Eleven Predictions for this year

[ondafarm]

1) 'Scotty Boy' Podsednik will hit .300, have an OBP of .350, swipe 40 bags and score more than 100 runs. Lisa Durgan will be thrilled.

2) Tadahito Iguchi will start out a little weak but then turn things around (when Takatsu tells him "Gambattakudasai ne !!") and be hitting .300 by the end of the season.

3) The following 'power' men will have sub-par seasons: Jason Giambi, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, Gary Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Lee. Four juicers, and two who have forgotten how big a help being in the White Sox lineup has been for them.

4) Frank Thomas will begin the season with a rehab assignment (Birmingham probably) and then return and hit just under .300 with his usual 100 walks (thank you Questec), 100 rbis and 35 homers. The Sox will pick up his option for next season.

5) The sportwriters will discuss changing the past MVPs based on juicer performances, but will actually do nothing (other than make an announcement.)

6) Bud 'Light' Selig will come up with another way to screw up America's pasttime.

7) Damaso Marte will be the White Sox closer as Takatsu struggles a bit and gets dropped to set-up man, which he does very well at.

8) Paul Konerko will have another solid year.

9) Wilson Valdez will play so well in his occasional appearances the first third of the year (and Joe Crede so mediocrely) that Juan Uribe will move to third and Valdez will take over short full time. He will win Rookie of the Year.

10) The revamped White Sox will blow past the Twins (who will suffer at least one SP injury) and win the AL Central by 12 games. Cleveland will just sneak past the Twins for second place.

11) The White Sox will beat the Yankees and the Angels and then the Cubs enroute to their first World Series title since 1917.

[Kizzy08]

All of those predictions seem pretty reasonable.



What's the color for sarcasm again?

[HomeFish]

Deleted.

[SoxxoS]

Is Roy Valdez related to Juan, the coffee guy?

[FightingBillini]

We are on the same page here.
Does anyone else find the level of optimism on this board scary lately?

[Jabroni]

Deleted.Let me guess... you were going to say something negative?

[Cowch44]

Only problem with that is: Sox will not play the Flubs in the WS simply because the Flubs will not make it to the WS.

[gosox3072]

We are on the same page here.
Does anyone else find the level of optimism on this board scary lately?
Optimism?!?!?!......Ive been on this board for a long time.....what is optimism????

[hold2dibber]

We are on the same page here.
Does anyone else find the level of optimism on this board scary lately?

Not quite scary -- perplexing.

[Palehose13]

Only problem with that is: Sox will not play the Flubs in the WS simply because the Flubs will not make it to the WS.

Agreed. Anyone but the cubs!

[ja1022]

Agreed. Absolutely. Positively. No question about it. Paul Konerko will have another solid year.

[Baby Fisk]

Let me guess... you were going to say something negative?

He probably foresaw the Sox finishing a generous fourth in the division, and the Cubs winning the WS. :rolleyes:

[ondafarm]

Is Roy Valdez related to Juan, the coffee guy?

My mistake. Thank goodness for the edit feature.

[voodoochile]

Well... I don't know if I agree with all of it, but I love the sentiment. It's not even March yet, so optimism should be the rule of the day.

[HomeFish]

Let me guess... you were going to say something negative?

The original message read "Why does Wilson Valdez change his first name to Roy?".

[SoxFanTillDeath]

:hawk
Ondafarm, I loooooooooooooove when you make predictions!

[mweflen]

I have a hard time seeing Thomas bust .270, given his performance after the triceps injury (.252/28/92 and 88 BB in 546 AB). And in limited action (no interleague, no way Ozzie plays him at 1st when that's where he got the injury last season), I have a hard time seeing him get more than 25 dingers and 80 RBI or so.

I think an optimistic line for Frank is .270/25/80 with 80 walks or so in 450 AB.

I do hope we renew his option, though. If he comes on strong at the end of the year, why not pony up 10 mil? They can send him off real classy-like. It would be nice to see an amicable parting with a Sox great for a change.

[TheBull19]

I have a hard time seeing Thomas bust .270, given his performance after the triceps injury (.252/28/92 and 88 BB in 546 AB).

There's a big difference between the tricep injury and a broken ankle.

[mweflen]

There's a big difference between the tricep injury and a broken ankle.

granted - but both tend to alter someone's form at the plate - an ankle even moreso than a triceps. we could see a downtick in power because it's a pushoff thing for Frank.

[voodoochile]

I have a hard time seeing Thomas bust .270, given his performance after the triceps injury (.252/28/92 and 88 BB in 546 AB). And in limited action (no interleague, no way Ozzie plays him at 1st when that's where he got the injury last season), I have a hard time seeing him get more than 25 dingers and 80 RBI or so.

I think an optimistic line for Frank is .270/25/80 with 80 walks or so in 450 AB.

I do hope we renew his option, though. If he comes on strong at the end of the year, why not pony up 10 mil? They can send him off real classy-like. It would be nice to see an amicable parting with a Sox great for a change.

That pony would only cost $6.5M. They owe him the other $3.5M regardless.

[faneidde]

We are on the same page here.
Does anyone else find the level of optimism on this board scary lately?
I do. Everyone is drinking the Kool-Aid, and chugging it down. I am trying to keep my expectations in check. I give the Sox maybe a 33% chance to take the division (with the Twins at around 50%, the Indians 15% and the Tigers 2%).