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Five Bold Predictions for 2018

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Mr. Orange said:
Realistically this team is weaker than both the 2016 and 2017 models. No need for a bold prediction. A good season will be winning the division again before Miller departs. Lindor will be traded in 2020. The best hope is to win the division and hope for a miracle in the playoffs. It could happen but I don’t know if the hunger is still there. Up 3-1 in 2016 was likely the best shot this decade.
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I disagree in a lot of ways. Yes the team on paper was better in a way, but at the same time the main players from 16 team are back and the younger guys are better now and will be better when it comes to the post season.
 
Mr. Orange said:
Realistically this team is weaker than both the 2016 and 2017 models. No need for a bold prediction. A good season will be winning the division again before Miller departs. Lindor will be traded in 2020. The best hope is to win the division and hope for a miracle in the playoffs. It could happen but I don’t know if the hunger is still there. Up 3-1 in 2016 was likely the best shot this decade.
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You’re such a realist.
 
sportscoach said:
I disagree in a lot of ways. Yes the team on paper was better in a way, but at the same time the main players from 16 team are back and the younger guys are better now and will be better when it comes to the post season.
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I suppose it’s possible that Zimmer and Alsono pick up the production and that Mejia is a summer call up. The pitching is certainly there.

Pointing out that the Yanks and Astros are better in the AL and the Cubs abs Dodgers in the NL shoukdn’t be controversial. The Twins are the worry until October anyways.

Frankie and Jose will be question marks until they prove they can hit in the playoffs unfortunately. That Yankees series still leaves a bad taste for them.
 
Mr. Orange said:
Better lineup for sure. Pitching depends on how you view Darvish. If he isn’t tipping pitches he’s an ace.
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So you’re shitting on Jose and Lindor for not producing in the playoffs, but giving Darvish a pass? I am seeing so many fucking terrible takes today.
 
BMAN said:
So you’re shitting on Jose and Lindor for not producing in the playoffs, but giving Darvish a pass? I am seeing so many fucking terrible takes today.
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The Astros have reported Darvish was tipping his pitches. I would guess he corrects that but, like I stated in my post, we will have to see.
 
AZ_ said:
In what context?

Paper?
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Yes paper.

You have lost Carlos and Bruce, the two power hitters. You have an older Edwin. Brantley likely won't be healthy. You have your own worries about Kluber. We lost an inning eater in Shaw.

It seems like 2017 was the best team on paper the past three years. Who replaces Santana and Bruce's power?
 
Mr. Orange said:
Yes paper.

You have lost Carlos and Bruce, the two power hitters. You have an older Edwin. Brantley likely won't be healthy. You have your own worries about Kluber. We lost an inning eater in Shaw.

It seems like 2017 was the best team on paper the past three years. Who replaces Santana and Bruce's power?
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You’d have an “older” Jay Bruce and Santana too. Zimmer, Lindor and Ramirez are all “older” too.

Whatever that means.

Brantley is playing around the home opener, my speculation on Kluber is... mostly speculative.

People like to be negative and call it realist, but really it often sounds like an excuse to hear themselves talk.
 
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The Indians will almost certainly make a move this summer. Machado, Donaldson, McCutchen, Cruz, Beltre, Smoak, and A. Jones are just some of the bats that could be available, and there are always RP available. Throw in injuries, and trying to compare this team right now to the Yankees, Astros, Red Sox, etc is nothing more than fun discussion.

Let's just get to the playoffs and see what happens. The 2017 was far better on paper than the 2016 and we saw what happened.
 
Stark said:
  1. Yan Gomes is an All-Star: following an early season scuff by Roberto Perez, Gomes takes the majority of innings behind the dish and returns to production that eclipses his Silver Slugger year of 2013. He sets career highs in home runs (27), RBIs (82), and slugging percentage (.502) while also playing Gold Glove defense behind the dish.
  2. Yonder Alonso shines: Alonso one-ups his all-star campaign from last season and fills the Carlos Santana void very nicely for the Indians. He slugs a career high 35 home runs and gives Edwin Encarnacion constant protection all season long.
  3. Carlos Carrasco struggles: following a Cy-Young caliber season in 2017, Carrasco comes back down to earth a bit in 2018 and ends up being the Indians 4th best starter behind Kluber, Bauer, and Clevinger.
  4. Michael Brantley is solid, but unspectacular: Michael Brantley returns in early-May and has a rather solid, if not pedestrian, season for the Indians. His power evaporates as he only hits four home runs, but he still reaches base at a decent clip with .287/.358 BA/OBP marks and 33 doubles.
  5. The Indians win their first World Series in 70 years: If healthy, the Indians have as much talent as anyone with two guys who could easily compete for AL MVP in Lindor and Ramirez, three guys who could easily compete for the Cy Young in Kluber, Bauer, and Carrasco, a solid bullpen, good defense, and necessary pieces to make a blockbuster move at the deadline should they need to do so. They cruise to the second best record in the American League, where they beat Boston in four games in the ALDS, smoke Houston in five in the ALCS, and take down the Cubs in an act of revenge, in six games, in the 2018 World Series.
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1. Time after time I want to think this, but it never happens. He hasn't shown much growth in the box. I have serious doubts.

2. This would be nice.

3. Certainly a bold prediction. If he stays healthy he gets 15 wins easy.

4. Anything from Brantley at this point would be nice. I'm not getting my hopes up.

5. This, also, would be nice.
 
Vv
 
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