2015 Major League Baseball Predictions

National League Awards:
MVP: Giancarlo Stanton
Cy Young: Johnny Cueto
Rookie of the Year: Kris Bryant
Comeback Player of the Year: Matt Harvey
Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle

American League Awards:
MVP: Jose Abreu
Cy Young: Chris Sale
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Heaney
Comeback Player of the Year: Avisail Garcia
Manager of the Year: Ned Yost

National League Standings:
East: 1. Washington Nationals; 2. Miami Marlins; 3. New York Mets; 4. Philadelphia Phillies; 5. Atlanta Braves
Central: 1. Pittsburgh Pirates; 2. St. Louis Cardinals; 3. Chicago Cubs; 4. Milwaukee Brewers; 5. Cincinnati Reds
West: 1. San Diego Padres; tied 2. San Francisco Giants; tied 2. LA Dodgers; 4. Arizona Diamondbacks; 5. Colorado Rockies
Wildcards: San Francisco Giants; Los Angeles Dodgers

Notes: I believe the race in the west will be the tightest. I have the Padres in first place, but the truth is that the Padres, Giants, and Dodgers will finish within a few games of each other. Any of them could be first, second, or third.

American League Standings:
East: 1. Baltimore Orioles; 2. Toronto Blue Jays; 3. Boston Red Sox; 4. New York Yankees; 5. Tampa Bay Rays
Central: 1. Kansas City Royals; 2. Chicago White Sox; 3. Cleveland Indians; 4. Detroit Tigers; 5. Minnesota Twins
West: 1. Seattle Mariners; 2. ANAHEIM Angels; 3. Houston Astros; 4. Oakland A's; 5. Texas Rangers
Wildcards: Chicago White Sox; Toronto Blue Jays

Notes: The closest race in the American League will be in the central. Any of the top three teams (Royals, White Sox, Tigers) have the ability to take the central and the Indians have an outside chance to taking a wildcard spot.

Playoffs:
NL Champion: Washington Nationals
AL Champion: Seattle Mariners
World Series Champion: Washington Nationals

Why Humanity Must Embrace Space Travel

Whether or not you believe that Earth will or will not perish due to self-destruction such as nuclear warfare, internal-destruction such as a super volcano, or external-destruction such as an asteroid, no matter what, humanity's time on Earth is ticking away. It is inevitable that eventually one day, the sun will expand and take out Earth or supernova and take out most of our solar system.

The most popular theories to humanity's end is a large asteroid, such as one that eventually led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, and nuclear warfare that could end in either a quick end for nearly all of humanity or a slow end if a nuclear winter took place.

For any of these reasons, it is imperative that if we want to continue on as a species, we must eventually spread to other planets and/or moons away from our solar system. Scientists must continue their search of finding "Earth-like" planets in other solar systems, but also explore the possibilities of terraforming a planet to fit the needs of humanity.

Using some of the most advanced telescopes available, scientists at JPL and observations based on the Kepler Mission, only 1.4 to 2.7% of sun-like stars are expected to contain Earthlike planets. Even once we find Earthlike planet candidates, we must find ways to determine whether or not they are truly inhabitable for humans. Anything from temperature variances, to deadly plant/animal life, to a lack of a proper atmosphere are all real possibilities humans would face if we were somehow able to figure out how to successfully send humans to one.

Terraforming has also been discussed as a possibility, but something on this scale would take years and we would need to figure out how to provide the planet with the missing ingredients that are essential to human life. Mars, Venus, and Saturn's moon Titan have been suggested as future candidates to possible terraforming if humanity leans that way. One study suggests that to successfully transform Mars to be compatible with humanity, it could take up to fifty thousand years before we could possibly live on it. Even then, we would only be one planet farther from the sun that will eventually destroy most, if not all of the solar system.

In the current status of the space agencies on Earth, we will not be able to escape the Earth before our extinction comes. We could possibly prolong humanity's extinction by formulation some sort of asteroid defense plan, but we cannot stop our own sun from erupting in a supernova or slowly burning off the surface of Earth and leaving our planet in a Mars-like status.

Even if we are able to escape the solar system and find a new home planet, scientists such as Stephen Hawking has theorized that the whole universe is doomed. Trillions and trillions of years from now, our universe will eventually spend all of the available thermo-dynamic energy, leaving the universe black, desolate, and lifeless. From our dead universe, it is even speculated that a new universe could spring up and our existence may never even be known. Sadly, there may have been thousands of species that have existence in a previous universe prior to our big bang, but any evidence of their existence could be wiped out like ours may be one day.

Microbrewers Are Worth Taking a Chance On

With companies such as Anheuser-Busch pulling billions of dollars of profit each year, it's hard to comprehend that Americans would spend so much on a beer that is by no means the best tasting beer. In many domestic markets, Anheuser-Busch pulls in over fifty percent of the beer market, despite the availability of better beers.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the amount of micro-breweries and larger independent breweries across the country. While many of these breweries don't sell their product at the low prices as the major brewers such as Anheuser-Busch or MillerCoors, the local breweries provide those who are brave enough to escape the trappings of the billions of dollars spent by the biggies, a wide selection of flavors, great taste, and seasonal specials that the larger companies often won't release nationally.

So in this case, it almost comes down to, "why are you buying a particular beer?" While it's widely known that name recognition plays a major role in Anheuser-Busch's dominance, it's only recently becoming known that micro-breweries offer more flavor to their customer base. Beers such as Budweiser and Coors often have been joked that they have a watered down taste. The only advantage to this could be for those looking to become intoxicated quicker and cheaper, rather than enjoying their beer.

Brewers such as southern California's own Hangar 24, offer taste to their customer base. Unfortunately not available across the country, Hangar 24 is well known in the southwest for their Orange Wheat, Betty, Amarillo Pale Ale, and many other beers including seasonals. Led by Master Brewer Ben Cook, Hangar 24 has utilized local fruits and other products to enhance the flavor of their beer and attract a customer base that truly cares for the taste of their beer. Beyond the taste, Hangar 24 has attracted the initial prospective customer by producing some of the nicest looking packaging on their bottles and collectibles.

Not to be sold short, another local to the southern California scene is Craft Brewing Company out of Lake Elsinore, California. They don't produce beer on the scale of Hangar 24, but to the local Inland Empire area, they offer several beers that offer taste and even eye-catching packaging. Craft offers Raven Stout, Fallen Angel, and Warlock, that should be able to delight the taste buds of anyone who tries them.

Opening shortly, The Mason Jar Brewing Company in Menifee, California will join the micro-brewery competition. In a quick growing market, if Mason Jar can provide their customer base with great tasting beer, I believe the citizens of Menifee will be quick to embrace their local brewery. The rise of a new brewer can provide it's customer base not only with the joy a great tasting beer, but also provide Menifee residents with a sense of local pride.

Quickly, California's local breweries are proving to be some of the best in the United States. Other locals that are finding success include Stone Brewery, Coronado Brewing Company, and Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Metropolitan areas such as St. Louis and Milwaukee try to claim the title of being home to the best beers, but in reality, the best ones are only a short distance from the Pacific Ocean.

Even if you are not in the California area, dare yourself to try a local brewer's offering rather than a beer from a international brewer. I believe that you will pleasantly be surprised.