Five Bold Predictions for 2018

[jlegg21]

Then he'd have to play the field on his off pitching days in order to hit, which isn't happening, and he wants to hit more than every 5-6 days

Ok, but most of what I've read seems to say he projects to be a better pitcher than hitter long term. I guess that's why he's so intriguing, that he's going to get a chance with this whole experiment.

Last night's nice swing on Tomlin's Charlie Brown fastball aside, I guess I'm skeptical the guy can excel at both full time.

 

[Derek]

Ok, but most of what I've read seems to say he projects to be a better pitcher than hitter long term. I guess that's why he's so intriguing, that he's going to get a chance with this whole experiment.

Last night's nice swing on Tomlin's Charlie Brown fastball aside, I guess I'm skeptical the guy can excel at both full time.

I’m just telling you why he signed in the AL. He wants to do both full-time. He factored each team’s willingness to let him try into his decision on where to sign.

 

[jlegg21]

Ok, but most of what I've read seems to say he projects to be a better pitcher than hitter long term. I guess that's why he's so intriguing, that he's going to get a chance with this whole experiment.

Last night's nice swing on Tomlin's Charlie Brown fastball aside, I guess I'm skeptical the guy can excel at both full time.

Or he's the 2nd coming and revolutionizes baseball... that pitching line today, wow.

 

[Derek]

bump

 

[Urban]

1. Roberto Perez hits 16 HR. Only 3 off his career total and double his season high- 7 games to get 14 more HR, very attainable

2. EE hits less than 30 HR for the first time since 2011- currently at 31. Good job proving me wrong, EE

3. Yonder Alonso finishes with a higher OPS than Carlos Santana- Santana leads .767 to .723. Yonder's August-present killed this prediction, was .797 July 31

4. Once on the roster, Brantley avoids the DL all season- Looks good

5. The Indians acquire Manny Machado- Miss, but Donaldson seems like a good consolation

 

[AZ_]

1. Kluber falls off. Back issues and lowering velo put his command in flux, and he gets crushed.

2. Carassco and Bauer pick up the slack. Both make the All-Star team.

3. Edwin takes a nose dive in production. Just don't think he's on the fastballs like he used to be.

4. Bradley Zimmer becomes elite. Going to have the CF spot all to himself, and he'll be elite defensively and on the basepaths.

5. Indians "fans," like the poster above, will continue to suck.

1. Nope, lets keep it going CK

2. Cookie is an All-Star to me.

3. OPS down 80 points over last year. Not a nose dive, but not great for next year.

4. Whiff

5. Nailed it.

 

[Real Deal]

1. Nope, lets keep it going CK

2. Cookie is an All-Star to me.

3. OPS down 80 points over last year. Not a nose dive, but not great for next year.

4. Whiff

5. Nailed it.

Your predictions were subpar.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Division winners are all obvious this year. INDIANS, YANKEES, ASTROS, CUBS, NATIONALS, DODGERS. Only division up in the air is you could argue Redsox in AL East maybe.

My bold predictions are: Texas Rangers will be a wild card.
Miami Marlins will not have one of the top 5 worst records.

Lmao such obvious division winners, how could his have happened?!

 

[Derek]

1. Jason Kipnis didn't have the luxury of being healthy last year with the juiced baseballs. Now healthy, Kipnis slugs 30 HR.

2. Trevor Bauer's BB% drops for the 3rd consecutive year, his HR/FB% and BABIP normalize, and his K% increases once again making him a top 3 Cy Young pitcher.

3. Danny Salazar returns from the DL and never gives up his spot in the rotation, bumping Josh Tomlin to the bullpen.

4. Carlos Carrasco wins the Cy Young. The difference between the peripherals of Carrasco and Kluber last year were minuscule. This year Carlos takes the jump, and becomes the Tribe's best pitcher.

