CarterHud

       

Andrew Ladd has had a successful NHL career. The Maple Ridge, British Columbia native was drafted 4th overall in 2004 by the Carolina Hurricanes. In his rookie season of 2005-06, he won the Stanley Cup with the Canes. In 2008, the Canes traded Ladd to the Chicago Blackhawks for Tuomo Ruutu. He had 50 points (26 goals and 24 assists) in 137 games in Carolina. He won his second Cup (this time with the Hawks) in 2010. But at the end of that year, Ladd was dealt to the then Atlanta Thrashers (they are now the Winnipeg Jets) in exchange for Ivan Vishnevskiy and a 2011 second round draft pick. He was named captain of the team, and was the captain when the team moved to Winnipeg the following year. He had 305 points (139 goals and 166 assists) in 429 games with the franchise. Ladd, 31, made his return to Chicago when he was dealt back to the Hawks along with Jay Harrison and Matt Fraser for Marko Dano and a 1st round pick in 2016. That year, his contract was up. He scored 111 points (45 goals and 66 assists) in 203 games with the Hawks, both the first and second time with the club. On July 1st, 2016, Ladd signed a 7 year, $38.5 million deal with the New York Islanders. In his first season with them, (2016-17), Ladd has 29 points (21 goals and 8 assists) in 74 games.
        At his teammate Anders Lee\’s Kan Jam event, I was able to catch up with Ladd. Here\’s the questions I asked him.

        Me: \”How has the team changed from December to now?\”
        Ladd: \”We had a lot of new guys at the start of the year. Sometimes that takes a little while to gel, and for the new guys to feel comfortable. We obviously he had a slower start than we were all wanted to, but we\’ve found a way to get ourselves back in the playoff race. It\’s fun to be able to play meaningful games right now.\”

        M: \”When you signed here, you were expecting to play with John Tavares. You\’ve settled in the top 9 instead. Is it difficult to change linemates in the middle of the season?\”
        L: \”Sometimes it\’s nice to get to play with guys, and get comfortable with them. But, the coach gives us the game plan every game. We\’re all on the same page from that standpoint. It\’s not too hard. We have a lot of great players on our team, besides Johnny (Tavares). It\’s great to play with them all.
       
       M: \”What do you think of this event Anders Lee is running?\”
       L: \”It\’s pretty awesome. I think you got to give Anders a lot of credit for organizing this, and make this all happen. It\’s something everyone gets excited about, raising money for a great cause, and trying to help people out. It\’s fun to be here and be a part of it.

   

  Out of all the major sport leagues, the MLB has the longest season, with all 30 teams playing 162 regular season games every year. That leads to many, many predictions for the season. I have already previewed all 30 teams, predicting their outcomes in 2017, and which players will breakout, or bounce back. So, I\’ve gathered my predictions here. First, we\’ll start with the divisions. For a more detailed preview, click the team that you want (also, the *s mean wild card teams).

      AL East:
      1. Boston Red Sox
      2. Toronto Blue Jays*
      3. Baltimore Orioles*
      4. New York Yankees
      5. Tampa Bay Rays

      This division is very competitive. The Red Sox have star pitchers Chris Sale and
Rick Porcello. Manager John Farrell will fill out the lineup card with stars Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts. They seem to be a lock to win the division. The Jays and the O\’s tied for second last year. The Jays have power hitters Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki, while the Orioles have last year\’s HR leader Mark Trumbo, who is joined by Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Adam Jones in a stellar lineup. Both teams have below average rotations, with the O\’s best two pitchers being Chris Tillman and Kevin Gausman, who are your average number 3 pitchers. The Jays young duo of Aaron Sanchez and Marcus Stroman will give them the advantage. The Yanks will be very exciting with youngsters Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and Aaron Judge playing big roles. Though they have star relievers Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances, Masahiro Tanaka is the only dependable starter they have. The Rays, with ace Chris Archer, will struggle. Logan Forsythe is gone, Matt Duffy is injured, and Logan Morrison is a lock to start. This team isn\’t going places this year.

      AL Central:
      1. Cleveland Indians
      2. Detroit Tigers
      3. Kansas City Royals
      4. Chicago White Sox
      5. Minnesota Twins

      This division is much weaker than the AL East. The Tribe were great last year, and nearly won the World Series. Now with star Edwin Encarnacion on the club, they can do even better in 2017. They\’ll also get Michael Branley back. Don\’t forget about 2016 breakouts Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, either. Jason Kipnis is also solid. Their rotation is led by stars Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar. They also have a top reliever in the game in Andrew Miller. Yep, they\’re stacked. The Tigers got back on the winning track in 2016, only to miss the playoffs. Older guys like Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Justin Upton need to produce. Michael Fulmer won AL ROY in 2016. Justin Verlander nearly won Cy Young. They should come in second. The Royals seem to have fallen off since their 2015 WS win. Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas are entering walk years. They are also hurt by the passing of Yordano Ventura. The White Sox sold Chris Sale and Adam Eaton in the offseason. But, Todd Frazier, Jose Abreu and Jose Quintana are still around. They\’ll help the club finish 4th. The Twins are looking for Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Jose Berrios to produce. Besides them and star 2B Brian Dozier, this team isn\’t good.
 
