The 2023 MLB season is underway and Blue Wire podcasters have hit the ground running with diligent team-specific coverage, national podcasts tackling the biggest baseball news, and narrative series chronicling the best stories in MLB history.  

To commemorate the beginning of the season, we polled ten of Blue Wire's MLB podcasters on their early season bold predictions, plus some survey questions including award winners and eventual World Series matchups. Based on the lack of runaway winners for most questions, it's going to be an exciting season!

Bold Predictions

Derek Levandowski of NYY Recaps: Aaron Judge hits 70+ home runs.

Josh Nelson of Sox Machine: Los Angeles Angels earn 4th seed and reach ALDS.

Jared Tims of Talkin' Halos: The Angels make the playoffs.

Fred Zinkie of RotoWire Fantasy Baseball: The Yankees miss the playoffs.

Andrew Rotondi of The Bronx Pinstripes Show: Fans will actually like the changes that Rob Manfred put in place (pitch clock)!

Tim Shovers of Nats Chat: Someone will steal 80+ bases for the first time since Rickey Henderson.

Luke Rella of The Boys of 161st Street: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton combine for 90 homers.

Joel Penfield of KCSN: Kansas City Royals Podcasts: Shohei Ohtani wins MVP and Cy Young.

Munaf Manji of MLB Gambling Podcast: Diamondbacks will make the playoffs.

B_Don of Razzball Fantasy Baseball: Freddie Freeman finishes outside the top 50 in fantasy baseball.

Survey Results

NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. (4 votes) won, with Juan Soto (2) close behind and a whopping four other players receiving one vote each: Austin Riley, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Trea Turner.

AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani (6 votes) unsurprisingly ran away in this poll following his dynamic WBC victory. Aaron Judge, Jose Ramirez, Mike Trout, and Randy Arozarena each got one vote.

NL Cy Young: Justin Verlander (2), Sandy Alcantara (2), and Spencer Strider (2) all tied for the most votes here, with Aaron Nola, Corbin Burnes, Max Scherzer, and Zack Wheeler all also receiving votes.

AL Cy Young: Shohei Ohtani (3 votes) and Gerrit Cole (3) tied for the lead on the AL side, with Dylan Cease (2), Luis Castillo, and Shane McClanahan all getting one vote too.

NL Champion: The Braves (7 votes) ran away among voters projecting the winner of the NL, and the Padres (3) were the only other team to get any votes.

AL Champion: The Yankees (3),  Blue Jays (3), and Astros (3) tied as the teams most likely to win the American League, with the Mariners (1) getting a vote as well.

World Series Champion: Strong feelings about the Braves (6 votes) carried over to the World Series winner question as well, with the Yankees (2) and Padres (2) tying for a distant second place amongst podcasters.

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