5. Zach McAllister racks up 70+ appearances and a sub-2.50 ERA as our best RH set up man.

1. Power has been there the last few months, but after his horrid start he never had a chance.

2. Nailed it.

3. Honestly forgot Salazar existed.

4. May not have reached these heights, but Carrasco has been great, second best pitcher on our staff after Bauer this year IMO

5. Nailed it. Too easy

 

[sportscoach]

My actual bold 5 predictions:

Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez combine to become the best catching duo MLB has ever seen. Both bat above .270 and 15+ HRs a piece.

Indians surpass the records in pitching they set last season. Also there isn’t a starter at the end of the season with an ERA over 4 including Tomlin.

They have 3 guys in the Cy Young race all season.

Davis hits above .250 and steals 30+ bases and the Indians lead the league in stolen bases overall.

They are the team of destiny and win it all for Cleveland. Next season there will be changes, but for now they win it all.

Well Yan Gomes had a good season, Perez, eh... He can handle the pitching staff well.

They set the K record with the starters, the second part sadly isn't perfect they had a very good season overall!

Our first 4 guys have all been pretty good, so this one is mostly right!

Sadly Davis didn't do that well, but the team lead the league in steals more than likely

So I give myself 5 out of 8 with 2 points still pending!

 

[Derek]

Well Yan Gomes had a good season, Perez, eh... He can handle the pitching staff well.

They set the K record with the starters, the second part sadly isn't perfect they had a very good season overall!

Our first 4 guys have all been pretty good, so this one is mostly right!

Sadly Davis didn't do that well, but the team lead the league in steals more than likely

So I give myself 5 out of 8 with 2 points still pending!

5/8 when none of your predictions actually came true. Now that’s bold.

 

[Stark]

1. Yan Gomes is an All-Star: following an early season scuff by Roberto Perez, Gomes takes the majority of innings behind the dish and returns to production that eclipses his Silver Slugger year of 2013. He sets career highs in home runs (27), RBIs (82), and slugging percentage (.502) while also playing Gold Glove defense behind the dish.
2. Yonder Alonso shines: Alonso one-ups his all-star campaign from last season and fills the Carlos Santana void very nicely for the Indians. He slugs a career high 35 home runs and gives Edwin Encarnacion constant protection all season long.
3. Carlos Carrasco struggles: following a Cy-Young caliber season in 2017, Carrasco comes back down to earth a bit in 2018 and ends up being the Indians 4th best starter behind Kluber, Bauer, and Clevinger.
4. Michael Brantley is solid, but unspectacular: Michael Brantley returns in early-May and has a rather solid, if not pedestrian, season for the Indians. His power evaporates as he only hits four home runs, but he still reaches base at a decent clip with .287/.358 BA/OBP marks and 33 doubles.
5. The Indians win their first World Series in 70 years: If healthy, the Indians have as much talent as anyone with two guys who could easily compete for AL MVP in Lindor and Ramirez, three guys who could easily compete for the Cy Young in Kluber, Bauer, and Carrasco, a solid bullpen, good defense, and necessary pieces to make a blockbuster move at the deadline should they need to do so. They cruise to the second best record in the American League, where they beat Boston in four games in the ALDS, smoke Houston in five in the ALCS, and take down the Cubs in an act of revenge, in six games, in the 2018 World Series.

1. Going to give myself a point for this one. He's not going to touch those crazy offensive numbers I predicted for him, but Gomes has been damn solid and was indeed an all-star for the first time in his career.
2. Definitely wouldn't say he shined, but he's been alright. He's had a horrible second half.
3. Whiff. Cookie has been phenomenal.
4. Another whiff. Brantley has been arguably the best pure hitter on the team this season.
5. TBA

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

I have one, and it isn't very bold: we choke

Come at me with yo disagrees now, barnstormers.

 

[Chris]

You call this a choke?

 

[bboy]

And I was chastised for this take....maybe 4 months ago...bboy said: ↑
not sure why anyone thought we’d be an offensive juggernaut...Lindor and Jose (well maybe) are really our only consistent hitters...this lineup is very weak and will continue to be so...the outfield is a joke...Brantley...