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I wrote my 30 Bold Predictions for 2012 last March as as exercise to show how baseball is so tough to predict sometimes. Every year, we see someone put up a breakout season that no one saw coming. Case in point: Mike Trout in 2012. Who saw that coming? I would have to say no one did. So, with that in mind, here is a look at my 30 bold predictions for 2013, by division and by team. Just remember, these are BOLD predictions, so the likelihood of any of these predictions actually happening is very small.
National League East
What is a bold prediction piece without a bold prediction for Bryce Harper. Bryce Harper will hit 36 home runs, scores 125 runs, steals 32 bases, drives in 105 runs, and hits .290.
Justin Upton disappoints fantasy owners again in 2013, hitting just .258 with 16 home runs, 76 runs, 70 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.
Ryan Howard surprises all fantasy owners by hitting .280, with 44 home runs, 128 RBI and 90 runs scored.
Matt Harvey wins 14 games for the fourth place Mets, and leads the National League in strikeouts with 255, 10 ahead of Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw.
In the midst of a dismal season where the Marlins lose 102 games, and owner Jeffrey Loria decides to sell the team after attendance drops 50% in 2013, Giancarlo Stanton wins the MLB home run title with 50 home runs.
National League Central
Joey Votto leads the National League in hitting with a .342 batting average, but hits just 15 home runs while doing so, disappointing fantasy owners who drafted him in the first round of their 2013 drafts.
After watching Jason Motte blow 5 saves in the month of April, manager Mike Matheny turns to young flame thrower Trevor Rosenthal, who becomes the second coming of Craig Kimbrel, saving 38 games and striking out 106 batters in 70 innings of work.
Marco Estrada strikes out 210 batters with a 3.45 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while winning 14 games for the Brewers, and has a better season the teammate Yovani Gallardo.
Pedro Alvarez surprises many fantasy owners by hitting .265 with 39 home runs and driving in 103 runs, finishing third behind Giancarlo Stanton and Ryan Howard for the National League home run title.
Despite everyone predicting him to be traded, or to losing his closer job, Carlos Marmol keeps his job, saving 38 games with a 3.20 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 75 innings.
National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers
Hanley Ramirez puts up a 2010-like season, hitting .300 with 31 HRs, 100 RBI and 26 stolen bases.
After Sergio Romo blows 4 straight saves vs the Dodgers and Phillies in early May, the Giants move ineffective starter Tim Lincecum to the closer role, where he saves 32 games in 36 chances.
Aaron Hill puts up a clunker season at the plate, hitting just .230 with 10 HRs, 55 runs, 50 RBI and 11 stolen bases. The Diamondbacks begin to regret signing him to a 3 year, $35 million extension this offseason.
Cameron Maybin puts up a breakout season, hitting 20 home runs, with 80 runs, 80 RBI and 45 stolen bases, while hitting .282. Teammate Chase Headley disappoints fantasy owners by hitting just 13 home runs and driving in 75 runs.
Second baseman Josh Rutledge is the second coming of Troy Tulowitzki, hitting .290 with 28 HRs, 80 runs, 90 RBI and 23 stolen bases. Despite his low walk totals, Rutledge takes advantage of Coors Field by hitting .360 at home, with 19 of his home runs coming at high altitude.
American League East
Matt Moore, and not David Price, is the Rays best starter in 2013, winning 17 games with a 3.25 ERA and 215 strikeouts. Prospect Chris Archer gets promoted in early May and dominates in his 26 starts, winning 11 games with a 3.50 ERA and a strikeout per nine of 9.89.
Jose Bautista disappoints fantasy owners, hitting "just" 21 home runs, struggling at times throughout the season. He lands on the DL in May after aggravating his wrist injury.
The Yankees win just 84 games in 2013, but outfielder Brett Gardner has a solid bounce back season, hitting .280 with a league leading 58 stolen bases.
The Orioles struggle in their effort to make the playoffs and end up trading shortstop J.J. Hardy in June, thus opening up shortstop for Manny Machado. Machado responds with a huge second half, hitting 17 HRs, driving in 50 runs and stealing 10 bases, bringing his season totals to .265, 26 HRs, 85 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
Jacoby Ellsbury puts up another monster season, hitting .305 with 20 home runs, 108 runs scored, 85 RBI and 47 stolen bases. The Red Sox trade him to the Kansas City Royals in July for Bubba Starling, in the Royals push for a wildcard berth.
American League Central
Miguel Cabrera does the impossible, repeating as the AL Triple Crown winner, hitting .345 with 46 home runs and 138 RBI.
Kansas City Royals
Eric Hosmer puts up an MVP-like season, hitting .305 with 29 HRs, 100 runs, 120 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He puts his disappointing 2012 season behind him in grand fashion.
Lonnie Chisenhall has a breakout season, hitting .285 with 24 home runs and 85 RBI, finally showing the potential he has shown in the minors.
Catcher Joe Mauer puts up a 2009-like season, hitting .330 with 25 home runs, 90 runs scored and 92 RBI. Teammate Justin Morneau hits 32 home runs and drives in 105 runs.
Gordon Beckham finally has his breakout season, hitting .290 with 25 home runs, 85 runs scored, 80 RBI and 15 stolen bases.
American League West
Yoenis Cespedes has a monster sophomore season, hitting .310 with 37 home runs, 86 runs, 110 RBI and 24 stolen bases.
David Murphy does his best to help Rangers fans forget about Josh Hamilton, hitting .295 with 23 home runs, 80 runs, 83 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
Yes, this wouldn't be a bold predictions article without a bold prediction for Albert Pujols. Pujols knee injury is worse than reported, as he has the worst year of his career, hitting .275 with 22 home runs, 81 runs, and 87 RBI.
Kyle Seager loves the change in Safeco Park field dimensions, hitting .280 with 29 home runs, 85 runs, 85 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
Chris Carter takes advantage of regular playing time in Houston, hitting .265 with 33 home runs, 75 runs, 97 RBI and a 17% walk rate. Teammate Jose Altuve hits .303 with 12 home runs, 90 runs, 50 RBI and 40 stolen bases.
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