Throughout the 162-game MLB season, there are always unpredictable or flat-out unexpected things that happen that can be filed under the ever-growing file of “that’s baseball,” in the words of Colorado Rockies manager Harry Ralston Black.
Sometimes, they are just on a player level (this player breaks out, this player got injured, this player slumped) but sometimes, they are on a team level too. Most people wouldn’t have predicted that the San Diego Padres would go 79-83 in 2021 but they did. That’s baseball, but those are mainly (but not exclusively) what we are looking at.
So here is one bold prediction for each and every MLB team.
Baltimore Orioles — They will lose 105+ games … again
This may not be as hot of a take as Baltimore Orioles fans would hope but the Orioles are a really bad team. GM Mike Elias thinks that one of their current/last year’s young starters (Keegan Akin, Dean Kremer, Bruce Zimmermann, or Tyler Wells) will break out, but I don’t see it happening.
With Adley Rutschman injured and Grayson Rodríguez not starting on the MLB roster, it will be the fourth straight 162-game season with 105+ losses.
Boston Red Sox — They will finish in second place
The Boston Red Sox seem to be the underdog for most people in the AL East but they will surprise a lot of people.
Speaking as someone who saw every single game Trevor Story played in 2021, the defense was not an issue for him and will not be 2022 at second base. The main concern was his throwing arm in 2021 but at second, it really won’t be an issue. And he will hit a lot of doubles and bombs in Fenway (because former Rockies can hit really well outside of altitude.)
The backend of the rotation is better and Chris Sale should return sometime this year and be good for them too.