tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53313497048531057722024-03-13T13:00:33.536-04:00lenNY's Yankees - A Bronx Bombers BlogA New York Yankees blog updated daily with the latest news rumors and analysis.Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.comBlogger2103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-20751522541514002922023-04-17T08:50:00.003-04:002023-04-17T08:51:53.304-04:002023 MLB Predictions: Aaron Judge, Anthony Volpe, Aaron HicksBetter late than never!<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL East</b><br />1. Yankees<br />2. Rays<br />3. Orioles</span><br /><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Blue Jays</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Red Sox</span><br /><div><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. Guardians<br />2. Twins<br />3. White Sox<br />4. Royals<br />5. Tigers<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. </span>Mariners</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">3. Angels</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Rangers<br />5. Athletics</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Braves<br />2. Mets<br />3. Phillies<br />4. Marlins<br />5. Nationals<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Cardinals<br />2. Brewers<br />3. Pirates<br />4. Cubs<br />5. Reds<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Padres<br />2. Dodgers<br />3. Diamondbacks<br />4. </span>Giants</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rockies<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees<br />NL Champion: Padres<br />World Series Champion: Yankees, 6 games – <i>this is their year</i><br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani<br />NL MVP: Juan Soto<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole<br />NL Cy: Brandon Woodruff<br />AL RoY: Anthony Volpe –<i> he'll get his cuts</i><br />NL RoY: Jordan Walker<br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 58</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 35</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Josh Donaldson home runs: 16</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Aaron Hicks game played before being traded/cut: 50</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Anthony Volpe stolen bases: 50</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.82</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Carlos Rodón ERA: 3.14</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Luis Severino starts: 22</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Nestor Cortes innings pitched: 175</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Clay Holmes saves: 31</span></div><div><br /><div><b>Previous Predictions</b></div><div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/2020-mlb-predictions-judge-cole-loaisiga.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/2021-mlb-predictions-judge-andujar.html" target="_blank">2021</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2022/04/2022-mlb-predictions-judge-donaldson.html" target="_blank">2022</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Results</b></div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/results-from-my-2020-predictions.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2022/04/results-from-my-2021-predictions.html" target="_blank">2021</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2023/04/results-from-my-2022-predictions.html" target="_blank">2022</a></div></div></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-89133747615495375392023-04-17T08:40:00.001-04:002023-04-17T08:52:46.376-04:00Results from my 2022 predictionsI'm just glad for the opportunity to make predictions on a full 162-game season this year.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL East</b><br />1. Blue Jays <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Yankees)<br />2. Yankees <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Blue Jays)<br />3. Rays <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>CORRECT</b></span></span><br /><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Red Sox</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Orioles)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Red Sox)<br /><div><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. White Sox <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Guardians)<br />2. Twins <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (White SOx)<br />3. Royals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Twins)<br />4. Tigers <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b><br />5. Guardians <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Royals)<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b><br />2. </span>Angels <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Mariners)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">3. Mariners</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Angels)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Rangers <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b><br />5. Athletics </span><b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Braves <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b><br />2. Phillies <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Mets)<br />3. Nationals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Phillies)<br />4. Mets <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Marlins)<br />5. Marlins <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Nationals)<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Cardinals)<br />2. Cardinals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Brewers)<br />3. Pirates <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Cubs)<br />4. Cubs <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Reds)<br />5. Reds <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Pirates)<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b><br />2. Giants <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Padres)<br />3. Padres <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Giants)<br />4. </span>Diamondbacks <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rockies <b style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</b><br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Astros)<br />NL Champion: Dodgers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Phillies)<br />World Series Champion: Yankees, 7 games <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Astros, 6 games)<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Aaron Judge!!)<br />NL MVP: Juan Soto <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Paul Goldschmidt)<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Justin Verlander)<br />NL Cy: Walker Buehler <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Sandy Alcantara)<br />AL RoY: Bobby Witt Jr. <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Julio Rodriguez)<br />NL RoY: C.J. Abrams <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Michale Harris II)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 45</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (62!!!)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 45</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (31) – he would have hit 45 easily if healthy<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Josh Donaldson home runs: 33</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (15) – major yikes<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Joey Gallo batting average: .192</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (.159) – good riddance<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Anthony Volpe games played: 6</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (0)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Isiah Kiner-Falefa average: .285</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (.261)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.73</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3.50)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Luis Severino starts: 25</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (19)</div><div>Clark Schmidt starts: 18 <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Jordan Montgomery wins: 12</span> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Jameson Taillon ERA: 3.88</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"> <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3.91)<br /></span><br /><div><b>Previous Predictions</b></div><div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/2020-mlb-predictions-judge-cole-loaisiga.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/2021-mlb-predictions-judge-andujar.html" target="_blank">2021</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2022/04/2022-mlb-predictions-judge-donaldson.html" target="_blank">2022</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Results</b></div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/results-from-my-2020-predictions.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2022/04/results-from-my-2021-predictions.html" target="_blank">2021</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2023/04/results-from-my-2022-predictions.html" target="_blank">2022</a></div></div></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-92229075493718620402022-04-08T13:13:00.003-04:002022-04-08T13:13:54.179-04:00Debunking the DJ LeMahieu "problem"I've heard many pundits sound baffled by Brian Cashman's decision to go into the season with no set spot for DJ LeMahieu. I'm here to shed some light into what I think Cash is thinking.<div><br /></div><div><b>1. Injuries:</b> To state the obvious, it was a miracle the Yankees actually left spring training with all 10 key lineup cogs intact, especially oft-injured Aaron Hicks and Josh Donaldson. The reality is, there's little to no chance the Yankees will make it through all season without a position player injury. As you'll see below, as soon as any starter goes down, DJ will have a secure everyday spot in the lineup.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><b>2. Versatility:</b> Let's review the Opening Day lineup but with Gleyber Torres in there instead. Unlike the Joe Torre days where the Yankees would put out three different lineups all season long, Aaron Boone could have 140+ lineups this season. Almost all of these guys will get regular days off, Boone is going to mix and match his lineup based on the opposing starting pitcher, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>1. Josh Donaldson 3B <i>– DJ can spell Donaldson at 3B</i></div><div>2. Aaron Judge RF <i>– DJ can DH while Stanton can spell Judge in RF</i></div><div>3. Anthony Rizzo 1B <i>– DJ can spell Rizzo at 1B</i></div><div>4. Giancarlo Stanton DH – <i>DJ can spell Stanton at DH,</i></div><div>5. Gleyber Torres 2B <i>– DJ can spell Torres at 2B</i></div><div>6. Joey Gallo LF <i>– DJ can DH while Stanton spells Gallo in LF</i></div><div>7. Aaron Hicks CF <i>– DJ can DH while Judge spells Hicks in CF and Stanton goes to RF</i></div><div>8. Kyle Higashioka C <i>– DJ can DH while Jose Trevino spells Higgy at C</i></div><div>9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa SS <i>– DJ can DH while Marwin Gonzalez spells IKF at SS</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><b>3. Performance:</b> One of DJ's greatest attributes is his consistency. Many other players in this lineup have tendencies to be streaky, especially Stanton. As outlined above, DJ can give a starter going through a tough stretch a break.</div><div><br /></div><div>Streaks aside, DJ is flat-out better than Torres, Hicks and Gallo, the three I see sitting the most this season – not DJ. That's why we saw DJ in the Opening Day lineup. Hicks and Gallo will continue to struggle mightily without a change in approach this season (take the free single or even double with a bunt to third base when the shift is on) and Torres needs to prove early on that playing shortstop last year held back his hitting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Still think Boone won't be able to find DJ 500 AB's this season?</div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-14218630742231824402022-04-08T11:40:00.005-04:002022-04-11T10:57:58.409-04:002022 MLB Predictions: Judge, Donaldson, Gallo & VolpeI'm just glad for the opportunity to make predictions on a full 162-game season this year.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL East</b><br />1. Blue Jays<br />2. Yankees<br />3. Rays</span><br /><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Red Sox</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles</span><br /><div><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. White Sox<br />2. Twins<br />3. Royals<br />4. Tigers<br />5. Guardians<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. </span>Angels</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">3. Mariners</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Rangers<br />5. Athletics</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Braves<br />2. Phillies<br />3. Nationals<br />4. Mets<br />5. Marlins<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers<br />2. Cardinals<br />3. Pirates<br />4. Cubs<br />5. Reds<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers<br />2. Giants<br />3. Padres<br />4. </span>Diamondbacks</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rockies<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees<br />NL Champion: Dodgers<br />World Series Champion: Yankees, 7 games – <i>one can dream</i><br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Shohei Ohtani<br />NL MVP: Juan Soto<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole<br />NL Cy: Walker Buehler<br />AL RoY: Bobby Witt Jr.<br />NL RoY: C.J. Abrams<br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 45</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 45</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Josh Donaldson home runs: 33</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Joey Gallo batting average: .192</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Anthony Volpe games played: 6</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Isiah Kiner-Falefa average: .285</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.73</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Luis Severino starts: 25</span></div><div>Clark Schmidt starts: 18</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Jordan Montgomery wins: 12</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Jameson Taillon ERA: 3.88</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><br /><div><b>Previous Predictions</b></div><div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/2020-mlb-predictions-judge-cole-loaisiga.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/2021-mlb-predictions-judge-andujar.html" target="_blank">2021</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Results</b></div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/results-from-my-2020-predictions.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2022/04/results-from-my-2021-predictions.html" target="_blank">2021</a></div></div></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-80458335050935408962022-04-08T11:19:00.003-04:002022-04-08T11:19:50.029-04:00Results from my 2021 predictionsOutside of the NL Central standings, it was yet another rough go for my predictions. While my statistical predictions almost always exceed the players' performances, Gerrit Cole managed to surpass my expectations for his strikeout total, falling just five K's short of Ron Guidry's now 43-year-old record.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL East</b><br />1. Yankees <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Rays)<br />2. Blue Jays* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Red Sox)<br />3. Rays </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Yankees)<br /><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Red Sox </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Blue Jays)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b></span><br /><div><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. White Sox <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Twins* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Indians)<br />3. Indians <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Tigers)<br />4. Royals <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Tigers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Twins)<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. </span>Angels <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Mariners)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">3. </span>Athletics <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Mariners <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Angels)<br />5. Rangers </span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Braves <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Mets* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Phillies)<br />3. Phillies <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Mets)<br />4. Marlins <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Nationals <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Cardinals <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Reds <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. Cubs <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Pirates <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Giants)<br />2. Padres* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Dodgers)<br />3. Giants <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Padres)<br />4. </span>Diamondbacks <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Rockies)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rockies <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Diamondbacks)<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Astros)<br />NL Champion: Dodgers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Braves)<br />World Series Champion: Dodgers, 7 games <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Braves, 6 games)<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Shohei Ohtani)<br />NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Bryce Harper)<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Robbie Ray)<br />NL Cy: Jacob deGrom <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Corbin Burnes)<br />AL RoY: Akil Baddoo <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Randy Arozarena)<br />NL RoY: MacKenzie Gore <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Jonathan India)<br />AL Manager: Tony La Russa <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Kevin Cash)<br />NL Manager: Luis Rojas </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Gabe Kapler)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 42 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (39) <i>– so close</i></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 50 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (35)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Luke Voit home runs: 30 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (11)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gio Urshela batting average: .292 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (.267)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Miguel Andujar games played: 65 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (45)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">D.J. LeMahieu hits: 200 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (160)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.33 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3.23)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole strikeouts: 225 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (243)</div><div>Gerrit Cole wins: 20 <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (16)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Jordan Montgomery wins: 15 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (6)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Corey Kluber ERA: 3.47 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3.83)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><br /><div><b>Previous Predictions</b></div><div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/2020-mlb-predictions-judge-cole-loaisiga.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/2021-mlb-predictions-judge-andujar.html" target="_blank">2021</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Results</b></div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/results-from-my-2020-predictions.html" target="_blank">2020</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2022/04/results-from-my-2021-predictions.html" target="_blank">2021</a></div></div></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-73616867932048022162021-05-04T10:27:00.004-04:002021-05-04T10:41:19.030-04:002021 MLB Predictions: Judge, Andujar & Kluber I know I'm late this year but we're basically starting a new season today with the Yankees at an even 14-14... right? But seriously, I'm chalking up the Yankees' sluggish start to their strength of schedule – almost half of their games were against the Rays and Blue Jays, who I think will battle it out down to the wire for the final AL postseason spot.<br /><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL East </b><i>– no changes from last year's picks</i><br />1. Yankees<br />2. Blue Jays*<br />3. Rays</span><br /><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Red Sox</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles</span><br /><div><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. White Sox<br />2. Twins*<br />3. Indians<br />4. Royals<br />5. Tigers<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. </span>Angels</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">3. </span>Athletics</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Mariners<br />5. Rangers </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Braves<br />2. Mets*<br />3. Phillies<br />4. Marlins<br />5. Nationals<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers<br />2. Cardinals<br />3. Reds<br />4. Cubs<br />5. Pirates<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers<br />2. Padres*<br />3. Giants<br />4. </span>Diamondbacks</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rockies<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees<br />NL Champion: Dodgers<br />World Series Champion: Dodgers, 7 games<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout <i>– I finally figured out how to put him here permanently</i><br />NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr.<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole<br />NL Cy: Jacob deGrom<br />AL RoY: Akil Baddoo<br />NL RoY: MacKenzie Gore<br />AL Manager: Tony La Russa<br />NL Manager: Luis Rojas</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 42</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 50</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Luke Voit home runs: 30</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gio Urshela batting average: .292</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Miguel Andujar games played: 65 – <i>It looks even less likely that Andujar will impact the team this year, but with the offense struggling like it is perhaps he's on the fast track to get another (perhaps final) shot</i></span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">D.J. LeMahieu hits: 200</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.33</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole strikeouts: 225</span></div><div>Gerrit Cole wins: 20</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Jordan Montgomery wins: 15</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Corey Kluber ERA: 3.47</span><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><br /><div><b>Previous Predictions</b></div><div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/2020-mlb-predictions-judge-cole-loaisiga.html" target="_blank">2020</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Results</b></div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2021/05/results-from-my-2020-predictions.html" target="_blank">2020</a></div></div></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-79291030390966645962021-05-04T10:15:00.004-04:002021-05-04T10:15:36.363-04:00Results from my 2020 predictionsOther than picking the Dodgers in 6 and Gio Urshela's batting average nearly on the nose, this year was another wash.<div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL East </b><br />1. Yankees <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rays)<br />2. Rays* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Yankees)<br />3. Blue Jays </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Red Sox </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Orioles)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Red Sox)<br /><div><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. Indians <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Twins)<br />2. Twins* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Indians)<br />3. White Sox <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. Royals <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Tigers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Athletics)<br />2. Athletics <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Astros)<br />3. Angels </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Mariners)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Mariners <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Angels)<br />5. Rangers </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Braves)<br />2. Braves* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Marlins)<br />3. Mets <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Phillies)<br />4. Phillies <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Mets)<br />5. Marlins <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Nationals)<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Cubs)<br />2. Cubs* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Cardinals)<br />3. Cardinals <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Reds)<br />4. Reds <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Brewers)<br />5. Pirates <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Padres <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Diamondbacks <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Giants)<br />4. </span>Rockies <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Giants <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Diamondbacks)<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rays)<br />NL Champion: Dodgers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />World Series Champion: Dodgers, 6 games <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout <i>– </i><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Jose Abreu)<br />NL MVP: Christian Yelich <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Freddie Freeman)<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Shane Bieber)<br />NL Cy: Jack Flaherty <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Trevor Bauer)<br />AL RoY: Luis Robert <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Kyle Lewis)<br />NL RoY: Dustin May <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Devin Williams)<br />AL Manager: Terry Francona <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Kevin Cash)<br />NL Manager: Brian Snitker </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Don Mattingly)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 20 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(9)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 10 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(4)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Gleyber Torres home runs: 15 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(3)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gio Urshela batting average: .302 </span><b style="color: red;"><b style="color: black;"><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b> </b>(.298) <i>– close enough</i><br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Miguel Andujar games played: 41 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(21)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">D.J. LeMahieu hits: 90 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(71)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.58 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(2.84)<br /><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole strikeouts: 125 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(94)</div><div>Gerrit Cole wins: 10 <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(7)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;">Jonathan Loaisiga wins: 8 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(3)</div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;">Masahiro Tanaka ERA: 3.33 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(3.56)</div></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span><br /><div><b>Previous Predictions</b></div><div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Results</b></div><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a></div></div></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-21131945223445925192020-10-09T16:12:00.009-04:002020-10-28T07:03:09.927-04:00Do or Die: Yankees Look to Ride Cole Train to ALCSIn what may have been his last start dawning pinstripes, Masahiro Tanaka allowed the Rays to back the Yankees against a wall. But despite emptying the tanks of their elite relievers, the Yankees managed to force a Game 5 with one goal in mind: give the ball to Gerrit Cole.<div></div><div><br /></div><div>The richest pitcher in baseball history will get his shot Friday night, pitching on three days rest for the first time in his career against what will likely be a tag-team of the Rays' top tier pitchers, starting with Tyler Glasnow. In other words, the Yankees will try to repeat their Game 1 performance and the Rays will try to follow the script from Game 2. </div><div><br /></div><div>It doesn't get much better than this. It's the biggest rivalry in the American League these days (sorry, Boston fans, but you lost that honor when you traded Mookie Betts). It's do or die. It's the most expensive lineup in baseball vs. a "stable of guys who throw 98 miles per hour." And with that, let's preview what we're going to see tonight.</div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div><b>Broadcast</b></div><div><i>Game Time: 7 p.m. on TBS</i></div><div><i>Crew: Brian Anderson, Ron Darling & Lauren Shehadi</i></div><div>No changes here by TBS from the past couple nights, and why would they? Sure, John Sterling is lovable enough to listen to despite the fact that he can no longer see what's happening on the field. And do I enjoy the YES crew of Michael Kay, Paul O'Neill, David Cone and Meredith Marakovits? Of course, they're a solid squad. But the TBS crew has been crisp through four games. Darling is locked in every pitch and Shehadi seems to always have a timely insight or story. If the Yankees can advance, I hope this crew moves on with them.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Lineups</b></div><div><br /></div><div><u>Yankees</u></div><div>1. LeMahieu 2B</div><div>2. Judge RF</div><div>3. Hicks CF</div><div>4. Stanton DH</div><div>5. Voit 1B</div><div>6. Gardner LF</div><div>7. Torres SS</div><div>8. Urshela 3B</div><div>9. Higashioka C</div><div><br /></div><div>Poor Gary Sanchez. He focused all offseason on a new defensive stance, much to the chagrin of Alex Rodriguez, but he seems to have forgotten his swing from his rookie season when he hit .299 and homered 20 times in 53 games. Anyway, half of this lineup is red hot and can be flat-out exhausting for opposing pitchers to handle.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Rays</u></div><div>1. Meadows RF</div><div>2. Lowe 2B</div><div>3. Arozarena LF</div><div>4. Choi 1B</div><div>5. Diaz DH</div><div>6. Wendle 3B</div><div>7. Adames SS</div><div>8. Kiermaier CF</div><div>9. Zunino C</div><div><br /></div><div>Arozarena and Wendle are the two hottest bats on the Rays, with the former homering off Cole in the first inning of Game 1. But there's only one non-Yankee hitter on the planet who's actually excited to see Cole tomorrow, and that's Choi, who has God-like numbers against the pitching savant. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Pitching</b></div><div>While neither pitcher broke 100 pitches in their starts earlier in the series, both broke 100 on the radar gun. The only difference is Cole will have one more extra day of rest than Glasnow, which cannot be overestimated.</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Yankees</u></div><div>The hope is Cole can give you six innings and then they can bridge Zack Britton and Aroldis Chapman through 7-8-9 once again. In an emergency, I do think the Yankees will push out Green again despite being overworked (per usual).</div><div><br /></div><div><u>Rays</u></div><div>Despite how dominant he was in Game 2, I can't imagine they expect Glasnow to offer more than three innings. I get it, you have to leave all of your chips on the table, but at some point even the great ones get gassed. After Glasnow they will likely aim to get another 3-4 innings from Blake Snell, and then they have the filthy and well-rested duo of Diego Castillo and Nick Anderson to shut it down.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Who Advances?</b></div><div>The oddsmakers slightly favor the Yankees in Game 5 and I'd agree with them. Their lineup is enough of a strength that it should be able to carry them to the ALCS, setting up another major showdown with the Houston Astros.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Betting</b></div><div><div>Place your MLB bets here, people. Anything from the number of home runs, runs scored and winning margin are available to be wagered on. What makes the MLB stand out in the betting system? The answer has perplexed many baseball enthusiasts but the response is none too surprising. The main reason why America can call baseball a league of their own because of the potential players who have invested their all in this particular sport. All these odds and more available at <a href="https://sports.betway.com/en/sports" rel="" target="_blank">Betway</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Baseball has gone beyond the boundary of one nation. Though still lagging when it comes to the aspect of the popularity of other athletics entertainment options, such as football, basketball, or cricket, the zeal to catch up to the star kids of sports has influenced the players belonging from this field, work hard and rise to it. </div><div><br /></div><div>With many talents coming from each part of the globe to contribute to the 2020 Major League Baseball playoffs, the ensemble will be an extraordinary event bound to go down in history. Giving the team a goal to work against, Los Angeles Dodgers have kicked off the series with a bang, scoring 9/5. The teams will have a lot to look for and work against to get to the top.</div></div><div><br /></div>Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-10799964759399644042020-07-23T20:32:00.002-04:002020-07-23T20:32:59.669-04:002020 MLB Predictions: Judge, Cole & LoaisigaBefore I get into this year's predictions, I just want to say I wholeheartedly agree with <a href="https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/07/05/sean-doolittle-sports-are-like-the-reward-of-a-functioning-society/" target="_blank">Sean Doolittle's thoughts on playing this season</a>: "Sports are like the reward of a functioning society."<br />
