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You may be surprised at who I am going to pick to lead the Majors in tater – trots this upcoming campaign. The names may not be foreign, yet I am betting on a couple of comebacks.
This is all really a crapshoot with injuries, lineups, whether or not a guy has protection in the lineup.
I also think this will be another season without a 50+ HR mark. God I would love to be wrong. Nothing would make me happier than someone approaching 60 RoundTrippers.
While it is a sham that Roger Maris‘s 61 HR year of 1961 has been dwarfed by the ‘PED’ use era, a lot of purists would still look favorably at somebody passing this mark clean for a change.
If a batter does it in the American League, then it would break the former Yankees Slugger’s AL record.
Just falling short of this list will be Pedro Alvarez, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan Braun and Bryce Harper. I believe those gentlemen may hit in the high 30′s for HRs.
T5. Mark Trumbo, ARI 41 HRs
Mark Trumbo is going from a pitcher friendly home park in Angel Stadium, to a new place (Chase Field) for 81 Games played that is ultra hitter friendly. The big RHB will also play 9 – 10 games a year at Coors Field. Look for this guy to continue improving from his 2013 Career mark of 34 HRs. This should bode well for the 28 Year Old.
This guy is going to crush it at Chase Field for 81 games, and also playing about 10 other contests at Coors Field.
Trumbo has been hidden in the AL West, where Angel Stadium, Safeco Field and o.coliseum have consumed 100 of games played in.
Right handers have fared very well in the park in past years like Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton, with current teammates Paul Goldschmidt and Aaron Hill also crunching the ball yard the last few years.
In a lineup that features several contact hitters, the team will not frown upon the man to do what he does bet. Let it fly!
T5. Prince Fielder, TEX: 41 HRs
Fielder brings a career 3 Slash of .286/.387/.916 – with 285 HRs and 870 RBI carried over his 9 years in the Major Leagues for the Tigers and Brewers. Playing at the Ballpark In Arlington for 81 Games should pad his yard totals for sure.
The big Rangers new slugger will find new life in playing at the Ballpark In Arlington. With half of his games there, the former 50 HR man will find his groove once again.
The lineup for the Rangers will set the table for him nicely with Shin-Soo Choo and Adrian Beltre hitting ahead of him. Although I may consider hitting Fielder third if I was Ron Washington.
Fielder should also walk a lot again, but if it is Beltre hitting behind him, then that is ample coverage for power.
I firmly believe the Rangers will duke it out with the Baltimore Orioles for the team HR leaders.
4. Jose Bautista, TOR 42 HRs
Jose Bautista is one the best best Home Run hitters in baseball, however the last few years, he has seen his season’s cut short by injury. I am thinking the Blue Jays should make this guy their permanent DH after this year – in order to help preserve some of his health. Joey Bats cracked a MLB leading 54 HRs in 2010, then followed up with 43 HRs in 2011. The last two years he has put 27 HRs and 28 HRs respectively – however he has also missed 70 GP in 2012, and 44 last year. If he can stay on the field for a full year in 2014, expect him to challenge for the top 5 HR hitters in the MLB again.
After crushing 97 HRs between 2010 – 2011, the Jays OF has been hampered by injuries, clubbing 55 HRs over the last 2 years.
If you look closely though, this over about 210 Games Played.
The two time HR champ is capable of smacking down the thunder if he stays healthy.
I anticipate Toronto having one of the best offenses in the American League, so don’t be surprised to see the man turn it loose a lot more in swinging for the fences.
I think the Jays should keep him hitting 2nd behind Jose Reyes, like the did for some of last year. The more AB Bautista receives, the more damage he can inflict.
3. Chris Davis, BAL: 47 HRs
Chris Davis is one of the premier sluggers in all of baseball, and is showing everyone that he is a great all-around hitter as well. He hit 53 HRs last season, and having another year with 50+ HRs would put him in some exclusive company. He may win this thing overall, I just think the pitchers will throw around him more in 2014.
