The 2015 season opens in a matter of days, so we polled Sportsnet’s baseball writers about the upcoming season.
Which players could break out in 2015? What should MLB change? And will the Blue Jays make the playoffs? Our writers weigh in in time for the season opener:
What do you make of the Blue Jays’ decision to rely so heavily on young arms?
Shi Davidi
Well, going young was part of the blueprint, and given the way their payroll is structured, this was really the only option for them since they don’t have the money to sign high-end free agents and acquiring elite arms via trade is extremely difficult and costly. Let’s also not lose sight of the fact that Drew Hutchison, Daniel Norris, Aaron Sanchez, Miguel Castro and Roberto Osuna are all high ceiling pitchers, and while they all probably won’t hit, if a couple reach their potential that should keep the Blue Jays competitive.
Jeff Blair
I’d rather rely on young arms with good stuff than recycled crud. Given the work that Alex Anthopoulos needed/still needs to do on the everyday lineup, cost-effective pitching is even more important.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
Well it’s going to be fun to watch, one way or another. They have some electric arms on the staff this year, and it’s not hard to imagine a breakout from someone like Norris or Sanchez. Let’s be honest, though. There’s another scenario where the arms aren’t ready and the Blue Jays are in a tough spot. It’s a gamble with tons of upside.
Arden Zwelling
I think it’ll go very well in the early stages of the season, as the league hasn’t had a chance to see much of Norris, Sanchez, Castro, Osuna, et al. in person or on film. But once these pitchers have been through the league, opposition hitters will begin to adjust to them and attack their weaknesses. How the Blue Jays young arms adjust back will determine whether they’re able to have sustained success or not.
Could this team sustain another big injury and still compete?
Shi Davidi
That depends on where, and if it happens to the rotation, that’s going to be very difficult for the Blue Jays to overcome. Positionally, they have better depth than in previous years, but they really need Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson to be on the field the whole year. That trio should help them survive lots of adversity.
Jeff Blair
If it isn’t Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista? Sure, in this division …
Ben Nicholson-Smith
For a couple weeks? Sure. Another season-ending injury would be insanely hard to rebound from, though. Losing Marcus Stroman was hard enough.
Arden Zwelling
To a hitter? Maybe. To a starting pitcher? Probably not. The depth of this team is so unbelievably razor-thin, it should strike terror into the hearts of Blue Jays fans. Especially in the rotation. And if the Blue Jays suffer two major injuries to significant pieces? Forget about it.
Which AL East team poses the biggest threat to the Blue Jays?
Shi Davidi
The Baltimore Orioles may not drop off as much as people seem to think, but the Boston Red Sox are probably the biggest obstacle standing in the Blue Jays’ way. Their lineup should be just as fearsome as that of the Blue Jays, and while they don’t have the same ceiling in the rotation, they have more mid-rotation stability, although the injuries to catcher Christian Vazquez and closer Koji Uehara spell trouble. Really, the AL East is up for grabs.
Jeff Blair
The Boston Red Sox’s lineup could be lethal; maybe enough to overcome its poor pitching. Plus, there’s a “been there, got the t-shirt” aspect to the Red Sox that sticks out in a division that no longer has Joe Maddon.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
For me it’s the Red Sox. They’re an elite offensive team with layers upon layers of quality hitters. Their pitching doesn’t offer much certainty, but I bet they’ll get ground balls and keep Boston in games.
Arden Zwelling
Assuming the Red Sox are the favourite to win the division, the Orioles and Yankees would be the biggest threats to the Blue Jays hopes of earning a Wild Card spot. The Orioles are welcoming a couple pretty nice pieces back to their lineup in Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, and have a strong bullpen. They’re a solid team that won’t blow you away but also doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses, which is not something you can say about the Blue Jays. Meanwhile, it shouldn’t be surprising to see the Yankees receive worthwhile production—especially in their own ballpark—from established bats, and Masahiro Tanaka is the best pitcher in the division even with only half a UCL. The road to the postseason will not be easy for Toronto.
Who’s one MLB player capable of breaking out in 2015?