        AL West:
        1. Texas Rangers
        2. Seattle Mariners
        3. Houston Astros
        4. Los Angeles Angels
        5. Oakland Athletics

        The Rangers were ready for a long playoff run. But, they had the worst offseason out of any team (in my opinion). OFs Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran are gone, and so is 1B Mitch Moreland. But they still have potent hitters in Rougned Odor and Adrian Beltre. Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish are solid pitchers. They\’ll most likely win the division. Stars Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Jean Segura and Kyle Seager lead the Mariners offense. They\’ll need their rotation to come through. Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa are all really good for the Astros. They have a chance if Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh and Lance McCullers can bounce back. The Angels have reigning Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, but that\’s about it. The A\’s roster speaks for itself. Khris Davis is the only player who will most likely have a positive WAR on their team.

        NL East:
        1. Washington Nationals
        2. New York Mets
        3. Miami Marlins
        4. Atlanta Braves
        5. Philadelphia Phillies

        The Nats lineup is stacked, with Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy hitting top 4. Max Scherzer is also a top pitcher. They\’re destined for success. With Noah Syndergaard and Jacob DeGrom, the Mets can compete for the playoffs. Without Jose Fernandez, the Marlins season will be tough. But, Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich and Dee Gordon make the lineup special. The Braves lineup is led by rookie Dansby Swanson, OF Ender Inciarte and 1B Freddie Freeman. Julio Teheran is also a solid pitcher. The Phillies are pretty bad. They\’ll need Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco to have solid seasons, while Aaron Nola breaks out.

         NL Central:
         1. Chicago Cubs
         2. St. Louis Cardinals*
         3. Pittsburgh Pirates
         4. Cincinnati Reds
         5. Milwaukee Brewers

         The Cubs are coming off a WS win. They are led on offense by Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks lead a really good rotation. The Cards now have Dexter Fowler. He and Matt Carpenter make this a nice lineup. Carlos Martinez isn\’t a bad starter, either. The Bucs have a great outfield, with Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte. Gerrit Cole is a good ace. The Reds only bright spots on the current roster are power hitters Joey Votto and Adam Duvall, and prospect Jose Peraza. The Brewers only solid player on the current roster (who isn\’t a prospect) is Ryan Braun.

          NL West:
          1. Los Angeles Dodgers
          2. San Francisco Giants*
          3. Arizona Diamondbacks
          4. Colorado Rockies
          5. San Diego Padres

          The Dodgers are stacked, with Clayton Kershaw leading a solid rotation. Corey Seager can win MVP this year. Kenley Jansen is the best closer in the game. The Giants are lead by Madison Bumgarner. Mark Melancon is also a great closer. Buster Posey is always great. Brandon Belt, Joe Panik and Hunter Pence are also solid players. The D-backs need pitchers Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin and Shelby Miller to bounce back. Paul Goldschmidt will be Paul Goldschmidt this season. The Rockies have a top offense, with Nolan Arenado, Ian Desmond, Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, and the list goes on. But, their rotation is ugly. The Padres bright spots are 1B Wil Myers, and OF prospects Manuel Margot and Hunter Renfroe. That\’s about it.

          I also have prediction for the awards.

          MVP:
          AL Jose Altuve, NL Corey Seager

         Cy Young:
         AL Corey Kluber, NL Clayton Kershaw

         Rookie of the year:
         AL Yoan Moncada, NL Dansby Swanson

         Comeback player of the year:
         AL Tyson Ross, NL Chad Bettis

        Manager of the year:
        AL Scott Servais (Seattle), NL Mike Matheny (St. Louis)

        Every year, people write their bold predictions for the season. Bold predictions are things that seem unlikely to happen but that person thinks it could. I have some bold prediction for the 2017 season.

        1. Reds closer Raisel Iglesias will become the first Reds pitcher to record 40 saves in a season since Francisco Cordero in 2010.
        2. Though he hit 20 HRs in just 2 months last season, Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez will fail to hit that amount in 2017.
        3. In 2017, Mariners shortstop Jean Segura will join the 30/30 club.

