The official Soxtalk 2006 predictions thread

[southsider2k5]

Pick anything and everything here... Mostly lets see what their record will be, and who will have the preformances of note, both good and bad. Also if the Sox will have any award winners, what the final attendance will be, how many HRs Pods will hit, who will be the hot prospect at the end of 2006. etc...

 

 

Let's hear it!

[LosMediasBlancas]

I'll come out of the corner swinging:

One of our starters will throw a no hitter.

[NorthSideSox72]

I'll throw a bunch out there...

 

Sox win between 95 and 100 games

AL Central finish: CHW, CLE, KC, DET, MIN

Jenks won't make it the entire season as closer

Boone Logan makes the Opening Day 25

Pods hits at least one HR

Sox will have one 20 game winner: JG

Sox will finish in the top 5 of the AL in runs scored

Team ERA will go up a little, but still be in the top 5 in AL

Sox will have 2 Gold Gloves, but no MVP, Cy Young or ROY

Brian Anderson will not be as good as Rowand was in the field OR at the plate

Brandon McCarthy will be in the starting rotation by the All Star break

 

I refuse to predict our post-season fortunes just yet.

[southsideirish71]

Vazquez wins 18 games

Garland wins 18 games again

Buerhle wins 20 games

 

 

Konerko's BA will be around 300

Thome will hit 35 homers

Jenks has 35 saves, and scares people a s*** load of times with walks

McCarthy winds up in the rotation after the trade deadline

 

BA hits 270, has solid defense, and has 12 homers and 58 RBIs

[greasywheels121]

I don't know why I keep feeling this, but the eternal optimist feels that we're going to disappoint for some reason.

[southsider2k5]

I don't know why I keep feeling this, but the eternal optimist feels that we're going to disappoint for some reason.

 

I am thinking the samething actually. I didn't want to say it first, but I think the Sox are going to suffer a let down and win something like 86-88 games this year. The pitching staff is showing signs of cracking and that scares the s*** out of me.

[SnB]

-We will struggle a little more than everyone thinks.

-Garland and Garcia both have 'ok' years.

-The bullpen situation costs us more than a few games in the beginning of the season.

-KW does something about it by the middle of summer

-Konerko comes back with an absolute monster year, thome impresses

-Anderson plays better than expected

-pods isn't himself all season

-Mark wins 20 games

 

Record around the 90-72 mark, we get in the playoffs, either by division or WC.

[sayitaintso]

I don't know why I keep feeling this, but the eternal optimist feels that we're going to disappoint for some reason.

^^^^^^^^^^, but i felt this way last year too.

[Kalapse]

AL East:

1. Yankees (96-66)

2. Red Sox (94 - 68)

3. Blue Jays (89-73)

4. Orioles (81-81)

5. Devil Rays (68-94)

 

AL Central:

1. White Sox (100-62)

2. Indians* (95-67)

3. Twins (90-72)

4. Tigers (80-82)

5. Royals (71-91)

 

AL West:

1. Athletics (95-67)

2. Angels (89-73)

3. Rangers (85-77)

4. Mariners (70-92)

 

NL East

1. Mets (99-63)

2. Braves (90-72)

3. Marlins (82-80)

4. Phillies (80-82)

5. Nationals (58-104)

 

NL Central

1. Brewers (94-68)

2. *Cardinals (93-69)

3. Astros (85-77)

4. Cubs (81-81)

5. Pirates (69-93)

6. Reds (67-95)

 

NL West

1. Dodgers (85-77)

2. Padres (83-79)

3. Giants (75-87)

4. Diamondbacks (71-91)

5. Rockies (65-97)

 

White Sox:

1. Podsednik - .282, 1 HR, 30 RBI, 62 R, 43 SB, 110 Games

2. Uribe - .275, 25 HR, 71 RBI, Gold Glove

3. Thome - .278, 35 HR, 98 RBI, 143 Games

4. Konerko - .294, 45 HR, 121 RBI, All-Star

5. Dye - .288, 33 HR, 89 RBI

6. Pierzynski - .305, 10 HR, 69 RBI

7. Iguchi - .276, 28 HR, 73 RBI

8. Anderson - .251, 21 HR, 62 RBI

9. Crede - .256, 26 HR, 71 RBI

 

