Predictions
All things being equal:
Padres: 90-72
Dodgers: 89-73
Diamondbacks: 87-75
Giants: 79-83
Rockies: 79-83
Pick five of ten...
- Ray Durham repeats his '06 season.
- Barry Bonds plays more than 115 games with an OBP over .475.
- Barry Zito befuddles the NL in his first tour and gets a few Cy Young votes.
- Tim Lincecum pitches over 100 innings in the majors with an ERA under 3.50.
- Rich Aurilia and Ryan Klesko combine to give the Giants .280/.360/.490 production from first base.
- Pedro Feliz has an OBP of .300 or over, and his SLG is over .500.
- Armando Benitez converts saves at his career rate of 89%.
- Matt Cain has an entire season as good as his second half in '06.
- Two of the young bullpen arms post ERAs under 3.50, and strike out enough hitters to make you believe it's real.
- Noah Lowry gets his change and curve working at the same time and pairs them with improved command.
Giants: 93-69
Padres: 90-72
Diamondbacks: 86-76
Dodgers: 83-79
Rockies: 80-82
The Dodgers drop so far in the revised predictions because I wanted them to.
Five of ten: too many? Too few? Missing some major points?
Your season predictions, if you would....
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1) Bruce Bochy continues the tradition of his immediate predecessors by posting triple-digit victories in his first season as Giants' skipper.
Giants: 101-61
Dodgers: 93-69
Padres: 86-76
Diamondbacks: 86-76
Rockies: 70-92
by Moggeee on Mar 30, 2007 10:20 AM PDT 0 recs
PECOTA Stuff
They've got the D-Backs taking the west with a record of 88-74. They actually compare the D-Backs to the 1994 Indians in terms of positional talent on the team. That Indians team was pretty good too. Full of young positional players, Thome and Ramirez started to come into their own that year.
Heres what I see for the NL West
- Padres
- D-Backs
- Dodgers
- Giants
- Rockies
by xanthan on Mar 30, 2007 10:24 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: PECOTA Stuff
by rxmeister on
Mar 30, 2007 10:56 AM PDT
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Re: PECOTA Stuff
by EliminateMe on
Mar 30, 2007 11:30 AM PDT
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Re: PECOTA Stuff
by groug on
Mar 30, 2007 2:52 PM PDT
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Re: PECOTA Stuff
by JakeS on
Mar 30, 2007 11:40 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
- D-Backs 87-75
- Padres 85-77
- Giants 79-83
- Dodgers 78-84
- Rockies 70-92
by jponry on Mar 30, 2007 10:33 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
Dodgers 81-81
Dbacks 80-82
Padres 76-86
Rockies 50-80 (they disband on Sept 1)
Bochy starts resting the regulars for the playoffs on June 1.
by rxmeister on Mar 30, 2007 11:00 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
I thought the most likely of your ten points was probably Tim Lincecum's 100 innings and ERA of 3.50 or less -- and many of your points were fairly reasonable (although perhaps not enough to attain the desired 93 wins).
I would say Pedro Feliz's .300+ OBP and .500+ SLG would be least likely, although hopefully the hard work he did over the winter to change his approach at the plate will pay dividends. This spring he has hit encouragingly well -- although the last time I looked he had drawn nary a walk.
A couple of points:
First, Armando's career save percentage isn't 89%. Since save opportunities were kept at mlb.com beginning in 1999 it IS a very respectable 85.3%, however. Yes, it would help if he could at least equal that percentage.
But often overlooked in save percentage is the average DIFFICULTY of the saves. Did you know for instance that teams score two runs or fewer in over 93% of all innings? That would indicate that if a closer had all three-run, one-inning saves in which he entered at the beginning of the ninth inning, Armando's 85.3% save percentage would be about 8% below what one might expect from an average pitcher?
Teams score one run or fewer in over 86% of their games, so if all of Armando's saves were two-run, one inning saves, he would still be about 1% below an average pitcher. In one-run situations, the one-inning save would happen from an average pitcher only 71% of the time.
It is those one-run saves where today's closer earns his money. With a lead of two or three runs entering the ninth inning, an average pitcher should be able to convert at about the same rate -- actually a little better -- as Armando has converted since the beginning of the 1999 season.
