For whatever it's worth: Today, they'll play the Nats and - I'm not making this up - the Yankees are favored to win. They have the second worst record in the AL this spring, ahead of lowly Oakland, yet somebody, somewhere, in charge of setting odds, thinks they'll care enough to be considered today's favorites. And somebody else, somewhere else, is so obscenely addicted to gambling that they'll put good money down on it. Amazing. The world we built, eh?
For whatever it's worth: This week, Sports Illustrated released its 2023 "bold predictions." What's with these "bold predictions" that pundits feel compelled to make? It takes no courage, no gumption, to make a "bold prediction" about baseball. If you predict dolphins will rise from the sea and protest nuclear testing, now that's a bold prediction. How bold is it to - as SI does - pick the Yanks to win the World Series over the Padres? Also, did this come out before Sevy's latest injury? It's already outdated.
For whatever it's worth, nothing matters. Not today. What almost matters, though, is that it's time for you to make your own "bold predictions" for 2023. Between now and Thursday morning, we need to know:
How many regular season games will the Yankees win this year?
Tie-breaker: How many HRs will Aaron Judge hit?
2X tie-breaker: What will be Anthony Volpe's batting average?
Also, some free advice: Lighten up, all of you. The snow is melting, the days are lengthening, and Giancarlo Stanton wants to play LF.
Last March, none of the genius commentators on this blog - NOT ONE OF US - predicted the Yankees would win 99 games. In fact, I was one of the stupidest of the stupids, by far. I predicted disaster. Here's our/your/my records.
Ids Dutchfan: 97
Above Average: 96
Parson Tom: 96
JM: 95 (Top IIH Blogger)
Gary Frenay: 94
Doug K: 93
Kevin: 93
Platoni: 93
Local Bargain Jerk: 92
ZacharyA: 91
Dantes: 90
Yankees Shamus: 90
Alphonso: 89 (Yeesh)
Ranger_lp: 89
Anonymous Bosch: 89
Publius: 88
Hinkey Haines: 88
Ken of Brooklyn: 88
Borntorun999: 87
Scottish Yankee Fan: 87
DickAllen: 86
The Hammer of God: 86
Oasisdave: 85
Hunter: 84
Rufus T Firefly: 83
13bit: 82
The Archangel: 81
el Duque: 81 (Yeesh)
HoraceClarke66: 77 (Yeesh)
RtotheE: 70
I'm getting out the slide rule, abacus and tarot cards, compiling my bold projections for 2023. I'll put them out Thursday morning, in order to incorporate the latest Yankee injuries. (I also expect a trade in the next 48 hours.) Get ready, everybody. A bold new season approaches. Today, nothing matters. Thursday, that changes.
Posts
40 comments:
How many regular season games will the Yankees win this year?
94 (only because 90% of the league is much more terrible than the Yanks)
Tie-breaker: How many HRs will Aaron Judge hit?
18 (he'll go down with an injury and make us scream Ellsbury for the rest of the season)
2X tie-breaker: What will be Anthony Volpe's batting average?
.225 (the league will quickly have his number and will trash his average and he will get sent down before the all-star game)
As you can tell, I'm not an optimist as I feel this team is just as bad as prior years. They get by because so many teams are way worse.
95 wins
43 HR for Judge
.253 BA for Volpe
Vamp just raised a terrific point : Most teams in MLB do, for the sake of brevity, stink. It’s easy to stand tall when everyone else is so short.
So:
Wins: 89
Judge HR’s: 36
Volpe: .248
A wild card with early playoff exit. No pitching. Not exactly a bold prediction, it’s like saying Christmas is coming.
No way Judge has a year like last year again. Teams will simply pitch around him.
Volpe will be fine. Not great (yet), he has some adjusting to do. Lots of SB’s, for a Yankee anyway.
Bold prediction? Hicks and Donaldson perform better than we think. Not great, but better than last year. But their lackadaisical style of play and lazy, bad attitude enrage an unhappy fan base already mad about the team’s slow start leading to an ugly, regrettable on-field incident. Come September, most of the fanbase will be drowning in ennui, awaiting the predictable end.
86 or 87 wins. I'd go with 86, but a voice is whispering "87" to me.
51 HRs for Judge
Volpe - 271 BA
96 wins
47 HRs for Judge
.273 for Volpe
Ninety Two wins
47 HRs for Judge
.281 —>. Volpe
Boy, I was going to put in my prediction now but Duque's comment that a trade feels like it's coming makes me want to wait until tomorrow. So I will.
86 wins
Judge 39HR
Volpe .269
89 wins
54 dingers for Judge
241 for Volpe
Most of us would have been right in the ballpark last year were it not for the bizarre first half. 99 wins for that team was a mirage.
And Hicks gets traded to the sticks
96 wins
I wanted to write 1010 WINS to give the radio station a plug with the hopes that they would notice and send me a free radio station but 96 seems right.
Reason: The other teams in the division are better this year so 100 WINS seems out of the question. (Please. Please. I've always wanted a radio station since I was a little boy. Make it happen!)