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That being said, it's Opening Day and I made these predictions with the assumption that they will finish the season (even though I don't think that will happen).<br />
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With the help of a Cy Young performance by Gerrit Cole, I have the Yankees finally returning to the World Series but not able to get past the loaded Dodgers. Two words: Miguel Andujar. Put him in left field or at first base and let him rake.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL East </b><br />1. Yankees<br />2. Rays*<br />3. Blue Jays</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Red Sox</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. Indians<br />2. Twins*<br />3. White Sox<br />4. Royals<br />5. Tigers<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. Athletics<br />3. Angels</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Mariners<br />5. Rangers </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals<br />2. Braves*<br />3. Mets<br />4. Phillies<br />5. Marlins<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers<br />2. Cubs*<br />3. Cardinals<br />4. Reds<br />5. Pirates<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers<br />2. Padres<br />3. Diamondbacks<br />4. </span>Rockies</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Giants<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees<br />NL Champion: Dodgers<br />World Series Champion: Dodgers, 6 games<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout <i>– is there a way I can put this guy here permanently?</i><br />NL MVP: Christian Yelich<br />AL Cy: Gerrit Cole<br />NL Cy: Jack Flaherty<br />AL RoY: Luis Robert<br />NL RoY: Dustin May<br />AL Manager: Terry Francona<br />NL Manager: Brian Snitker</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge home runs: 20</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Giancarlo Stanton home runs: 10</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gleyber Torres home runs: 15</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Gio Urshela batting average: .302</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Miguel Andujar games played: 41 – <i>Boone has to find a way to get his bat in the lineup as much as possible</i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">D.J. LeMahieu hits: 90</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole ERA: 2.58</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Gerrit Cole strikeouts: 125</span></div>
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Gerrit Cole wins: 10</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Jonathan Loaisiga wins: 8</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Masahiro Tanaka ERA: 3.33</span><br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/2019-mlb-predictions-judge-frazier.html" target="_blank">2019</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2020/07/results-from-my-2019-predictions.html" target="_blank">2019</a></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-16180911493764504652020-07-23T19:39:00.000-04:002020-07-23T20:33:17.664-04:00Results from my 2019 predictionsPretty sure this was my worst year of predictions ever.<br />
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<b>AL East </b></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Red Sox <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Yankees)<br />2. Yankees* </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span>(Rays)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Rays* </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span>(Red Sox)<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Blue Jays <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />
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<b>AL Central </b><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Indians <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Twins)<br />2. Twins <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Indians)<br />3. White Sox <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. Tigers <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Royals)<br />5. Royals <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Tigers)<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Angels <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Athletics)<br />3. Mariners </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rangers)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Athletics <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Angels)<br />5. Rangers </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Mariners)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Phillies <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Braves)<br />2. Braves* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Nationals)<br />3. Mets* <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. Nationals <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Phillies)<br />5. Marlins</span> <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Cardinals)<br />2. Cubs <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Brewers)<br />3. Cardinals <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Cubs)<br />4. Pirates <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Reds)<br />5. Reds <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Pirates)<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Diamondbacks</span> <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Rockies <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Giants)<br />4. </span>Padres <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rockies)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Giants <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Padres)<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Red Sox</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Astros)<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">NL Champion: Phillies <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Nationals)<br />World Series Champion: Red Sox, 4 games <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Nationals, 7 games)<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout <b style="color: blue;">CORRECT </b><i>– it's the easiest prediction every year</i><br />NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Cody Bellinger)<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />AL Cy: James Paxton <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Justin Verlander)<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />NL Cy: Jacob deGrom <b style="color: blue;">CORRECT</b><br />AL RoY: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Yordan Álvarez)<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />NL RoY: Pete Alonso <b style="color: blue;">CORRECT</b><br />AL Manager: Alex Cora <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rocco Baldelli)<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />NL Manager: Gabe Kapler</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Mike Shildt)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge strikeouts: 202</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(141) – <i>he was on pace for 224 if he played 162 games</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Clint Frazier home runs: 30</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(12) – <i>he was on pace for 28 if he played 162 games</i><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gleyber Torres RBIs: 92</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(90) – <i>close enough</i><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Didi Gregorius games played: 18</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(82)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Troy Tulowitzki games played: 22</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(5) – <i>LOL, remember him?</i><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">D.J. LeMahieu games played: 151</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(145) – <i>close enough</i><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Zack Britton ERA: 4.89</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(1.91) – <i>I was pleasantly surprised</i><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CC Sabathia strikeouts: 165</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(107) – <i>he ends with 3,03 strikeouts and 251 wins, see you in the hall of fame in 2024</i></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">James Paxton strikeouts: 228</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(186)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">James Paxton wins: 22</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(15)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">James Paxton ERA: 2.83</span> <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(3.82)<br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-39783966872746528642019-05-13T10:06:00.000-04:002019-05-21T08:32:52.513-04:00Q&A with Rob Neyer, author of POWER BALL: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game<div>
Last year I received an advance copy of POWER BALL: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game and had a chance to speak with its author, Rob Neyer, someone I’ve been reading online for as long as I’ve known how to read.</div>
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In Power Ball, Neyer focuses on how the game has changed so much over the last 20 years, and he uses one September 2017 Astros-A's game (18 half-inning chapters) to weave this story into an enjoyable read for baseball fans.</div>
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While I am terribly late sharing this interview, I still think it’s worth sharing, as we get into some of the most contentious topics in the game today. The interview even foreshadows some rule changes that Major League Baseball announced in spring training for the 2020 season. </div>
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<b>Why should other fans buy your book?</b></div>
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This is an overview of all the ways that baseball has changed in the last 20 to 30 years. And when things happen gradually, as many of these have, it's easy to miss thing. You just sort of wake up and you look at the game, what's going on out there? Well, it's sort of gives an overview of what has gone on out there and how we got here. </div>
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I just looked at them with the day who, just this week, noticed that players are wearing those protective guards on their helmets. They're called C-flaps. They really started becoming popular in 2017, but a lot of people just didn’t notice. And that’s two pages. So there are 20 or 30 things like that in the book, along with everything else.</div>
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<b>When did you decide that “postmodern baseball” deserved its own book?</b></div>
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I have to admit that it was not my idea. I have been an admirer for many years of books like this, or at least books that are structured similarly. I've been a big fan of Joe's book, a day in the bleachers. For a long time, I was a huge fan of Dan Okrent’s book Nine Innings when it came out in 1985 and read it more than once.</div>
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But the idea of writing that sort of book had not occurred to me. An editor came to me basically a year ago and said, Bob, I, I would love for someone to write a modern day Nine Innings. I thought about it made a list of the things that I wanted to write about, and we just went from there.</div>
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<b>How many games did you go to before you said, this is the game I’m going to use as my storytelling vessel?</b></div>
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None! That's what I thought was going to happen, but we actually decided to do the book so late in the season, the 2017 season, that I didn't have my first conversation with my editor until probably the middle of September. By the time we decided to do the book about a week later, we've got maybe 10 days left in the season. So my initial thought was, well, I need to head up to Seattle tomorrow, and watch a week’s worth of games, talk to as many people as possible, who played in the game, coached in the game, and then see what happened. </div>
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Well, my editor didn't think that was a great idea. And I think he was right. He thought that instead of doing that, and having a very small number of games to choose from or waiting till the next season, which would have delayed the publication of the book by basically a year, he thought, let's instead just find a game that's already been played, and then go from there, and then watch it and listen to it as many times as you need to. And that's what I did. He sent me a few games that I thought were pretty good prospects and I chose one of those. And then I just sat down with the MLB.tv and watched the game a bunch of times. One of the great things about MLB.tv is that you can you have four audio feeds, you have the home and road TV, and the home and road radio. So I listened to all of those multiple times.</div>
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<b>So you didn’t actually go. That’s pretty funny.</b></div>
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Yep. I would have loved to have been in the ballpark for it, but I don’t think you lose anything from not being there. It would have been fun sitting amongst a bunch of fans, and sort of adding their reactions as things came up, just here and there sprinkled in, but otherwise, I don't think it would have changed that much at all. </div>
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<b>And you were able to, of course, you know, speak to the players and get their reactions from that game a little bit later on. So it wasn't as fresh, but they could recall it for the most part?</b></div>
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Well, that’s right. To some degree that that isn't necessarily a bad thing that it was later because they had more perspective. </div>
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We ask a player how did that feel? Or how were you approaching that at-bat? In the moment, oftentimes, they don't have a lot to say, but six months later, which is basically when I spoke to these guys in spring training, and then in the first week of the next season, they seemed pretty thoughtful and reflective and they remembered everything pretty well. They remember the game, they remembered the batters they faced, the pitchers they faced, but I actually think time gives you a little bit more to work with.</div>
