2005 Predictions

[yankeessuck013]

m not asking for stats, a won-loss record, final result or anything of the sort.* I'm wondering what developments will occur during 2005.

 

In 2004, we suffered through a defensive lapse, never had Nomar until later and saw Pokey playing shortstop, losing Trot Nixon for the better part of the year, having Mueller's knee eventually require surgery, seeing lots of playing time by Youkilis and Kapler, the struggles of Pedro and Lowe, the trading of Nomar, adding of Meintkiewicz and Roberts and Cabrera... and again the team 'built to win a championship' did so but in a way nobody would have guessed at in March.

 

In 2005...looks like we have a slightly improved lineup with hopes of healthier seasons for a few, a lot of depth if less of a sure thing from the rotation (though Pedro and Lowe proved not to be so reliable as we expected in 04), a potentially improved bullpen with Mantei....and expectations that come October we'll see this team playing there.* History tells us it won't happen that way.* Who will be traded?* Who will be hurt?* Who will be added at the trading deadline?* Who will emerge as the surprise?* Who will disappoint?* What will happen?*

 

I predict an aggressive and successful attempt to add a high profile pitcher before the trading deadline that will change the look for the stretch run and playoffs.

 

Oh...I predict the Yankees will have to stand there and fume as the Sox raise the championship banner on opening day at home!

[elsrbueno]

m not asking for stats, a won-loss record, final result or anything of the sort.* I'm wondering what developments will occur during 2005.

 

In 2004, we suffered through a defensive lapse, never had Nomar until later and saw Pokey playing shortstop, losing Trot Nixon for the better part of the year, having Mueller's knee eventually require surgery, seeing lots of playing time by Youkilis and Kapler, the struggles of Pedro and Lowe, the trading of Nomar, adding of Meintkiewicz and Roberts and Cabrera... and again the team 'built to win a championship' did so but in a way nobody would have guessed at in March.

 

In 2005...looks like we have a slightly improved lineup with hopes of healthier seasons for a few, a lot of depth if less of a sure thing from the rotation (though Pedro and Lowe proved not to be so reliable as we expected in 04), a potentially improved bullpen with Mantei....and expectations that come October we'll see this team playing there.* History tells us it won't happen that way.* Who will be traded?* Who will be hurt?* Who will be added at the trading deadline?* Who will emerge as the surprise?* Who will disappoint?* What will happen?*

 

I predict an aggressive and successful attempt to add a high profile pitcher before the trading deadline that will change the look for the stretch run and playoffs.

 

Oh...I predict the Yankees will have to stand there and fume as the Sox raise the championship banner on opening day at home!

 

I predict something will happen that nobody predicted.

 

I'm only half kidding there... anyway, it seems this club's pretty solid all around. I see the following happening BEFORE Opening Day:

 

Doug Mientkiewicz is traded-- Don't know where to, but both him and Millar have said they don't want to share playing time. Someone's got to go.

 

I also predict that the Red Sox rotation proves satisfactory (and potential upgrades like Sheets, Burnett, etc are unavailable), but the Sox feel the need to upgrade the bullpen mid-season and do so.

[Yanksin2010]

 

 

 

Oh...I predict the Yankees will have to stand there and fume as the Sox raise the championship banner on opening day at home!

Now thats an insightful prediction. You're very daring.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

I've got an insight for the Yankee fan. You lost out on Beltran and now your CF sucks. Randy Johnson will be pitched too much and get injured. Kevin Brown will get injured cause he always does. Mike Mussina continues to go downhill. Jeter and A-Rod become more upset with each other. Sheffield and Giambi will not be the same players because of the steroids situation. You will find out Jaret Wright actually sucks and Pavano was the third top pitcher from the Marlins after Burnett and Beckett; while his ERA climbs from his best year in the NL. Last, Brian Cashman will get fired after you make the playoffs but lose again because of the injury toll your team will take.

 

Giving out the World Series rings on openning day will only be the start of the Yankees issues this year.

[sarasoxfan]

before we look at predictions I just read this on my new second favorite website.. http://www.yankeessuck.com-

 

"I for one am glad he went with the 41 year-old guy with a history of back trouble who plays every four days, than the 27 year-old every day player who seems to shine when the leaves start to fall."

 

I predict johnson will implode with the media, I predict the mets will regret signing pedro in a big way. Lowe willdo well in LA..

 

 

 

I will cry with joy when they rasie the championship flag at the fens..

[ahhchon]

you guys are dreaming..

 

prior to the 2004 season brown pitched 211 innings. he's pitched over 200 innings 8 times in his career. yeah, he is an injury waiting to happen but he could have a decent year. he's a very good pitcher, don't let your yankee bias change the fact that he can still post a 3 era.

 

johnson will definately not implode due to NY media. the media has nothing to do with the way he pitches. johnson is a damn good pitcher and will pitch damn well, we all know it. injuries are possible with ANY player.

