WASHINGTON — Before we dive headlong into this year’s predictions, let’s take a quick look back at last season.
Four of the five of us who offered predictions correctly predicted the Nats would win the NL East. Three picked Max Scherzer to win the most games. And Chris Cichon only missed Lucas Giolito’s MLB debut by 10 days.
We were right about a number of new playoff teams (Giants, Indians, Red Sox, Nationals), as well as who would miss the postseason (Cardinals, Yankees, Mets). Three of us even picked the Cubs to win the World Series. Not bad!
Unsurprisingly, we’re pretty bullish on the Nationals again this year, though some of us more than others.
Flip through the slides to see where we expect Washington and the rest of the league to shake out in 2017.\n
(AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":"
How will the Nationals finish (record and place in NL East)?\n J. Brooks, sports reporter: First in NL East, 91-71\n Chris Cichon, sports reporter: First in NL East, 94-68\n Noah Frank, digital sports editor: First in NL East, 95-67\n Mike McMearty, program director: First in NL East, 93-69\n George Wallace, sports director: First in NL East, 96-66\n Rob Woodfork, sports reporter: First in NL East, 95-67\n (AP Photo\/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" How many bases will Trea Turner steal?\n J. Brooks: 30\n Chris Cichon: 49\n Noah Frank: 51\n Mike McMearty: 60\n George Wallace: 50\n Rob Woodfork: 70\n (AP Photo\/Todd Kirkland)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Who will lead the Nationals in home runs and how many will they hit?\n J. Brooks: Bryce Harper \u2014 40\n Chris Cichon: Bryce Harper \u2014 41\n Noah Frank: Bryce Harper \u2014 36\n Mike McMearty: Bryce Harper \u2014 45\n George Wallace: Bryce Harper \u2014 32\n Rob Woodfork: Bryce Harper \u2014 45\n (AP Photo\/John Bazemore)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Who will lead the Nationals in saves?\n J. Brooks: Koda Glover\n Chris Cichon: Koda Glover\n Noah Frank: Blake Treinen\n Mike McMearty: Blake Treinen\n George Wallace: Shawn Kelley\n Rob Woodfork: Blake Treinen\n (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar, File)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Which team will have the biggest increase in wins from last season? (last year\u2019s total in parentheses)\n J. Brooks: Kansas City Royals\n Chris Cichon: Minnesota Twins\n Noah Frank: Tampa Bay Rays\n Mike McMearty: Atlanta Braves\n George Wallace: Houston Astros\n Rob Woodfork: Pittsburgh Pirates\n (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Which team will have the biggest increase in losses from last season? (last year\u2019s total in parentheses)\n J. Brooks: San Francisco Giants\n Chris Cichon: Chicago White Sox\n Noah Frank: Baltimore Orioles\n Mike McMearty: Baltimore Orioles\n George Wallace: Chicago Cubs\n Rob Woodfork: Texas Rangers\n (AP Photo\/David Goldman)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" Which team that missed the playoffs in 2016 will make it in 2017?\n J. Brooks: St. Louis Cardinals\n Chris Cichon: Houston Astros\n Noah Frank: Houston Astros\n Mike McMearty: Seattle Mariners\n George Wallace: Los Angeles Angels\n Rob Woodfork: Pittsburgh Pirates\n (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)\n"},{"type":"ad","media":" Which team that made the playoffs in 2016 will not in 2017?\n J. Brooks: San Francisco Giants\n Chris Cichon: Toronto Blue Jays\n Noah Frank: Baltimore Orioles\n Mike McMearty: Baltimore Orioles\n George Wallace: Texas Rangers\n Rob Woodfork: Texas Rangers\n (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" What is your boldest prediction for the 2017 season?\n J. Brooks: There will be a no-hitter on Opening Day\n Chris Cichon: James Paxton wins the American League Cy Young Award\n Noah Frank: With Mike Trout banged up, Alex Bregman breaks out to\u00a0steal the American League MVP\n Mike McMearty: Trea Turner will beat out Daniel Murphy for the National League batting title\n George Wallace: Trea Turner wins the National League MVP\n Rob Woodfork: The Orioles play the maximum 20 playoff games\n (AP Photo\/Nick Wass)\n"},{"type":"photo","media":" What is your World Series prediction?\n J. Brooks: Indians over Dodgers in 6\n Chris Cichon: Cubs over Astros in 6\n Noah Frank: Astros over Nationals in 6\n Mike McMearty: Nationals over Red Sox in 7\n George Wallace: Indians over Nationals in 6\n Rob Woodfork: Nationals over Orioles in 7\n (AP Photo\/Charlie Riedel)\n"}], previews: [{"index":0,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Cubs-260x174.jpg"},{"index":1,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Nationals-260x174.jpg"},{"index":2,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Turner-1-260x174.jpg"},{"index":3,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Harper-260x174.jpg"},{"index":5,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Treinen-260x174.jpg"},{"index":6,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Pirates-260x174.jpg"},{"index":7,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Orioles-1-260x174.jpg"},{"index":8,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Astros-260x174.jpg"},{"index":10,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Rangers-260x174.jpg"},{"index":11,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/TreaTurner-260x174.jpg"},{"index":12,"src":"http:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Indians-260x174.jpg"}], prev: "\t", next: "\t" };
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