1. Dusty Baker fired by the All-Star break, being replaced by David Bell.
2. Scott Rolen plays less than 60 games.
3. Reds fall out of contention early and trade Phillips, Madson, and Votto by the deadline.
1. Dusty Baker fired by the All-Star break, being replaced by David Bell.
2. Scott Rolen plays less than 60 games.
3. Reds fall out of contention early and trade Phillips, Madson, and Votto by the deadline.
When I see the 2016 Reds, I see a 100 loss team and no direction.
Zack Cozart OPS' .770+
Drew Stubbs OPS' .770+
Jay Bruce OPS' .850+
REDS win 94 games, Central Division Title and play in the National League Championship Series.
Walt Jockety gets General Manager-of-the-Year.
Joey Votto Wins National League MVP.
Ryan Madsen saves 45 games.
Basically... the Brewers last season? I'm a big fan of the theory that everything that ought to happen in Cincinnati sports happens a year late. Therefore:
-Latos will go down with a major injury early in the year. Chaos and calls for Jocketty's head will ensue.
-However, the rest of the pitching staff will step up to the plate, with only a minor injury or two to derail them. Cueto takes a step back with an ERA around 3.70, but everyone else takes a step forward with Arroyo throwing a healthy 4.00, Bailey 3.50, and Leake 3.75. Chapman proves he can be a consistent starter, lighting the world on fire after spending the first half of the season in AAA.
-Bruce hits 30 home runs and OPS's .900. He would be in contention for MVP if not for a major slump that derails his summer.
-Mesoraco narrowly loses the NL rookie of the year to one Yonder Alonso.
-Ludwick becomes this year's Gomes and is traded for scraps in the middle of the season. Heisey is considered a full-time starter by the end of the year.
-Votto places 2nd in MVP voting behind Justin Upton, despite Votto's superior stats.
-Reds win the division and beat the Wild-card Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs in an epic, celebrated 5 game series, but get swept in the NLCS against the Washington Nationals, who beat the Texas Rangers yet again to win their first World Series.
Bold enough?
-Votto in MVP
-Bruce has another 5 great weeks during the season that makes his overall seasonal stats look decent
-Stubbs' power doubles but he still K's like a mad man
-Phillips .265 12hr 57 rbi 15SB 20CS
-Heisey will still not get his chance to play everyday but together with Ludwick the Reds will have one of the better LF stats in the NL
-Madson traded by deadline for ML ready bat
-Cozart .280 22hr 86rbi
-Arroyo finally goes on the DL
-Rolen plays less that 60 games but Francisco makes everyone say Rolen who?
-Chapman will start off rough but starts pitching great by the time the Reds have to shut him down because of his innings limit
-Mesoraco has a solid but not great season
-Reds win the division and make it to the National League Championship
1. Dusty Baker is murdered- toothpick by poisoned toothpick.
2. Arroyo eats his body weight in JTM frozen meat and gains 10 MPH on his fastball.
3. Votto and Rolen finally join the Cult of the Lazyboy. They are initiated by Dunn and Griffey who force them to read every issue of Field and Stream since 1969.
- Bailey has a better year than Cueto. Leake almost does as well.
- Francis starts 20+ games after Arroyo continues to post awful numbers.
- One of Cozart/Mesoraco will post an OPS of .750+. They other's will be below .700.
Things I may believe but won't predict, because they certainly aren't 'bold':
- Rolen plays less than 80 games.
- Votto is in MVP contention.
- Bruce breaks out with 40 homeruns, 100+ RBI and is in serious MVP talks, AKA the '80%-of-these-predictions-over-the-last-three-years' pick.
The appropriately named 'Out Of Leftfield' curve ball: Ludwick continues to play like garbage, Heisey struggles to get on base at a .300 clip, and Chapman is traded midseason for a viable LF candidate.
Bruce
Votto
Cozart
Latos
Madson
all selected to the all star team
Cozart wins ROY
Reds win 95 games and central
Cozart wins ROY
Reds win division
Madson saves 40+ games
Latos has at least one meltdown at a molecular level on the mound, instigates a fight
"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all." -Earl Weaver
Since the rest of you seem to have the Reds predictions covered, I'll go outside the organization.
Nationals win the East, Strasburg wins Cy Young.
Now, back to the Reds....
Cincinnati wins the commissioner's trophy
Neftali Soto has such a great spring the Reds have to keep him and he is the starting third baseman most of the year.
I really think the Reds will be a good team this season, their bullpen should be lights out. I think 88-74 is their record and its good enough to win the division.
Bronson rebounds and wins 15 games with a 3.80 era and Homer becomes a legit major league pitcher with 14 wins and a 3.50 era.
When I see the 2016 Reds, I see a 100 loss team and no direction.
The 5 starters we break camp with all win 12+ games. Chapman pitches well in AAA and is traded close to the deadline for a major league bat.
Cueto 15 wins ~3.50 ERA
Latos 17 wins ~3.40 ERA
Arroyo 12 wins ~4.10 ERA
Leake 15 wins ~3.60 ERA
Bailey 13 wins ~3.90 ERA
/pipe dream
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