 

i have heard nothing about a-rod and jeter hating each other, there is nothing between then. sheffield will continue to mash the ball, giambi is the achilles tendon of the yankees imo. if he can stay healthy and get on base at around .350 and hit 30+ hr's i think they will be a very dangerous team.

 

bernie williams is not CRAP. he's one of the more consistent hitters of the decade, yeah he's getting old but he's far from crap. it could be much much worse for the yankees in cf. plus his contract expires after this year. i smell andruw jones in a yankee uniform.

 

pavano isn't bad. if he can post a 3.5 era he would have been worth the money, mainly because the yankees can afford to overpay.

 

as for the sox.

 

i think our starting staff is more solid than most people give them credit for. it'll be tough and slow w/o schilling but once he gets back things should get rolling. manny and DO will continue to mash the ball. renteria is overrated and overpaid.

 

surprise sox player of the year: matt mantei

 

john

[BoSox Rule]

Do any of you actually realize how beneficial the Florida defense was to Pavano?

 

Schilling might pitch on Opening Day. They're just throwing the missed time out there to be cautious so we don't see a Nomar/Trot repeat.

[elsrbueno]

you guys are dreaming..

 

prior to the 2004 season brown pitched 211 innings. he's pitched over 200 innings 8 times in his career. yeah, he is an injury waiting to happen but he could have a decent year. he's a very good pitcher, don't let your yankee bias change the fact that he can still post a 3 era.

 

johnson will definately not implode due to NY media. the media has nothing to do with the way he pitches. johnson is a damn good pitcher and will pitch damn well, we all know it. injuries are possible with ANY player.

 

i have heard nothing about a-rod and jeter hating each other, there is nothing between then. sheffield will continue to mash the ball, giambi is the achilles tendon of the yankees imo. if he can stay healthy and get on base at around .350 and hit 30+ hr's i think they will be a very dangerous team.

 

bernie williams is not CRAP. he's one of the more consistent hitters of the decade, yeah he's getting old but he's far from crap. it could be much much worse for the yankees in cf. plus his contract expires after this year. i smell andruw jones in a yankee uniform.

 

pavano isn't bad. if he can post a 3.5 era he would have been worth the money, mainly because the yankees can afford to overpay.

 

as for the sox.

 

i think our starting staff is more solid than most people give them credit for. it'll be tough and slow w/o schilling but once he gets back things should get rolling. manny and DO will continue to mash the ball. renteria is overrated and overpaid.

 

surprise sox player of the year: matt mantei

 

john

 

John,

I agree with most of what you said except the last one (about Mantei). I don't know if he'll be a "surprise" really, since the Sox know what he's capable of. I think he'll be decent, (ERA in the 3's) but not overpowering. Just my opinion.

 

You're right about Brown and Johnson. Both are good pitchers (with bad attitudes, but that shouldn't change how they pitch), and both should be reliable starters for New York next year. I predict them both in the low 3's in ERA. They should have 30 wins between them by the end of the season.

 

Pavano isn't bad, but he can't be expected to pitch as well as he did in Florida. I say 15ish wins with an ERA around 4.

 

Bernie Williams is no longer in his prime, but he's not exactly Timo Perez out there either. He's still good for 20 homers and a .270ish batting average. His contract is up after 2005, and considering the Braves are always cutting salary, I wouldn't be surprised to see Andruw Jones as the starting CF in 2006. That being said, like others have noted, the Yankees may opt for a Juan Pierre-type centerfielder who can leadoff.

 

I'm not sure about Giambi though. I wouldn't be surprised if the Yankees still try to get out of his contract, and if they do, they'll probably give more playing time to Tino. And who knows how Giambi will hit when he isn't taking steroids? How long has he been using them? I say the Yankees can expect .270 with at least 20 HR from their first base position in 05.

 

All in all, the Yankees have questions, but so do ALL teams in January. Anyone who expects the Yankees to fall out of contention will be dissapointed in 2005.

 

I think the Yankees biggest weakness right now is depth. If one of their starters goes down, they don't have reliable backups. Who plays RF if Sheffield goes on the DL? Bubba Crosby? eek. Who's their 5th starter if Brown, Johnson, or Mussina get hurt?

 

Will they be unbeatable? No. Will they be in contention? Yes.

[BoSox Rule]

John,

I agree with most of what you said except the last one (about Mantei). I don't know if he'll be a "surprise" really, since the Sox know what he's capable of. I think he'll be decent, (ERA in the 3's) but not overpowering. Just my opinion.

11 K/9 in his career isn't overpowering?

[elsrbueno]

11 K/9 in his career isn't overpowering?

 

I didn't say his career wasn't overpowering... I said my prediction for Mantei in 2005 is that he won't be overpowering.

 

There are factors (his injury shortened 2004, his conversion to the American League, the Red Sox) that make me a bit skeptical that he'll return to dominance in 2005. Like I said, that's just my opinion.