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<b>If you were Rob Manfred, would you change the rules? And do you think he’ll end up actually doing anything?</b></div>
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I don't think I would. I don't think it would be sacrilegious to change the rules. And frankly, if I thought it would lead to a markedly better brand of baseball, I would change it. I just don't think it would really do anything. It's a tiny band-aid on a gaping wound. So why bother? Let's stop the bleeding. Let's not put this little band-aid on it that's going to leak through.</div>
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If you actually look at the numbers and people have the reason for all the strikeouts and home runs, and the reason for the drastic decline in balls in play, t has nothing to do with shifting. Now do I think it's going to happen? I think it might because it's the one thing that doesn't really have a constituency. Nobody's going to scream bloody murder if you ban the shift. The pitchers won't mind at all, the hitters will be in favor of it. So it's like a lot of things that baseball does. It's small, but at least they can do it. Whereas the big things, the things that would make a difference, have been at least at this point almost impossible to do.</div>
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If you're a pitcher and you see these guys with all these great strikeout games, then maybe you're more inclined to want to be a pitcher. And if you're a big home run hitter, you want to see a guy with a lot of home runs. As a young kid, are you really looking for those guys who hit a bunch of doubles in the gaps? Or are they looking for a guy who can strike out a lot of guys and hit a lot of homers?</div>
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Well, I think that they're looking for pitchers with projectable arm strength. There was this school of thought for many years that pitchers really couldn't do much to improve their arm strength. They might mature naturally, into greater arm strength. You would always hear about pitchers being projectable. The idea that this skinny 17-year-old who throws 87 will fill out and throw 92. And of course, that has happened and does happen. But what everybody now realized is that the pitcher can take an active role in that process of developing much greater arm strength through various training methods. So that's absolutely happening. It's one of the big reasons why pitchers throw much harder now than they did just 10 years ago.</div>
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For hitters, I think it’s a little hazier. You can certainly develop more power by getting bigger and stronger. And also by changing your lunch angle, although there are limits to that, obviously.</div>
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But in my opinion, most of the developments that we've seen it on the bulk of technology and the training side have benefited pitchers more than hitters.</div>
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<b>You referred to the rise of homers and strikeouts as a gaping wound. I'm just curious, why do you think that is?</b></div>
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Well, that's an overstatement probably.</div>
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My opinion is ultimately you're going to lose fans more than you gain if the game becomes almost purely about power hitting and power pitching. You lose triples and you lose stolen bases. And you lose any good chance to see a great play by the shortstop, etc, etc. If you lose all these things that make baseball baseball because the game is dominated more and more by home runs and strikeouts. And frankly, we just we haven't seen the limits are yet, right? Every year seems to bring more strikeouts and more home runs and fewer triples and fewer steals and the game is simply becoming less various. And in my mind, that makes it less interesting. </div>
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Now some people would agree. Some people say the more home runs and strikeouts the better, those people are out there no question. But you can wonder how many of them there are. And what baseball fan base looks like. I tend to think to with a certain bit of detachment and think about what it looks like in five years or 10 or 20. And I wonder how many fans you have if it’s become if it’s simply a strikeout-home run contest. And maybe the answer is more. I honestly don't know. My feeling is that it's not – that what made baseball great or popular in the first place would be the great variety in the game. So you know to call it a gaping wound, considering baseball's revenues and how they go up every year, that's probably not a reasonable description. I got caught up in talking about a band-aid.</div>
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<b>I just think it's a very, very interesting point. Because it's it's often talked about in the mainstream media, and they say it's a terrible thing. But I don't think anyone really knows it is a terrible thing for the game. And I just think it's a healthy discussion.</b></div>
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Nobody does know if it’s terrible. To argue that it’s terrible, aside from personal preference, but in terms of baseball’s future viability, nobody does know. You can’t know. You can’t predict what it’s going to look like in 10 years. </div>
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So I think at some point, you have to fall back on what people seem to want to watch. It's just hard to know. We don't have one league playing with guys throwing 90 miles an hour and a low home run rate than the other doing what they're doing. All we know is what we have.</div>
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<b>For Manfred to potentially combat this if viewership numbers potentially decline, what can he do? Is he going to lower the mound? What can he do to actually get the balls back in play – extend the fences?</b></div>
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Fences are tough. It’s a big lift to tear out a bunch of seats and move the fences back six or eight feet or whatever would be. And I would frankly, love to see that because we would be a lot more base hits, and doubles and triples, I think it'd be fun. But it's also probably the most difficult of all the possible solutions. Now, the one plus the big plus is that you don't need the players' approval to change the ballparks. They have no say over that, they could complain. But, legally speaking, they have no recourse. There isn't a safety issue and there wouldn't be so. </div>
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So that's politically speaking, that's the easiest thing to change. And I would be in favor of that. Sure. I don't think it's likely though, because of the expense.</div>
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The other things are so hard because, you know, you get into labor, labor relations. But yes, of course, lower the mound by two inches, that would help. Maybe raise the strike zone by a couple of inches, or compress it. I talked about in the book a little bit. Frankly, I'm not enough of an expert on the strike zone to know, but the changing the strike zone historically has happened many times. And you can accomplish some goals. </div>
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And yes, of course, deaden the ball. If you're going to deaden the ball, you have to take something from the pitcher, which is why I would lower the mound. But there's nothing sacrosanct about the baseball, it's been changed many, many times over the years. And in fact, it's been changed in the last five years. We know that. So many studies have been done, many of which I cite in the book, showing that the baseball is different. Whether it was done intentionally or not is hard to say. My guess is that it wasn't intentional, but it doesn't really matter. The fact is that the baseball is different. So why not make it different again on purpose and make it a little bit harder, not a lot, but a little bit harder to hit the ball 400 feet.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>The idea of the bullpen game also rose drastically this year, and I think that’s also causing a lot of concern around baseball parts about what the future of the starting pitcher is and things like that. And it probably isn't a coincidence with all the strikeouts as well. Do you expect to see even more of the bullpen game in 2019? And is it even good for the game?</b></div>
<div>
I believe we’re going to see a great deal more. We saw good teams winning with that strategy, the Rays more than anybody else, but a lot of other teams dabbled and were successful.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
There's no doubt in my mind that we're going to see more of it next year, the question is how much more. 25% more? 100% more? 300% more? I don't know. I mean, the infield shifting exploded once people saw that it worked. It really only takes one team to do something and to win and for other teams to follow, especially when it makes so much sense. Very few teams have four or five really good starting pitchers. Just a few do, and even those teams do bullpenning because their guys get hur or need a rest. So yes, I would be very surprised if we didn't see a lot more of it next season. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Now is it is good for the game? I'm conflicted. I love seeing different things. I love the innovation.</div>
<div>
That said, Of course, it leads to more strikeouts, then fewer batted balls in play which is not in my opinion good for the game. It leads to better pitching and, and more hard throwing pictures out there. As a fan, I’d love to see one team do it because it's interesting. But I don't want to see everybody doing it. Because that leads to less interesting baseball across the board. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
You asked me before about what could be done. I do think there should be a limit on pitching changes. And I do think there should be a limit on how many pitches you can carry on your roster. I think 11 or maybe 12 should be the absolute limit. The roster rules have been liberalized, so it's very easy to move guys up and down between the minors and the majors, between the disabled list and the active roster. If you want to carry 12 pitchers, fine, but you can’t bring a guy up for one day and then send them back down, which happens all the time. So they're in a sense, they're not 12 men pitching staffs they’re 15, 16, 17-men pitching staffs really, effectively. And that's what allows both pending that's what allows bullpenning, the steady parade of relievers and all the pitching changes and also to some degree leads to more strikeouts.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Policing that would be a nightmare, right? You’ve got Shohei Ohtani – is he a pitcher or is he a hitter? Maybe a pitcher is ineffective or maybe a pitcher gets injured. It’s pretty hard to police the number of pitchers on a roster and the number of pitchers used in a game, right?</b></div>
<div>
It wouldn’t be difficult to police a limit on pitchers. Everybody on the roster gets a designation, and he’s a pitcher or he’s not. Yes of course there are a few guys who do both, but those cases are so rare. I would simply say that until someone pitched in X number of games when the score was within four runs or something he's not a pitcher. That’s not difficult.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The disabled list is tough because it's not difficult to find a doctor who will say yes, this guy is hurt. People will tell you reasonably that nobody's ever 100 percent healthy. So the DL rules are tough to police, but the roster rules are not. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I think I cite one pitcher in the book. He was promoted to the majors something like six times or seven times and spent literally seven days on the 25-man roster. That's ridiculous.</div>
<div>
In fact, that used to be against the rules, but it’s now allowed through various mechanisms. But there's no good reason for it other than it makes managers lives easier. It doesn't keep guys healthy, not much healthier, it doesn't make for a better sport, it's just been allowed to happen, because the union wanted it. And the teams wanted it. But it’s not good for the game. It's one of the best examples for how the game has been allowed to be run for the pleasure and the convenience of the players and the coaches, and not the fans, which is the whole reason for professional sports. Professional sports don't exist for the pleasure of the players, but that's how it's run these days.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>I think we can agree that there are a lot of very reliable metrics for measuring the value of a pitcher and the value of a hitter, how good they are, how bad they are. But I am still not fully convinced about defensive metrics. Is there with StatCast now, maybe the ones that are available to us are not as good, but the ones that are available to the teams are sufficient? I'm just curious if you think there are defensive metrics out there that are actually reliable enough to quantify a player's value.</b></div>
<div>
I am convinced that what the teams have now tells them almost everything they want to know or almost everything worth knowing. I believe that if you take 100 guys and you run them through the numbers that the team has, I would be surprised that they missed in a meaningful way on more than one or two of those guys. And maybe it's zero, I really don't know, because I don't see the numbers. But I think they know what they need to know, about defense at this point, certainly much more than they did 10 years ago. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think on the public side, we're pretty close. And not because of the StatCast numbers, although those are helpful, but because of all the other data that's out there. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I'm a voter on the Fielding Bible every year at Sports Info Solutions. And so I dig into this every fall, I dig into the different metrics that are publicly available, as I fill out my ballot. And there's still a great deal of disagreement, at least on certain players. I only bring this up because I don't mean to pick on Baseball Prospectus. I mentioned this in a tweet a few weeks ago. Baseball Prospectus has Andrelton Simmons as being a roughly average, maybe a little below average shortstop in 2018. The other metrics that I looked at had him being outstanding as they do every year. Well, I wouldn't say with great confidence that Baseball Prospectus is metrics is reading Simmons poorly. I suspect that's the case, but I don't know that. It might be that everybody else is wrong. My point is that until all public metrics agree on every player, then we have to assume some level of error, right?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I would with a fair degree of trust that a consensus of public metrics are giving us a pretty, pretty good picture. And most of them think Simmons is a great shortstop, and so I think he is. Am I 100% sure? No. 95% sure? No. 85 or 90%? Yes. But if you're running a team, you want to be more sure than that. And I think they are. So we're pretty close on the public side. We're not where the teams are.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Do you think the data that the teams have will ever be made public?</b></div>
<div>
I don’t know. I think there are various parties that have an interest in not making everything public. I think more and more will be made public. With StatCast, they put a little more out each year, and it might be that smart people are able to scrape the best stuff or the most useful stuff already. I think it’s going to come.</div>
Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-34258593854870575772019-04-20T15:02:00.000-04:002019-04-20T15:03:35.803-04:002019 MLB predictions: Judge, Frazier, SabathiaStandouts from this year's predictions:<br />
<ul>
<li>James Paxton wins the Cy Young (he pitched like a Cy Young winner against the Red Sox)</li>
<li>All four wild card winners are coming out of the East</li>
<li>Didi Gregorius and Troy Tulowitzki will combine for just 40 games played in the regular season</li>
</ul>
