The Commissioner's Picks are In
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American League
1. Royals — The team has been building towards this year for the past two seasons. The talented roster includes several experienced 3- and 4-year players and depth all around. No one coaches harder and more often than Coach De Llano, so let’s see if his summer success can translate to the Spring and he can stay on the field.
2. Mariners — The DNA in this franchise is strong with 2 WS championships and 3 WS appearances in the past 4 years. They are tribute to how the franchise system can work over a longer stretch of time (first mastered by the Phillies). Let’s see if the veteran (returning from retirement) Manager Lepore (thank you) can keep the train moving. A very strong and experienced 15-year-old class should be enough to keep the Mariners vying for another WS berth.
3. Angels — On paper a solid team, which we have been saying in most years in the Wondo era, but it hasn’t yet played out on the field. This may be the first year in a while that he only has one son on the team, so possibly less distractions and taking “heat” at home may prove beneficial for the likeable skipper. I root hard for Wondo because no one works harder for baseball in this town, so I hope this is the year his team fulfills their promise.
4. Athletics — The A’s got their name back and new Manager Cataldo had to do a total overhaul of the roster. A very good draft and a couple of stud returnees could very well surprise. They are a dark-horse pick to come out of the AL.
5. Astros — Coach Gramolini, new to the League, was not presented with the best situation due to an anomaly in the roster construction of the team from a 15-year-old standpoint. This team will have their day 2 years from now, mark it down, but for this year pencil them in for the Monday “play-in” game.
National League
1. Pirates — The NL arguably has the 4 best teams in the League, so this will be a very competitive road to the WS. The Pirates have been to 3 of the last 4 WS and won 2 championships, the same as the Mariners. This year they have another ridiculously stacked team despite losing one of their top 15’s. They have 3 sophomores that either play Varsity or JV-level high school baseball. A lot of arms returning should give them an advantage come playoff time. I don’t expect they will show what they have until the playoffs start — they could be a 4- or 5-loss team in the regular season.
2. Padres — Another stacked roster that includes a varsity HS player, and a few coaches rated them as the best returning team. I would love to see Coach Foley break through in his 5th season coaching. His personality helps make this League fun and he is appreciated by all for his many contributions to the League. He really is a pure baseball guy who knows the game — this could be the year that his team shines on the field.
3. Phillies — Another year where the Phils look like they have enough to win it all. Coach Gualtieri, in his 9th year, had some bad luck in the past two years that prevented the Phils from going to the WS for the first time since 2020. Right now the five-year drought is tied for the longest this franchise has failed to go to the WS in the history of the League. They have the arms and talent to do it this year.
4. Marlins — Another team returning to their legacy name after a short relocation the past few years. The top talent on this team is as strong as any franchise. New Manager Guevara will have to figure out a way to get that talent in the right positions in the key moments of the game and come playoff time.
5. Cubs — A rebuilding year, with the super graduating class from last year now gone. But not totally bereft of some good, experienced talent. In the AL they would be competing for a title, but unfortunately not in the NL. Coach Frew shouldn’t make any personal plans for the first Monday in June (the Cubs will have a game).
Postseason
- AL Championship: Royals over the Angels
- NL Championship: Pirates over the Phillies
- World Series: Pirates over the Royals (first back-to-back since the 2016 Royals)