And The 2017 World Series Champion is.... 3 Predictions For Next Season
In today's sports world, the instant one season is over, it's time to look forward to the next one.
The Chicago Cubs just won its first World Series in 108 years and the talk about repeating has already started. Can this team be the next dynasty? Who can compete with the Cubs in the National League? Will it be another 108 years before another World Series win?
Unless you're a Cubs fan still partying from last night, it's on to the next one.
Both the Cubs and the Cleveland Indians have the potential and young talent to be in the World Series for the next couple seasons, but predicting a repeat of the 2016 series is no fun.
Here are three World Series predictions for 2017, not including the Cubs or Indians:
1. San Francisco Giants vs. Kansas City Royals
Hey, haven't we seen this before?
The Giants and Royals played against each other in 2014 World Series, which ended in another championship for San Francisco.
Kansas City made it back to the World Series and won in 2015, but they failed to make the playoffs in this past season. After its championship, they were talked about much like the Cubs are today. They were supposed to be the next great dynasty in baseball.
However, injuries derailed them off the dynasty path, but 2017 could be the year the Royals are back on top of the American League.
San Francisco, on the other hand, was just a few pieces away from making another even-year World Series run.
The bullpen was the biggest issue for the Giants, but if they can address the issue in the offseason, 2017 could be the first odd-year World Series for the Orange and Black.
2. New York Mets vs. New York Yankees
After just having two teams with the longest championship droughts in the final series, baseball could use a regional rivalry in the World Series next season.
The New York Mets have the young pitching to make it to the World Series for years to come. Unfortunately for the Mets, the pitchers couldn't stay healthy in 2016.
As long as the Mets can resign Yoenis Cespedes and bring in some help around him in the offseason, the pitching can take them far.
It's strange to think that the core of the Yankees right now isn't filled with high priced free agents, but the trades made during the 2016 season now has the future of the Bronx Bombers looking bright.
Guys like Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and Clint Frazier will become household names in 2017 as the "Baby Bombers" lead the Yankees back to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
3. San Diego Padres vs. Oakland Athletics
This one is definitely the least likely to happen, but there has to be at least one obscure match up because stranger things have taken place (i.e. Chicago vs. Cleveland).
Both teams have been terrible for the past few seasons, but all of the trades and prospects brought into each organization could turn the franchises around.
Oakland has a ton of young pitching depth, which isn't anything new for them. They will go out in the offseason and try to find players with a low value and attempt to turn them into something productive. If Billy Beane can find some under the radar players, the talented young pitching staff can take them far.
San Diego has spent the last few offseasons signing and trading for big names players to later ship them away at the trade deadline for more prospects.
It's an interesting way to build a team up. It hasn't proven to be successful just yet, but anything can happen in baseball.
San Diego Padres: 2017 World Series Champions! (Probably not)