OT: What Are Three Expectations You Have For Upcoming Season?

[JosMin]

I was having this conversation with a few friends at work, one of them a Cubs fan, the other a huge Mariners fan (he's from Tacoma, WA). These don't have to be Cubs-specific. What are three things you're anticipating/excited about for the 2014 season? Here's mine --


** I think Albert Pujols is going to have a monster return to form. I expect him to be healthy and play 140+ games and be in the AL MVP conversation. Pujols being healthy and playing at a high level is great for the game.
** Four of the five California teams (Giants, Dodgers, Angels and A's) will make the postseason.
** This is Mike Olt's one and only chance to win the third base spot for the Cubs. If he doesn't make strides and position himself as the everyday third baseman for the Cubs, he'll be packaged in a trade and sent off for a starting pitcher.

 

[SilenceS]

Javier Baez hits 82.25 homers
Javier Baez hits .420
Javier Baez impregnates one third of Chicagos female population!

 

[JosMin]

Javier Baez hits 82.25 homers
Javier Baez hits .420
Javier Baez impregnates one third of Chicagos female population!

Already happened :fap:

 

[X]

3 rookies get significant playing time this season (30+ games).
2 of the three perform well.
Finding the player no one thought much of who becomes fun to follow...the fan favorite....the Augie Ojeda of the 2014 team.

 

[SilenceS]

3 rookies get significant playing time this season (30+ games).
2 of the three perform well.
Finding the player no one thought much of who becomes fun to follow...the fan favorite....the Augie Ojeda of the 2014 team.

Darwin Barney was that player for people. God, I am glad that finally wore off.

 

[Flacco4Prez]

Hoping that at least 2 Cubs prospects prove themselves to be regulars (Baez and Bryant/Alcantra)

The Cubs acquire an elite pitching talent

Win 70 games

 

[patg006]

100+ losses from the Cubs

2.5+ million fans at Wrigley Field

Plenty more PR campaigns and empty promises from management and ownership

 

[The Bandit]

100+ losses from the Cubs

2.5+ million fans at Wrigley Field

Plenty more PR campaigns and empty promises from management and ownership

Someone didn't hold you enough as a child did they?

70 wins

2 good rooks

fire-sale at the deadline.

 

[patg006]

Someone didn't hold you enough as a child did they?

70 wins

2 good rooks

fire-sale at the deadline.

Someone dropped you on your head repeatedly didn't they?

 

[nwfisch]

The Cubs lose 100 games

Starlin Castro returns to the All-Star game

Jeff Samardzija and Travis Wood are off the team by July 31.

 

[brett05]

1. The words here in just like 16 days...."Play Ball!!"
2. See #1
3. See #1

 

[KBIB]

The Cubs will lose 100.

The White Sox will win the Central.

Trout will sign an outlandish extenstion then get busted for PED's.

Ryan Braun will have a monster year.

Tanaka will win the Cy Young.

Wacha will prove he is the real deal.



Crumpet?

 

[CSF77]

Cubs win 70.
Sox win 82.
Wood gets an extension and proves last year was legit.
Shark takes the next step and forces Theo to spend to extend him. (I believe the hold up is perceived worth not penny pinching/ they bid 120 mil on a unknown)

Baez will get promoted and will struggle.
Olt wins 3B outright.
Castro and Rizzo bounce back. Fingers start pointing at Dale for screwing up last year. (proof is already happening Rizzo and Castro (when healthy) were lighting up S/T)

Over all in baseball: Kinsler issue blows up more causing some hate between Det and Tex through out the season.
Yanks make the play offs and blows up payroll again.

Other than that I do not see much change in the landscape.
Seattle I believe will surpass Oak.
LAA I'm betting that they are forced into trying to shed contract to sign Trout. Pujos and Hamilton become cement shoes that no team wants to help LAA rid.
This goes along what I felt back when LAA went and over paid for Pujos. It will end up being one of the worst signings of all time. Hamilton just added to the stupidly of it all.

On a dark horse: Not sure if it happens but I want to see Phil. make a strong run this year just to prove Theo wrong about Ryno.