      With a record of 95-67, the Washington Nationals finished 1st in the NL East, 8 games ahead of the second place New York Mets. In the NLDS, the Nationals lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 5 games. Star Trea Turner has moved to his natural position (SS), after the team acquired CF Adam Eaton. The Nats now have a stacked roster. To improve in the offseason, GM Mike Rizzo made some big moves. Let\’s see what Rizzo did.

       Key additions: OF Adam Eaton, C Matt Wieters, 1B Adam Lind, RPs Joe Blanton, Enny Romero, Joe Nathan, Matt Albers, Neal Cotts, Vance Worley, 2B Grant Green.
       Key subtractions: RPs Mark Melancon, Matt Belisle, Yusmeiro Petit, Marc Rzepczynski, 2B Danny Espinosa, C Wilson Ramos, OF Ben Revere, SPs Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Sean Burnett.

       Biggest move: The Nats made one of the biggest trades this offseason, acquiring CF Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox for star pitching prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez (that\’s not the whole package they traded). Eaton is a 15 HR, 15 SB threat. Expect nice numbers for him with a better team.
       X-factor: After an MVP winning 2015 season, Bryce Harper hit just 24 HRs in 2016. But, he did steal 21 bases. He hit a career low .243 in 506 ABs. If he wants to get that $400 million contract after next year, Harper needs to show he\’s worthy of that price this year.
       Biggest bounce back: In 2016, 1B Ryan Zimmerman hit a career low .218. The former all-star hit 15 homers and 46 RBIs, the lowest RBI total in a full season. He hit under 15 homers twice in his career: 2014 (he only had 214 ABs that year) and 2011 (he had 395 ABs). Let\’s settle it, Zimmerman needs a better 2017.
       Biggest breakout: In just 307 ABs in 2016, now SS Trea Turner hit .342 (!) and stole 33 bases. 13 homers isn\’t bad either. Turner is already a star in real life and fantasy (he was taken 3rd overall in my draft). To remind you, he\’s only 23.
       Guaranteed star: After Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw, SP Max Scherzer is probably the 2nd best pitcher in the game. Last year, he struck out 284 batters in 228.1 innings. He had a 2.96 ERA, which would of led the AL if he played in that league.
       The Nationals lineup should look like this.

1. CF: Adam Eaton
2. SS: Trea Turner
3. RF: Bryce Harper
4. 2B: Daniel Murphy
5. 3B: Anthony Rendon
6. LF: Jayson Werth
7. C: Matt Wieters
8. 1B: Ryan Zimmerman (platoon)
9. Pitcher
        Their rotation will probably be this.

1. Max Scherzer
2. Stephen Strausburg
3. Tanner Roark
4. Gio Gonzalez
5. Joe Ross

         C Jose Lobaton, 1B Adam Lind (platoon with Zimmerman), OFs Michael Taylor, Chris Heisey, SSs Wilmer Difo and Stephen Drew will be on the bench.
         Blake Treinen will be their closer, with Koda Glover and Shawn Kelley setting him up.

         Finally, for my prediction, I think the Washington Nationals will finish 1st in the NL East, but once again lose in the NLDS.

      With a record of 89-73, the Toronto Blue Jays finished tied for second (with the Baltimore Orioles) in the AL East, 4 GB of the first place Boston Red Sox. They made the AL wild card game against the Orioles, and beat them. They also beat the Texas Rangers in the ALDS (3 games). They lost to the Cleveland Indians in the ALCS in 5 games. With stars Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion hitting free agency, GM Ross Atkins needed to save the team with some key moves. Let\’s see what Atkins did.

       Key additions: DH Kendrys Morales, RPs J.P. Howell, Joe Smith, Dominic Leone, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, OFs Steve Pearce, Lourdes Gourriel, SPs Mat Latos, Brett Oberholtzer, 2Bs Jake Elmore, Gregorio Petit.
       Key subtractions: DH Edwin Encarnacion, OF Michael Saunders, SPs R.A. Dickey, Scott Feldman, RPs Brett Cecil, Joaquin Benoit, Drew Storen, C Josh Thole.
   
