2009 Predictions Thread

[NFBuck]

I think Oakland finishes a close 2nd and does better than people think

Texas and pitching just dont go together, I guess they could possibly come up with enough offense to offset some of the pitching issues though but I see them 3rd

Seattle will likely be awful again and finish last

If Holliday and Chavez can stay healthy, they may be able to sneak up on some people, but they're pretty pitching deficient as well. After Duchscherer, they have a patchwork rotation, though they may have a decent pen. I just don't see enough talent on their roster to be a real threat.

 

[EDDIE GGGG27]

Willie Tavaras will not steal 100 bases.

The Reds will not win the WS.

I am 50.01% sure of both.

Bob Ca$htellini said on radio tonight we were gonna have a winning record,so at least we know that.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Bob Ca said on radio tonight we were gonna have a winning record,so at least we know that.

Be careful, its easy to misquote him when he says we are going to win.

 

[willsonphilips]

I thought the reds had a solid shot last year and look what happened. It's been said before, but I think that getting rid of grif and dunn will really help the locker room moral. their pitching will be excellent this year, possible top five roto in the league, but he bullpen is questionable and the lineup is unproven but has tremendous upside. phillips doesn't seem to hit well from the 4 hole but dusty continues to commit him to that spot. they have a chance definitely but a lot needs roll their way to be contention.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I thought the reds had a solid shot last year and look what happened. It's been said before, but I think that getting rid of grif and dunn will really help the locker room moral. their pitching will be excellent this year, possible top five roto in the league, but he bullpen is questionable and the lineup is unproven but has tremendous upside. phillips doesn't seem to hit well from the 4 hole but dusty continues to commit him to that spot. they have a chance definitely but a lot needs roll their way to be contention.

They would need perfect health, a massive step up from all the young guys-not have a single one of them regress, get over .330 OBP from Tavars, have all the old chaff in the pen keep it together one more year and someone to take Dusty out to the middle of nowhere and leave him for dead. If all that breaks their way then they have a shot at .500.

When you start talking playoffs you have to compare them to the Cubs, Phillies, Mets, Dbacks and Dodgers now that Manny has signed. Teams like the Braves and Brewers are also easily better than the Reds.

Not sure what you saw last year that made you think they had a shot but they aren't really any better this year. You can't seriously run the players out to CF, SS and LF we will be and think playoffs.

There is a nice young core but its not enough yet to overcome the dreck that surrounds it. Overall the outlook is good because the minors are producing but we still have a ways to go.

 

[Mike80]

I thought the reds had a solid shot last year and look what happened. It's been said before, but I think that getting rid of grif and dunn will really help the locker room moral. their pitching will be excellent this year, possible top five roto in the league, but he bullpen is questionable and the lineup is unproven but has tremendous upside. phillips doesn't seem to hit well from the 4 hole but dusty continues to commit him to that spot. they have a chance definitely but a lot needs roll their way to be contention.

top 5 roto in the league?

Ahhh spring, when flowers bloom and Reds fans delude themselves again....

It's a decent rotation but you aren't winning anything more than about 75 games at most with it and what is around that rotation.

They could really actually start out 15-5 and then end up last in the NL Central by the end of May. They really look like the 1993 or 1994 Orioles in that regard.