Prediction Time

[UMFan83]

I just can't see any way the Cubs, with that rotation, winning the division. Basically I'm approaching this season with pessimism but at the same time with hopes that I'm wrong

[CubColtPacer]

I just can't see any way the Cubs, with that rotation, winning the division. Basically I'm approaching this season with pessimism but at the same time with hopes that I'm wrong

 

Do you see that St. Louis can win the division? I don't see how their rotation could be called better than ours-maybe similar, but certainly not better (btw, I know that you have Milwaukee winning the division, just curious if you think anybody else has a chance besides them).

[Soul]

I just can't see any way the Cubs, with that rotation, winning the division. Basically I'm approaching this season with pessimism but at the same time with hopes that I'm wrong

 

Do you see that St. Louis can win the division? I don't see how their rotation could be called better than ours-maybe similar, but certainly not better (btw, I know that you have Milwaukee winning the division, just curious if you think anybody else has a chance besides them).

 

Yes, plus the season is long. What if Hill & Guzman come in and are strong? Stranger things have happened. That would give us 3 decent starters. Could be enough to compete.

 

I wouldn't just write off our rotation now. Even though I agree it doesn't look great, often times rotations at the end of a season aren't the same as they were in the beginning. And that can be the case for playoff teams as well as bottom-feeders.

[UMFan83]

I just can't see any way the Cubs, with that rotation, winning the division. Basically I'm approaching this season with pessimism but at the same time with hopes that I'm wrong

 

Do you see that St. Louis can win the division? I don't see how their rotation could be called better than ours-maybe similar, but certainly not better (btw, I know that you have Milwaukee winning the division, just curious if you think anybody else has a chance besides them).

 

Yeah they could. Any of the 4 teams (Milwaukee, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago maybe even the Reds) can realistically win the division. My reasons for the Cubs not winning it tend to go beyond the rotation as well, I don't think the lineup has enough patience to be as productive as people are predicting it to be. I think it will be very feast or famine like our 2004 offense.

 

1B: Lee, Lee. Adv: 2007 (better now then in 2004)

2B: Walker/Grudz, DeRosa Adv: 2004

3B: Ramirez, Ramirez Adv: Push

SS: Gonzalez/Nomar, Izturiz Slight Adv: 2004

C: Barrett, Barrett Adv: Push

RF: Sosa, Jones Adv: 2004

CF: Patterson, Soriano Adv: 2007

LF: Alou, Murton/Floyd Adv: 2004

 

Plus our 2004 offense was actually better then this years. Then you add the fact that our rotation was better in 2004, and you can see that 89 wins might be out of our reach.

 

I will give you that our bullpen is much better this year and our bench is better this year as well.

[rocket]

here's my stupid predictions:

 

al east

1. red sox

2. yankees

3. blue jays

4. devil rays

5. orioles

 

al central

1. indians

2. tigers

3. twins

4. white sox

5. royals

 

al west

1. angels

2. rangers

3. a's

4. mariners

 

nl east

1. mets

2. phillies

3. braves

4. marlins

5. nationals

 

nl central

1. cardinals

2. cubs

3. brewers

4. reds

5. astros

6. pirates

 

nl west

1. dodgers

2. padres

3. giants

4. diamondbacks

5. rockies

 

wildcards: yankees and cubs

 

alds

red sox over angels

indians over yankees

 

nlds

cubs over mets

cardinals over dodgers

 

alcs

indians over red sox

 

nlcs

cubs over cardinals

 

world series

indians over cubs

 

nl mvp: pujols

al mvp: jeter

al cy young: cc sabathia

nl cy young: Z

[CubColtPacer]

I just can't see any way the Cubs, with that rotation, winning the division. Basically I'm approaching this season with pessimism but at the same time with hopes that I'm wrong

 

Do you see that St. Louis can win the division? I don't see how their rotation could be called better than ours-maybe similar, but certainly not better (btw, I know that you have Milwaukee winning the division, just curious if you think anybody else has a chance besides them).

