10 bold predictions for the 2017 MLB season
Major League Baseball returns as the regular season kicks off Sunday with a three-game schedule.
In anticipation of what we believe will be another memorable year on the diamond, here are 10 bold predictions for the 2017 season from theScore's MLB editors.
Bold predictions were made by Jonah Birenbaum, Michael Bradburn, Bryan Mcwilliam, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, Jonathan Soveta, Brandon Wile, and Jason Wilson.
Harper bounces back, smashes 50 home runs
In February, Bryce Harper assured reporters he knows "exactly" why his performance dipped so dramatically in 2016, the year after he became the youngest unanimous MVP in history, and though a certain degree of hubris is to be expected from the 24-year-old, Harper says he was able to diagnosis - and, presumably, remedy - the source of his struggles, and I'm taking his word for it. He certainly looked like his old self this spring, bashing eight homers in 58 at-bats, and I'm thinking that carries over into the regular season. He's going to lead the majors in isolated power, just as he did in 2015, but he's also going to be the first player since Chris Davis (2013) to reach the 50-HR plateau. - Birenbaum
Tigers purge entire roster after terrible first half, fire Ausmus
Despite owning one of the largest payrolls in all of baseball, the Detroit Tigers will end the All-Star break in the basement of the American League Central, thus forcing the front office to purge the club of every player they possibly can. With former owner Mike Illitch's passion for winning sent to the grave with him after his passing, the Motor City will see the last of Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez, and Ian Kinsler, who will all be traded, while Miguel Cabrera and Justin Upton will be shopped around, but ultimately not moved due to age or contract. To start the process, the first member of the team who will be given the heave-ho is manager Brad Ausmus, whose job security was already shaky after a reported near firing in 2015. - Mcwilliam
Trout doesn't finish in top 3 MVP voting
For the first time in the last five years, someone other than Mike Trout will finish in the top two of American League MVP voting - heck, Trout won't finish in the top three in 2017. Even the most dominant players in history have had at least one down season, and it would be completely acceptable for baseball’s best player to finally have something go wrong. The AL is loaded with plenty of worthy candidates ready to challenge Trout for the throne, so expect the likes of Josh Donaldson, Mookie Betts, Manny Machado, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, Francisco Lindor, or Robinson Cano to take Trout’s place at the top for at least one season. - Wile
Cardinals will go further than the Cubs
The Cubs have the best team on paper, and it's not even close, but that might not matter. The Cardinals have a very unassuming roster, both on offense and throughout the rotation. Expect them to make a key addition or two through trades to get the home run pop they seem to be lacking. The overall key is rotation health, but don't be surprised when the Cardinals slide into the postseason as a Wild Card only to proceed to the NLCS while the Cubs get knocked off in the NLDS, either by the Cardinals or whomever else. - Wilson
Bautista storms back in comeback year to win AL MVP
Don't let Jose Bautista's peaceful, nonchalant comments fool you: He's peeved about striking out in free agency. The Blue Jays outfielder was expecting a seven-figure deal in his first trip to the open market, but thanks to unexpectedly bleak demand - due in part to freak injuries in 2016 - the 36-year-old had to settle for a one-year deal to return to Toronto. With one eye on a second go-around at free agency following this season, though, Bautista will erupt for his best season yet, grabbing AL MVP honors as he focuses on landing the contract he missed out on. - Soveta
Padres set new futility record, lose 121 games
It may not seem bold to predict that a team whose Opening Day roster contains four catchers (one of them a hybrid pitcher/catcher), three outfielders, seven players aged 24 or younger, and three Rule 5 picks - one of whom has never played an inning above the Rookie level - will set a new record for losses. But consider this: Since World War II, only three teams - the 1952 Pirates, 1962 Mets, and 2003 Tigers - have lost more than 110 games. Being that terrible as a team just doesn't happen very often, and that will make what the 2017 Padres "accomplish" all the more "impressive." Thanks to a young, strange roster and an unbalanced schedule - 18 games against EACH of the Dodgers, Giants, and Rockies - the Padres will break the '62 Mets' record and become the first team since the 19th century to lose at least 121 games. Let's hope Marvellous Marv, Casey, and the rest of that lovable Mets squad pop a little cheap champagne when it happens. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Bird hits more home runs than Sanchez
With four first-place votes for AL Rookie of the Year, Gary Sanchez turned heads last season in just 178 plate appearances. While it was a small sample, a lot of hope remains that the Yankees catcher is the real deal. And he still might be. But don't sleep on his fellow Baby Bomber, Greg Bird. Earning the starting first-base job by the end of spring training after hitting .451/.556/1.098 through 51 at-bats, Yankees fans should believe the hype. Prior to spending all of last season out with a torn labrun, the then-rookie posted a .268 ISO over 178 plate appearances in 2015. While that's nearly 100 points lower than Sanchez's 2016 mark, something tells me that Bird can sustain it over an entire season. - Bradburn
Gray beats Coors Field, earns top 3 Cy Young finish
The Rockies could pose a surprising threat in the competitive NL West this year, and they'll be led by their first true homegrown stud. In 25-year-old Jon Gray, Colorado appears to finally have an ace who can withstand the Coors Field effect. Gray showed moments of his promise last season, including a Rockies and Coors record 16-strikeout performance in September. This year, a healthy Gray will take it to the next level and not only push them into contention, but will shock everyone with a stellar individual campaign that bests every Coors Field-aided expectation. Only three Rockies pitchers have ever garnered even a single Cy Young vote; Gray will become the fourth name on that list, and a top-three finalist for the NL honor. - Sharkey-Gotlieb
Bell will win NL ROY over Swanson
Josh Bell has struggled through spring training, but it won't carry over to the regular season. Much like Dansby Swanson, Bell managed to keep his rookie eligibility because of his advanced batter's eye - he walked 21 times in 152 plate appearances compared to only 19 strikeouts, helping keep him under the 130 at-bat mark. While he won't likely walk more often that he strikes out over a full season, he will finish as a much better OBP producer than Swanson. Swanson will only win if voters are blinded by his former top prospect status. - Wilson
Liriano is the Blue Jays best starter
To be clear, I don't mean that Liriano will lead the Blue Jays in strikeouts; that's not nearly bold enough. No, I mean the best overall pitcher by any measure you can think of (except walk-rate) on the Blue Jays will be Liriano. Liriano is a pretty streaky pitcher who relies heavily on batters swinging at pitches outside of the strikezone. In fact, over the past five seasons, Liriano has led all of baseball with 37.2 percent of pitches finishing out of the zone. When batters are swinging, Liriano is great. When batters aren't, Liriano struggles. He was pitching at an elite level throughout the spring, wrapping up with a 2.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 29 strikeouts and a .161 opponent batting average across 18 innings. - Bradburn
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)