Shi Davidi
I keep waiting for Bryce Harper to really blow up, and this just might be the season. He’s been tantalizing for so long, it’s easy to forget he’s just 22, which is still insanely young in relation to how prominent he is. On a Washington Nationals team that looks to be as good as it gets in the game, this may be the year he finally leverages all his talent and becomes a star.
Jeff Blair
Joc Pederson’s got my eye in centre field for the Los Angeles Dodgers – but answering anybody other than Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs seems foolish.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
I believe in Gregory Polanco because the Pirates like him a ton and projection systems like ZiPS believe in him (14 home runs and 3.2 wins above replacement wouldn’t be bad, would it?).
Arden Zwelling
George Springer hit 20 homers in just 78 games last year. If he plays a full season, he could be a beast for an Astros team that’s going to lose a lot of games in spite of him.
What’s one team you’re looking forward to watching in 2015?
Shi Davidi
The Washington Nationals are the class of baseball but I think the Miami Marlins are going to be a whole lot of fun. Giving Giancarlo Stanton the $325 million deal is sure to change the outlook for an organization in which players knew better than to plant roots, and then adding Mat Latos, Dee Gordon, Dan Haren and Martin Prado (a clever move to put a responsible grown up in the clubhouse) around a young core makes them really intriguing. And keep in mind that barring setbacks, Jose Fernandez could be back from Tommy John around the all-star break.
Jeff Blair
The Washington Nationals. Not certain I’ve seen a staff like that. Plus, Bryce Harper and Matt Williams offer bonus train-wreck potential.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
I think Cleveland could be a lot of fun. The Indians flew under the radar on the way to an 85-win season in 2014, but they have the talent to break through this year in a murky AL Central.
Arden Zwelling
I love a team like the San Diego Padres, who were so disgusted with their performance last season that they remade their roster in the span of a few days this winter as if they were playing a video game. If we’re talking about watchability, the Padres have it all. Former MVP candidates Matt Kemp and Justin Upton are hitting in the heart of the order; exciting arms like James Shields, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross are in the rotation; and Wil Myers is playing centre field! I have no clue where this team will end up in six months, but I do know they’ll be well worth watching.
What’s one change MLB should contemplate, or one problem it must address?
Shi Davidi
I’m a fan of the new pace of play initiative and it looks like it will be minimally disruptive to players. That was long overdue. The other thing I’d love to see happen is a move toward a more balanced schedule instead of being so intra-division heavy, something that would make competition for the Wild Cards more fair. But unless Rob Manfred veers course sharply from Bud Selig, my sense is that has no chance of happening.
Jeff Blair
Instituting the designated hitter in the National League. Pitchers hitting is ludicrous. As Felipe Alou once said; “Everybody says the strategy is better in the National League. What’s the strategy with a guy who can’t hit?” He has a point.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
I get that it’s smart for the Cubs to sent Kris Bryant down for a couple weeks, but MLB should find a way to keep top prospects on opening day rosters. It’s a real challenge, but one worth fighting for.
Arden Zwelling
No more pitchers hitting. Either use the designated hitter in the NL or abolish the DH in the AL and use an eight-man batting order in both leagues.
Playoff Predictions
Shi Davidi
AL: Boston Red Sox; Chicago White Sox; Seattle Mariners with Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels as Wild Card teams.
NL: Washington Nationals; Pittsburgh Pirates; Los Angeles Dodgers with Miami Marlins and San Diego as Wild Card teams.
World Series: Washington Nationals.
Jeff Blair
AL: Boston Red Sox; Detroit Tigers; Seattle Mariners with Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals as Wild Card teams.
NL: Washington Nationals; St. Louis Cardinals; Los Angeles Dodgers with Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates as Wild Card teams.
World Series: Washington Nationals over Seattle Mariners.
Ben Nicholson-Smith
AL: Boston Red Sox; Detroit Tigers; Los Angeles Angels with Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays as Wild Card teams.
NL: Washington Nationals; St. Louis Cardinals; Los Angeles Dodgers with Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates as Wild Card teams.
World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers.
Arden Zwelling
AL: Boston Red Sox; Detroit Tigers; Los Angeles Angels with Cleveland Indians and Seattle Mariners as Wild Card teams.
NL: Washington Nationals; St. Louis Cardinals; Los Angeles Dodgers with Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates as Wild Card teams.
World Series: Washington Nationals.
