2016 Bold Predictions Thread

[RammyFanny]

I can't remember when we usually start it up. Seems about time. I'm a hurry so I'll just do a few.

 

I'll start it off with the good:

 

- My most bold prediction: Kris Bryant posts a higher BABIP than last season.

 

-Kyle Hendricks posts a K/9 of 9.

 

- Adam Warren is our second best bullpen pitcher (his splits as a reliever last year were pretty sick, and he was great the year before).

 

- Schwarber grades out in the positive on defensive metrics.

 

 

The bad:

 

With everyone tabbing him as an MVP candidate, Rizzo struggles a bit and hits in the .250's with some of the strikeouts coming back.

 

Miguel Montero becomes a complete blackhole offensively, OBP included.

 

We suffer one serious pitching injury.

 

It takes us a stressful 7 games to win the WS, not an easy 4.

 

 

As always, some predictions will always be more bold than others, but try to include something fairly shocking. I'm probably light on the negatives but it's hard to be negative with all the dongs. I just threw the Rizzo thing in there for the sake of it, and it wasn't even that dramatic.

[Gilby]

We have three 6 win players, two of those reaching 7 wins.

 

Bryant finishes 2nd in the mvp ballot

 

 

Bad - Starlin doubles zobrist's war.

[Cubswin11]

- We have 9 players at 3+ WAR, 5 of which are at at 4+ and 4 at 5+

 

- The bullpen continues to be on of the best in the league by the numbers but the narrative of not having a good bullpen/it being a weakness continues

 

- We trade for one of Gray, Carrasco, Fernandez at the deadline

 

- Baez is good defensively wherever he plays but is a mess at the plate

 

- Rizzo, Bryant and Heyward all finish in the top 10 in MVP voting

 

- Bryant, Rizzo and Schwarber all hit 30+ dongs

 

- 6 players hit for 20+ dongs

 

- Jake's surface numbers take a slight step back but all the underlying numbers stay strong

 

- Russell grades out as the 3rd best defensive SS in MLB

 

- Lackey has a high 3s ERA

 

- Hendricks and Hammel don't have as big of 2nd half fall offs they had last year and stay consistently good all year

 

- Warren pitches great out of the bullpen but not as a starter when he gets a chance

 

- Probably not exactly bold, but Theo inks the largest FO contract/compensation package ever which includes some ownership stake in the team

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Kris Bryant seriously threatens 50 HRs.

[bukie]

Six Cubs hit 30+ homers.

 

Arrieta nears 30 wins.

 

7 Cubs clear 5 WAR.

 

Cubs win 124 games, winning the division by almost 40 games.

[Sammy Sofa]

- Baez is good defensively wherever he plays but is a mess at the plate

 

Doesn't seem very bold.

 

I'm going to say Heyward has a monster breakout year and ends up being the most valuable offensive player.

 

BOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLD!!!

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WGsl9OL-zCk/UJtFFMMsZ9I/AAAAAAAABjI/FDuaONOGOeY/s1600/SF+2.jpg

[Post Count Padder]

Schwarber, Bryant and Rizzo combine to hit 5,000 home runs.

[Cubs Fan Dan]

Rizzo and Bryant hit 40 HR's each and finish 1st and 3rd in NL MVP

 

Jake repeats and wins second cy young

 

Russell hits 22 bombs

 

Zobrist struggles to stay on the field as does La Stella leading the Cubs to need infield depth.

 

Hammel is awful all year and the 4th spot in the rotation becomes a mixed bag until a big pitcher is acquired at the deadline.

 

Cubs give up McKinney, Vogelbach, Torress, Paul Blackburn, and more at the deadline for infield and another top of rotation starter.

 

Cubs come back to clinch the NL championship after being down 3 games to 1 behind the Nats.

[CubInOK]

We win only 95 games this season due to player injuries, but still win the WS.

 

On another note, why do all the positive predictions seem realistic?

Edited March 11, 2016 by CubInOK

[Brian]

2016 season will be known as the 1st of 4 consecutive World Series championships

[Bull]

Zobrist struggles to stay on the field as does La Stella leading the Cubs to need infield depth.

.

 

Baez at second and Kawasaki as the back up. Not an issue.

[CubinNY]

Montero gets hurt early and the Cubs get nothing from the C and steal Lucroy for Vogelbach and Underwood in June.