Donny Baseball will slow down the moronic antics of the Blue Jays.
The Orioles (Or as I call them, the OREOS - Hey that's got to be doable.) are better.
The Rays never stink for some reason that can not be fathomed. They will probably figure out a way to use the larger bases and the "throw over" rule to turn every one of their players into Lou Brock or Rickey Henderson causing every team to rethink the game (Yet again.)
Boston sucks. Has there ever been a place and a team that sucks more?
That said, with the balanced schedule, we play them all fewer times this year.
So, 96 wins.
-
Judge's HR: 47 The guy is too good not to. Plus he's in his prime. He will do it without breaking a sweat.
He will also hit over .300 this year as well. Not that anyone is asking.
-
Volpe's Batting Avg.
Yes, the pitchers will figure him out. Then he will figure them out. Kid's a gamer. It's like Brunson. Desire. Ability.
.296 No, screw that. If he's that close to .300 he will will it.
.301 (or 501 - I could use some new jeans as well.)
96 wins
52 hrs for Judge
.257 BA for Volpe
We take the East, beat the Astros in 6 and grab #28!
I want to stick with 77...but the majors look so weak, and there is the brave new, balanced schedule.
Sigh.
All right, I'll go with 93 wins.
Judge will hit 42 home runs.
Volpe will bat .244.
88 wins
49HR
.280
I want to be lower, but it is Spring and well, the heart beats faster in that season.
“ I get the feeling that '23 will be The Master’s finale”
Then it’s my last year too.
I think Doug brought up the most salient point. The schedule is very different than it used to be. Or even was before that.
Fewer games against the division, more games against everyone else. And there are a bunch of tomato cans out there in both leagues, though depending on who's on the IL or not and other unforseeable conditions, tomato cans can win games, too.
With that in mind--and that has an effect on the tiebreakers, as well--I say:
101 wins
55 HRs for AJ (last year, he beat Rajah by one, so this year he beats the Mick by one)
.262 for Volpe, though he'll start out hot before the competition figures him out
Signed,
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
I'll go you one more:
AL
East
NYY
Toronto
TB
Balt
Boston
Central
Cleveland
Minnesota
ChiSox
Detroit
KC
West
Houston
Seattle
Texas
LAA
Oak
NL
East
Atlanta
Metsies
Phil
Miami
Wash
Central
St. L.
Mil
ChiC
Pitt
Cin
West
SD
Bums
SF
Arizona
Colorado
Yanks, Jays, Rays, Stros, Twins, and Guardians of Traffic will make playoffs. Yanks will fail to make the ALCS. Houston to the Series. Again.
Braves, Metsies, Phils, Cards, Pods, and The Flock will make playoffs. Some will win, some will lose, some are born to sing the blues...but the Friar Tucks will get to the Series. And lose to the Cheating Hearts of Texas, in six.
Kill me now.
88 wins
37 HR for Judge
.245 ave for Volpe
Hope I am wrong and all above are much higher
I'm optimistic!
91 wins
44 for Judge
.251 Volpe
I'm optimistic!
Please change my prediction for Judge HRs to 48.
SO my line now should read:
Ninety Two wins
48 HRs for Judge
.281 —>. Volpe
(I posted before but ... disappearing posts again.)
96 wins and a first round exit in playoffs.
I'll stick to my previous prediction for Judge homers. I think I predicted 37. If he's healthy, he could have another great year. But you know how they like to rest him on Sundays and move him around in the outfield. We'll see.
Yankees will lose the wild card game to the Blue Jays. Scandal will erupt 3 years later, when it's revealed that Yankee executives manipulated the roster, lineup and pitchers used, so they profit from their business relationships to FanDuel and Bally's.
Donaldson will be rewarded with a 3 year contract extension, after hitting 210 and striking out 3 times in the WC game. Cashman will brag about his contributions to the team and tell fans to 'trust the process.'
Peraza will be traded for a broken horse and a bag of Cashman's favorite potato chips. He will be an All-Star in 2024 for someone else.
Montas will never play another game in pinstripes. Cashman will thank him for his contribution.
I've been fairly prescient, errr, lucky the last few years in predicting Yankees wins. I don't feel so charmed this time around.
Wins, 94
Judge HR, 45
Volpe BA, .271
Donaldson ups his HR total to 20 and hits .243
Hicks will hit below his lifetime BA of .231 to finish at .215
The entire team BA will be .258
The Yankees starting pitchers will surprise by doing better than expected with an ERA of .297 and an overall ERA of .367
Yankees will win a WC spot and get past the first round and then die.
This year will go down in history as "The Death Barge returns" or, just as likely, "The Cashman Turnaround".
Contrary to popular belief and urban legend, baseball has nothing to with grinding, stamina and longevity anymore. The game has been transformed into a very long footbaal season with only 1 goal: win the last few games and just make sure you get into the post season.
Bearing in mind that our league doesn't look overly strong, the Yankees (I should say Overlord Cashman) are already in winning positiion. Unfortunately it does not seem to work to get Cole on the IL, but just about every other pitcher is. Good. No reason to get tired and wear yourself out. Who needs 200 innings when you can win it all with just 75.
