Pleasing predictions, 2024 edition
Seeing just how prescient I am. We'll know by the end of June.
For a couple years I’ve tried this and it was fun to see how I ended up doing.
Last year I tried to do this by half but it didn’t work out well to me, so I’m just doing full season this year.
Starting with the Southern Division:
Columbia (KC) 75-57*
Charleston (TB) 74-58
Fayetteville (Hou) 72-60**
Augusta (Atl) 64-68
Kannapolis (White Sox) 62-72
Myrtle Beach (Cubs) 52-80
The asterisk (*) denotes the half winner. I just have a hunch about Fayetteville not just sneaking into the playoffs as a half winner (with a slightly worse overall record) but winning the South, hence the second asterisk.
Now let’s look at the Northern Division:
Carolina (Mil) 77-55***
Salem (Bos) 71-61*
Down East (Tex) 66-66
Delmarva (Bal) 65-67
Lynchburg (Cle) 61-71
Fredericksburg (Was) 53-79
While Salem might win a half (I think Carolina wins both by a whisker - perhaps over Delmarva in the second half) the Mudcats seem like they could be a strong enough team to take it all. Salem either gets in as a half winner or as second overall.
As for the Shorebirds, this is the year the Dominican emphasis begins to bear fruit a little bit. I see them as having a tough first half but jelling in the second half enough to put pressure on Carolina. It seems like it would be one of those situations where we have the bad luck to have to finish at Carolina instead of at home against the Mudcats; a series where we need to go 5-1 but can only pull out a 4-2 or 3-3. That sort of scenario.
Regardless of record, I plan on having a lot of fun watching these guys. I said this last year, too, but maybe they’ll exceed my expectations and that #1 minor league system will give Delmarva a long, long-overdue pennant.
I think it will be a great year regardless, particularly as I’ve now seen the promotions schedule. (If you like bobbleheads, Perdue Stadium is the place to be.) In a few weeks once spring training is underway I’ll try and guess the Shorebirds’ 2024 Opening Night roster, but next week will bring my fearless forecasts.
Until next time, remember you can Buy Me a Coffee since I have a page there.