[davell]

Bryant hits 40+ dongs, Rizzo and Schwarber hit 30+ dongs, and Javy, Soler, Russell, and Heyward all hit 20+ dongs. We trade for Sonny Gray at mid season, win 110+ games, and sweep the Astros in the World Series.

[StylesClash]

Cubs give up McKinney, Vogelbach, Torress, Paul Blackburn, and more at the deadline for infield and another top of rotation starter.

 

Torres is highly touted but still a couple years away from the big leagues. I don't know if he's capable of being a center piece for an elite starter. I'll throw a deal out here: Soler, Hendricks, Almora and another decent prospect for Jose Fernandez.

 

Obviously our scouts would have to extensively watch Fernandez tape to see if his Tommy John injury was as a result of poor mechanics, which could lead to further injuries down the road. But if the results came back clean I would make that deal. Hendricks, will likely only be a solid number three in a best case scenario. Almora's biggest asset is elite range, which isn't as important with Heyward in Right. And I don't see him ever turning into a good on base threat.

 

And although giving up Soler makes me really nervous, acquiring three years of an ace means you have to give up something of real substance. Personally I'd prefer to deal Baez, but it looks as though Madden is really impressed with his developing versatility. Plus if Fernandez isn't brought back after his three years a comp pick would be acquired in return as well.

[Old Style]

Heyward hits 35+ HR's.

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

[NOLA]

#BFIB send racist tweets and FB posts to Heyward and rain boos on him every time he comes to the plate in STL.

 

Oh wait, BOLD predicitons? Addison Russell makes the ASG roster and goes on to hit 20+ HRs on the season.

[David]

this thread idea is annoying me this year. i can't come up with anything good that seems all that bold (unless i say something like we're going to win 140 games), and i don't want to make bad predictions about the cubs.

[JennieGarthAlgar]

Murton accepts a minor league assignment over a better offer knowing that he will at least get called up once rosters expand. Once they do, he comes up and hits a walkoff HR. Or something. Enough to make the highlight video.

 

Rizzo + Bryant = 80 HRs

Schwarber + Soler + Russell + Baez = 80 HRs

 

7 guys makes the All Star team

 

Heyward, Russell and Rizzo all win Gold Gloves

[Sammy Sofa]

this thread idea is annoying me this year. i can't come up with anything good that seems all that bold (unless i say something like we're going to win 140 games), and i don't want to make bad predictions about the cubs.

 

This is a bold prediction in and of itself.

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Fowler has an OPS over .820

 

The Cubs have 6 All-Stars.

 

Schwarber has over 30 starts at catcher.

 

Adam Warren is 3rd in the rotation come the playoffs.

[David]

Fowler has an OPS over .820

 

The Cubs have 6 All-Stars.

Schwarber has over 30 starts at catcher.

 

Adam Warren is 3rd in the rotation come the playoffs.

 

this is not bold. we had 33% more in 2008.

 

10 all stars.. that's bold.

[bukie]

The entire starting 9 players for the Cubs will be all-stars. They will score 22 runs in the 2 innings they all play together, and the NL will win 22-5 after Arrieta pitches two scoreless innings and Wainwright gives up 5 runs in 1/3 of an inning resulting in a blown out elbow that takes him out of the rest of the season, and the Cubs win the World Series in 4 so the result doesn't matter anyway.

[sneakypower]

i'll try to go really bold

 

Cardinals make the playoffs?

[JudasIscariotTheBird]

Fowler has an OPS over .820

 

The Cubs have 6 All-Stars.

Schwarber has over 30 starts at catcher.

 

Adam Warren is 3rd in the rotation come the playoffs.

 

this is not bold. we had 33% more in 2008.

 

10 all stars.. that's bold.

Ok Mr. Fantasy Fact-checker. What 10 are you putting in? Because when you start looking at who guy #6 would be, it is a bit of a stretch.

[David]

Fowler has an OPS over .820

 

The Cubs have 6 All-Stars.

Schwarber has over 30 starts at catcher.

 

Adam Warren is 3rd in the rotation come the playoffs.

 

this is not bold. we had 33% more in 2008.

 

10 all stars.. that's bold.

Ok Mr. Fantasy Fact-checker. What 10 are you putting in? Because when you start looking at who guy #6 would be, it is a bit of a stretch.

 

If it's not a bit of a stretch, it's not bold