Second, with Barry Bonds apparently now batting third rather than cleanup, it is possible that a .475 OBP from Barry won't be as meaningful as with him batting cleanup. To illustrate this, let's use Barry's first at bat of the game.
Batting third, it is likely that about 42% of Barry's first plate appearance in games will come with two outs and no one on. If he starts 130 games, that will be about 55 plate appearances during which the opposition can walk him with relative impunity, since a runner on first base with two outs scores only about 13% of the time -- and Barry's lack of speed on the bases might drop even that percentage.
Let's suppose that Barry gets 500 plate appearances and that he reaches base 238 times (.476). Normally I would agree with you that his being able to do so would indicate a season in which he did quite well. Last season his OBP was "only" .454. But let's suppose that the opposition is smart enough to walk Barry in 28 of those 55 plate appearances in which he bats with two outs and no one on in the first inning. That would mean that in the other 472 plate appearances, Barry would have reached base "only" 210 times, for an OBP when it matters more of "just" .445.
I think if Barry bats third, he will perhaps need to post a .500 or higher OBP to have the effect you desire. That would mean that he had an OBP of .473 or higher when it matters more, much closer to your .475 target.
Batting Barry third likely isn't the best move Bruce Bochy will make this year.
by sharksrog on Mar 30, 2007 11:01 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
If you walk Barry, you're setting up the two-out rally 100% of the time, just to prevent a solo homer. Does not compute.
by Skaldheim on
Mar 30, 2007 11:45 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
A secondary point would be that if I were pitching to Barry in that situation, I wouldn't worry much about walking him and thus would pick, pick, pick at the corners. There are some situations in which it is hard to corner pitch once you get behind to Barry and hard to pick a corner or miss off the plate if you get ahead, because of the damage putting Barry on base can do. But the bases empty and two outs is the time when it is LEAST costly to walk Barry.
Just by comparison, if you walk Barry with no outs and no one on (as usually would be the situation if he came up with no one on and no outs the first time he batted in a game while batting cleanup), the cost of walking him would be about .43 runs. The cost of walking him with two outs and nobody on is about .13 runs, or approximately 30% as high. If you were going to "buy" a walk to Barry, wouldn't you rather do your purchasing when there is a 70% off sale?
Batting Barry is not a smart move. And if opposing managers are wise enough to understand this (Questionable, I realize.) and manipulate it in their favor, the Giants are likely to pay a price for batting Barry third. I think Bruce Bochy will make moves that are at least as good as the average manager. But I don't think batting Barry third is one of them.
by sharksrog on
Mar 30, 2007 1:37 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
I wouldn't ever walk Barry in that situation. Make him earn that base -- put wear on those knees! So he hits a few more solo homers. Big deal.
This is why it's so very important to have good OBP in the spots ahead of Barry if you're going to bat him third. I agree with you -- I'd rather see him stay in the fourth spot, all things considered. If Barry's 'protection' produces a .400 OBP for Omar, though, I'll take it.
by Skaldheim on
Mar 30, 2007 2:10 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
by sharksrog on
Mar 30, 2007 4:50 PM PDT
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Where Should Barry Bat?
If Barry bats 4'th, there is about a 75% chance he will bat in the first inning with at least 1 runner on base. If he doesn't bat in the first inning, what's so bad about him leading off the 2'nd?
If Barry bats 3'rd, there is a 40% chance he will bat with 2 outs and nobody on.
It's not a no-brainer, but I believe Barry should bat 4'th.
by DrBGiantsfan on
Mar 30, 2007 4:10 PM PDT
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Re: Where Should Barry Bat?
by Lyle on
Mar 31, 2007 9:35 AM PDT
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Re: Where Should Barry Bat?
Still, the first time through the lineup often sets the tone for the game. IMO, there's a clearcut advantage to batting Barry 4'th that first time through. I think he should bat 4'th.
by DrBGiantsfan on
Mar 31, 2007 10:10 AM PDT
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Re: Where Should Barry Bat?