- Widger - .358, 21 HR, 58 RBI, 162 AB

 

1. Buehrle - 21W-9L, 3.01 ERA, 162 SO, 238 IP - All Star

2. Contreras - 15W-10L, 3.14 ERA, 193 SO, 210 IP - All Star

3. Garcia - 16W-11L, 3.56 ERA, 173 SO, 215 IP

4. Garland - 15W-12L, 3.48 ERA, 168 SO, 236 IP

5. Vazquez - 17W-10L, 3.31 ERA, 179 SO, 220 IP

 

- Cotts - 1.82 ERA, 5W, 3 SV - All Star

- Hermanson - 5.89 ERA, 19 IP

- Politte - 8.89 ERA, 2 SV

- McCarthy - 10 GS, 3.34 ERA, 2 SV

- Logan - 4.12 ERA, 43 IP

- Jenks - 3.18 ERA, 34 SV, 72 SO

[Timoperezrulez]

Javier Lopez has a better year then Damaso Marte.

[kapkomet]

I am thinking the samething actually.  I didn't want to say it first, but I think the Sox are going to suffer a let down and win something like 86-88 games this year.  The pitching staff is showing signs of cracking and that scares the s*** out of me.

Well, there's no where to go but to stay at the same level or go down. Kinda weird, eh?

 

We can't go up...

[Balta1701]

Well, there's no where to go but to stay at the same level or go down.  Kinda weird, eh?

 

We can't go up... 

No, the '98 Yankees couldn't go up. As a team, we still can.

[kapkomet]

No, the '98 Yankees couldn't go up.  As a team, we still can.

I don't know about that. Pretty much the entire pitching staff had career years last year. I don't possibly see how that will happen again.

 

The offense looks horrible so far this spring. When they come up to the cold, cold north, it gets worse, at least usually that's what happens. The key, much like last year, is to get off to a good start. For some reason, I don't sense the same swaggar or hunger that was there last year, but then again, it's hard to judge that in Spring Training, coming off of a World Series hangover.

Edited March 16, 2006 by kapkomet

[SouthsideBlitz]

- Widger - .358, 21 HR, 58 RBI, 162 AB

 

Exactly how many at bats will he have ...

 

*EDIT*

Nevermind I see you have his number of at bats at the end ... but that seems like awful high expectations.

Edited March 16, 2006 by SouthsideBlitz

[knightni]

Hermanson and Pods are question marks in the early part of the season and then finally Hermy breaks down in August.

 

Contreras comes back to earth and is relegated to the bullpen and BMAC replaces him by July.

 

Thome bounces back and hits 30 HRs, but K's 150 times.

 

Konerko hits under .250 the first half, recovers to hit .270 overall by the end of the season.

 

Jenks shows signs of arm troubles and wildness, gets 20 saves splitting time with Politte.

 

The Sox trade for a veteran bullpen guy to replace Hermanson at the deadline but the 05 magic is gone.

 

The Sox win the division but lose in the ALDS to Oakland.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry to be the old POPPY here guys.

[Felix]

1. Scott Podsednik - 140 G, .287/.365/.380 84 SB, 33 CS

2. Juan Uribe - .269/.320/.440 12 HR, 85 RBI

3. Jim Thome - 149 G, .271/.390/.520 41 HR, 116 RBI

4. Paul Konerko - .281/.380/.540 42 HR, 125 RBI

5. Jermaine Dye - .273/.345/.520 32 HR, 97 RBI

6. Tadahito Iguchi - .295/.360/.470 25 HR, 92 RBI

7. AJ Pierzynski - .270/.330/.400 8 HR, 67 RBI

8. Joe Crede - .251/.310/.470 26 HR, 72 RBI

9. Brian Anderson - .252/.300/.400 10 HR, 52 RBI

 

Mark Buehrle: 17-11 3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP

Freddy Garcia: 18-9 3.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP

Jon Garland: 16-14 4.60 ERA, 1.32 WHIP

Jose Contreras: 15-11 4.55 ERA, 1.27 WHIP

Javier Vazquez: 15-7 3.85 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

 

Brandon McCarthy: 6-1 2.85 ERA, 1.10 WHIP

Bobby Jenks: 36 saves 3.25 ERA 1.30 WHIP

Dustin Hermanson: 2-3 5.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP (goes on the DL after a troublesome first two months)

 

Sox win 90-96 games, enough to win the AL Central, but fail to make the World Series.

