Fansided

Predicting the 2018 MLB season from the Colorado Rockies perspective

By Jake Shapiro |
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by manager Bud Black and Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies after Story scored in the fifth inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by manager Bud Black and Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies after Story scored in the fifth inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by manager Bud Black and Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies after Story scored in the fifth inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 07: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies is congratulated by manager Bud Black and Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies after Story scored in the fifth inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

The 2018 Major League Baseball season starts today, including the Colorado Rockies facing the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at 8:10 Mountain time. So be excited and do not hide it.

The Rockies made it to the postseason last year for the first time since 2009. Despite surprising many national (and even a few local) writers, somehow no Rockie won any major awards. That could change in 2018.

For background, I’ve been one win off the last two seasons on my annual predictions. Last year, I tabbed eight of the 10 playoff teams and all in the correct spot too. So don’t be surprised if a lot of this comes true. Also don’t be surprised if none of it comes true because there is a reason they play the games.

Predictions

Rockies Wins: 89

Last year, the Colorado Rockies won 87 games. This season, they’ve kept a trio of terrific relievers in the backend of the bullpen. The names are different than the ones who finished last season but Bryan Shaw, who will fill the Pat Neshek role, is in purple for a full season, not a half-season. That’s helpful. But more importantly the Rockies have high end potential young players, who are MLB-ready at Triple-A and more who will become ready this season who are at Double-A.

The club has more depth than last season but they have some questions at catcher, as well as a few regression candidates. Overall, the team should improve considerably but drop a few games because the National League has followed suit.

SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 22, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: Jon Gray #55 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 22, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Rockies Pitcher of the Year: Jon Gray

The wolf is very good. He’s the club’s clearcut ace and even the average fan can see his development in each start. Granted, sometimes he struggles … but those struggles are only going to help him moving forward.

Rockies Hitter of the Year: Nolan Arenado

Last season, I was the only person in the world who said Charlie Blackmon would have a better year than Arenado. He did. That won’t happen again. Part of that is Arenado is going to have better lineup protection this season. Either Carlos Gonzalez returns to form or Ryan McMahon/David Dahl (who are waiting in the wings) takes over as the cleanup hitter.

Rockies Reliever of the Year: Chris Rusin

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I would pick Shaw. I really like him but this is something to note with both him and Wade Davis. For whatever odd reason, many Rockies have struggled their first year with the club, especially relievers. Boone Logan and Jake McGee have fallen into that on the mound and Gerardo Parra and Ian Desmond at the dish.

Scott Oberg is a great dark horse pick as he keeps getting better. Oberg just has not been consistent enough at this point to pick for reliever of the year.

Rusin was awesome last year and there’s no reason and can’t just keep getting better. Bud Black knows how to use Rusin now and he will do so often.

Rockies Rookie of the Year: Ryan McMahon

With all do respect to pitcher Yency Almonte, who will use his great spring training to a great season, he starts in Triple-A so that’s not a great pick. McMahon, the first baseman, was on a tear this spring. He’s a monster. He’s smart. He’s on a mission. Everything went wrong for McMahon two years ago and now all the ducks are in his row. Don’t be surprised if he wins NL Rookie of The Year. The biggest question regarding RyMac is just how much will Colorado utilize him.

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American League Playoffs: New York, Cleveland, Houston – Boston, Minnesota

There are four elite teams in the American League. The Yankees, Indians, Astros and Red Sox are all World Series contenders. The Yankees are loaded and the New York media’s hype of the pinstripes is justified for once. Cleveland has the best pitcher in the AL and a great lineup meanwhile the Red Sox are almost as good as the Yankees at every position. The Astros, they just won the World Series and they’ve only improved.

The second AL Wild Card spot will be a fun race between Toronto, Los Angeles and Minnesota but the Twins went last year and Byron Buxton is a stud.

National League Playoffs: Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles – St. Louis, Colorado

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Cool, the Nationals make the playoffs again. Good for them. The NL East is tire fire. The Phillies will be much better and will contended in the Wild Card race for a long time. The Cubs are rested and relaxed. They should be the favorite for the pennant considering that they added a terrific hurler in Yu Darvish. The Dodgers, they were almost the best team ever last year and they have a lot of those pieces hanging around.

The Cardinals, with the benefit of health and development, should be right back into the playoffs and Rockies follow that as well. Arizona, and really anyone in the NL West, could contend for the Wild Card. Watch out for Milwaukee as well.

Cy Youngs: Jon Gray, Corey Kluber

I wrote yesterday why I’m picking Gray. Go check that out. Kluber is not an easy pick, just the de facto given he won it last year. Justin Verlander is going to have a huge year in Houston, Chris Sale was one bad outing at the end of the year from winning in 2017 and look out for James Paxton in Seattle.

Next: The formula for the Rockies making the postseason in 2018

MVPs: Kris Bryant, George Springer

The Cubs will be the best team in the NL and Kris Bryant is their best player. Bryant is an incredible overall player and that gets lost in the third baseman wars. He has one MVP to his name already and things are lining up to make that two.

Did you watch the World Series last year? Then you know Springer is a beast. In 2014, I wrote that Springer would someday be an MVP. That someday season starts today.

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