Predictions for '06?

[DoubleX]

Anyone have any predictions for '06? Here are some of mine:

- The Yanks will win the AL East (but that's as far as I'm going for now)

- Robinson Cano will make his 1st All-Star team

- Randy Johnson will be better than last year

- Shawn Chacon will emerge as a frontline starter

- Wil Nieves will win the backup catching spot in spring training (beating out Kelly Stinnett)

- Hideki Matsui will struggle this year

- Johnny Damon will be disappointing

- Jaret Wright will become the most reliable setup option (and that might not be saying much).

[TonyStarks]

Farnsworth gets eaten up by New York.

Cano will hit .285/18HR/70RBI.

Cashman will get about 12 'Evil-eye' looks from Georgie this year.

Matsui will put up the same exact numbers.

Randy will have a better year: 15-8.
Moose will break down.
Small will come out the pen and do about a 3.10 ERA.

[Aussie_Stengelese]

- AL East doesn't get the Wild Card. Yanks win East (By 5 games).
- A-Rod has a strong Post-season to avenge 05.
- Jeter to return to the All-Star game.
- The pitching staff, both starting and bullpen, will change quite a bit by mid-season.
- Pavano won't be a Yankee by mid-season.

As you can tell, I'm still nervous about the pitching staff. We have the names, but will they perform... :noidea

[Tinyballer]

Wang Chien Ming and Shawn Chacon become frontline pitchers who get around 15-17 wins.
Robinson Cano hits 25hrs
Johnny Damons does his usually thang

[TonyK]

NY 97 wins
BOS 92 wins
TOR 91 wins

[Retire21]

Just some thoughts:
Damon-.295/20/80
Jeter-.320/25/90
Giambi-.300/35/110
A-rod-.295/40/120
Sheffield-.280/30/110
Matsui-.310/20/85
Cano-.290/15/80
Posada-.275/15/70

Mussina-18/180/3.05
Johnson-21/250/2.80
Wang-15/120/3.50
Wright-12/125/3.85
Chicon-13/130/3.90
Pavano-gone

Rivera-45svs/1.20era

Yanks win east by six
Arod flops in postseason

[SoxSon]

Just some thoughts:
Damon-.295/20/80
Jeter-.320/25/90
Giambi-.300/35/110
A-rod-.295/40/120
Sheffield-.280/30/110
Matsui-.310/20/85
Cano-.290/15/80
Posada-.275/15/70

Mussina-18/180/3.05
Johnson-21/250/2.80
Wang-15/120/3.50
Wright-12/125/3.85
Chicon-13/130/3.90
Pavano-gone

Rivera-45svs/1.20era

Yanks win east by six
Arod flops in postseason

I think Damon will end the season hitting at least .300.
I also have the feeling that Mussina will not enjoy his year.

[pacewon]

Giambi will lead the AL in OBP again.

Yankees win division, Toronto second, Boston third.

[SoxSon]

Giambi will lead the AL in OBP again.

Yankees win division, Toronto second, Boston third.

Ouch, pace...that hurts.

In that case, I'll pick Boston to win the division, with Toronto coming in second. I'm not sure who'll be third yet.

Oh, as a sidenote, I also think that Cano is going to have a breakout year.

[pacewon]

Ouch, pace...that hurts.

In that case, I'll pick Boston to win the division, with Toronto coming in second. I'm not sure who'll be third yet.

Oh, as a sidenote, I also think that Cano is going to have a breakout year.

Heh

I should add a disclaimer to my division pick... I'm assuming good health for all three teams. While all three have their share of injury concerns, the Yankees and Red Sox probably have more depth to cover them up. If Halladay, Burnett, and Glaus all get hurt again, as they have in the past, I can see Toronto in the tank real fast. Assuming health though, their pitching scares me. I'd take their top 2 of Halladay and Burnett over any 2 the Yanks or Sox have to offer.

[SoxSon]

Heh

I should add a disclaimer to my division pick... I'm assuming good health for all three teams. While all three have their share of injury concerns, the Yankees and Red Sox probably have more depth to cover them up. If Halladay, Burnett, and Glaus all get hurt again, as they have in the past, I can see Toronto in the tank real fast. Assuming health though, their pitching scares me. I'd take their top 2 of Halladay and Burnett over any 2 the Yanks or Sox have to offer.

Toronto could potentially be a mighty force this season...no argument here. I've gotten too used to it being a two-horse race.
Personally, I can't even pretend all good health with Boston or New York. There are health concerns on both sides that simply won't stay gone this season. You're right, though. At least we have the bandaids.

[TheKingofKings]

-Jeter wins another gold glove
-Damon bats 279.
-Arod has a breakthrough season
-Cano emmerges as a potential all-star
-Small struggles in the 'pen
-Johnson gets 12-14 wins and has an ERA of around 3
-Sheffield struggles
-Williams retires before the end of the season

[The Big C]

What would you consider a breakthrough season for A-Rod at this point in his career?

[pacewon]

Toronto could potentially be a mighty force this season...no argument here. I've gotten too used to it being a two-horse race.
Personally, I can't even pretend all good health with Boston or New York. There are health concerns on both sides that simply won't stay gone this season. You're right, though. At least we have the bandaids.

Weird as this may sound, the Devil Rays will be a threat to the both of us in a few years. The amount of talent in their system right now is mind-boggling, and they're gonna have a high draft pick again this year.

Oh, one more prediction I mean to add, and I hate to say it, but I'm close to certain that Aaron Small is going to tank this year. He's 34-years old and his career ERA+ is 92. His career record in the minor leagues is 90-91. I don't really blame the Yankees for throwing a million bucks at him and giving him a roster spot, because we owed him for the miracles he performed in '05, but I'll be beyond shocked if he has an ERA under 5.00 and/or lasts the entire season.

[DoubleX]

What would you consider a breakthrough season for A-Rod at this point in his career?

I suppose it would be proving his critics wrong, which is pretty much regularly coming through in the clutch.