Edited March 16, 2006 by Felix

[ChWRoCk2]

Ill explain it in one word:

 

 

REPEAT

[Balta1701]

1. Scott Podsednik - 140 G, .305 90 SB, 22 CS

2. Juan Uribe - .278 19 HR, 85 RBI

3. Jim Thome - 150 G, .270 40 HR, 105 RBI

4. Paul Konerko - .305 45 HR, 135 RBI, top 3 in MVP voting

5. Jermaine Dye - .265 27 HR, 85 RBI, at least 1 stint on the DL

6. Tadahito Iguchi - .280 20 HR, 80 RBI

7. AJ Pierzynski - .285 15 HR, 62 RBI

8. Joe Crede - .280 25 HR, 80 RBI

9. Brian Anderson - .265 17 HR, 52 RBI

 

Mark Buehrle: 20-8 3.08 ERA

Freddy Garcia: 14-10 4.05 ERA

Jon Garland: 18-10 3.40 ERA

Jose Contreras: 19-6 3.00 ERA

Javier Vazquez: 13-10 4.40 ERA

Brandon McCarthy: 8-3 3.55 ERA. Brandon makes at least 8 starts during the year.

Bobby Jenks: 45 saves 2.30 ERA, in top 3 in AL in Saves.

Dustin Hermanson: 0-1 5.75 ERA, only makes a few appearances during the year.

Neal Cotts: 4-0, ERA under 2 again.

Cliff Politte: 4-3, ERA 3.05 ERA.

 

Sox break through and win 100 games or more, carried by the combination of quality starting pitching and an offense that finds itself in the top 5 in the AL. Konerko avoids the sluggish start of last year, listens to Thome, looks to drive the ball for the whole season, and has an absolute monster year.

 

Mark Buehrle finally wins 20, and has one hell of a challenge for the Cy Young award from Jose Contreras and Santana. (A pitcher has won 20 games for the first time in like every year since the 80's. This is MB's year. He'd have been there last year had his mechanics not gone off for a month.)

 

Javier Vazquez will be Jeckle and Hyde. He'll come out and have dynamite games, but then he'll have games where he can't keep anything in the park. Pitching in the Cell will hurt him as he gives up a lot of fly balls.

 

Joe Crede will finally put the slumps to a rest, as his back will force him to keep his shoulders closed while swinging, much like last year.

 

The Sox will continue to be a damn good team in 1 run games, which will help Bobby Jenks pile up the saves.

 

Brian Anderson will show promise, and will be somewhere in the top 5 of the ROY voting, depending on how the other guys (Liriano, that Japanese catcher in Seattle, a couple of the Angels young guys) do. He will have a lower average than ARow, but hit more home runs.

 

AJ's Average will go up by quite a bit from last year.

 

Just as Garland won 12 games in a row for 3 years, he'll start winning 18 games each year.

 

Rob Machowiak will get at least 350 at bats.

 

Jim Thome plays like a man on a mission down the stretch. He winds up wearing a nice shiny ring next year. The White Sox rework his contract next offseason reducing his salary slightly in 2007 and 2008, but giving him a guaranteed 2009 year.

 

Non-Sox prediction: Frank Thomas will playing games for the A's in April. By September, the A's will wish they hadn't started playing Frank Thomas in April.

Edited March 16, 2006 by Balta1701

[NorthSideSox72]

1. Scott Podsednik - 140 G, .305 90 SB, 22 CS

2. Juan Uribe - .278 19 HR, 85 RBI

3. Jim Thome - 150 G, .270 40 HR, 105 RBI

4. Paul Konerko - .305 45 HR, 135 RBI, top 3 in MVP voting

5. Jermaine Dye - .265 27 HR, 85 RBI, at least 1 stint on the DL

6. Tadahito Iguchi - .280 20 HR, 80 RBI

7. AJ Pierzynski - .285 15 HR, 62 RBI

8. Joe Crede - .280 25 HR, 80 RBI

9. Brian Anderson - .265 17 HR, 52 RBI

 

Mark Buehrle: 20-8 3.08 ERA

Freddy Garcia: 14-10 4.05 ERA

Jon Garland: 18-10  3.40 ERA

Jose Contreras: 19-6 3.00 ERA

Javier Vazquez: 13-10 4.40 ERA

Brandon McCarthy: 8-3 3.55 ERA.  Brandon makes at least 8 starts during the year.