It is hard to maintain the kind of pace “Crash” put forwards in belting 53 HRs in 2013. Pitchers will definitely be zeroing in on him more this year.
Look for the 1B to have a lot more free passes in 2014. Davis exploded out of the gate in 2013, smashing 4 HRs and 16 RBI in the 1st four games of the year.
Baltimore’s lineup should still strike fear into the opposition, however I am not sure if Manny Machado will come charging out of the gate do fast.
Having Runners always in Scoring Position seems to wreak havoc on opposing clubs. This will be a big factor.
I wouldn’t be shocked if we see Adam Jones have his best HR campaign to date in 2014.
T1. Miguel Cabrera, DET: 49
Cabrera has had back to back AL MVP seasons in 2012 and 2013. He has also won 3 straight AL Batting Titles. Cabrera is the best player offensively in the universe. He has put up 10 straight 100+ RBI campaigns, but he has racked in 276 RBI, and also 88 HRs in the last 2 years. The 11 Year Veterans totals would have even been higher in 2013, but he fought a torn groin for the last half of the year.
Cabrera just keeps becoming a better hitter each season. The 2 time reigning AL MVP, will not miss a beat in 2014.
Some may think that losing Fielder as protection will hurt, however there is still Victor Martinez batting right behind him.
Miggy is still searching for a new contract past 2015, and he has all of the motivation in the world to succeed. Moving to 1st base should also help ail his lower struggling ligaments.
The Tigers would be happy for Cabrera to put up his career numbers, yet I think he has been that zone where he just keeps getting more potent each year with experience.
T1. Giancarlo Stanton, MIA: 49
Giancarlo Stanton should contend for the NL HR championship crown in 2014. He is capable of cracking 40 – 50 HRs if he can play a year completely healthy. The Marlins are lucky to have one of the best young hitters in the game on offense, and to also have Jose Fernandez as their #1 Pitcher.
I believe this will be the coming out year for Stanton. Perhaps nobody has more pure power than this man.
The 5th year player is just 24 years old, and has only played 150 games or more once in his time in the Majors.
If he plays close to a full slate of games this year, he could be the NL leader in HRs.
In 2012, the first year the Marlins played at their new park, he destroyed 37 balls over the fence in just 123 GP. I think the man is closer to that player – than the 24 big fly’s he hit in 116 GP during 2013.
He will bash his way out of Miami in 2014. After this next season, the OF will likely price himself out of the franchise’s price range in future years.
Unfortunately, I think he will end up a Yankees player in 2017, when guys like Carlos Beltran are done playing there, Jacoby Ellsbury will be slowing down, and the ‘Bronx Bombers’ and the Dodgers will harboring contracts in the $260 – $300 MIL range.
The Pinstripers will have had their Luxury Tax Threshold reset by then, be cleared from Mark Teixeira‘s salary, and maybe even CC Sabathia‘s deal will not be Vested for 2017.
This club will have barrels full of cash to spend again.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com ***
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A big thank-you goes out to Our ‘Chief Writer‘ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured article. Hunter is a Baseball Writer for MLB reports.
Hunter grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia and played baseball with Sheldon Bream (Sid Bream‘s son) at Liberty University in the NCAA.
His favorite player is Brian Wilson (how could you guess?), and he hates when people can’t think outside the box!
His favorite expression – is ‘ this At Bat is about ten seconds away from a Toe – Tag!
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Tagged: aaron hill, adam jones, adrian beltre, Angel Stadium, bryce harper, chris davis, Coors Field, detroit tigers, fantasy baseball, giancarlo stanton, jacoby ellsbury, jose bautista, justin upton, manny machado, mark reynolds, mark teixeira, miguel cabrera, o.co coliseum, paul goldschmidt, pedro alvarez, prince fielder, ryan braun, safeco field, shin-soo choo, the ballpark in arlington, top 5 hr hitters in the MLB, top HR hitters MLB baseball 2014, victor martinez
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