Very interesting Yahoo Sports 2007 season predictions

[Omar]

Yahoo Sports

 

Just some notables...

 

Mark Pesavento predicts that Derrek Lee will be the NL Darkhouse MVP... whatever that means.

 

Tim Brown picks Lee as the NL Darkhouse Batting Champion. He also picks Big Z for Cy Young... Along with NL Comeback Player of the Year to be Derrek Lee.

 

There's also a category for Lou Piniella's ejections :lol:. Jeff Passan says 4, Tim Brown says 6, and Mark Pesavento says 6.

 

Another category is for "Biggest free-agent contract" where Mark Pesavento says "Carlos Zambrano – six years, $126 million"

 

1. St. Louis Cardinals 85-77

2. Milwaukee Brewers 84-78

3. Chicago Cubs 81-81

4. Houston Astros 74-88

5. Cincinnati Reds 72-90

6. Pittsburgh Pirates 70-92

 

Thats the NL central prediction for Passan.

 

1. Houston Astros 84-78

2. St. Louis Cardinals 81-81

3. Milwaukee Brewers 81-81

4. Chicago Cubs 79-83

5. Cincinnati Reds 75-87

6. Pittsburgh Pirates 71-91

 

And thats the NL Central for Tim Brown.

 

There's also other categories in that article: First manager fired, First GM fired, Clemens-O-Meter (the likeliness he'll return), Matsuzaka wins, Howard home runs, Adam Dunn strikeouts, and Date Bonds hits 756.

 

Any thoughts?

[Danny82]

Passan seems to have his head on straight.

 

The other two...not so much.

 

And my statement has nothing to do with their predictions for final standings.

[cheapseats]

Darkhouse?

[Omar]

And my statement has nothing to do with their predictions for final standings.

 

I have yet to see someone predict over 90 wins for this team.

[98navigator]

And my statement has nothing to do with their predictions for final standings.

 

I have yet to see someone predict over 90 wins for this team.

 

Actually, BP says if the Cubs shore up their bullpen, 90 wins isn't out of the question.

 

 

I don't agree with trading OF'ers however...

 

...90-win territory is not out of the question if the Cubs trade some of their excess outfield talent for bullpen help.

 

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[SouthSideRyan]

Bullpen help?? Why??

[Rob]

Darkhouse?

 

I know of Darkhorses and Brick Houses.

[texascub]

And my statement has nothing to do with their predictions for final standings.

 

I have yet to see someone predict over 90 wins for this team.

 

Actually, BP says if the Cubs shore up their bullpen, 90 wins isn't out of the question.

 

 

I don't agree with trading OF'ers however...

 

...90-win territory is not out of the question if the Cubs trade some of their excess outfield talent for bullpen help.

 

subscriber link

 

If they consider Floyd and Pagan as "excess outfield talent", I'll gladly trade them. As long as Murton and Pie aren't traded I'm fine with whatever happens.

[Mizzou]

And my statement has nothing to do with their predictions for final standings.

 

I have yet to see someone predict over 90 wins for this team.

I'm predicting 92 wins.

[tkenm356]

Passan thinks Hafner is going to get MVP? If David Ortiz can't get MVP after putting up huge numbers and playing on a huge market team, how can Hafner?

 

Oh, and Tim Brown picks Carpenter for Cy Young, Z got "Cy-Young-In-Waiting"

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Passan thinks Hafner is going to get MVP? If David Ortiz can't get MVP after putting up huge numbers and playing on a huge market team, how can Hafner?

 

Because Hafner's quite a bit better than Ortiz.

[Danny82]

Quite a bit?

 

Now you are splitting hairs.

 

They are essentially the same player.

 

Ortiz's 3-year OPS: 1.011

Hafner's 3-year OPS: 1.026

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Bullpen help?? Why??

 

No faith in Dempster? (It's a suggestion only - and I don't agree with that.)

[SouthSideRyan]

Hafner's never even made an all star game. He's the most underappreciated player in the game.

[rawaction]

I don't get the idea that the Cubs need bullpen help. I could see "experts" not liking the closer situation, but Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman were all solid to great last year. Dempster, Eyre and Wood were all great in the pen as recently as 2005. Add in Cherry who has been great and Guzman who has the best arm of the bunch, and the pen could be great. Lot of question marks, but I think the pen will be at least league average, provided the starters can go deep consistently.

[oldstyle81]

 

Any thoughts?

 

ah it must be nice to look into the future

[shnsajax]

Hafner's never even made an all star game. He's the most underappreciated player in the game.

 

It happens in Cleveland.

