Yeah, I know... season's already started. But some late predictions and comments- trying a different format:
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| It's like rooting for Amazon or Apple... |
If I had to bet money on the World Series, I'd go: Dodgers over Yankees, 4 games to 2. Dodgers clearly have the most talent in the league- which doesn't mean they are a lock to win. But if I had to bet, they are the team to go with.
The American League is far more wide open. I could see seven teams getting hot and winning (Yankees, Rays, Blue Jays, Twins, White Sox, Astros). But the Yankees have had horrible luck the pasy few years in terms of injuries. If they stay healthy (big If), they are the most likely to come out of the AL
Team I'm rooting for to win it all this year: I'm a Cubs and Indians fan, and don't think either will make the playoffs (in fact, I think the Indians might be one of the worst teams in the AL). I like teams that never won the World Series in my lifetime, which gives me two candidates- the San Diego Padres and the Tampa Rays. Tampa has had a ton of sports riches, but I'm still bitter about 1984, so let's go Rays.
Most interesting team in baseball in 2021: The Dodgers, on paper, might be one of the greatest teams ever- but I don't think that necessarily makes them interesting. The Pirates might be one of the worst teams ever- but again, that doesn't make them interesting.
For interesting- how about the Blue Jays? A young team with a ton of young, second generation players. Their hitting looks great- their pitching is either really good (Hyun Jin Ryu, Taijuan Walker) or awful- and pitching is highly variable.
One final thought: The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires at the end of the year. Financially, baseball has a lot of problems. The Dodgers are spending $226 million on their payroll this year, and a quarter of the league isn't spending 1/3 of that amount. I don't see how this system can continue- but the CBA isn't between the owners; it's between the owners and the players. There is a good possibility of a strike after this season, and it might be a long one. I'm not making any predictions- I'm just going to enjoy baseball this year.