Last year I picked the Yankees to win it all, and the Red Sox won it. So of course, this year, I've learned from my mistakes.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL East </b><br />1. Red Sox<br />2. Yankees*<br />3. Rays*</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Blue Jays</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Orioles</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b></b></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL Central </b><br />1. Indians<br />2. Twins<br />3. White Sox<br />4. Tigers<br />5. Royals<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. Angels<br />3. Mariners</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Athletics<br />5. Rangers </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Phillies<br />2. Braves*<br />3. Mets*<br />4. Nationals<br />5. Marlins<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Brewers<br />2. Cubs<br />3. Cardinals<br />4. Pirates<br />5. Reds<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers<br />2. Diamondbacks<br />3. Rockies<br />4. </span>Padres</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Giants<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Red Sox<br />NL Champion: Phillies<br />World Series Champion: Red Sox, 4 games<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout<br />NL MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr.<br />AL Cy: James Paxton<br />NL Cy: Jacob deGrom<br />AL RoY: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<br />NL RoY: Pete Alonso<br />AL Manager: Alex Cora<br />NL Manager: Gabe Kapler</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge strikeouts: 202</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Clint Frazier home runs: 30</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gleyber Torres RBIs: 92</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Didi Gregorius games played: 18</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Troy Tulowitzki games played: 22</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">D.J. LeMahieu games played: 151 </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Zack Britton ERA: 4.89</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CC Sabathia strikeouts: 165 – <i>That gives him 3,151 for his career</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">James Paxton strikeouts: 228</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">James Paxton wins: 22</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">James Paxton ERA: 2.83</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-36394035649619078812019-04-20T13:38:00.005-04:002019-04-20T15:02:34.105-04:00Results from my 2018 MLB predictionsOf course, the one year I pick the Yankees to win it all the Red Sox win it instead.<br />
<br />
Weakest silver lining ever: I'm pretty sure this is my first year getting both of the Rookie of the Year picks right.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL East </b><br />1. Red Sox <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Yankees* <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Orioles <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Rays)</span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Blue Jays </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rays </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Orioles)<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b></b></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />AL Central </b><br />1. Indians <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Twins <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Tigers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. White Sox <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Royals <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Angels* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Athletics)<br />3. Mariners </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Rangers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Angels)<br />5. Athletics </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Rangers)</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Braves)<br />2. Phillies <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Nationals)<br />3. Mets <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Phillies)<br />4. Braves <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Mets)<br />5. Marlins <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Cubs <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Brewers)<br />2. Brewers* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Cubs)<br />3. Cardinals <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. Pirates <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Reds <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Rockies* <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Diamondbacks <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. </span>Padres <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Giants)</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Giants <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Padres)<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Red Sox)<br />NL Champion: Nationals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Dodgers)<br />World Series Champion: Yankees, 6 games <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Red Sox, 5 games)<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Mookie Betts)<br />NL MVP: Bryce Harper <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Christian Yelich)<br />AL Cy: Chris Sale <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Blake Snell)<br />NL Cy: Max Scherzer <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Jacob DeGrom)<br />AL RoY: Shohei Otani <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />NL RoY: Ronald Acuña <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />AL Manager: Aaron Boone <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Bob Melvin)<br />NL Manager: Craig Counsell </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (Brian Snitker)</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton & Gary Sanchez home runs: 126 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (83)</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Giancarlo Stanton & Aaron Judge walks: 233 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (146)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Giancarlo Stanton & Aaron Judge strikeouts: 322 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (363!!!)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Greg Bird games played: 98 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (82)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Gleyber Torres games played: 43 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (123)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Aaron Hicks runs: 86 – <i>He'll be hitting leadoff before you know it </i></span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (90)</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luis Severino wins: 21 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (19)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CC Sabathia ERA: 4.25 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (3.65)</div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aroldis Chapman saves: 29 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span></b> (32)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/2018-mlb-predictions-judge-stanton.html">2018</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2019/04/results-from-my-2018-mlb-predictions.html">2018</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-24530154756429976632018-04-06T17:16:00.000-04:002018-04-06T17:16:08.747-04:002018 MLB predictions: Judge, Stanton & SanchezFor starters, this is my 10th annual MLB predictions post. I feel old.<br />
<br />
I haven't picked the Yankees to win it all since my first two years on the job, and the first time I was right on the money. This year, the Yankees are actually a pretty safe bet to win it all, so I'll take my chances.<br />
<br />
Better late than never! Let's get right down to it:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL East </b><br />1. Red Sox<br />2. Yankees*<br />3. Orioles</span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Blue Jays</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rays</span><br />
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />AL Central </b><br />1. Indians<br />2. Twins<br />3. Tigers<br />4. White Sox<br />5. Royals<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. Angels*<br />3. Mariners</span></div>
<div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Rangers<br />5. Athletics </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals<br />2. Phillies<br />3. Mets<br />4. Braves<br />5. Marlins<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Cubs<br />2. Brewers*<br />3. Cardinals<br />4. Pirates<br />5. Reds<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers<br />2. Rockies*<br />3. Diamondbacks<br />4. </span>Padres</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Giants<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Yankees<br />NL Champion: Nationals<br />World Series Champion: Yankees, 6 games<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Mike Trout<br />NL MVP: Bryce Harper<br />AL Cy: Chris Sale<br />NL Cy: Max Scherzer<br />AL RoY: Shohei Otani<br />NL RoY: Ronald Acuña<br />AL Manager: Aaron Boone<br />NL Manager: Craig Counsell</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton & Gary Sanchez home runs: 126 </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Giancarlo Stanton & Aaron Judge walks: 233</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Giancarlo Stanton & Aaron Judge strikeouts: 322</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Greg Bird games played: 98 </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Gleyber Torres games played:: 43</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Aaron Hicks runs: 86 – <i>He'll be hitting leadoff before you know it</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luis Severino wins: 21</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CC Sabathia ERA: 4.25</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aroldis Chapman saves: 29</span><br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-12205497165265531972018-04-06T12:11:00.004-04:002018-04-06T12:17:06.007-04:00Results from my 2017 MLB predictions<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Despite all of my </span><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/02/7-reasons-why-yanks-could-fail-in-2018.html">reasons the Yankees could fail in 2018</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">, they have the </span><a href="https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/mlb/new-york-yankees-2018-world-series-odds/">third shortest odds to win the World Series</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">, right behind the Astros and the Dodgers.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now that the season has begun, let's take a look at how I did on last year's predictions. I hit .260 (13/50).</span><br />
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My most impressive prediction last year was picking the Astros to win it all.<br />
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My least impressive? Saying Aaron Judge’s “too many strikeouts will lead to a demotion.” Ha!<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>AL East </b><br />1. Red Sox <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Blue Jays* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Yankees)<br />3. Yankees* </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rays)<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Orioles </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Blue Jays)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rays </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Orioles)<br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />AL Central </b><br />1. Indians <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Royals <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Twins)<br />3. Tigers <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Royals)<br />4. Twins <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(White Sox)<br />5. White Sox <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Tigers)<br /><b><br /></b><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Mariners <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Angels)<br />3. Rangers </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Mariners)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Angels <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Rangers)<br />5. Athletics </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Mets* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Marlins)<br />3. Marlins <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Braves)<br />4. Phillies <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Mets)<br />5. Braves <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Phillies)<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Cubs <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Pirates* <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Brewers)<br />3. Cardinals <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. Brewers <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Pirates)<br />5. Reds <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Giants <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Diamondbacks)<br />3. Rockies <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />4. </span>Diamondbacks <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Padres)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Padres <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Giants)<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Astros <b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />NL Champion: Cubs <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Dodgers)<br />World Series Champion: Astros, 6 games <b style="color: blue;">CORRECT</b><i> (7 games, close enough) </i><br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Carlos Correa <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Jose Altuve, half a point!)<br />NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Giancarlo Stanton)<br />AL Cy: Chris Sale <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Corey Kluber)<br />NL Cy: Clayton Kershaw <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Max Scherzer)<br />AL RoY: Yoan Moncada <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Aaron Judge)<br />NL RoY: Dansby Swanson <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Cody Bellinger)<br />AL Manager: A.J. Hinch <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Paul Molitor)<br />NL Manager: Joe Maddon </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(Tony Lovullo)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Gary Sanchez home runs: 27 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(33)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Aaron Judge home runs: 18 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(52, oof)<br />
Greg Bird home runs: 32 <b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(9)<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Greg Bird OBP: .387 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(.288)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gleyber Torres at-bats: 0 </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luis Severino wins: 13 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(14, close!)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CC Sabathia ERA: 4.95 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(3.69)</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dellin Betances saves: 15 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(22)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aroldis Chapman saves: 33 </span><b style="color: red;">INCORRECT </b>(10)<br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/2017-mlb-predictions-sanchez-bird-judge.html">2017</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2018/04/results-from-my-2017-mlb-predictions.html">2017</a></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-80119569716129565072018-03-14T12:14:00.000-04:002018-03-14T12:16:55.081-04:00Q&A with Bryan Hoch, author of new Yankees book 'The Baby Bombers'<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIvlI76KXeV-4Goc3aBASSpoE-BPV8ofcDdv0SwUnugCy5E67rrvsg8YkqADAY59unq201x5bRAEozGUpgQmzdFfxZPZWGpwnCS3H9-IalWIDXxS1d6eKBKZJg4gYoc6h03-xFoNQxvk/s1600/20180313_091301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1507" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIvlI76KXeV-4Goc3aBASSpoE-BPV8ofcDdv0SwUnugCy5E67rrvsg8YkqADAY59unq201x5bRAEozGUpgQmzdFfxZPZWGpwnCS3H9-IalWIDXxS1d6eKBKZJg4gYoc6h03-xFoNQxvk/s200/20180313_091301.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>
Longtime Yankees beat reporter for MLB.com Bryan Hoch just released his first book, and it's definitely worth the read if you want to hear how the Yankees cultivated the next <i>potential</i> "Core Four."</div>
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Hoch features extensive detail on how the Yankees scouted and developed Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino and Greg Bird. Brian Cashman's key trades and near-trades over the past few seasons are also detailed like never before.</div>