 

[dabears253313]

Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo make the NL All Star team.
Darwin Barney bats at least .270 and wins another Gold Glove award.
Travis Wood has another solid season and Junior Lake has a solid season. Lake wins the NL Rookie of the Year award if he is eligible.
Kyle Hendricks gets called up from AAA midway through the season and plays good enough to guarantee himself a spot on the 2015 starting rotation.

David Wright wins the NL MVP award.
Mike Trout wins the AL MVP award.
Alfonso Soriano gets voted in to start for the AL All star team

 

[WindyCity]

-100 loses.

-Samardjia traded at the deadline to the someone in the AL West or East.

-Rizzo bounces back and hits above 300.

 

[Jntg4]

Cubs only one of Chicago's Top 6 Pro Teams (so counting the Fire plus the Traditional 5) not in playoff contention.
Alcantara doesn't quite put it together this season, still replaces Barney if Olt doesn't take over 3B and Bryant doesn't make it this year. Otherwise, Baez takes over 2B.
Cubs win more games than the Fire do in the regular season (so at least 34 even if the Fire go undefeated).
We draft at least one player.
Lake plays somewhat decent, nothing special.
Samardzija doesn't get traded.
Scott Boras rips another big market team.
Seattle doesn't come close to playoffs. White Sox within 5 games of division when it is all said and done.
No Championship Parade in Wrigleyville... unless the Blackhawks (not convinced) or Bulls (less likely) cut through it.

 

[DewsSox79]

ok il be real for a second

cubs lose less than 100 games

sox finish in 3rd 14 back of first.

verlander goes on the shelf with a serious injury.

castro still falls asleep at ss while rizzo hits 28 hrs instead of 23


abreu charges the mound at some point


pujols declines even more

hamilton bounces back

tanaka wins under 17 games finishing with a high 3 era


Sent from my Rotary Phone using Tapatalk

 

[CSF77]

ok il be real for a second

cubs lose less than 100 games

sox finish in 3rd 14 back of first.

verlander goes on the shelf with a serious injury.

castro still falls asleep at ss while rizzo hits 28 hrs instead of 23


abreu charges the mound at some point


pujols declines even more

hamilton bounces back

tanaka wins under 17 games finishing with a high 3 era


Sent from my Rotary Phone using Tapatalk

Pretty sound. Josh I'm not sure about yet. Pujos was just a bad signing. You don't pay a guy 25 mil at the age of 42. Just plain dumb. I was not mad at all when the Cubs did not land him. Now Fielder I believe will be worth his contract due to his age. Regardless they are going to be in trouble when they have to sign Trout to a 300 mil deal and have 2 albatross contracts around their necks preventing them.

If Rizzo can cut down his SO's then the power should go up also. I "hope" he does. Castro I'd be surprised if he hits below .290. His regression was due to management forcing him to wait vs be himself. No reason why he doesn't go back to his normal production.

Rizzo's issue stems with his swing/bat path. time will tell.

 

[SilenceS]

ok il be real for a second

cubs lose less than 100 games

sox finish in 3rd 14 back of first.

verlander goes on the shelf with a serious injury.

castro still falls asleep at ss while rizzo hits 28 hrs instead of 23


abreu charges the mound at some point


pujols declines even more

hamilton bounces back

tanaka wins under 17 games finishing with a high 3 era


Sent from my Rotary Phone using Tapatalk

I actually agree with your prediction except Castro. I believe he was a product of trying to change a player to much. He looks in great shape, but you never know if the brains never click.

 

[Boobaby1]

Cubs get the 3rd overall pick in the 2015 draft as the fans are saying "wait till next year" in mid May, and Baez gets his June call-up to instill some fresh air into the stench smell (besides the bathrooms) at Wrigley.

Washington has a bounce back year and wins the NL East.

The Cardinals win the NL Central over the Reds as Hamilton swipes 67 bags the Pirates take a step back.

Dodgers landslide the NL West.

Tampa surprises and wins the AL East and Price goes to free agency next year and signs with the Cubs as their only acquisition as Shark does not get extended or traded this year.

Pujols has a bounce back year as the Angels win the West over Oakland.

Cleveland wins the AL Central as Detroit finds out how much Peralta's PED's and Fielder will be missed.

The Rooftop owners and Cubs come to terms, and Rick Renteria shows promise as a manager heading forward with his ability to communicate with players as a coach to play for as well as being a disciplinarian. :tongue: