My unofficially official predictions for the MLB season

Welcome to Cajun Country: Finland team comes to area, enjoying unique experience
April 2, 2014
Colonels add 2 coaches
April 2, 2014
Welcome to Cajun Country: Finland team comes to area, enjoying unique experience
April 2, 2014
Colonels add 2 coaches
April 2, 2014

I hate to see the NCAA Tournament go. But all is not lost because baseball season is finally here.


The 2014 MLB season got under way this past weekend (games played in Australia don’t count) when the Dodgers tackled the Padres in some primetime action.

The outcome of the game doesn’t matter to me, as I’m not a fan of either team. Regardless, it was just good to be able to sit back and enjoy America’s Pastime again after a long winter away from the game.

Baseball has taken a bit of a hit in our country – the sport’s popularity is nowhere near where it was 40-50 years ago.


But to me, it’s the perfect summer sport to enjoy from home because of its slow pace. I can watch a baseball game while also doing other things. I also get enthralled in the strategy and the chess match that goes into every game, every inning and every at-bat – the game is truly one where the best minds succeed and every decision one makes could mark the difference between victory and defeat.

It’s become an annual tradition at the Tri-Parish Times for me to dedicate my weekly column to the upcoming MLB season.

Some of my predictions have been good. Most of them have been bad. But who cares? I have fun doing it.


I know one thing is for sure – my first pick will be correct for the fifth-straight season. As for the rest of the predictions? We’ll just have to wait and see.

In the past, I’ve nailed some, been completely wrong on others, and have missed the playoffs with both of my World Series teams. It could be worse. I also picked Duke to go to the Final Four this year. So I guess one should never underestimate my ability to jinx a team.

The Casey’s Corner Unofficially Official Predictions for the 2014 MLB Season


Prediction 1: The Cubs will not win the World Series

Here’s why: Every, single season I’ve been doing this column, my first prediction is that the Cubs will not win the World Series. I am currently batting a perfect four-for-four on this one, who why change it up now? The Cubs are improved under new General Manager Theo Epstein, but they still are pretty far away from competing with the elites in the National League. I’m going to say the Cubbies go 76-86 this year, which will be about 20 games back from the Cardinals. It’s sad to say, but a 76-win season would still be improvement for the country’s loveable losers.

Prediction 2: Seattle will still be an American League pretender


Here’s why: The Mariners made the biggest splash in the offseason, plucking Robinson Cano from the Yankees on a massive contract. But Cano’s arrival is not enough. Big-time signings in baseball rarely work. Just ask the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of the United States. That’s their name these days, right? Anyway, the Angels have signed every big fish in the sea for many offseasons and the end result has been nothing but failure. The M’s will experience a similar fate.

Prediction 3: The Yankees will still miss the postseason

Here’s why: The Yankees lost Cano, but they restocked their roster with a who’s who of free agents, including Brian McCann, Carlos Beltran, JaCoby Ellsbury and prized free agent pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. But to me, the Yankees are still old, slow and too dependent on the home run. I still like the Red Sox and Rays more than I do New York. They’ll be better, but not quite good enough in a fierce American League.


Prediction 4: My Braves will have a hard time repeating in NL East

Here’s why: Gosh, this one hurts my heart. After winning the National League East last season, I think Atlanta will have a tough-go in 2014. The Braves’ roster will lack leadership with Brian McCann and Tim Hudson gone. The team’s young aces are stout, but not ready to carry a staff in a pennant chase. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not betting on it. I think Atlanta takes a drastic step back this go-round. Even though that hurts me to say.

Prediction 5: Josh Hamilton will rebound in a big way


Here’s why: The first season of Josh Hamilton’s career with the Angels was a disaster – something straight out of a nightmare. The slugger had no impact and the team fell flat and was well out of contention the final two months of the season. But while playing in those meaningless games, Hamilton found his stride, quietly hitting .300 in August and September. I think he’ll carry that momentum forward into 2014 and have a big year. I also expect Albert Pujols to do the same for an Angels lineup that could be scary.

Prediction 6: Giants will recover, have big-time season

Here’s why: Absolutely nothing went right for the Giants last season as they unsuccessfully defended their 2012 World Series title. But with their health restored and a few new pieces on the team, it’s not unfeasible to expect San Fran to make another push for a pennant. There’s no way Matt Cain will be as bad in 2014 as he was in 2013. It’s impossible. He’s too talented. Couple him with Madison Bumgarner, Ryan Vogelsong and a refined Tim Lincecum and one has a solid rotation. The NL West is the Dodgers’ division to lose, but the Giants will give ‘em a ride. They will also heavily push for a Wild Card spot if unable to win the division. As we know in baseball, just getting into the playoffs is all that one needs to make a strong push at taking home the pennant.


Prediction 7: Sonny Gray will be a star by August

Here’s why: The Oakland A’s are arguably the most well-run team in baseball. Loaded full of players that no one has ever heard of the A’s annually win 10-12 more games per season than anyone ever expects them to. This season, look for Sonny Gray to be a huge breakout player. The former Vanderbilt Commodore is the A’s opening-day starter. He earned that honor after posting a 5-3 record with a 2.67 ERA down the stretch last season. Expect Gray to be a monster – his stuff is truly electric. He should be the driving force behind another solid run for Oakland out West.

Prediction 8: The Rangers will win the American League


 Here’s why: It’s really easy to pick the Tigers to have success. Their roster is loaded to its core. But I’m going to go a different direction and pick Texas. I’m doing so because of one man: Prince Fielder. I think that Fielder is going to have a monstrous season for the Rangers – a team that plays in a homer-friendly ballpark. I think Fielder’s hitting, combined with the wizardry of ace Yu Darvish, will power the team. The offseason acquisition of Shin-Soo Choo will also help the Rangers, as they will now be able to manufacture runs – always a luxury come playoff time.

Prediction 9: The Dodgers will win the National League

Here’s why: The Dodgers are too good to not win the pennant again in 2014. After underwhelming for most of last season, Los Angeles hit their stride late in the season and became a terror for opponents. But they ran out of steam in the postseason and lost a few games short of the World Series. That has to change in 2014. How can a team with that much pitching not win in October? It’s a statistical anomaly.


Prediction 10: The Rangers will win the World Series

Here’s why: I recognize that I may be the only person on the planet picking the Rangers, but I can’t emphasize enough how much I like their offense. If Darvish has another solid season, I think they have what it takes to get it done. Give me Texas in six games over the Dodgers, who fall short for a second-straight season.