Bobby Jenks: 45 saves 2.30 ERA, in top 3 in AL in Saves.

Dustin Hermanson: 0-1 5.75 ERA, only makes a few appearances during the year.

Neal Cotts:  4-0, ERA under 2 again.

Cliff Politte: 4-3, ERA 3.05 ERA.

 

Sox break through and win 100 games or more, carried by the combination of quality starting pitching and an offense that finds itself in the top 5 in the AL.  Konerko avoids the sluggish start of last year, listens to Thome, looks to drive the ball for the whole season, and has an absolute monster year. 

 

Mark Buehrle finally wins 20, and has one hell of a challenge for the Cy Young award from Jose Contreras and Santana.  (A pitcher has won 20 games for the first time in like every year since the 80's.  This is MB's year.  He'd have been there last year had his mechanics not gone off for a month.)

 

Javier Vazquez will be Jeckle and Hyde.  He'll come out and have dynamite games, but then he'll have games where he can't keep anything in the park.  Pitching in the Cell will hurt him as he gives up a lot of fly balls.

 

Joe Crede will finally put the slumps to a rest, as his back will force him to keep his shoulders closed while swinging, much like last year.

 

The Sox will continue to be a damn good team in 1 run games, which will help Bobby Jenks pile up the saves.

 

Brian Anderson will show promise, and will be somewhere in the top 5 of the ROY voting, depending on how the other guys (Liriano, that Japanese catcher in Seattle, a couple of the Angels young guys) do.  He will have a lower average than ARow, but hit more home runs.

 

AJ's Average will go up by quite a bit from last year.

 

Just as Garland won 12 games in a row for 3 years, he'll start winning 18 games each year.

 

Rob Machowiak will get at least 350 at bats.

 

Jim Thome plays like a man on a mission down the stretch.  He winds up wearing a nice shiny ring next year.  The White Sox rework his contract next offseason reducing his salary slightly in 2007 and 2008, but giving him a guaranteed 2009 year.

Quite the optimist. I'd like to just say that I HOPE your predictions are right, because if they are, we're highly likely to repeat!

[Balta1701]

Quite the optimist.  I'd like to just say that I HOPE your predictions are right, because if they are, we're highly likely to repeat!

Yes, I'm being an optimist...but I love the way this team is built on paper, I think we've dramatically upgraded since last year, and I think that we've done so without sacrificing the character of that team. The only move we made in the offseason I'm uncertain about is the Vazquez move, but we'll see what Cooper can do with him. Thome, Mack, the lineup changes...all are damn good moves to me, and I think we're better from each of them.

 

And no matter how many times people say our pitching staff was just a bunch of 1-year wonders last year...that's not what I see when I look at those guys. A few changes like bringing in AJ, letting Garland and Buehrle grow up, and having Jose finally figure out how to throw strikes...those are things which helped last year, and they're still here this year.

[Flash Tizzle]

--White Sox finish with a record between 88-91 wins, yet still capture the divisional title. Our domination of ALC opponents won't continue. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if us, Cleveland, and Minnesota finish within 5 games of one another.

 

--Across the American league, no team will win more than 95 games. Intially--and this can always change as the season progesses--there appears to be few teams I'd classify as pushovers. AL West will be the lone division with a team winning more than 95, with Oakland accomplishing this feat.

 

--Brandon McCarthy struggles in the bullpen. Inconsistent workloads and unexcused long absences from pitching (due to Guillen) effect his confidence in throwing the changeup.

 

--Boone Logan pitches surprisingly well early in the season. Guillen thus expands role from situational relief pitcher to setup role. Second half, once teams adjust and scouting reports surface, he's sent back to fulltime LOOGY after a rough several weeks.

 

--Hermanson's stubborness to avoid disclosing back troubles costs us several games early in the year.