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I breezed through my advance copy in about a week. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bombers-Inside-Yankees-Dynasty/dp/163576419X">Go pick up this book now.</a></div>
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If you're still looking for a reason to buy it, I'll let him tell you why you should, as Hoch was nice enough to hop on the phone with me for a 15-minute interview about the book and the current state of the Yankees.</div>
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<b>I’ve just finished reading it, but why should other fans pick up a copy of your book?</b></div>
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I hope it captures the excitement that fans have around this team right now. The concept beginning the book was how the Derek Jeter Yankees became the Aaron Judge Yankees. You know from watching the team last year that people really fell in love with these guys – the Judges, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Greg Bird – there’s so much excitement around the Bronx. For the first time in a very long time you can really see a future where the Yankees are gonna be good for a sustainable period of time and compete for championships year in and year out. I think watching these guys come up through the farm system, become stars at the big league level, get to experience New York for the first time. It’s not just that they’re young, it’s that they’re good. I think the sky really is the limit for what these guys can accomplish going forward. </div>
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<b>When did you get the idea to write this book?</b></div>
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I had been kicking the concept around in my mind for a while. It went into high gear around the All-Star break when Judge had that terrific performance at the Home Run Derby. The team was playing well, they were above expectations. There was so much excitement around the Bronx and it felt like you were in on the ground floor of something really special that people wanted to be a part of. </div>
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So I started pitching ideas around a little bit. It was initially just gonna be focusing on Judge but the more we dug into it, there was a better story to tell just as far as how this team transitioned so quickly from a veteran-laden, fading out ballclub to a team with a whole lot more tomorrows than yesterdays and so I was writing along with the pennant race in August and September, and obviously through the postseason as well, and we finally went to print sometime around the Giancarlo Stanton trade.</div>
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<b>And this is your first book, right? What was the process like finding a publisher and all that goes into it?</b></div>
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Yes, it is. You know it was a know experience for me. Fortunately, Diversion Books was very receptive to the idea. Scott Waxman the publisher is a big Yankees fan, so I think that was an easy sell on his part. The people in the Yankees organization – particularly Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, a lot of the players – understood the project and what I was trying to portray. They were very generous with their time too and it was really enjoyable to work on. </div>
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<b>The book features extensive detail from several members of the Yankees scouting team. Was there anything about the scouting process that you learned?</b></div>
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A ton. We all traced these guys going through the farm system, and you can look at their stats on the page but that doesn’t really tell the story of how these guys were scouted by the Yankees, how they were discovered. I really enjoyed those parts of the book. Talking to Troy Afenir who signed Aaron Judge, getting his story a little bit. This is a guy who played in the big leagues and had a few cups of coffee, then went into scouting. He’s kind of new on the job out there in California. He just inherited that territory and they gave him a list of players to go see and one of them is Aaron Judge. So he’s going to Fresno State. All of the sudden you see a 6-foot-7 monster playing center field and you say “Oh my god that’s a football player out there.” Then you find out he’s a baseball player and he can play a little bit. </div>
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Getting those insights and how they watched a guy like Judge play in a Cape Cod League game at Fenway Park, a showcase game, where he started crushing some home runs and really started making an impression on the Yankees. </div>
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And then going behind the scenes on draft day. Damon Oppenheimer, the scouting director, was really great as far as setting the picture there and taking me inside the thought process of how they were able to get Judge with the 32nd overall pick. </div>
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And then of course all the credit in the world to the Yankees coaches who developed him along the way to get him to the big league level. I feel like there’s a little aspects to this book, and, if you’re a Yankees fan, hopefully you’ll come away saying, “Wow, I didn’t know that.”</div>
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<b>What would you say to those who say it’s too early to write a book about Judge, Sanchez or Severino since they haven’t done enough in their careers yet to grace the cover of a book?</b></div>
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I guess that’s a fair criticism. They haven’t done it yet, as far as world championships, and obviously it’s easy to compare them against Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams. Those guys set the bar really, really high, winning four World Series in five years. I’m not saying that the new core of the Yankees is gonna do that, but having experienced where 2017 took this team, one win away from the World Series in a year when they weren’t expected to do a whole lot. Now that you’ve added Giancarlo Stanton to the mix, this team is certainly one of the favorites in the American League right now. </div>
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I think that you forecast 2018 and beyond, what they have here is the makings of a core that can really be sustainable. They’ve got the building blocks in place to be very good for a long period of time. That’s what I think everyone is looking at here. They’ve got a whole lot more tomorrows than yesterdays. We’ll see if it does turn out to be a Yankees dynasty, but I feel pretty confident that you’re going to be looking at a very good Yankees team for years to come. </div>
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<b>And not the next Shane Spencers and Shelley Duncans of the world?</b></div>
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[Laughs]. The thing with Shane Spencer and Shelley Duncan is they were never huge touted prospects the way these guys are. Gary Sanchez is not a fluke. They watched this guy at age 16 in the Dominican Republic. He looked like a college sophomore catcher even then. Every team was in on them. Every team was aware of who Aaron Judge was, even though 31 picks went by before he was selected. You look at Luis Severino now. This was not a fluke. There were people thinking he was going to be a relief pitcher for life, and he’s stepped up. </div>
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I love Shelley Duncan, I really do, he’s a great guy, but I don’t think anybody was looking at him as the Yankees’ first baseman or right fielder of the future. And Spencer had a good run in pinstripes too but I think that these guys are on another level from those guys.</div>
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<b>In your book you focused on the past two trade deadlines, and one of the outcomes of those deadlines was Gleyber Torres. Do you think he has a chance to join this Baby Bombers group, or will he forever be on the outside since he came up with the Cubs?</b></div>
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No, I think he can definitely be part of it. As far as being a Baby Bomber, this guy is obviously going to be a part of the Yankees infield sooner rather than later. I don’t know if it’s going to happen on Opening Day, but in this season you’re going to see him make his major league debut. I really do believe he would have gotten called up last year if he didn’t get hurt in June. Maybe it turns out the Yankees don’t trade for Todd Frazier, for example, because you could’ve plugged in Gleyber Torres at third base and I think they would have done just fine. He was tearing it up at Triple-A, and played well at Double-A. </div>
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Miguel Andujar is on the way as well. The amazing part about this Yankees team is that it’s not just Judge, Bird, Severino, Sanchez – there’s more coming. I think that’s what people should really know about this team. The pipeline is continuing to feed with Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Albert Abreu and Estevan Florial. And we get into them a little bit in the back of the book but as far as the next dynasty, that’s what’s cool about it. </div>
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<b>Do you think with Gleyber’s slow start, he’s pretty much counted himself out for Opening Day? <i>(Ed. note: our conversation happened before the Neil Walker signing.)</i></b></div>
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I thought that was going to be a longshot to begin with. The Yankees talked about how his service time was not going to be a consideration. I’m sure that if he’d torn the cover off the ball and hit about .480 all spring it would have made it a tough decision. There were guys on the coaching staff who were pulling for Torres to be on the Opening Day roster last year when Didi Gregorius went down to injury. It just makes too much sense considering he didn’t really play a whole lot at Triple-A last year. </div>
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People put a lot of focus on the Opening Day roster and who’s going to be on the team on March 29. I think Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar could play a lot of games with New York this year, so it doesn’t really matter if they’re there in March or early April.</div>
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<b>I can look at the stats and see who I think is impressing Aaron Boone and the Yankees coaching staff, but you’re a little closer to the action. Can you tell us which Yankees prospects are raising eyebrows?</b></div>
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I think Florial is really showing his stuff. People are so high on him, a five-tool outfielder. We’re not talking about him for 2018, it’s probably 2019 or maybe 2020 at the latest. This is a guy who’s easy to dream on. He can do it all on the baseball field. Really smart kid. He seems to be very well put together, handling it well. </div>
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In a lot of ways it reminds me of the way Torres was last spring and continues to be now in terms of being able to slow the game down. People talk a lot about the internal clock that these players have. Sometimes the moment gets too big, but I don’t think that’s the case with Torres or Florial. </div>
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He is definitely one that is standing out to me and I’m sure to Aaron Boone as well. Boone said he’s watched a lot of video and heard rave reviews from Tim Naehring, who’s an assistant to Brian Cashman. In the book, Naehring said that one of the most glowing reports he’s ever filed on a player was Estevan Florial. That’s a name that Yankees fans should know, even though it’s not going to be on the Opening Day roster.</div>
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<b>With the addition of Stanton, there's been a lot of talk about how Boone should structure the lineup. The idea of Judge hitting leadoff made headlines recently. What's your take?</b></div>
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The thing about Aaron Boone is no topic is off limits. He’ll consider anything. I really do expect that Judge is going to get most of his at-bats in the No. 2 spot. Boone had said he was considering between Judge and Stanton in the two-hole. I think he’s going to hit Judge second most often. I think Brett Gardner is going to play the majority of games in left field. He’ll leadoff a bunch. I think that’s an easy call. He put Aaron Hicks in the leadoff spot yesterday, which I thought was an interesting idea too. Maybe that’s something you see during the course of the year. I know he’s talked about maybe wanting to hit Judge and Stanton back-to-back but I think he’s going to probably have a lefty in there to break them up, whether that’s Greg Bird or Didi Gregorius. </div>
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There’s a lot of different ways that he can go. It’s funny, I was thinking coming into spring training: Scoring runs is not going to be this team’s problem. So we can all debate how the lineup goes, but I think he could bat them alphabetically, he could bat them by height, I think they’re gonna score runs. They’re gonna be just fine no matter where Judge hits. </div>
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<b>With J.D. Martinez finally signing with the Red Sox, are they still the team to beat in the East?</b></div>
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They have to be. They took the division last year. They have to make up that two-game gap. You have to prove it on the field. People are talking about how Stanton is going to affect the clubhouse chemistry. I think it’s going to be just fine because he doesn’t have to be the man, he just has to be one of the men. He’s kind of the icing that, in theory, is going to put this time over the top. </div>
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I can’t wait to see what it’s going to be like when Stanton goes into Fenway Park for the first time. It’s going to be a whole lot of fun to watch. Considering the way the season ended last year, and forgetting the postseason, Boston is still gotta be the team to beat. That’s the mindset the Yankees have to have. If they want to be the AL East champions, you’ve got to go through Boston. </div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-76735289193182948412018-02-22T19:04:00.000-05:002018-02-22T19:23:59.504-05:007 reasons why the Yanks could fail in 2018<div>
Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot of hope for the Yankees in 2018. But it won’t be easy. The AL East is still the deepest division in baseball, and while the Yankees made the biggest move of the offseason to acquire Giancarlo Stanton, now they have a target on their backs. </div>
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Plus, a lot of things could very easily go wrong with this team. Here are seven of the biggest concerns I have with this squad.</div>
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<b>1. We can’t expect so many career years again</b></div>
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Let’s get real for a second: it all came together for the Yankees in 2017. Luis Severino, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, Starlin Castro, Ronald Torreyes and Chad Green all had monster seasons. That’s a lot to live up to this year, as all are back with the exception of Castro. Realistically, maybe one of this bunch will be able to improve on last season, while the rest will likely not be able to match their magical 2017 campaign.<br />
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<b>2. Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres are coming off offseason surgeries</b></div>
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Both in their left arms, thank goodness, but that’s still a pretty pivotal part of a ballplayer. I expect to see Torres debut in the Bronx around May 4 (giving the Yankees an extra year of control over him), and I really have a hard time seeing him thrive like Judge and Sanchez have the last two seasons.</div>
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As for Judge, he admitted in a recent spring training presser that he started feeling his shoulder injury last July, right when his season took a turn for the worst. While it’s refreshing to know his slump was caused by an injury, it’s still a little scary to know that his left shoulder gave out after just half a season. I’m sure it would be hard for him to do this, but maybe he should consider bowing out of the Home Run Derby this season to avoid the extra wear and tear.</div>
