Cleveland Indians 2014 Bold Predictions

[Frank Stallone]

This isn't "meek" predictions... make BOLD predictions. These aren't my regular ones, but if I want to be bold, this is what they are.

1) Indians win by one game over the Tigers in the Central
2) Indians fall to the Red Sox in the ALCS after beating the Rangers
3) Kipnis is 3rd in MVP voting
4) Santana, Kipnis, Masterson, Salazar and Axford make the ASG
5) Michael Brantley is top 5 in AVG
6) Asdrubal is traded for a power bat and Chiz gets DFA'd
7) Indians call up Lindor
8) Bauer wins the 5th spot in the rotation
9) Elliot Johnson makes the team and becomes a key bench player
10) Pestano's bounce back year makes people forget about Joe Smith
11) Salazar isn't rookie eligible, but you better believe he'd have won the fucking award

 

[macbdog]

Not to be a jerk, but this really needed to be a '5 Bold Predictions' thread filled with just predictions, so we can go back to it later in the year to raz/gloat. Just sayin'...

 

[Frank Stallone]

Not to be a jerk, but this really needed to be a '5 Bold Predictions' thread filled with just predictions, so we can go back to it later in the year to raz/gloat. Just sayin'...

1) Indians win by one game over the Tigers in the Central
2) Kipnis is 3rd in MVP voting
3) Santana, Kipnis, Masterson, Salazar and Axford make the ASG
4) Michael Brantley is top 5 in AVG
5) Indians call up Lindor

 

[elcheato]

Well, last year I pegged Carlos Carrasco as becoming the Indians best starter and said Chisenhall would hit 20-25 bombs. But accurately predicted Meyers being out of the rotation by mid-season and Cody Allen emerging as the teams 2nd best pen arm (actually ended up being the best)

This year:

1. Corey Kluber has the lowest ERA in the rotation.
2. Francisco Lindor becomes the starting shortstop in late April or Early May
3. Austin Adams gets called up and becomes the Indians 2nd best reliever (behind Cody Allen)
4. The Murphy/Raburn platoon in RF proves to be the Indians most production position "player"
5. The Indians finish with the best record in the AL, and still only beat out the Royals by a game in the division.

 

[FiveThous]

Bold prediction:

Indians regress and win 72 games.

 

[MoFlo]

Let's keep it prediction related, people

As for my bold predictions:

-Francona breaks the record for most wins by an Indians manager in his first (2) seasons on the job (he needs 101 to pass Speaker's 192)
-The Indians have their 2nd straight season of 92+ wins since '95-'96
-Jason Kipnis hits .300 with 20 HR, 100 RBI, and 30 SB
-Ryan Raburn hits 20 Doubles & 20 HR
-Raburn, Kipnis, Santana, Swisher, Cabrera hit 20+ HR
-Bourne adjusts & swipes 40 bags
-By the end of the year, Carlos Santana is our everyday 3B & we a C up to be Gomes' backup

I'll post more later

 

[macbdog]

Ok, now for some actual bold predictions- not these sorta-bold, unpopular-popular opinons we had going on:

1. The Carlos Santana experiment at 3B ends by May...

Apparently the whole 'going to his right' thing is still a work in progress...
He hits decently enough. And plays 3B much like he did catcher- skills to play the position but zero consistency, thus he is passable if you watch with an eye closed. But the real reason it ends is...

2. ...Because Lonnie Chisenhall steals back 3rd base.

Kinda has a 'Private Pyle in the latreen' stare going on there...

Only it gets caught on video camera and the team releases him the next day. Horrible dated jokes aside, the time frame on this could blow up in my face if Chisenhall doesn't make the roster out of spring training, but I will put in the cavaet that at some point he comes back up, and once he gets back to playing, doesn't look back. The competition lights a fire under his rear and he finally settles in.

3. Shaun Marcum saves this team's bacon as a late addition to the staff while Murphy is a total dog.

Terry Francona mistakenly calls him 'Trot' all year.
Marcum takes hold of the first open rotation position and doesn't look back. Not only does his 'steady as a train' production provide relief for a struggling starting staff but his pies help keep the clubhouse loose. Turns out to be the Tribe's best offseason addition.

David Murphy ends up taking this slow walk of shame alot this upcoming season.
Meanwhile David Murphy is so awful that he ends up plastered to the bench by early June. Man I really don't like that signing.

4. Already 7 games behind the Tigers in the Central and the starting staff looking shaky, Terry Francona abruptly resigns before the Dodgers series on June 30th...

Citing a need to be with his family more, Francona resigns during a hasty morning press conference. He thanks the Tribe fans for their support, while muttering under his breath something about not feeling appreciated by the owner, and that he has 'plans'.

5. ...only to emerge later that night from the Dodgers dugout after LA shockingly fires Mattingly pre-game.

OH MY GOD THAT'S DEGENERATION X'S MUSIC!!!!!!

Final record: 82-82. 3rd in a division that proves to be very competitive. Those aren't exactly 'bold' but I gots to put my prediction out somewhere. One of Kulber/McAlister falls flat, too. Carrasco is, always will be a dumpster fire. That is all.

