We are less than a week away from the first players reporting for Major League Baseball Spring Training. Here are some questions that will be asked and answered this season.
How will Andrew McCutchen adjust to right field? Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen, considered to be by many over the last few years to be one of the two or three best players in the game, is moving to right field this season after spending his entire career in center. It is a safe bet to say that he will translate well, as we have seen this many times in baseball where an elite center fielder moves to left or right.
How will Ryan Braun play after an off season of daily trade speculation? It is no secret, the Milwaukee Brewers placed Ryan Braun on the trade block a long time ago, and as soon as David Stearns finds a deal he likes, Braun will be on the next plane out of Milwaukee. But that hasn’t happened yet. For the meantime Braun is still a Brewer, and their right fielder.
How will Miguel Sano do now that he is the Twins everyday third basemen? Former Twins mega-prospect Miguel Sano was blocked the last two years at third base by Trevor Plouffe. They tried him in left field last year and that was a disaster. This off season, the Twins released Plouffe, clearing the way for Sano at third base. He should have a big season because of it.
How will the young Cubs handle being World Series champions? The Cubs are a great team, but for the first time, they are World Series champions. How will they handle the pressure? Time will tell us that.
Can the Indians recover emotionally from the World Series? The Cleveland Indians suffered one of the biggest meltdowns in sports history, blowing a 3-1 series lead, losing in seven games. Of course, blowing big leads seems to be a theme in sports lately. If the Indians can get back to the postseason this year after blowing that lead, it will be one of the best accomplishments ever, and a real testament to their internal fortitude.
How will the Yankees handle being one of the worst teams in baseball this season? For the first time in a long time, the New York Yankees will not be considered a contender, or even a sleeper, entering the season. In fact, they might finish with one of the 10 worst records in the game. How will the Yankees and their fans handle that kind of season?
What direction will the Tigers go? The Detroit Tigers are 2017’s old, overpaid, underachieving baseball team. The Tigers were rumored to be interested in moving many of their older expensive pieces this offseason, but nothing materialized. What will they do in regards to that during the season?