 

--Frank Thomas: .290AVG, .390 OBP, 35 HR's, 95 RBI's. Sends backhanded insults towards our organization throughout the season, but doesn't address anyone specifically.

 

--Bobby Jenks loses closing role to Neal Cotts, then earns it back after bouncing back from location issues.

 

--Mackowiak/Borchard replace Anderson fulltime in June after an abysmal several months. Rowand rebounds offensively in Philiadelphia.

 

--Podsednik requires surgery midseason; Owens called up, surprisingly out Podsednik's Podsednik. Offers more power, better SB%, equal patience.

 

--I insult our minor league pitching once Minnesota promotes several more Juan Rincon clones. People tell me to simply look at Logan as proof we're producing. I concur.

 

--Greasy uses the choking picture atleast 67 more times in posts dismissing pessimism.

[Jordan4life_2007]

1: The Sox will finish with a major league best 100 wins.

 

2: The Sox will lead the league in era.

 

3: Jose Contreras will finish in the top 3 in Cy-Young voting.

 

4: Jon Garland will prove that his career season of a year ago was no fluke.

 

5: Javier Vazquez will win atleast 15 games.

 

6: Bobby Jenks will save 40 games.

 

7: Jim Thome will hit atleast 40 HRs.

 

8: Juan Uribe will prove he can more than handle the 2 slot.

 

9: Brian Anderson atleast matches what Aaron Rowand did offensively in '05.

 

10: Joe Crede's amazing playoff performance carries over into '06 full-time.

[jphat007]

I predict that many people will look at the way we play in the spring on April 1 and predict doom and say our offense and pitching will stink because the numbers weren't great during ST. Two weeks later nobody will even remember ST or it's numbers. Our offense will be better this year, not in huge amounts, but enough that it lowers our 1-run games. Our pitching staff won't be as good, but in a very, very small amount.

 

I don't know if we win the division because a lot of things could happen, but I certainly like our shot going into the year.

 

PS. Jose absolutely dominates.

[WCSox]

1. Podsednik - .280, 2 HR, 35 RBI, 43 SB, 110 Games

2. Uribe - .275, 20 HR, 68 RBI, Gold Glove

3. Thome - .285, 35 HR, 98 RBI, 125 Games

4. Konerko - .289, 45 HR, 121 RBI, All-Star

5. Dye - .270, 28 HR, 85 RBI

6. Pierzynski - .285, 17 HR, 68 RBI

7. Iguchi - .290, 28 HR, 73 RBI

8. Anderson - .250, 15 HR, 48 RBI

9. Crede - .250, 25 HR, 70 RBI, Gold Glove

 

1. Buehrle - 18-10, 3.41 ERA, All Star

2. Contreras - 15-10, 3.95 ERA

3. Garcia - 16-11, 3.90 ERA

4. Garland - 14-12, 4.10 ERA

5. Vazquez - 13-14, 4.30 ERA

 

- Cotts - 2.20 ERA, 12 SV

- Hermanson - 5.40 ERA in 25 appearances

- Politte - 3.80 ERA, 1 SV

- McCarthy - 3.20 ERA, 5-1, 1 SV

- Jenks - 3.25 ERA, 34 SV

 

Sox go 95-67 and win the division easily. However, they fall in the ALCS.

[TLAK]

Its too early to tell. I want to see how they will play together as a team and I just can’t tell based on the early ST games.

 

The team is so different I can’t use last year as a frame of reference, if Hermanson can’t go that will be 9 new guys since the WS. That’s a lot.

 

If they can play like last years group, and I don’t mean statistics, but how the players, including the subs, all knew their role and did their jobs, they could be even better –I concede, except for the bottom of the pen, there is more raw talent.

 

My fear is players going for homers instead of moving runners and trying to make the great play instead of basic baseball. While 7 of the 8 regular position players are back, there will be enough playing time from the new guys to spoil the mix.

 

If they play together like the ’05 Sox, who played the game like the White Sox I grew up watching in the 50’s and 60’s I think they will be fine. If they play like the bopper teams of 2002-4 they will finish just like the bopper teams.

 

If they play together like the ’05 Sox, I’ll be happy where ever they end up.