       Biggest move: The Blue Jays were able to re-sign Bautista, but Encarnacion left them for the Cleveland Indians. To replace \”EE\”, the Jays brought in DH Kendrys Morales. Morales signed a 3 year, $33 million deal. With his 22 homers and .290 average in 2015, Morales helped the Kansas City Royals win the World Series that year. It was an underrated signing by the Jays.
        X-factor: Injuries have prevented 2B Devon Travis to have at least 500 ABs in a season. In parts of two seasons, he\’s hit .300 or better, hit around ten homers and 35 RBIs. Solid numbers.
        Biggest bounce back: The Jays re-signed Bautista to a 1 year, $17 million deal. The reason he got less than expected? Bautista, who used to be a 50 homer guy, hit 22 homers (his lowest since 2009) and a .234 average, his lowest in a full season ever.
        Biggest breakout: After a solid WBC for team USA, SP Marcus Stroman is looking to breakout in 2017. He had a 4.37 ERA in 204 innings last year, his first 200 inning year. He\’s only 25, and is getting better.
       Guaranteed star: 3B Josh Donaldson wasn\’t as good in 2016 as he was in his AL MVP winning 2015 year, but he was still very good. He can have an average of .300, and hit 40 HRs and 100 RBIs in the same season.
        The Blue Jays lineup should look like this.

1. CF: Kevin Pillar
2. 2B: Devon Travis
3. 3B: Josh Donaldson
4. SS: Troy Tulowitzki
5. RF: Jose Bautista
6. DH: Kendrys Morales
7. C: Russell Martin
8. 1B: Steve Pearce (platoon)
9. LF: Ezequiel Carrera
          Their rotation will probably be this.

1. Aaron Sanchez
2. Marcus Stroman
3. Marco Estrada
4. J.A. Happ
5. Francisco Liriano

            1B Justin Smoak (platoon with Steve Pearce), 2B Darwin Barney, OF Melvin Upton and C Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be on the bench.
            Roberto Osuna will be their closer, with Joe Biagini and Jason Grilli setting him up.

            Finally, for my prediction, I think the Toronto Blue Jays will make the playoffs (via the wild card) in 2017, but start to fall off the track after that.

        With a record of 95-67, the Texas Rangers finished first in the AL West, 9 games ahead of the second place Seattle Mariners. They also made the playoffs. But in the ALDS, the Rangers were eliminated by the Toronto Blue Jays in 3 games. At the trade deadline, they acquired star catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers, to improve their squad. If they want to make it to the ALCS or further in 2017, GM Jon Daniels needed to play it smart in the offseason. Let\’s see what Daniels did.

        Key additions: 1B Mike Napoli, SPs Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Dillon Gee, 3B Will Middlebrooks, OF Travis Snider.
        Key subtractions: OFs Ian Desmond, Carlos Beltran, 1B Mitch Moreland, RP Shawn Tolleson.

        Biggest move: The Rangers offseason is on the bad side more than the good, with star outfielders Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran leaving. They signed an old friend to replace 1B Mitch Moreland, who also left. That is Mike Napoli, who was signed to a 1 year, $8.5 million deal. He hit 54 homers in two seasons with Texas (those years being 2011 and 2012). He can hit some bombs in 2017.
        X-factor: In 2016, Carlos Gomez had an awful start with the Houston Astros (he had a .210 average and 100 strikeouts). He was released there, and went to the Rangers. He hit .284 with the Rangers. With the Rangers\’ outfield declining, Gomez needs to step up.
        Biggest bounce back: Andrew Cashner was a big prospect. But, in 2016, he was the opposite of good: REALLY bad. He had a 5.25 ERA in 132 innings with the Padres and the Marlins. He signed a one year, $10 million deal with Texas in the offseason. He needs to bounce back.
        Biggest breakout: In 2016, former number 1 prospect in the league Jurickson Profar played for the first time since 2013. He wasn\’t amazing, with a .239 average and 5 HRs in 272 ABs. He will play a super utility role in 2017. Expect him to make the most of that opportunity.
        Guaranteed star: There\’s a couple guys who I considered putting here. They have 2 solid pitchers in Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish. But, I\’ll put 23 year old 2B Rougned Odor here. Odor hit 33 HRs and stole 14 bases in 2016. He will dominate the league for years to come.
         The Rangers\’ lineup should look like this.

1. CF: Carlos Gomez
2. 2B: Rougned Odor
3. C: Jonathan Lucroy
4. 3B: Adrian Beltre
5. 1B: Mike Napoli
6. RF: Nomar Mazara
7. DH: Joey Gallo
8. RF: Shin-Soo Choo
9. SS: Elvis Andrus
            Their rotation will probably be this.

1. Yu Darvish
2. Cole Hamels
3. Andrew Cashner
4. Martin Perez
5. A.J. Griffin

            CF Delino DeShields, C Robinson Chirinos and 3B Jurickson Profar will be on the bench.\\
            Sam Dyson will be their closer, with Jeremy Jeffress and Matt Bush setting him up.

            Finally, for my prediction, I think the Texas Rangers will win the AL West, and the ALDS, but be eliminated in the ALCS.