MLB Predictions: Scattered views precede 2019 opener

We gathered the staff together to make some MLB predictions for the coming year.

Loyal readers and newcomers, Call to the Pen is pleased to present to you with our first-ever, staff-made MLB predictions for the coming baseball season. Of course, MLB predictions are by their nature tricky, involving 30 teams playing 162 games each, but that didn’t deter us. However, what follows is proof positive that when you put a bunch of baseball scribblers in one place, even if that’s only a cyberspace, something like World Wars III and IV together will break out.

Well, not quite, but the word of the day is definitely disagreement.

As you will see, the staff has produced only one unanimous pick among their MLB predictions – can you guess the team and what they’re picked for? In stark contrast are most of the individual awards, which might be called “totally scattered.” For the individual awards, getting nine of the 14 voting staff members might be an indicator of something deserving a wager. Of the six awards here, though, only one produced that result.

Is “anti-unanimous” a word?  Here and elsewhere, MLB predictions almost always flirt with “anti-unanimous.” In many regards here, a team or individual winner has another candidate close on their or his heels.

In other words, before the real games start, MLB predictions are all over the place.

We will start with the raw predictions for the division winners, league champions, World Series Champion and the staff members who cast votes for them. This will be followed by individual award predictions in each league.

Following the predictions, there will be commentaries by staff in areas they freely selected, and generally, areas the writers usually cover. When all is said and done, please feel free to join the discussion in the Comments section.