Obviously i will not go through the whole roster to make my case. Just know that we need to get into shape somewhere in august. Until then we just need to be a .500 team. No sweat please.
So, respectfully returning to my winning predictions, here are your World Champion Yankees:
89 season wins.
28 Judgeian blasts and
Volpe batting .231
Cruising into the world series your Yankees will win it all by being the only team with fit players.
on a side note: 6 years ago Feyenoord Rotterdam became Dutch champions thanks to a Juju effort fron this blog. We will never be able to repay you.
This year it is happening again. So be aware, 2023 is going to be huge!
Let’s do this
96 wins
52 home runs
.282
On a side note, I’m Dantes. Every time your site changes commenting I end up having to start over. I’ve been here since no Maas bit the dust 😂 I lost track on how many names I’ve been
Good to see you again, U.F.! And go, Feyenoord!
97 wins
60 times risen.
.273 volupetian average
I could have sworn that I left predictions last season, but for the life of me I can’t find them on the site (I thought I picked about 89 or 90 wins and a blowout loss in the Wild Card game, so it’s not like I was anywhere in the ballpark).
Anyway, on to 2023.
Wins: 92. Wild card, losing the division to the Blue Jays by a couple games.
Judge HRs: 36, because two full consecutive healthy years from Judge is too much to ask.
Volpe batting average: .276. He’ll show flashes of brilliance, have at least one awful slump, but will end up with a solid overall year (unless BooneCash panics and sends him to Scrrrrrraaaannnnnton 5 games into his slump and both declare “Thank God we still have IKF!”
Wolrld Series? All depends. If Judge and the starting staff (especially Rodon and Sevy) are healthy heading into the postseason, we’ve got a shot. But that’s a lot of “ifs.”
Wins: 101
HRs: 52
Volpe's BA: 287
Volpe's HR Call: "Foxy Tony in the Henhouse!"
Ah, sorry Duque, I missed the bit about predicting Volpe's batting average. Been too too busy of late.
Volpe will hit .260. I still don't know that he'll be a starter at any position for any length of time this year. I'll believe it when I see it.
Re. the SI article predicting Yankee World Series Championship. I saw that dumbass article too. Nice of them to make such a prediction, but they don't know what we know. You can double, hell, triple the "I'll believe it when I see it".
Wins: 93
Judge HRs: 44
Volpe batting average: .272
Possible Volpe HR call: A big gulp-ay for Volpe!
(Ok, probably not.)
Urban Dutch Farmer: the only football match I’ve ever attended (in Europe) was in Rotterdam, in the early late ‘80s or early ‘90s. Feyenoord vs AZ. Don’t recall much about it other than neither team played well and I couldn’t believe how many people were wearing scarves.
@Hinky Haines: well at least you went to the best stadium in Holland...... In the eighties (and 90's) Feyenoord was more a cultclub than a proper contender. Heavily in debt and often poor attendence. Now it is still a cult club but the results are way better and the standard of football is improving every year. The stadium is sold out for every match in every competition. And to speak with the manager of Lazio Roma (a team we ousted in European Cup play lately): "The only thing I don't like about Dutch football is Feyenoord, its fans and stadium. It is not a stadium but a psychiatric facility".
@HoraceClark66: thanks!
"Feyenoord, its fans and stadium. It is not a stadium but a psychiatric facility".
Sounds a lot like Fenway Pahk in Baaston, don't it?
@The Hammer of God: exactly. With the difference that we at Feyenoord are the good guys. And of course all the pyro and chants and the elderly man in a wheelchair that threw his (filled!!) urinal at the Lazio manager. Well deserved no doubt (btw he missed by a mile - we are not pitchers). Just know that whenever you go to the Kuip as the stadium is called, do not bring your kids.
I'll go with 90 wins, because I didn't see it here. Take the under if you're betting.
Judge, 44 hrs.
That's a Volpe, .256.
Lieber sees
Wins: 91
Judge: 50 HRs
Volpe: .282
Gatorade: Yellow
Gary Frenay says:
Wins: 96
Judge: 55 HRs
Volpe: .277
Volpe uniform#: 11
Matt P.
Yanks get 97 wins (only because baseball has few good teams and tons of bad teams)
Judge 39 HRs (IL stint or two in there, don't see him exhausting himself again for dingers)
Volpe hits .278 (slow start and then settles in)
Bold overall MLB prediction, this will be "The Year of the Epic Blown Save". Diaz already out, who are the no doubt top closers in today's game? Pitch clock will play games with closers' heads who typically take 2 minutes a pitch in "old rules". Slow deliveries with bigger bags means more on base movement and steals. Wild pitches up as well. MLB 9th inning leads may never feel safe again!
102 wins
74 home runs
.241 BA
I'm the guy with last year's lowest predicted win total. I was also the furthest off from the actual win total! Eek. I never thought of myself as an extremist. This year I'll go with a nice, middle-of-the-road 90 wins. Easy to remember, too. Judge will hit 50 (that's bold, I think). And Volpe will bat .250.
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