It's Opening Day, and with that, there's no better time for some bold predictions across the Roger Dorn Baseball League. We'll keep things mainly positive for clubs with two positive predictions, but one that could be an area to look out for on each RDBL roster.
First, the Award Winner Predictions for what looks like it will be an extremely competitive 2022 season.
Regular Season Champions: Mt. Diablo Devils
East Bay Division Champions: Mt. Diablo Devils
Peninsula Division Champions: Lake Merced Goutfish
Masters Division Champions: Spokane Fightin' Fish
Hitter of the Year: Juan Soto, Clovers
Pitcher of the Year: Corbin Burnes, Hammerheads
Activation of the Year: Bobby Witt, Jr., Grapes
Prospect of the Year: CJ Abrams, Hops
Alamo Short Stacks
The Good:
Eloy Jimenez re-establishes himself an offensive force, finishing second in hitter scoring on the Stacks roster behind Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.
The Stacks bullpen posts over 1,000 points with over 100 saves as a unit, carrying the club to the top Wild Card spot.
The Bad:
The Stacks kick themselves all season for letting go of Tarik Skubal as their fifth and sixth starter spots become a revolving door forcing a trade of Marco Luciano in July.
Asti Grape Stompers
The Good:
Bobby Witt, Jr. posts a 400-point campaign, beating out stiff competition for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
Anthony Rendon returns to form with a 425.0 point season and a healthy hip.
The Bad:
Luis Severino fails to make 15 starts and posts a 4.75 ERA and is added to a Trade Deadline deal as a toss-in only to be dropped in the off-season.
Burlingame Blue Ducks
The Good:
Gleybar Torres bounces back with a 400+ point season and Top-10 finish in a crowded shortstop group.
Alek Manoah outperforms Aaron Nola and tops the Ducks in pitching points.
The Bad:
Despite a 428 point projection, Jazz Chisholm comes in under 325 as he fails to get show progress in his plate discipline.
Cloverdale Clovers
Good Predictions
Juan Soto and Mookie Betts combine for 1,100 points with Soto leading all hitters in scoring and capturing the Hitter of the Year Award.
Jesus Luzardo finds himself in Miami, posting a 360 point season with a 3.70 ERA as a key member of a shaky Clovers rotation.
Adley Rutschman gets promoted in Period 3 and is activated by the Clovers. He goes on to post a Top-10 season at the position.
Bad Predictions
The internal optimism on Blake Snell wanes quickly as the Clovers quickly hit the Trade Market for starting rotation help, using Tyler Glasnow to land Logan Webb from the Hops in late June.
Honolulu Hammerheads
The Good:
Byron Buxton finally cashes in on his potential and posts a 475+ point season while finishing in the Top-5 in the American League MVP voting, earning a $50 contract in the 2023 Auction.
Tyler Stephenson cements himself as a Top-5 catcher while leading all backstops in batting average
The Bad:
Jacob deGrom and Chris Sale combine to make just 20 starts in 2022.
Idaho Taters
The Good:
Brendan Rodgers fulfills has long promise with a 380-point season in Colorado, ranking among the best activations in the class.
Eduardo Rodriguez outperforms Jose Berrios and slots in as the 2nd best starter for the Taters behind Kevin Gausman.
The Bad:
The Taters end up regretting their $39 investment in Trevor Story as he sees his numbers plummet away from Coors while feeling the pressure from the Boston fanbase.
Las Vegas Aristocrats
The Good:
While it takes time, Keston Hiura shows enough at the plate early to earn steady playing time late in the season and a Keeper spot through 2024 on the Aristocrats.
Joe Ryan emerges as an elite SP2 and serves as the ace of the Twins.
The Bad:
Mike Clevinger struggles to regain his footing after Tommy John surgery, posting a handful of strong starts that are overshadowed by several duds.
Lake Merced Goutfish
The Good:
Mitch Garver proves to be a significant addition behind the plate, hitting 20 home runs and finishing in the Top-5 at catcher.
Noah Syndergaard proves to be one of the steals of the Draft at $1, making 25 starts with a 3.30 ERA.
The Bad:
Cedric Mullins falls back to earth, posting a respectable 350 point season, but a far cry from his 500 point season in 2021.
Lunatic Fringe
The Good:
Francisco Lindor rebounds and rewards GM Tony Guglielmi in his faith, posting a 460 point season at shortstop.
Sandy Alcantara finishes in the Top-10 in pitcher scoring while finishing in the Top-4 in National League Cy Young voting.
Lane Thomas emerges as a steady outfielder, posting a 350 point season and earning a Keeper spot in 2023.
The Bad:
Hyun-Jin Ryu pitches himself out of the Fringe rotation by late May and off the roster by June.
Maltese Falcons
The Good:
Anthony Rizzo quietly posts another 400 point season for just $17, leaving other RDBL Front Offices kicking themselves.
Tyler Mahle builds on his breakout 2021 campaign, posting 450 points as the ace of the Reds.
The Bad:
Shoulder concerns will plague Wheeler throughout the season, leaving him under the 300 point mark on the season.
Meinert Hops
The Good:
Mike Trout returns to the top of the game, finishing Top-3 in Hitter scoring while winning the American League MVP Award.
Luis Robert breaks out as a Top-5 outfielder with 450+ points, emerging as one of the top values in the RDBL.
The Bad:
The Hops regret not activating CJ Abrams from Opening Day as he goes on to win the National League Rookie of the Year.
Mission Viejo Maulers
The Good:
Justin Verlander looks completely healthy, posting an ERA a tick over three and 450 points in 2022.
Keibert Ruiz emerges as a Top-7 catcher in baseball offensively as one of the top activations in the RDBL.
The Bad:
Despite the $3 contract, Cody Bellinger continues to look lost at the plate and sees a significant decrease in playing time and onto the Mauler bench.
Mt. Diablo Devils
The Good:
Wander Franco immediately arrives as one of the top scorers in the RDBL, posting 475+ points, overtaking Yordan Alvarez as the best value in the league.
Bryce Harper posts 610 points, finishing fifth in RDBL History in offensive scoring.
The Bad:
Cal Quantrill takes a step back from his breakout 2021 season, forcing the Devils to part with the top of their Farm System to land a frontline starter.
Spokane Fightin' Fish
The Good:
Patrick Corbin re-emerges as a dependable starter, posting 375 points as a key member of the rotation.
Steven Kwan doesn't stop hitting, posting 375 points as an underrated asset for the Fish offense.
Jordan Romano finishes as a Top-3 reliever, posting 45 saves with a 2.00 ERA for the Jays.
The Bad:
Shane Bieber posts a rollercoaster of a season, making GM Michael Tirabassi regret his $58 commitment.
St. Joseph Jokers
The Good:
The addition of Yu Darvish and Jon Gray in the off-season helps stabilize the Jokers rotation that finishes in the top half of pitcher scoring this season.
Hunter Dozier finds his 2019 form, posting 380+ points with 25 home runs and 35 doubles.
The Bad:
The middle infield becomes and issue as Nicky Lopez falls back to earth while Tommy La Stella's achilles issues plague him for the majority of the season.
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