9 BOLD Predictions for the 2015 MLB Season

Kevin Aherne

According to Back to the Future II, the Chicago Cubs won the 2015 World Series, sweeping Miami in five games. But that's fiction, right?
Maybe not, the Cubs have built a solid core of young offensive talent, added one of the league's most respected managers, and finally landed a proven top of the rotation starter.  So how will the Cubbies fare? 

And will the Sox and Yankees bounce back from lackluster 2014 campaigns? Or which managers are already on the hot seat? Any blockbuster trades coming down the pike? 

Find out the answers to these questions -- and more -- in my 9 Bold Predictions for the 2015 MLB Season

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9. Forgive Me Father

Yes, the San Diego Padres made some epic splashes this offseason in adding Justin Upton, James Shields, Josh Johnson, Matt Kemp, and Wil Myers.  But no, they will not make the playoffs. Actually, I pick the Padres to finish 3rd in the NL West -- a few games below .500.

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8. Lame Duck Soars Again

He's on the wrong side of 35, he's still got $35 million guaranteed dollars coming his way, and in the past three seasons he's struggled (to say the least), posting yearly averages of .229 with 16 home runs and 65 RBI during that span. But Ryan Howard will have a breakout year in 2015. Last year he was finally healthy, getting to the plate nearly 650 times, and playing in all but 9 regular season games for the lowly Phils.  Expect Howard to surpass the 150 hit, 25 home run, and 90 RBI thresholds. 

The Phightin' Phils however, will still be terrible. 

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7. Ratings Gold

They were both terrible in 2014, and both still have much work to do, but the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will both be playing meaningful baseball in October, most likely meeting in the ALDS. So we have 5 hour games (with 8:30 starts) to look forward to on TBS. 

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6. Twin Killer

Once the hottest prospect in baseball, Joe Mauer has been the face of the franchise in Minnesota for much of the last decade. The construction of Target Field was largely made possible due to his offensive production between 2006-2009. Since then however, Mauer's bat has cooled significantly. He has shown an ability to get on base, but has not hit for power (37 total HR since 2009), and has failed to drive in runs (average of 58.4 RBI per year since 2009). And with four years and $92 million remaining on his contract, expect the rebuilding Twins to unload Mauer before July. Toronto, New York, or the Dodgers could be among his biggest suitors.

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5. Subway Serious

I already mentioned that the Yankees would make the playoffs in 2015, earning one of the two Wild Card berths.  New York's other team holds the same fate, as the Mets will finish second in the NL East behind solid play from Matt Harvey, Curtis Granderson, and David Wright.  Don't expect another Subway Series though... The Metropolitans will fall to rival Washington in the NLDS. 

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4. Terry-ble

Bad News: The Cleveland Indians will finish in last place in their division and second worst in baseball.

Good(ish) News: Tribe skipper Terry Francona won't have to endure it. 

The highly likable manager will be the first (but not last) to lose his job in 2015, look for Cleveland to slot in an interim manager by July 4th. 

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3. Cuban Revolution

Rusney Castillo will join the ranks of Taseil Puig, Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes, and Alexi Ramirez, as part of the recent boon of Cuban defectors making an immediate impact in the Majors. Castillo, who is entering his first full season, will make the American League All-Star team, and participate in his first Mid-Summer Classic. His projected stats: .280 avg, 20 HR, 80 RBI.

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2. Swept Up in Seattle

They have made the playoffs just four times in nearly 40 years as a franchise, but the Seattle Mariners have a winning formula in 2015. The M's couldn't do it with Griffey, with Ichiro, with A-Rod, or with the Big Unit, but behind Cano, King Felix, and Nelson Cruz, Seattle will take their first AL Pennant, punching one of two tickets to the Fall Classic. 

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1. Join the Cub

70 years. That is how long it's been since the Chicago Cubs last made an appearance in the World Series. That will change in 2015.

107 years. That's how long it's been since the Chicago Cubs last won a World Series. That will NOT change in 2015. 

As much as I hate to give him credit, Theo Epstein has built himself a ball club in Wrigleyville. He brought in a great manager in Joe Maddon, a legitimate ace in Jon Lester, and a lineup of young, inexpensive talent built around Anthony Rizzo. The Cubs will catch fire in the late summer, take the NL Central, and breeze through into late October. But alas, they are the Cubs, and will fall just short of their goal, once again!

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Bonus Prediction: The Results

Boldly Predicted MLB Standings

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American League

EAST
Boston (93-69)
New York (88-74)
Baltimore (81-81)
Toronto (75-87)
Tampa (73-89)

CENTRAL
Detroit (90-72)
Kansas City (84-78)
Chicago (78-84)
Minnesota (77-85)
Cleveland (65-97)

WEST
Seattle (91-71)
Oakland (82-80)
Los Angeles (80-82)
Houston (69-93)
Texas (63-99)

National League

EAST
Washington (97-65)
New York (88-74)
Miami (87-75)
Philadelphia (74-88)
Atlanta (70-92)

CENTRAL
Chicago (90-72)
St. Louis (87-75)
Pittsburgh (76-86)
Cincinnati (74-88)
Milwaukee (70-92)

WEST
Los Angeles (88-74)
San Francisco (84-78)
San Diego (78-84)
Arizona (74-88)
Colorado (67-95)

Playoffs
American League
Wild Card: New York over Kansas City
ALDS: Seattle over Detroit
ALDS: Boston over New York
ALCS: Seattle over Boston

National League
Wild Card: New York over Miami
NLDS: Chicago over Los Angeles
NLDS: New York over Washington
NLCS: Chicago over New York

World Series
Seattle over Chicago (4-2)

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