AL EAST: Colin- Toronto Blue Jays / Trevor- Toronto Blue Jays
I think the biggest chasms between our picks will be in the Wild Card selections rather than the division winners. Despite Tampa Bay being Tampa Bay and the Yankees and Red Sox at the very least holding steady in the division, Toronto has added far too much firepower from outside and promoted too much from within to not be the favorites. If they can't break 95 wins this season something has gone horribly awry. |
AL CENTRAL: Colin- Chicago White Sox / Trevor- Chicago White Sox
The AL Central is arguably the weakest division in the sport at the moment. While we both fully expect the ChiSox to shit in our dinner come the postseason once again, there is little doubt that they should coast fairly easily to their second consecutive division title. The starting rotation is already a bit banged up, but the bullpen is arguably stronger, even after trading Craig Kimbrel, and the bats don't need much waking up either. |
AL WEST: Colin- Seattle Mariners / Trevor- Houston Astros
| Our first divergence in opinion comes in the AL West. The Mariners have been the meme pick on this blog, and since we've known each other beforehand, for years but for once Colin's faith in the M's isn't unwarranted. As for the Astros, it pains my fucking soul to think these guys are going to be good once again but getting Justin Verlander healthy is key and while losing Carlos Correa stinks, Jeremy Pena is ready to be the next man up. |
AL WILD CARDS: Colin- Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers
Trevor- Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox
| On paper Colin's Wild Card picks look like the work of a madman. However, IF (all caps for effect) the Angels can stay healthy and Detroit's new signings prove their worth, they could very well join Boston in the playoffs. I on the other hand stuck with a bit of the old guard as I don't want to say Tampa is dead until they are buried underground. And while I don't think Seattle can pip Houston for the division, they could very well obtain one of the three Wild Cards in the American League. |
NL EAST: Colin- Atlanta Braves / Trevor- Atlanta Braves
The defending World Series champs lost a lot of that team that brought them to the promised land. In the meantime though they still have one of the most formidable staffs in the National League and will get Ronald Acuna Jr. back healthy in the first week of May. The rest of the division is too much of a crap shoot to go with any other pick at the moment. |
NL CENTRAL: Colin- Milwaukee Brewers / Trevor- Milwaukee Brewers
It is fitting that the only division that can rival the AL Central in its top-heaviness is its National League counterpart. St. Louis is running a reunion tour, the Cubs are rebuilding, and the Reds and Pirates are selling everything and everybody not nailed down. That shouldn't diminish how good the Brewers are as a team but it should illustrate how easy it is to make them as a selection for the NL Central crown. |
NL WEST: Colin- Los Angeles Dodgers / Trevor- Los Angeles Dodgers
No surprise that the Dodgers are rounding out the division winners. Last year's NL runners-up will still get plenty of run from the likes of San Francisco and San Diego but ultimately we both think that they won't be able to hang around in the end. Whether this hubris serves as a warning shot for me to never think my team is going to win things remains to be seen. For now, let me watch my Bobby Miller highlights in peace. |
NL WILD CARDS: Colin- San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies
Trevor- San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, New York Mets
| The Giants proved last year that they aren't to be trifled with. While their fan base is exhausting for having won fuck all in their existence, the Padres are too good not to make the playoffs. The trouble comes with that final Wild Card. Philadelphia seemingly has all the necessary components to be a contender but whether or not they can get late outs still has the jury deliberating. I'm probably going to be the kiss of death with the Metropolitans, but fuck it neither of us are putting the Yankees in so we gotta get at least one New York team in the picture. |
ALCS: Colin- Blue Jays over Tigers / Trevor- Astros over Blue Jays
| Colin's all-in stance on the Tigers is a noble endeavor and I'd love to hear his explanation at a later date. However, mine is a much simpler path. Hate to provide spoilers for the next blurb, but I want the Astros' blood. |
NLCS: Colin- Dodgers over Giants / Trevor- Dodgers over Brewers
WORLD SERIES: Colin- Dodgers over Blue Jays / Trevor- Dodgers over Astros
And in the end I am basically just setting myself up for disappointment aren't I? Both of us agreeing on a champion has never produced results and I'm shitting in my britches at the thought that hex will most certainly cause my club to all catch malaria concurrently and have to forfeit the remainder of their season in June. |
AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP: Colin- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays)
Trevor- Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)
| Last year both of our selections fell far short of MVP aspirations, with mine (Eloy Jimenez) being injured during the dying embers of Spring Training. This year we have two sluggers pacing two potent offenses. Vlad Jr. is one of many potential MVP candidates on Toronto but definitely has the most eye-catching highlights to lure in those West Coast voters. On the other hand, Yordan Alvarez is one of few likable Astros remaining on the roster so taking him doesn't feel as dirty. |
NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP: Colin- Jorge Soler (Miami Marlins)
Trevor- Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers)
| Colin is banking on the 2021 World Series MVP having finally figured it out with Miami while I go back to the same well I fell in last year by re-taking Mookie Betts. Not having your MVP make the playoffs is a risky proposition but it hasn't deterred voters in the past. SImilarly to Guerrero in the AL, there is an abundance of potential MVP's lurking in Chavez Ravine that could steal some of the spotlight, and votes, away from the star right fielder. |
AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG: Colin- Jose Berrios (Toronto Blue Jays)
Trevor- Lucas Giolito (Chicago White Sox)
| Colin is very confident about his selection while I'm a bit more reserved about mine. The Blue Jays shipped off their top two prospects to Minnesota for a reason and Berrios is ready to take the throne as the ace in the Great White North. Giolito has finished in the top 11 of the Cy Young each of the past three seasons but with his rotation mates already dropping like flies there could be too much pressure on the flame-throwing righty. |
NATIONAL LEAGUE CY YOUNG: Colin- Jacob deGrom (New York Mets)
Trevor- Max Fried (Atlanta Braves)
| It could be karma that Colin having not lived up to his deGrom shirt bet with Bindner that his NL Cy Young pick is already having to get MRI's, but if healthy there is no better selection for this award in the National League. While having the Degrominator healthy would help bolster my Mets Wild Card selection, running it back with Max Fried the same way I did with Mookie Betts felt both equal parts safe and lazy. |
AMERICAN LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Colin- Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)
Trevor- Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners)
| Both of these men making their respective clubs' Opening Day roster is a huge step for the league as a whole slowly crawling away from the ugliness that is service time manipulation. We'll see who gets the earliest run in their sides' starting lineups as that could very well determine who ends up being right with this prediction. |
NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR:
Colin- Max Meyer (Miami Marlins)
Trevor- Cade Cavalli (Washington Nationals)
| We are in simpatico in regards to rookies as we both went with hitters in the AL and pitchers in the NL. While Seiya Suzuki, Oneil Cruz, and Joey Bart might get run from the get go hitting-wise, we both believe it will be this pair of arms that provide the building blocks for both their franchises to radically improve in the coming seasons. They show glimpses of that bountiful future this season while not having to worry about hitting anymore in the NL. |
How'd we do? Well for now you can tell us how dumb (or smart if you're nice) our picks are @BEWHYCE on Twitter or in the Facebook comments on the Bleeding Your Colors Facebook page. If you are going to shit on them at least say what your picks are so there can be mutual receipts come season's end. For now, I bid you adieu as I go make the final preparations for the MLB Pick One Challenge (which you can still sign up for if you so choose) and get ready for OPENING DAY!
Image Credits: Team Logos (Sport Logos), Player Photos (Baseball Reference)