In his defense, I think Bochy is not just doing stats. I think he is thinking, with high OBP guys like Roberts and Omar, he is looking for a way to influence the first inning, both mentally and statistically. When you factor in the frequent lack of sharpness the starter brings to the first inning, if he gives up a leadoff walk he now is in immediate trouble. Still, if the OBP of R & O is no there, I think Boch moves Barry back to 4th.
by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 11:00 AM PDT
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Re: Where Should Barry Bat?
First, if Barry starts 135 games -- probably a top end for him -- the third-place hitter would likely make the Giants last out in about 1/9th of those games -- or 15.
Second, in some games, Barry will come out after say his fourth at bat. So while he may have to stay in the game for an extra inning of defense in order to get that extra at bat, in say five of the 15 games, Barry would get the same number of plate appearances. That puts him down to perhaps 10 extra plate appearancs. Keep in mind that if the guy batting third has an OBP of .350, if the third-place spot comes up in, say, the eighth inning of a game the Giants lead, 35% of the time Barry will get to bat that inning whether he is batting third or fourth.
Third, batting Barry third likely gives him about 55 plate appearances his first time up where he will hit with two outs and no one on. Since that would seem the cheapest time to walk him, he might actually LOSE more than the 10 extra at bats he otherwise would have had. It is possible that by batting third Barry will actually wind up with FEWER at bats.
I would actually rather see Barry bat leadoff than third. That way he WOULD get a considerable number of extra plate appearances -- and would always come to the plate with no outs his first time up. And with the Giants best hitters following him to the plate, any walks he gets would have a better chance to be costly. Plus, a pitcher would need to be at his best right at the start of the game, since he would immediately be facing the Giants best hitter.
No, Barry wouldn't have as many runners on batting first as batting third. But if it is truly runners on base you want for Barry, leave him batting cleanup, where his chances for baserunners are the highest. Why trade that for perhaps 10 more plate appearances and possibly no additional at bats?
by sharksrog on
Mar 31, 2007 2:49 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
I don't get why people are saying the Dodgers are going to be worth a damn. My burning hatred for them aside, I just don't see how they can get by with that pitching staff. Jason Schmidt left on the downside and that's fine with me. Lowe and Penny are overrated. Is Billingsley starting? Their bullpen should be solid. Juan Pierre as a star acquisition? Sure. Right.
Anyway I see the Padres winning the division and the Giants finishing behind them in a close race with an improved Arizona club. Colorado will also improve with their good young players. All in all I see the division as a big clusterfuck; no clear runaway winner, nobody truly dismal. Just a lot of mediocrity and the one who sucks less wins.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Mar 30, 2007 11:37 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
As for their starting pitching, in Schmidt, Lowe, Penny and Wolf, they have four guys who may not do it this year, but have demonstrated in the past that they can do so. Chad Billingsley was considered a year ago to be a better prospect than Matt Cain, then went on to post a better ERA in 2006 than did Matt. Yet Billingsley hasn't even been able to crack the Dodgers rotation, although I think it's merely a matter of time.
Why is it that so many Giants fans find it so easy to find all the Dodgers flaws but so hard to locate those of the Giants?
by sharksrog on
Mar 30, 2007 1:42 PM PDT
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by BondsApologist on
Mar 30, 2007 3:04 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
But despite the ERA, you are absolutely right that Matt outpitched Chad last season. Chad was extremely lucky not to have an ERA that was clearly higher.
by sharksrog on
Mar 30, 2007 4:53 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
As for lacking the ability to see Giants flaws but jumping all over Dodger flaws, I'm gonna go with blind devotion. Fortunately I hate just about everything and I calls em as I sees em, and often the Giants get me angry enough to say I hate them too. Usually has to do with the bullpen, Pedro Feliz, Matt Morris, or the fact that Bengie Molina is the starting catcher.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on
Mar 30, 2007 4:57 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
I think the teams are just too close to really allow for an intelligent prediction. Oh, I know it is fun and all, but it comes down to health and players at least meeting reasonable expectations + plus the break out type of seasons/events (the subject of this diary, BTW.
by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 11:05 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
Bengie hit lefties tremendously well last season, but he was mediocre against righthanded pitchers. We will probably like Bengie better the more he does his resting against righties.
