle. In his second full year as Pirates manager, the Pirates are 58-44, tied for the NL Wildcard lead, and have been in first place in the division multiple times during the year.

    If these two teams can maintain this success through September and possibly lead their teams into October, their managers should be awarded for it.

Comeback Player of the Year

Adam Dunn (CHW) and Jason Heyward (ATL)

    Adam Dunn, to me, is the runaway Comeback Player of the Year in the American League. In 2011, Dunn posted basement numbers for the Chicago White Sox: a .159 batting average, 11 home runs, 42 runs batted in and only 66 hits in 122 games...by far the worst season of his career. But so far in 2012, Dunn is having an incredible bounce back year. So far in 2012, this bonafide power hitter has returned to form, batting .212 with a major league leading 31 home runs to go with 73 RBI's which is the 4th best in the AL. I think Minnesota's Josh Willingham and Toronto's Edwin Encarnacion deserve recognition for this award, but it's Adam Dunn's horrendous numbers last year that make him the favorite for the award.

    When Atlanta Braves right fielder Jason Heyward made the Opening Day roster as a rookie in 2010, expectations for Heyward were through the roof. However, after an okay rookie campaign in 2010, Braves nation was disappointed but thought "He's a rookie, he'll get better" and "It's a learning curve...wait 'til next year. He'll dominate!" He didn't.In 2011, Heyward hit a mediocre .227 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI's. He also missed 34 games with multiple injuries. Heyward shared the fans' disappointment after last season saying, "I need to go back to the basics...I haven't been playing well." He returned in 2012 with new life. Playing in almost every game for the Braves to this point, Hayward is hitting .271 with 17 home runs (one away from tying a career high) and 51 RBI's and a career high 15 stolen bases. Heyward is healthy, productive, and, in my opinion, could be on his way to NL Comeback Player of the Year.

    Stay tuned in the coming days for more first half predictions, including Gold Gloves, playoff predictions and more. See ya 'round!