 

Yeah they could. Any of the 4 teams (Milwaukee, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago maybe even the Reds) can realistically win the division. My reasons for the Cubs not winning it tend to go beyond the rotation as well, I don't think the lineup has enough patience to be as productive as people are predicting it to be. I think it will be very feast or famine like our 2004 offense.

 

1B: Lee, Lee. Adv: 2007 (better now then in 2004)

2B: Walker/Grudz, DeRosa Adv: 2004

3B: Ramirez, Ramirez Adv: Push

SS: Gonzalez/Nomar, Izturiz Slight Adv: 2004

C: Barrett, Barrett Adv: Push

RF: Sosa, Jones Adv: 2004

CF: Patterson, Soriano Adv: 2007

LF: Alou, Murton/Floyd Adv: 2004

 

Plus our 2004 offense was actually better then this years. Then you add the fact that our rotation was better in 2004, and you can see that 89 wins might be out of our reach.

 

I will give you that our bullpen is much better this year and our bench is better this year as well.

 

Remember also when comparing to 2004 that the Cubs schedule is significantly easier because their level of competition is down. If the Cubs had that 2004 ballclub in 2007, they would probably be the best team in the NL, while they weren't ever going to challenge for that in 04.

[CubinNY]

NL East

Brave

Mets

Phillies

Marlins

Nationals

 

NL Central

Cardinals

Brewers

Cubs

Houston

Reds

Pirates

 

NL West

Diamondbacks

Padres

Dodgers

Giants

Rockies

 

NL Wildcard: Mets

 

AL East

Red Sox

Yankees

Blue Jays

Devil Rays

Orioles

 

AL Central

Cleveland

Minnesota

Detroit

White Sox

Royals

 

AL West

Angles

A's

Rangers

Mariners

 

AL Wildcard: Yankees

 

NL Champ: Mets

AL Champ: Red Sox

WS Champ: Red Sox

Edited April 3, 2007 by CubinNY

[BigbadB]

AL East

Boston

New York

Baltimore

Toronto

Tampa

 

AL Central

Cleveland

Detroit

Minnesota

Chicago

Kansas City

 

AL West

Seattle

Oakland

Anaheim

Texas

 

NL East

New York

Philadelphia

Atlanta

Florida

Washington

 

NL Central

Chicago

Milwaukee

St. Louis

Pittsburgh

Houston

Cincinnati

 

NL West

Arizona

Los Angeles

Colorado

San Diego

San Francisco

 

World Series: Cubs lose to Boston in 6 games.

[Banedon]

The Arizona Republic tells me that Juan Pierre will be NL MVP, and frankly who am I to disagree? That will be the only prediction I make.

[rocket]

The Arizona Republic tells me that Juan Pierre will be NL MVP, and frankly who am I to disagree? That will be the only prediction I make.

 

those are professional journalists and we're just armchair gms. you have a point.

[sunnydoo]

NATIONAL League

 

NL EAST:

Philadelphia Phillies

New York Mets

Atlanta Braves

Florida Marlins

Washington Nationals

 

NL Central:

Houston Astros

Chicago Cubs

Milwaukee Brewers

Cincinnati Reds

St Louis Cardinals

Pittsburgh Pirates

 

NL West:

Los Angeles Dodgers

San Diego Padres

Arizona Diamondbacks

Colorado Rockies

 

NL Wild Card:

NY Mets

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

 

AL East:

New York Yankees

Toronto Blue Jays

Boston Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

 

 

AL Central:

Cleveland Indians

Detroit Tigers

Minnesota Twins

Chicago White Sox

Kansas City Royals

 

AL West:

Los Angeles Angels

Texas Rangers

Oakland A's

Seattle Mariners

 

AL Wild Card: Detroit Tigers

 

 

POSTSEASON:

NL Pennant: NY Mets

AL Pennant: NY Yankees

Champion: NY Yankees

 

NL Cy Young: Roy Oswalt (just beating out Derek Lowe)

Al Cy Young: Johann Santana

 

NL MVP: Miguel Cabrera

AL MVP: Alex Rodriguez

 

NL Rookie: Chris Ianneta

Al Rookie: Alex Gordon

 

Bonus Predictions:

 

Washington will not win 45 games.

