Norm’s Way to Early Predictions

I normally won’t do my predictions this early. But, with all the snow we got and being cooped up for the past couple of days, I figure what the hell. So here are my pre-spring training predictions for the 2014 season. WARNING: This is subject to change after spring training.

I will start with the American League.

AL EAST:

1. Boston

2. Tampa Bay

3. Baltimore

4. New York

5. Toronto

Prospects to watch

Henry Owens-LHP-Boston

Xander Bogaerts- ss/3b-Boston

Alex Colome-RHP-Tampa Bay

Jake Odorizzi-RHP-Tampa Bay

Hunter Harvey-RHP-Baltimore

Dylan Bundy-RHP-Baltimore

Rafael De Paula-RHP-New York

Mason Williams-OF-New York

Marcus Stroman-RHP-Toronto

Aaron Sanchez-RHP-Toronto

AL CENTRAL:

1. Detroit

2. Kansas City

3. Cleveland

4. Chicago

5. Minnesota

Prospects to watch

Robbie Ray-LHP-Detroit

Nick Castellanos-3B-Detroit

Yordano Ventura-RHP-Kansas City

Raul Mondesi-SS-Kansas City

Clint Frazier-OF-Cleveland

Francisco Lindor-SS-Cleveland

Carlos Sanchez-INF-Chicago

Tyler Danish-RHP-Chicago

Alex Meyer-RHP-Minnesota

Miguel Sano-3B-Minnesota

AL WEST:

1. Oakland

2. Texas

3. Angels

4. Seattle

5. Houston

Prospects to watch

Billy McKinney-OF-Oakland

Billy Burns-OF-Oakland

Jorge Alfaro-C-Texas

Michael Choice-OF-Texas

C.J. Cron-1B-Angels

Taylor Lindsey-2B-Angels

D.J. Peterson-3B-Seattle

James Paxton-LHP-Seattle

Mark Appel-RHP-Houston

Carlos Correa-SS-Houston

AL Division winners

East-Boston

Central-Detroit

West-Oakland

AL Wild card teams

Tampa Bay, Texas

AL Champion

Detroit

Let’s go to the National League.

NL EAST:

1. Washington

2. Atlanta

3. Philadelphia

4. New York

5. Miami

Prospects to watch

Brian Goodwin-CF-Washington

A.J. Cole-RHP-Washington

Jason Hursh-RHP-Atlanta

Christian Bethancourt-C-Atlanta

J.R. Crawford-SS-Philadelphia

Miguel Gonzalez-RHP-Philadelphia

Noah Syndergaard-RHP-New York

Domonic Smith-1B- New York

Andrew Heaney-LHP-Miami

Jake Marisnick-OF-Miami

NL CENTRAL:

1. St. Louis

2. Cincinnati

3. Pittsburgh

4. Milwaukee

5. Chicago

Prospects to watch

Kolten Wong-2B-St.Louis

Stephen Piscotty-OF-St.Louis

Billy Hamilton-CF-Cincinnati

David Holmberg-LHP-Cincinnati

Alen Hanson-SS-Pittsburgh

Jameson Taillon-RHP-Pittsburgh

Jimmy Nelson-RHP-Milwaukee

David Goforth-RHP-Milwaukee

C.J. Edwards-RHP-Chicago

Kris Bryant-3B-Chicago

NL WEST:

1. Los Angeles

2. San Francisco

3. San Diego

4. Arizona

5. Colorado

Prospects to watch

Julio Urias-LHP-Los Angeles

Joc Pederson-OF-Los Angeles

Kyle Crick-RHP- San Francisco

Chris Stratton-RHP-San Francisco

Max Fried-LHP-San Diego

Austin Hedges-C-San Diego

Chris Owings-SS-Arizona

Braden Shipley-RHP-Arizona

Eddie Butler-RHP-Colorado

Joey Wong-INF-Colorado

NL Division winners 

East-Washington

Central-St. Louis

West-Los Angeles

NL wild cards

Braves, Giants

NL Champion

Washington

There you have it. Don’t get bent out of shape if you don’t see a certain prospect on the list. This was a watch list not the best of.