 

[AZ_]

That picture of Santana is pure win.

 

[Derek]

I especially like the bold prediction that we'll play a 164 game schedule

 

[AZ_]

NM

 

[AZ_]

After essentially going 4-for-5 last season, I aim to continue that trend this season:

1. Carlos Carrasco emerges as the team's third best pitcher

With a new arm slot and the guidance of Mickey Callaway, CC misses enough bats and gets a bit more movement on his fastball to really get ahead of hitters and be more effective. It's make or break time for him, and he answers the call to adequately fill the shoes of a departed Scott Kazmir.

2. Carlos Santana as the 3B ends before the All-Star break

Chisenhall ends up playing like he wants to keep a job, while Santana's offense struggles because of his focus on learning to play an adequate third base. The struggles and lack of development at 3B lead Tito to make the switch full-time as Carlos takes over as the full-time DH and backup C/1B.

3. John Axford saves 40 games

Almost no talk about Ax this spring can only be a good thing, and the guidance of Yadier Molina last season continues to be effective into 2014. The Indians bullpen will be better than expected.

4. Justin Masterson enters the discussion among AL Cy Young contenders.

No bigger season than a contract year for Masterson, who has looked very good with that heavy sinker moving all over the place. Will be slightly affected by some poor left side defense, but his stuff has become so efficient that he finally emerges as an ace caliber pitcher in time to hit an open market and earn major free agent dollars in the off-season.

5. Jason Giambi will not be on this team down the stretch.

I admire everything he brings to the table as a leader, a future hitting coach and a role player. That said, his age and complete lack of versatility leaves him with few at-bats and the Indians go in a different direction to add more flexibility to their roster as the season wears on. Giambi could make a trip to the 60-day DL and ends up in the dugout in a role which basically amounts to him being another bench coach.



Final Indians record: 84-78, second place in the AL Central. No playoffs.

 

[Stark]

I'd like to file copyright infringement on my "Bold Predictions" threads. :chuckles:


Anyways, I have not seen very many bold predictions in this thread so far, so I'll actually take the bold route:

1) Carlos Carrasco steps up in a large way and finishes with 13+ wins and a sub-4.00 ERA.
2) Michael Bourn continues to trend downward, as he bats sub-.240 and begins to lose his touch in the field.
3) The Indians have five twenty home run hitters this season: Swisher, Kipnis, Santana, Gomes, and Cabrera.
4) Asdrubal Cabrera is not traded at the deadline.
5) John Axford emerges as a top three closer in the AL and saves 45+ games.
6) The Tribe sends four players to the Mid-Summer Classic: Kipnis, Masterson, Salazar, and Santana.
7) Jason Kipnis finishes in the top five in AL MVP voting.
8) Zach McAllister fizzles out at mid-season and is replaced by Trevor Bauer, who performs near expectations.
9) Yan Gomes, Jason Kipnis, and Michael Brantley all bat .300 or better.
10) The Indians finish 97-65, first in the AL Central ahead of the surging Kansas City Royals, and make their first appearance in the World Series since 1997, where they fall in six games to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Idiot. I was like 2 1/2 for 10.

 

[AZ_]

After essentially going 4-for-5 last season, I aim to continue that trend this season:

1. Carlos Carrasco emerges as the team's third best pitcher

With a new arm slot and the guidance of Mickey Callaway, CC misses enough bats and gets a bit more movement on his fastball to really get ahead of hitters and be more effective. It's make or break time for him, and he answers the call to adequately fill the shoes of a departed Scott Kazmir.

2. Carlos Santana as the 3B ends before the All-Star break

Chisenhall ends up playing like he wants to keep a job, while Santana's offense struggles because of his focus on learning to play an adequate third base. The struggles and lack of development at 3B lead Tito to make the switch full-time as Carlos takes over as the full-time DH and backup C/1B.

3. John Axford saves 40 games

Almost no talk about Ax this spring can only be a good thing, and the guidance of Yadier Molina last season continues to be effective into 2014. The Indians bullpen will be better than expected.

4. Justin Masterson enters the discussion among AL Cy Young contenders.

No bigger season than a contract year for Masterson, who has looked very good with that heavy sinker moving all over the place. Will be slightly affected by some poor left side defense, but his stuff has become so efficient that he finally emerges as an ace caliber pitcher in time to hit an open market and earn major free agent dollars in the off-season.

5. Jason Giambi will not be on this team down the stretch.

I admire everything he brings to the table as a leader, a future hitting coach and a role player. That said, his age and complete lack of versatility leaves him with few at-bats and the Indians go in a different direction to add more flexibility to their roster as the season wears on. Giambi could make a trip to the 60-day DL and ends up in the dugout in a role which basically amounts to him being another bench coach.



Final Indians record: 84-78, second place in the AL Central. No playoffs.

3 and 4

Woof

 

[elcheato]

I posted mine yesterday in the season thread I think, but, yea, I nailed Kluber having the best ERA on the team, and nothing else. Carrasco could still pass Kluber for that too.

 

[Vindicate2]

The 2014 Indians will not make the playoffs.

(Certainly hope they prove my bold prediction wrong though )