 

Hampton and Sheff will win comeback players of the year.

 

All time ERA record will be set this season for the league. I cant remember the last time i saw so many teams with so lousy of staffs. Several teams ought to be ashamed of themselves.

 

HRs will be down this year. However, I think Sheff has a big comeback in Motown and joins 4 others for 500 HRs all time this season (becoming the 21st-25th people to accomplish it in ML history). Bonds unfortunately will catch Aaron. However, ARod will catch him in about 6 more years, so we will give him an asterisk til then.

 

Glavine will become the 5th lefty for 300, but the Unit wont make it.

 

Biggio and Bonds will join the 3000 club also.

 

This will be the last year Jim Hendry is employed by the Cubs. Thank God its almost over.

Edited April 3, 2007 by sunnydoo

[wolf stansson]

NL Central

Cardinals

Brewers

Cubs

Reds

Pirates

Tough year for the 'Stros.

The Arizona Republic tells me that Juan Pierre will be NL MVP, and frankly who am I to disagree? That will be the only prediction I make.

 

those are professional journalists and we're just armchair gms. you have a point.

Almost as good as when one of their sports staff said Shawn Estes would win a Cy Young for the D-Backs because he won 15 games in Colorado the year before.

[soccer10k]

Washington will not win 45 games.

 

Washington won't be good but I don't see how they will lose at least 117 games.

[sunnydoo]

Washington will not win 45 games.

 

Washington won't be good but I don't see how they will lose at least 117 games.

 

A review of their pitching staff:

 

#1- John Patterson, 4.20 lifetime ERA coming off major forearm surgery.

#2- Shawn Hill, limited MLB time but coming off major elbow surgery.

#3- Matt Chico, rookie

#4- Jason Bergmann, a 5.76 lifetime ERA although all in relief for Wash. to this point

#5- Jerome Williams, still trying to figure it out

 

That wouldnt be so bad, if you had a bullpen to back them up. Especially given the arm issues and control issues of those guys, you would need the Pen to eat some innings, but....

 

Ryan Wagner, still trying to dial it in and never thrown more than 52 innings in a season.

Jesus Colome, 4.73 ERA mostly as starter...lost to Williams

Micah Bowie, i dont want to tell you how his last full season (1999) in the majors went...please dont make me

 

decent setup and good closer though in Jon Rauch, Ray King (although he is starting to get a little long in the tooth), and Chad Cordero.

 

Ayala (elbow surgery) and Simontacci (groin) may join later on but are on the DL at the moment. Ayala could definitely help both in innings and production if he can get back to his previous form from the bone spurs.

 

But the worst part for them is they have to play in the East against the Braves, Marlins, Mets, and Phils for 18 or 19 games each (which is about 45% of their schedule). God help them if they have a bad outing against the Fish or Mets or in the bandbox in Philly, they might get 50 scored on them.

 

They also drew the AL Central and have games against the Tigers, Tribe, and Twinkies (along with their "rivals" the Blue Jays and Orioles). Not going to be happy time in DC this year.

 

If they win 50, Acta should be Manager of the Year in the NL.

[rocket]

Biggio and Bonds will join the 3000 club also.

 

This season? Bonds hasn't had the 159+ hits necessary for 3000 in a season since 1998

[BigbadB]

Biggio and Bonds will join the 3000 club also.

 

This season? Bonds hasn't had the 159+ hits necessary for 3000 in a season since 1998

 

Yeah, I expect to see Bonds walk rate elevate even more as he gets closer to the HR record. No pitcher will want to be "that" guy that gives up the magic HR. I'll bet he doesn't break that record this year.