The good news is that Eliezer Alfonzo hit righthanders slightly better than southpaws last season. But we probably shouldn't expect too much from Eliezer, who likely will start at least 40 games. While his hot start after being called up last season was highly surprising for what had been essentially a career minor leaguer, it became clear that the pitchers figured him out as the season went along.
Last season Alfonzo wasn't a bad starting catcher. This season I think he'll be no better than an average BACKUP catcher.
by sharksrog on
Mar 31, 2007 2:54 PM PDT
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by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 8:52 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
Gregg also had only three passed balls, I presume catching essentially the same pitchers as did Bengie. Molina had the third-highest number of passed balls among major-league catchers last season. That third-worst also described his caught stealing percentage among all regular catchers.
by sharksrog on
Apr 2, 2007 12:36 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
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What I've been thinking. Dodgers, Pads, Giants, Backs. I put them each at about 4 to 1 to win the division. Mebbee the Pads 7 to 2 and the Giants 9 to 2, but all pretty even.
by E Ticket on
Mar 30, 2007 7:55 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
Giants 84-78
Padres 82-80
D-backs 79-83
Dodgers 77-85
Rockies 73-89
G-men pull a Cardinal, barely squeaking into the playoffs, yet somehow managing to beat a couple of superior teams in the playoffs and win the Series.
by EliminateMe on Mar 30, 2007 11:37 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
by Goofus on
Mar 30, 2007 12:16 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
Diamondbacks: 93-69
Padres: 88-74
Giants: 85-77
Dodgers: 80-82
Rockies: 76-86
Diamondbacks win the pennant.
by tomzilla on Mar 30, 2007 11:39 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
by rxmeister on
Mar 30, 2007 12:00 PM PDT
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I think the Gs are far too improved to be predicting 4th place. All things being equal, they probably finish 2nd, with either the Dodgers or Pads finishing 1st. Good health and players producing up to reasonable expectations = pennant
by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 11:12 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
by JakeS on Mar 30, 2007 11:42 AM PDT 0 recs
I reserve the right to change my numbers April 4
by Moggeee on
Mar 30, 2007 12:06 PM PDT
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Re: I reserve the right to change my numbers April
by E Ticket on
Mar 30, 2007 7:58 PM PDT
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by BaronVonCurrentEvents on
Mar 30, 2007 12:39 PM PDT
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by Evan on
Mar 30, 2007 12:42 PM PDT
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Heck, I think #9 (Two of the young bullpen arms post ERAs under 3.50, and strike out enough hitters to make you believe it's real) MUST happen for the Giants to have any chance at contending this year.
by Skaldheim on Mar 30, 2007 11:48 AM PDT 0 recs
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by Rusty the Mechanical Man on Mar 30, 2007 11:53 AM PDT 0 recs
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by hairball on
Mar 30, 2007 1:12 PM PDT
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by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 11:16 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
Padres 99-63
Giants 88-74
D'backs 87-75
Rockies 79-83
Dodgers 74-88
The Dodgers are going to have the players they need to stay healthy (Schmidt, Furcal) get hurt and the players they need to get hurt (Pierre, Gonzalez, Betemit) stay healthy.
88 wins could make the playoffs, right?
by Evan on Mar 30, 2007 11:55 AM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 11:17 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
For Tim to pitch 100 innings on the big team, I would presume that another started had to have stunk up the joint. If Lincecum did, in fact, pitch well, wouldn't he just be balancing out the stinky numbers that the deposed member of the rotation put forth up until that point?
by Goofus on Mar 30, 2007 12:20 PM PDT 0 recs
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by BaronVonCurrentEvents on
Mar 30, 2007 1:19 PM PDT
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by BaronVonCurrentEvents on
Mar 30, 2007 1:22 PM PDT
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I hate watching Morris pitche simply because he pitches more innings and therefore has more face time to piss me off. And he all pretends like he's a team guy. Bullshit...this guy is so off to St. Louis the second his contract is up it makes me puke. He's as much a Giant as Willie McCovey was a San Diego Padre or Juan Marichal was a Dodger.
