Written by Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports.com
Predictions, predictions, everyone wants to hear my predictions.
Actually, no one wants to hear them — or at least, no one should. My own father ridicules me, pointing at my picks, calling me “expert” and then doubling over in laughter.
Well, I can guarantee you one thing this season. As any of my devoted followers on Twitter can attest, I will hate all 30 teams — and YOUR team more than any other.
With that, here are my rankings and comments, which were written with my tongue firmly in cheek, not that I expect the angry masses to understand.
30. Reds. Trade of Votto to Blue Jays cements No. 1 pick in draft.
29. Braves. Trades of Freeman, Aybar, Inciarte and Teheran fail to cement No. 1 pick in draft.
28. Phillies. Prospects break out; Amaro first former GM to be named Executive of Year.
27. Brewers. Braun reacts to trade of Lucroy by expressing willingness to be moved; industry yawns.
26. Padres. Near-riot erupts at Petco when Preller trades Tyson Ross in middle of All-Star appearance.
25. Rockies. Tulo returns to Coors with Blue Jays in late June, gets booed, pulls hamstring.
24. Twins. Sano 50 home runs, negative-50 defensive runs saved.
23. Orioles. Machado jokes that he can pitch every fifth day; Showalter declares him No. 1 starter.
22. Angels. Trout, after reaching career highs with 52 homers and a 1.056 OPS, again finishes second in MVP voting … this time to Rougned Odor.
21. Athletics. Beane disrupts surprising run by trading Gray to Red Sox, then re-acquires Cespedes and Donaldson and asks, “Is everyone happy now?”
20. Marlins. Mattingly, Bonds resign when Loria orders benching of Stanton; team president Samson takes over as manager; Fernandez goes on hunger strike.
19. White Sox. Drake LaRoche rejoins team at All-Star break; Adam stays home.
18. Red Sox. Hanley and Pablo win Gold Gloves and Sox rotation still finishes 13th in the AL in ERA.
17. Mariners. Dipoto, Servais deny holding grudge against Scioscia and Angels after lining up King Felix to pitch against the Halos at home … in mid-May.
16. Tigers. Ilitch brings back Leyland to replace Ausmus, but team falls short when Cabrera, VMart, Verlander and six others suffer injuries in September.
15. Rays. Owner Sternberg spotted at French class in St. Petersburg, sparking new rumors of move to Montreal.
14. Yankees. A-Rod declines FOX offer to return as analyst during playoffs, saying he’s still mulling whether to retire after 2017 season.
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