[Backtobanks]

And my statement has nothing to do with their predictions for final standings.

 

I have yet to see someone predict over 90 wins for this team.

 

I would think that for someone to predict 90 wins for any team, it would have to be a real powerhouse team (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.). Of course that doesn't mean the Cubs (or any other team) won't win 90 or that the Yankees and Red Sox will win 90, it's just the possibility at this point is rather small. Personally, I think the possibility of the Cubs finishing 4th or lower is about the same as the Cubs winning 90 games. If the Cubs get their share of luck (and health), I really think they could run away with the division.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

I don't get the idea that the Cubs need bullpen help. I could see "experts" not liking the closer situation, but Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman were all solid to great last year. Dempster, Eyre and Wood were all great in the pen as recently as 2005. Add in Cherry who has been great and Guzman who has the best arm of the bunch, and the pen could be great. Lot of question marks, but I think the pen will be at least league average, provided the starters can go deep consistently.

Agreed. I actually think this is one of those instances where 'experts' will often pick out bullpen as a team's projected weakness by default simply to get by without having to do any substantive research. Seems like every manager and GM would love 'help' with their bullpen anyway, so in the absence of actually digging up legit and quantifiable holes on a team, writers can just throw out bullpen and be done with it.

 

Sort of reminiscent of how during the midst of the NFL season you hear from the 'experts' that literally every contending team 'needs help in the secondary.' Just sounds convenient, and frankly no team is fully satisfied with its secondary (or bullpen) ever to begin with, so they just mention that and move on. Just my uninformed guess since, as you said, our bullpen was quite productive last year and should theoretically only improve this season.

[BigbadB]

I'm predicting 90+

[Fred Hornkohl]

I don't get the idea that the Cubs need bullpen help. I could see "experts" not liking the closer situation, but Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman were all solid to great last year. Dempster, Eyre and Wood were all great in the pen as recently as 2005. Add in Cherry who has been great and Guzman who has the best arm of the bunch, and the pen could be great. Lot of question marks, but I think the pen will be at least league average, provided the starters can go deep consistently.

Agreed. I actually think this is one of those instances where 'experts' will often pick out bullpen as a team's projected weakness by default simply to get by without having to do any substantive research. Seems like every manager and GM would love 'help' with their bullpen anyway, so in the absence of actually digging up legit and quantifiable holes on a team, writers can just throw out bullpen and be done with it.

 

Sort of reminiscent of how during the midst of the NFL season you hear from the 'experts' that literally every contending team 'needs help in the secondary.' Just sounds convenient, and frankly no team is fully satisfied with its secondary (or bullpen) ever to begin with, so they just mention that and move on. Just my uninformed guess since, as you said, our bullpen was quite productive last year and should theoretically only improve this season.

 

Welcome to the Forums !!

[Electron Blue]

I don't get the idea that the Cubs need bullpen help. I could see "experts" not liking the closer situation, but Howry, Wuertz, and Ohman were all solid to great last year. Dempster, Eyre and Wood were all great in the pen as recently as 2005. Add in Cherry who has been great and Guzman who has the best arm of the bunch, and the pen could be great. Lot of question marks, but I think the pen will be at least league average, provided the starters can go deep consistently.

Agreed. I actually think this is one of those instances where 'experts' will often pick out bullpen as a team's projected weakness by default simply to get by without having to do any substantive research. Seems like every manager and GM would love 'help' with their bullpen anyway, so in the absence of actually digging up legit and quantifiable holes on a team, writers can just throw out bullpen and be done with it.

 

Sort of reminiscent of how during the midst of the NFL season you hear from the 'experts' that literally every contending team 'needs help in the secondary.' Just sounds convenient, and frankly no team is fully satisfied with its secondary (or bullpen) ever to begin with, so they just mention that and move on. Just my uninformed guess since, as you said, our bullpen was quite productive last year and should theoretically only improve this season.

 

Good point, and welcome to the forum!

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Thanks guys. I've been a Cubs fan since the year we began 0-14, oddly (1997, I believe?). Was born in Wheaton, IL but moved to South Carolina as a youngster and have followed our boys ever since.

 

I've been reading this site for about a year now, but wanted to wait and get a feel for how folks posted, general level of knowledge exhibited, board temperment, all that stuff, before I created an account and started posting myself. Looking forward to a (hopefully) good year.

[BigbadB]

I've been a Cubs fan since the year we began 0-14

 

I can see what inspired you to become such a huge fan. Those were good times. :roll: :D

[littleburr24]

Darkhorse - a. underdog b. not even expected to win.