MLB: Who Could Win It All in 2018?
The 2017 MLB season is complete, after the Houston Astros defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, in a thrilling seven-game series. The entire playoffs consisted of great ball games and record breaking performances, including the New York Yankees upsetting the Cleveland Indians in the ALDS, and the Chicago Cubs breaking the hearts of the Washington Nationals in the NLDS. In fact, the entire MLB campaign was one of the best in recent memory because of guys like Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger bursting on to the scene. Charles Post and Greg Schwochow are here to reminisce on the past year, and then look forward to what could happen in the 2018 season.
Playoff Articles:
Playoff Records:
1. Billy Collins (8-1)
2. Ariun Paige (7-1)
3. Charles Post (7-2)
4. Greg Schwochow (6-3)
Top-10 Teams of 2017: 1. Houston Astros (101-61, 11-7): The Astros are the obvious choice for the top spot after reaching the World Series for the second time in franchise history, and winning it all for the first time ever. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correra, and World Series MVP George Springer were incredible all year long, and that was highlighted in the playoffs as each of them player their best ball. However, the acquisition of Justin Verlander following the trade deadline might have been the biggest reason why this team was able to win 100+ games and the title.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (104-58, 10-5): The Dodgers weren't able to get over the hump (again), but that doesn't mean that they didn't have a great year. From start to finish in the regular season, the Dodgers were the best overall team in baseball. With the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill on the mound, Los Angeles was nearly unbeatable, especially during the summer, in which they went 50-10 during a 60-game stretch. Bellinger's arrival also helped, as he's favored to win NL Rookie of the Year for good reason.
3. Chicago Cubs (92-70, 4-6): The Cubs didn't win their second World Series in a row, like a lot of people predicted so, but they did reach the NLCS for the third straight season which is a huge accomplishment in itself. If Chicago wants to improve heading into next year, it seems like their biggest problem was the level of reliability on the big stars. If Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo weren't scorching hot, then the Cubs were finding themselves in bad spots. I'm guessing they'll be right back in the playoffs next year, though.
4. New York Yankees (91-71, 7-6): The Yankees' season was centered around the rise of Judge. He went from a minor league player to arguably the most dominant athlete in the entire league in less than half of a year. Judge became baseball's most exciting player to watch, and he eclipsed 50 home runs, setting the rookie record. And it carried into the playoffs, as New York made habit of getting down early, and fighting their way back in thrilling fashion. However, after beating the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians, they couldn't overtake Houston.
5. Cleveland Indians (102-60, 2-3): The Indians went on a 22-game winning streak towards the end of the year, which was absolutely thrilling to watch, but it's possible that took too much out of them, and they weren't able to muster up the same level of firepower after that. With that said, though, they gave us quite a show. Cleveland still has a lot of young talent, namely Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, and they'll be back next season. After finishing with the top seed in the AL, the Indians weren't able to close out the Yankees, losing three straight.
6. Washington Nationals (97-65, 2-3): The Nationals thought this was the year they'd finally get to the NLCS and beyond, but unfortunately it was not. Washington ran into the Cubs in the NLDS, and weren't able to escape, even with a 4-1 lead in the decisive Game 5. For the second straight season, the Nationals lost a Game 5 on their home field, after being beaten by the Dodgers last year. And the unfortunate news continued on into the offseason for this organization, too, as they announced that manager Dusty Baker has been fired.
7. Arizona Diamondbacks (93-69, 1-3): The Diamondbacks were a very exciting team for the majority of the year but that was no more apparent than after they traded for J.D. Martinez, sending prospects to the Detroit Tigers. Martinez instantly became one of the top hitters in the NL, and even made a case to be an MVP candidate, according to some. Arizona also gave us a great Wild Card game, as they took on division rival, the Colorado Rockies, and came away with the win. After that though, the Dodgers dismantled them in a sweep.
8. Boston Red Sox (93-69, 1-3): The Red Sox finished first in the AL East, and Chris Sale, who was signed last offseason, was one of the main reasons why. He was the front runner for the AL Cy Young for the majority of the season, until taking a couple of losses down the stretch. It was another successful campaign for the Bo Sox, but because they weren't able to get to the ALCS, they decided to move on from manager John Farrell. He led the team to back-to-back playoff appearances, but went 1-6 in said games.
9. Colorado Rockies (87-75, 0-1): The Rockies were somewhat overlooked during the year because of being in the best division, the NL West, in the entire league. They were behind the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, a pair of teams that won 90+ games, and the Rockies were overshadowed due to that. But they shouldn't have been because Nolan Arenado is one of the best young talents in our sport, and even though he was snubbed as a NL MVP finalist, he'll continue to be a top player for many years to come.
10. Minnesota Twins (85-77, 0-1): The Twins got off to a quick start in the AL Wild Card game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on the road at Yankee Stadium, but it didn't last very long at all. The bottom of the first inning, the Yankees answered back with three of their own, and a couple of long balls later, and the Yankees were moving on. But Minnesota had an impressive year, as most people didn't even expect them to compete for a playoff berth. The Twins should once again battle in the AL Central next season.
Top-10 Teams of 2018: 1. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)
Team MVP: Clayton Kershaw (SP)
2. New York Yankees (+2)
Team MVP: Aaron Judge (RF)
3. Houston Astros (-2)
Team MVP: Jose Altuve (2B)
4. Chicago Cubs (-1)
Team MVP: Kris Bryant (3B)
5. Arizona Diamondbacks (+2)
Team MVP: J.D. Martinez (RF)
6. Cleveland Indians (-1)
Team MVP: Francisco Lindor (SS)
7. Boston Red Sox (+1)
Team MVP: Chris Sale (SP)
8. St. Louis Cardinals (+3)
Team MVP: Tommy Pham (LF)
9. Colorado Rockies (+0)
Team MVP: Noland Arenado (3B)
10. Seattle Mariners (+2)
Team MVP: Robinson Cano (2B)
Photo Credit: Houston Chronicle & Sports Illustrated.