by E Ticket on
Mar 30, 2007 8:04 PM PDT
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by giantsrainman on
Mar 30, 2007 9:19 PM PDT
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by sharksrog on
Mar 30, 2007 11:57 PM PDT
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by Skaldheim on
Mar 30, 2007 2:12 PM PDT
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by BaronVonCurrentEvents on
Mar 30, 2007 4:58 PM PDT
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by EliminateMe on
Mar 30, 2007 5:23 PM PDT
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by rxmeister on
Mar 31, 2007 8:21 AM PDT
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Barnyard analogies
by Moggeee on
Mar 31, 2007 9:12 AM PDT
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Re: Predictions
On the other hand, by the end of the season Cain, Zito and Lincecum should be the Giants top three starters, and Matt likely will be pretty darn good for a #4 or #5.
by sharksrog on
Mar 31, 2007 2:58 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
--------------------------------------------
I'd say Matt Morris is about to make a pathological liar out of you.
He could not even get out of the 4th inning yesterday, in his last appearance before the season starts. Its not like he had only a couple of days to get ready. Its been since Feb 15. A freaking Month and a Half. Pathetic.
The guy is in his 30s, gets paid millions, and gives up 8 hits, 4 runs faces 19 batters in his "final tune-up" for the regular season after stinking up the joint last year? Thats over 5 batters per inning! That is the kind of pitching that wears down defenses as well as your pen. They won't have the benefit of bringing in fodder like Kim, and Munter once the regular season starts though. And since the Giants have only two off days between now and May 14th, he is single handedly going to be in a position to be a one man demolition crew on the Giants bullpen. I did not see all of his pitches, but the first and second innings were enough, and seemed little different than what I saw last year.
Say what you want about Matt, but if you're a Giant reliever, you know that you will be getting lots of playing time when he's scheduled to start. Rest assured that the bullpen shuffle between SFO and FNO will be in high gear almost immediately, barring some unforeseen miracle in Matt Morris and Armando Benitez' respective careers.
I'm not sure where the bigger waste of millions is: Morris, Blowmeatiz, or the new flashing billboard which will be used to pound fans with ever more spectacularly obnoxious advertisements. I have creepy visions of the KNBR skank asking male fans if they want to experience explosive sex without a prescription. If so, I think that would about do it for establishing new lows in ballpark pimping. Frankly I would have preferred that 3 million going to pay for a lifetime prescription of viagra for Morris and Blowmeatiz' pitching arms.
by E Ticket on
Apr 1, 2007 10:13 AM PDT
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The Awful Truth
But your take on Morris is neither; It is a simple exposition of overwhelming evidence provided by the defendant himself.
Despite the published Order of Battle, Ortiz is the Giants No. 3, and Morris is our No. 5, ready to be bumped to the curb.
by Moggeee on
Apr 1, 2007 11:26 AM PDT
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by bisquik on
Mar 30, 2007 1:34 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
My sense is that even if all five starters pitch well (and I certainly hope they do), Tim will show enough at Fresno that the Giants will find a way to make room for him no later than July.
Tim will be making his final preseason start tomorrow.
by sharksrog on
Mar 30, 2007 3:49 PM PDT
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by allfrank on
Mar 31, 2007 11:25 AM PDT
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by sharksrog on
Mar 31, 2007 2:59 PM PDT
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Re: Predictions
- Durham 2006 > 2005 = 2 wins
- as opposed to what? .450? If he hits like 2004 instead of 2006, then this could be worth 8 wins
- I'm gonna say +3 wins
- +1 win, tops (100 innings!)
- This is probably 2 wins over 2006 production
- I would say this is 1 win
- maybe 1 win. You don't have to pitch that well to get 85%. Plus, how many opps?
- 2 wins
- 2 wins
- 2 wins.
by zenbitz on Mar 30, 2007 12:24 PM PDT 0 recs
Re: Predictions
In reality, a "complete turn-around" in my book would mean going from 85 losses last year to 85 wins in 2007. Whether that is enough to win the division, who knows. Any team in this division could win 85. In the NL "Worst", every team might finish above .500. My guess:
Dodgers- 87-75
Giants- 85-77 *Wild Card
Padres- 84-78
D-Bax- 84-78
Rockies- 79-83



