1.) Someone will predict the world is going to end. Again.
ANALYSIS: I'm sure I could use Google to find someone stating the world will end again but there hasn't been anything of particular note or with momentum that's claiming 2013 will be the year. Of course, I also don't really keep an ear out for this sort of thing.
2.) The Orioles will finish last in the AL East.
ANALYSIS: The division is tough and the Orioles could find themselves in last place by September but they are actually closer to first place at the moment than last. Either way, I'm completely off on this one as the "spirit" or the prediction was that the Orioles would be bad which is certainly not true in 2013. I should have known Machado would break the doubles record and Chris Davis would hit 60 home runs! Still, that rotation.
3.) The Blue Jays will be good, but depth might be an issue.
ANALYSIS: I said: "I wonder if the Jays will have the ability to weather a bad case of the injury bug if one were to occur. I'm looking at you Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson." With the injury bug hitting Toronto, depth was an issue but they've illustrated an ability to weather the storm. After a horrendous start they're at .500 and 8 games back. That sounds bad, but it used to be worse.
4.) 2013 Breakouts:
ANALYSIS: The division is tough and the Orioles could find themselves in last place by September but they are actually closer to first place at the moment than last. Either way, I'm completely off on this one as the "spirit" or the prediction was that the Orioles would be bad which is certainly not true in 2013. I should have known Machado would break the doubles record and Chris Davis would hit 60 home runs! Still, that rotation.
3.) The Blue Jays will be good, but depth might be an issue.
ANALYSIS: I said: "I wonder if the Jays will have the ability to weather a bad case of the injury bug if one were to occur. I'm looking at you Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson." With the injury bug hitting Toronto, depth was an issue but they've illustrated an ability to weather the storm. After a horrendous start they're at .500 and 8 games back. That sounds bad, but it used to be worse.
4.) 2013 Breakouts:
- John Jaso: In 205 PA, Jaso has 1.2 WAR and a 115 wRC+ at a weak position. That's good and he's been a nice acquisition but unless he plays more or starts hitting like cray, he won't be a breakout.
- Matt Wieters: I liked the path Wieters was on, figuring he could "put it all together" in 2013. He has half a season left but with a 82 wRC+ he might have to have a Chris Davis-ian 2nd half to have a breakout year.
- Starlin Castro: See above.
- Jean Segura: "Ooh that's a bingo!" I said "Segura has a chance to mimic Elvis Andrus at half the cost", and if that were right this season he wouldn't be a breakout with Andrus struggling. However, with a .327/.360/.500 line with 11 HRs and 24 SBs, I'd say Segura qualifies.
5.) 2013 Busts:
- Mark Trumbo: What's funny is that I compared Trumbo's 2012 to Chris Davis' 2012 to illustrate how he won't have a great year. By that logic Trumbo should be an MVP candidate but instead he's basically repeating what he did in 2012. Not a bust but not too exciting either.
- Jered Weaver: Weaver missed some time due to hurting his non-pitching arm and although he's pitched better of late his seasonal 4.15 ERA is nothing to write home about. He's still putting up an ERA higher than his peripherals would suggest but this time his peripherals are just worse, making his ERA rise. 2012 might have been the last year we will have called him a true ace. Whatever arbitrary meaning that phrase has.
- Aroldis Chapman: 20 saves, a K/9 over 15 and an ERA of 2.65 isn't bust worthy, but with Grilli and Jansen closing and putting up the numbers they have this year, fantasy-wise Aroldis could be considered a slight bust.
6.) The Mets on the field future will look bright but ownership will not.
ANALYSIS: Not many people are going to Shea, even on days when Harvey throws but at the same time, I haven't heard any cries about their finances or ownership. With that said, Harvey might be the best pitcher in the game, Wheeler shows promise and Noah Syndergaard and Rafael Montero have been fantastic in the minors for the Mets. Excitement in Queens is on the horizon.
7.) Ben's Baseball Bias will take the next step.
ANALYSIS: This is my first post in a while, so let's just consider this TBD?
8.) Jacoby Ellsbury will have a MVP type season. Again.
ANALYSIS: If MVP simply meant leading the league in steals then Ells would have a chance (32 SBs) but a 107 wRC+ isn't close to the 149 number I was hoping he'd sniff near in 2013. A lot of what I said about him in the prediction remains and as a top player on the Red Sox he might receive a vote but he's not having an MVP type season when you get to the heart of what I meant when I said it.
9.) Sabermetrics will reach a broader audience while the old guard continues its assault.
ANALYSIS: I won't bore you with links to dumb sports writers complaining about WAR, what is it good for, absolutely nothing. They're still barking because we keep reaching more people. Not me personally, but stats and facts about baseball. This is a good thing.
10.) Giancarlo "Mike" Stanton will hit 50 home runs.
ANALYSIS: Did I say Giancarlo Stanton? I meant Chris Davis! Stanton missed too much time to hit 50 homers this year and hasn't played well enough in the games he has to have this prediction do anything other than make me look foolish.
11.) Jon Lester, Tim Lincecum and Josh Beckett will have bounceback years.
ANALYSIS: I'm 0-3 on this one alone. The anti-bingo.
12.) The Miami Heat will win the NBA championship.
ANALYSIS: Maybe I'm blogging about the wrong sport. Go Heat!
13.) The Miami Marlins will have the lowest attendance in baseball.
ANALYSIS: Only Cleveland has a lower total attendance but Miami has the lowest attendance per game.
I won't tally it up because it's too embarrassing, but guys, Jean Segura!
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