TTFB staff weighs in with 2014 MLB predictions

2014 MLB predictions
TTFB writers give a slight edge to the Rays in 2014.

The results are in. After peering deeply into their crystal balls, TTFB writers have finalized their 2014 MLB predictions. As the chart below indicates, there wasn’t much consensus on which team would hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the season. However, there was plenty of consensus regarding a few of the divisional title winners.

Of the 27 writers who submitted picks, 23 selected the Cardinals to win the NL Central, 22 picked the Tigers in the AL Central and the Nationals in the NL East, and 20 chose the Dodgers to win the NL West. The Red Sox got 13 votes and the Yankees seven in the AL East and the A’s edged the Angels 11-10 in the AL West.

Surprisingly, the Rays only received five votes to win the AL East, but were selected by 13 writers to play in the AL Wild Card Game. Despite not getting a lot of support to win their division, the Rays tied the Tigers with eight votes each to represent the AL in the World Series. The defending champion Red Sox only received four votes to repeat as AL champs, with the Yankees and A’s getting three votes each, and the Royals getting one.

The Dodgers received the most votes to represent the NL in the World Series with nine, just edging the Nationals with eight votes. The Cardinals received five, followed by the Giants and Braves with two each, and the Pirates with one.

But when it came down to who would win the World Series, the Rays edged the Cardinals with five votes to four, respectively. TTFB writers picked nine different teams to win the World Series and 14 different matchups in the Fall Classic.

World Series Winner

5 — Rays
4 — Cardinals
3 — Dodgers
3 — Nationals
3 — Red Sox
3 — Tigers
3 — Athletics
2 — Yankees
1 — Braves

Here are the 2014 MLB preseason picks by writer:

East West Central Wild Card Wild Card Champs World Series
Jon Sumple
AL Yankees Athletics Tigers Red Sox Rays Athletics
Athletics
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Braves Dodgers
Jed Rigney
AL Red Sox Angels Tigers Rays Athletics Rays
Dodgers
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Braves D-backs Dodgers
Martin Marrufo
AL Red Sox Angels Tigers Yankees Athletics Red Sox
Red Sox
NL Nationals Dodgers Pirates Cardinals Braves Dodgers
Rob Harris
AL Yankees Rangers Tigers Royals Red Sox Tigers
Cardinals
NL Nationals Giants Cardinals Reds Pirates Cardinals
Tyler Maher
AL Rays Rangers Tigers Red Sox Royals Rays
Dodgers
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Braves Reds Dodgers
Jake Mastroianni
AL Rays Angels Royals Tigers Orioles Rays
Rays
NL Nationals Giants Reds Dodgers Cardinals Giants
Russell Whiting
AL Red Sox Angels Tigers Rays Royals Tigers
Nationals
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Reds D-backs Nationals
J.D. Salyer
AL Orioles Angels Tigers Red Sox Royals Tigers
Tigers
NL Nationals Dodgers Reds Pirates Cardinals Nationals
Mike Viso
AL Red Sox Rangers Tigers Rays Royals Tigers
Tigers
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Reds Braves Cardinals
Jessica Lyons
AL Red Sox Athletics Tigers Rays Orioles Red Sox
Red Sox
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Braves Dodgers
Mark C. Volain
AL Red Sox Athletics Tigers Yankees Royals Tigers
Tigers
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Braves Nationals
Mike Lovett
AL Red Sox Athletics Tigers Rays Royals Red Sox
Cardinals
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Reds Pirates Cardinals
Brad Congelio
AL Red Sox Angels Tigers Yankees Royals Red Sox
Red Sox
NL Braves Dodgers Reds Pirates Cardinals Pirates
Brian Roach
AL Red Sox Angels Tigers Rays Royals Royals
Nationals
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Reds Rockies Nationals
Jamie Shoemaker
AL Yankees Angels Tigers Rangers Athletics Tigers
Braves
NL Braves Giants Cardinals Nationals Dodgers Braves
Brandon C. Williams
AL Red Sox Athletics Royals Rays Orioles Rays
Rays
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Reds Padres Nationals
Matt Commins
AL Rays Athletics Royals Angels Red Sox Athletics
Athletics
NL Braves Padres Cardinals Pirates Nationals Nationals
Jackie Micucci
AL Yankees Athletics Tigers Red Sox Rays Yankees
Nationals
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates D-backs Nationals
Josh Michael
AL Orioles Angels Royals Red Sox Rays Rays
Rays
NL Braves Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Padres Dodgers
David Weightman
AL Red Sox Rangers Tigers Rays Athletics Tigers
Dodgers
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Braves Dodgers
Zach Herman
AL Rays Athletics Tigers Yankees Royals Rays
Rays
NL Nationals Giants Cardinals Dodgers Padres Giants
Steve Randel
AL Yankees Angels Tigers Red Sox Athletics Yankees
Yankees
NL Nationals Giants Cardinals Dodgers Pirates Nationals
Paul West
AL Yankees Athletics Tigers Rangers Orioles Athletics
Athletics
NL Nationals Giants Cardinals Brewers Mets Cardinals
Michael Dault
AL Red Sox Angels Tigers Rangers Rays Tigers
Tigers
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Braves Dodgers
Eric Aron
AL Red Sox Athletics Royals Tigers Rays Rays
Cardinals
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Reds Braves Cardinals
Rachel Drummond
AL Rays Rangers Tigers Red Sox Orioles Rays
Rays
NL Braves Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Nationals Braves
Chol Souders
AL Yankees Rangers Tigers Athletics Rays Yankees
Yankees
NL Nationals Dodgers Cardinals Pirates Phillies Dodgers