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<b>3. The rotation could collapse</b></div>
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Don’t believe me? Here’s a quick rundown of troubling signs: </div>
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<li>Severino turns 24 on Tuesday, and he tossed a career high 193.1 innings in 2017.</li>
<li>Jordan Montgomery also tossed a career high of 163.1 innings (including a few in the minors) in 2017. </li>
<li>CC Sabathia turns 38 in July and last season we started to see opposing hitters testing his knees with bunts.</li>
<li>Masahiro Tanaka allowed an unsettling career high of 35 homers in 2017.</li>
<li>Sonny Gray hasn’t started 30 games in a season since 2015.</li>
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<b>4. Stanton’s learning curve</b></div>
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In 527 plate appearances (roughly one season), Stanton owns a.796 OPS against American League teams (118 points less than his career average). Small sample size, but he’s also been terrible against all AL East opponents except for Toronto (and the Yankees). This division is no joke – Stanton has some studying to do. </div>
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<b>5. Relievers are extremely inconsistent</b></div>
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On paper, the Yankees look like they have one of the best bullpens in baseball again. But “on paper” doesn’t hold a whole lot of weight when it comes to relievers. I have confidence in David Robertson, and that’s about it. In case you didn’t notice, Aroldis Chapman had a 3.22 ERA last season. Oh, and Dellin Betances completely lost control of his fastball down the stretch. Can we really expect Chad Green and Tommy Kahnle to be lights out again? Perhaps they will, but there’s a good chance at least one of these guys won’t be able to keep their job in 2018.</div>
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<b>6. An infield with a lot to learn</b></div>
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Three of the four infielders have yet to play a full major league season, and two of them are still relatively new to their positions. That’s a lot of defensive inexperience at key positions. I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot more of Torreyes this year as Miguel Andujar and Torres battle through their rookie seasons. And Didi is really going to have to hold down the fort.<br />
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<b>7. Little coaching experience</b></div>
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Aaron Boone has never managed a team in his life, and the rest of his coaching staff are new to the Yankees except pitching coach Larry Rothschild and bullpen coach Mike Harkey. It's not hard to foresee a new coaching staff lose control of a young team.</div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-13998943252943551012018-02-19T11:57:00.000-05:002018-02-27T13:16:09.258-05:00Yankees Games to Watch in 2018<div>
It’s Feb. 19. The Yankees’ first game of 2018 is just a few days away, and there’s something different buzzing around camp than there has in recent years.</div>
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Last year they were the underdogs, but then they overachieved and fell one game short of the World Series. As CC Sabathia said over the offseason, the Yankees have reclaimed their Evil Empire status with the acquisition of reigning MVP Giancarlo Stanton. </div>
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They’re back to being hated.<br />
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With that in mind, and given the excitement for the season ahead, I wanted to take a closer look at some of the most-anticipated matchups slated on their schedule.<br />
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<b><u>Opening Day</u></b></div>
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<b>@ Blue Jays</b></div>
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<i>Thursday 3/29, 3:37 p.m. </i></div>
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After Masahiro Tanaka’s up-and-down 2017 and Luis Severino’s re-emergence, I expect Sevy to get the call for his first career Opening Day start.</div>
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<b><u>Home Opener</u></b></div>
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<b>vs. Rays</b></div>
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<i>Monday 4/2, 1:05 p.m.</i></div>
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It will likely be the most packed the stadium will be all season long (until October). And who’s lined up to make the big start? No. 5 starter Jordan Montgomery. He’s got an awful lot to live up to – Michael Pineda nearly tossed a no-no in last year’s opener.</div>
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<b><u>Red Sox Rivalry Rekindles</u></b></div>
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<b>@ Red Sox</b></div>
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<i>Tuesday 4/10, 7:10 p.m.</i></div>
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With or without J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox figure to be the Yankees’ stiffest competition in the AL East. The greatest rivalry in sports figures to have a new spark to it this year with the Yankees being hated more than ever, and you know Stanton will be hearing the Fenway Faithful’s boos.</div>
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<b><u>First Shot at Revenge</u></b></div>
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<b>@ Astros</b></div>
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<i>Monday 4/30, 8:10 p.m.</i></div>
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The Astros managed to get even better than they were in 2017 with the addition of SP Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2008 who elected to attend UCLA instead of coming to the Bronx. Let’s hope they don’t have to face Cole in this series.</div>
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<b><u>Red Sox Rivalry Rekindles (at Home)</u></b></div>
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<b>vs. Red Sox</b></div>
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<i>Tuesday 5/8, 7:05 p.m.</i></div>
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The first time the Red Sox visit the Bronx in 2018. Should be fun.</div>
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<b><u>First Shot at Revenge (at Home)</u></b></div>
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<b>vs. Astros</b></div>
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<i>Monday 5/28, 1:05 p.m.</i></div>
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This is probably the most-anticipated regular season game for the Yankees and their fans, as Yankee Stadium will be rockin’. I already have my tickets for Tuesday’s game, which may be even crazier than Monday since it’s at night and a lot of fans have this crazy thing called work during the week.</div>
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<b><u>Old Timers’ Day</u></b></div>
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<b>vs. Rays</b></div>
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<i>Sunday 6/17, 2:05 p.m.</i></div>
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A tradition that’s spanned over 70 years continues on this day, which also happens to be Fathers’ Day and my sister’s birthday. Goose Gossage wasn’t invited to spring training this year, but will he get the call for OTD? I think not!</div>
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<b><u>Home Run Derby</u></b></div>
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<b>@ Nationals Park</b></div>
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<i>Monday 7/16</i></div>
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Many say the 2018 Yankees have as good a chance as any team to break the single-season home run record. Stanton, Aaron Judge & Gary Sanchez all competed in last year’s event with Judge prevailing in style. Will all three Yankees compete in 2018? I hope so.</div>
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<b><u>Subway Series</u></b></div>
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<b>vs. Mets</b></div>
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<i>Friday 7/20, 7:05 p.m.</i></div>
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The Mets don’t have a ton of expectations after their entire pitching staff went down last season, which sets them up as underdogs in 2018. Don’t be surprised if they’re still in the hunt at this point. The Yankees will visit the Mets in Flushing in June, but this will be their one and only series with their cross-town rivals in the Bronx (unless they meet in the World Series, of course… ha!).</div>
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<b><u>Giancarlo’s Return</u></b></div>
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<b>@ Marlins</b></div>
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<i>Tuesday 8/21, 7:10 p.m.</i></div>
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Who will receive louder boos in Miami this series: Stanton or Derek Jeter?</div>
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<b><u>The Final Stretch</u></b></div>
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<b>vs. AL East</b></div>
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<i>Friday 9/14 - Sunday 9/30</i></div>
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Two series against the Red Sox, the rest against AL East teams. The final three games are in Boston. Wow. The second half of September should be a ton of fun.</div>
Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-76666501536842184472017-10-12T16:34:00.002-04:002017-10-12T18:10:28.374-04:00Yankees Postseason Gear: Pinstripe Judge Robe, Sir Didi Shirt & MoreAfter Joe Girardi's Game 2 gaffe I thought the Yankees were done. But then when I was at the Stadium for Game 4, I saw a team playing with a lot of heart. And then Todd Frazier confirmed that after the Yankees polished off the Indians in Game 5 last night when he said, "This one is for Joe."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2kJWs6t8TvCfpQQ7qJjAbFr5qG1IcRUYx5l6GRPrx5WNTs3sF1ggv-e7BduHl2VYXrjHHV4oJBbhANMqDqdV6xL8dK58es7vfaLbfmWcru9itZtlg1h-KUkaLgGH1MbqCt44ijiVGK8/s1600/robe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2kJWs6t8TvCfpQQ7qJjAbFr5qG1IcRUYx5l6GRPrx5WNTs3sF1ggv-e7BduHl2VYXrjHHV4oJBbhANMqDqdV6xL8dK58es7vfaLbfmWcru9itZtlg1h-KUkaLgGH1MbqCt44ijiVGK8/s200/robe.jpeg" width="200" /></a>What a time to be a fan. As the ALCS is set to begin Friday night, it's time to gear up. Literally. <a href="http://goo.gl/3zjDh8" target="_blank">Check out this Pinstripe Judge Robe.</a></div>
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I'm a big fan, despite his record-setting 16 strikeout performance in the ALDS.</div>
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And who doesn't love "Sir Didi" Gregorius? <a href="http://shrsl.com/kszr" target="_blank">I love this spin on a classic T.</a></div>
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<i>Disclosure: I will receive a 10% commission on any purchase made on MLBShop.com. Happy shopping!</i> </div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-38868491333180043862017-04-02T12:16:00.000-04:002017-04-02T12:16:02.969-04:002017 MLB predictions: Sanchez, Bird & Judge<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Without a doubt, these 2017 Yankees are the most exciting I've ever covered on this blog, which dates back to 2009. What a good year that was to start a Yankees blog, am I right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Anyhow, with names like Gary Sanchez, Greg Bird and Aaron Judge slotted in the Opening Day starting lineup, how can you not be pumped? Are these three the next Jorge Posada, Tino Martinez and Paul O'Neill? Only time will tell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">And let's not forget about Gleyber Torres, the blue-chip prospect the Yankees received in last year's Aroldis Chapman trade with the Cubs. With Didi Gregorius sidelined to start the season (shoulder), it's possible Torres makes a Sanchezesque rise to the Show later this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">As for the team's fate, unfortunately, the AL East remains one of the most competitive divisions in all of baseball. The Red Sox are the heavy favorites despite losing David Ortiz to retirement, and the Orioles and Blue Jays are still loaded too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">The Yankees' offense looks to be much improved with a full season of Sanchez and Bird at the top of the order, plus a seemingly healthy Matt Holliday inserted at DH. Their bullpen also looks almost as good as last year, as Chapman is back in pinstripes after helping the Cubs break their curse. However, the Yankees' success will come down to starting pitching, as it usually does. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">After Masahiro Tanaka, there are a lot of question marks. Can CC Sabathia keep it together for another year? Will Michael Pineda's numbers match his electrifying stuff, for once? And which Luis Severino will we see: the 2015 dominant young stud or the 2016 bust? </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b><b>AL East </b><br />1. Red Sox<br />2. Blue Jays*<br />3. Yankees*</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Orioles</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rays</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />AL Central </b><br />1. Indians<br />2. Royals<br />3. Tigers<br />4. Twins<br />5. White Sox<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. Mariners<br />3. Rangers</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Angels<br />5. Athletics </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals<br />2. Mets*<br />3. Marlins<br />4. Phillies<br />5. Braves<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Cubs<br />2. Pirates*<br />3. Cardinals<br />4. Brewers<br />5. Reds<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Dodgers<br />2. Giants<br />3. Rockies<br />4. </span>Diamondbacks</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Padres<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Astros<br />NL Champion: Cubs<br />World Series Champion: Astros, 6 games<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Carlos Correa –<i> I was a year too soon with this pick last year</i><br />NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw<br />AL Cy: Chris Sale<br />NL Cy: Clayton Kershaw<br />AL RoY: Yoan Moncada<br />NL RoY: Dansby Swanson<br />AL Manager: A.J. Hinch<br />NL Manager: Joe Maddon</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Gary Sanchez home runs: 27 </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Aaron Judge home runs: 18 – <i>too many strikeouts will lead to a demotion</i></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Greg Bird home runs: 32</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Greg Bird OBP: .387 – <i>The Bird Watcher</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Gleyber Torres at-bats: 0</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luis Severino wins: 13 </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">CC Sabathia ERA: 4.95</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dellin Betances saves: 15</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aroldis Chapman saves: 33</span><br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-37912799364296866032017-04-01T16:34:00.001-04:002017-04-01T16:34:43.318-04:00Results from my 2016 MLB predictions<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Kris Bryant made me look good for the second year in a row, taking home the NL MVP a year after being named Rookie of the Year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Other than that, and a fluke NL East prediction, I didn't do so hot, as usual. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b><b>AL East </b><br />1. Blue Jays <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Red Sox)<br />2. Yankees* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Orioles*)<br />3. Red Sox </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Blue Jays*)<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Orioles </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Yankees, 4th place but with a winning record of 84-78)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rays </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />AL Central </b><br />1. Royals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Indians)<br />2. Indians <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Tigers)<br />3. White Sox <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Royals)<br />4. Tigers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(White Sox)<br />5. Twins<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Rangers)<br />2. Angels* <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Mariners)<br />3. Rangers </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Astros)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Athletics <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Angels)<br />5. Mariners </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Athletics)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />2. Mets*<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Marlins</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Phillies<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Braves<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Pirates <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Cubs)<br />2. Cardinals*<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />3. Cubs <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Pirates)<br />4. Brewers<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />5. Reds<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Giants <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Dodgers)<br />2. Dodgers <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Giants*)<br />3. Diamondbacks <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Rockies)<br />4. Padres </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Diamondbacks)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Rockies <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Padres)<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Astros <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Indians)<br />NL Champion: Nationals <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Cubs)<br />World Series Champion: Nationals, 6 games <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Cubs, 7 games)<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Carlos Correa <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Mike Trout)<br />NL MVP: Kris Bryant<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />AL Cy: Felix Hernandez <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Rick Porcello)<br />NL Cy: Jacob deGrom <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Max Scherzer)<br />AL RoY: Byron Buxton <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Michael Fulmer, should have been El Gary Sanchez)<br />NL RoY: Corey Seager<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><b><span style="color: blue;">CORRECT</span></b><br />AL Manager: A.J. Hinch <b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Terry Francona)<br />NL Manager: Clint Hurdle </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(Dave Roberts)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Alex Rodriguez home runs: 26 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(9, good luck in the studio, Alex)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Brett Gardner SBs: 30 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(16, not what you want from your speedy leadoff guy)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Starlin Castro AVG: .299 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(.270)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luis Severino wins: 18 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(3, ouch)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Michael Pineda ERA: 4.22 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(4.82)</div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dellin Betances holds: 35 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(28, close)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Andrew Miller saves: 10 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(9, sooo close)</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aroldis Chapman saves: 31 </span><b><span style="color: red;">INCORRECT</span> </b>(36: 20 with Yankees, 16 with Cubs)<br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/2016-mlb-predictions-rods-home-run.html" target="_blank">2016</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | 2011 | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2017/04/results-from-my-2016-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2016</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-7003104100994003832017-02-08T09:07:00.000-05:002017-02-08T09:07:00.149-05:00Gary Sanchez honored at Thurman Munson Awards dinner<div>
We all know the tragic ending to Thurman Munson's life in 1979. But to truly understand the magnitude of the impact he left on the Yankees community, baseball, and all New York sports teams, you've got to find yourself a seat at the annual charity dinner created in his honor.</div>
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And that's where I found myself last night: at the 37th Thurman Munson Awards dinner along with fellow New York sports bloggers and beat reporters, all organized by Thurman's widow, Diana. The awards are presented for success and inspiration on the fields of play and community spirit off the field.</div>
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This year's recipients included Victor Cruz, Wilmer Flores, and Gary Sanchez. Sanchez made a bit of news in the pre-dinner press conference by officially declaring he would not participate in the World Baseball Classic.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvPmaWOVpxbrkZbMeEsJctELdcN_vN6uOLAAk9BTU-v8dHelr7NQUNCN-xdnzJB8r84RxGkr6pYlDAOcTKhN2iVOnmI8NsJo4oFykSkk_xQv-ehfMq1-Dgy1C1-x9NDbXR7ZIloyY2DI/s1600/20170207_171811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvPmaWOVpxbrkZbMeEsJctELdcN_vN6uOLAAk9BTU-v8dHelr7NQUNCN-xdnzJB8r84RxGkr6pYlDAOcTKhN2iVOnmI8NsJo4oFykSkk_xQv-ehfMq1-Dgy1C1-x9NDbXR7ZIloyY2DI/s320/20170207_171811.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Sanchez answers questions from a mob of media. </td></tr>
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"I actually said yes initially," Sanchez said through his interpreter. "This last week, I spoke to my family, and the more I thought about it the more I felt I had to be in spring training for the full spring training to get ready for the season."</div>
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Sanchez, who showed up to the dinner with a beard that Mr. Steinbrenner would not be so fond of, shied away from the idea of being the new face of the franchise. Still, it was hard not to draw comparisons of him to Munson, so I asked a couple of Munson's teammates what they thought about last year's rookie sensation.</div>
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Bucky Dent said, "Gary's got a bright future. Thurman was our captain, our leader, just a great catcher, great player. Gary has that ability to go on and do the same thing." And Graig Nettles added, "Well, I don't know about being a captain, but if he keeps doing what he's doing he's gonna have a long career."</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4s_5kA859gRHQnv2-_gwOSdpfBsQZPiRhq73hE54Cm-0YA_VZSqwtJiN7XQGXrW0MNXv-Qs0g85UysMjj7cSLZrwnk2p4E81nSK2X8jF4L3IPoZ7xhkMAyT3UyQ5AGrGUaxUarpowhg/s1600/20170207_173708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4s_5kA859gRHQnv2-_gwOSdpfBsQZPiRhq73hE54Cm-0YA_VZSqwtJiN7XQGXrW0MNXv-Qs0g85UysMjj7cSLZrwnk2p4E81nSK2X8jF4L3IPoZ7xhkMAyT3UyQ5AGrGUaxUarpowhg/s320/20170207_173708.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left to right: Roy White, Bucky Dent, Graig Nettles, Diana Munson, Victor Cruz, Gary Sanchez, and Wilmer Flores.</td></tr>
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Dent and Nettles were honored at the dinner and were introduced by Diana and Michael Kay, respectively.</div>
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Over the years this annual dinner has raised nearly $15 million for the AHRC New York City Foundation, which aids children and adults who have intellectual and development disabilities.</div>
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All in all, it was a very classy evening filled with one moving speech after another. Read on for more nuggets from the honorees and about Thurman's legacy.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3naypmC83quJzbYsECfsPWqdZbuTFHgkrEZXZlU8vwL8h_mceMfBiXzgEkwUjK9-PtRpy2XutZlbZMp6lxxjBDK_I41EvrHbttPpdFsGBs41_XRD7uqxEbhmxBzPVeyF-U1ALRk5a0Lo/s1600/20170207_172408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3naypmC83quJzbYsECfsPWqdZbuTFHgkrEZXZlU8vwL8h_mceMfBiXzgEkwUjK9-PtRpy2XutZlbZMp6lxxjBDK_I41EvrHbttPpdFsGBs41_XRD7uqxEbhmxBzPVeyF-U1ALRk5a0Lo/s320/20170207_172408.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanchez showed up unshaven.</td></tr>
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<b>Sanchez on his outlook for 2017:</b></div>
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"I've actually always been a slow starter. I am approaching this spring training with a lot of intensity and I'm not resting on my laurels after the two months that I had last season."</div>
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<b>Sanchez on the beard he was sporting:</b></div>
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He's shaving his beard today and then flying down Tampa.</div>
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<b>Sanchez on getting to know Yankees' pitchers:</b></div>
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"I was only up for two months, so there's still a lot to learn from catching those guys on a more regular basis. And I think we'll be able to help each out during the season."</div>
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<b>Dent on what it means to be a captain:</b></div>
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"His toughness as a player and the way he played the game. He made everyone else pick up their game because of the way he played. He would always say things to you to get you motivated."</div>
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<b>Nettles on what made Thurman such a good captain:</b></div>
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"He played every day whether he was hurt or not. He was our leader."</div>
Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-13699185520976455142016-07-01T20:08:00.001-04:002016-07-01T20:09:39.357-04:00Yankees Fans: It’s time to #TakeBackTV <i>This blog post is part of a paid Megan Media and Sling TV blogging program. I received payment and a free Sling TV trial in exchange for providing my review. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own.</i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/us1MT26mWu8" width="400"></iframe><br />
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When <a href="http://bit.ly/1OnIWkd" target="_blank">Sling TV</a> reached out about trying their service, I was skeptical. I thought, “Wait, so they want to send me another one of those boxes to sit on top of my Time Warner box?” But I kept listening. It turns out that <a href="http://bit.ly/1OnIWkd" target="_blank">Sling TV</a> is not the same as Slingbox – it’s way better.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
As you can see in the video above, <a href="http://bit.ly/1OnIWkd" target="_blank">Sling TV</a> is an alternative to traditional cable. No more boxes. No more absurd fees and bills. Just a monthly $20 payment for their Sling Orange, the single-stream package, or $25 for Sling Blue, the multi-stream offering. <a href="https://www.sling.com/service/compare" target="_blank">Check out the differences here.</a> And if you click through, below the comparison of the two plans you’ll find other Extras that include more sports, comedy, and premium channels, starting at $5 more per month.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpnF9YFd-Zha2ODn0T6tZByyV7wxDMKQRJV80jkwKCqu3j9WZ0QaTwmyal4u1kVkV78jF8XL2D8dF1Izv0rMu9pwN8CI3_vFzPUJQ9yxD7wVOPMCObNYw0VefB1k5AySsJ1ef8IQNclw/s1600/slingtv.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlpnF9YFd-Zha2ODn0T6tZByyV7wxDMKQRJV80jkwKCqu3j9WZ0QaTwmyal4u1kVkV78jF8XL2D8dF1Izv0rMu9pwN8CI3_vFzPUJQ9yxD7wVOPMCObNYw0VefB1k5AySsJ1ef8IQNclw/s200/slingtv.png" width="200" /></a></div>
But as it pertains to this blog and watching the Yankees, if you sign up for Sling Blue, you’ll have access to the YES Network (and the rest of the channels linked above). Pretty sweet.<br />
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As part of their campaign, Sling TV let me try their service for a month. I haven’t completed the full trial yet but I totally see the appeal. Sling TV is compatible with streaming devices such as Chromecast, Roku and, most recently, Apple TV. This is what makes <a href="http://bit.ly/1OnIWkd" target="_blank">Sling TV</a> an actual alternative to your traditional cable provider.<br />
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But my favorite feature is being able to watch on the go. The app is easy to use, letting me search for the programs I want and loading channels quickly.<br />
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Time Warner & Co. should be scared. Cord cutters finally have a better option than illegally streaming online. <a href="http://bit.ly/1OnIWkd" target="_blank">Sling TV</a> is the Netflix for live TV. It’s time to #TakeBackTV.Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-618006668972599382016-04-11T12:49:00.000-04:002016-04-11T12:49:02.614-04:002016 MLB predictions: A-Rod's home run count, Severino victories, Chapman saves<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Better late than never!</span></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br /></b><b>AL East </b><br />1. Blue Jays<br />2. Yankees*<br />3. Red Sox </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">4. Orioles</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">5. Rays</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />AL Central </b><br />1. Royals<br />2. Indians<br />3. White Sox<br />4. Tigers<br />5. Twins<br /><br /><b>AL West </b><br />1. Astros<br />2. Angels*<br />3. Rangers</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Athletics<br />5. Mariners </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><br />NL East </b><br />1. Nationals<br />2. Mets*<br />3. Marlins<br />4. Phillies<br />5. Braves<br /><br /><b>NL Central </b><br />1. Pirates<br />2. Cardinals*<br />3. Cubs*<br />4. Brewers<br />5. Reds<br /><br /><b>NL West </b><br />1. Giants<br />2. Dodgers<br />3. Diamondbacks<br />4. Padres</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Rockies<br /><br /><i>*Wild Card Winner </i><br /><br /><b>Playoffs</b><br />AL Champion: Astros<br />NL Champion: Nationals<br />World Series Champion: Nationals, 6 games<br /><br /><b>Awards</b><br />AL MVP: Carlos Correa<br />NL MVP: Kris Bryant<br />AL Cy: Felix Hernandez<br />NL Cy: Jacob deGrom<br />AL RoY: Byron Buxton<br />NL RoY: Corey Seager<br />AL Manager: A.J. Hinch<br />NL Manager: Clint Hurdle</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /><b>Yankee Stats </b><br />Alex Rodriguez home runs: 26 – <i>so he'll fall one shy of Ruth's record!</i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Brett Gardner SBs: 30</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Starlin Castro AVG: .299</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luis Severino wins: 18</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Michael Pineda ERA: 4.22</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dellin Betances holds: 35</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Andrew Miller saves: 10</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aroldis Chapman saves: 31</span><br />
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<b>Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a></div>
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<b>Results</b></div>
<a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" target="_blank">2010</a> | 2011 | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5331349704853105772.post-50901946234096679872016-04-05T10:09:00.000-04:002016-04-05T10:09:04.884-04:00Results from my 2015 MLB predictionsFor just the third time in seven years of preseason predictions, I predicted where the Yankees would fall in the standings. <div>
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And on the flip side, of the 16 awards & stats predictions, I got just one correct. And it was the one everyone got: NL RoY – Kris Bryant.</div>
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Just for the record, you can find the complete results below and see just how far off I was on my Luis Severino prediction.<br /><div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #0d0000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #0d0000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AL East </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />1. Red Sox </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #0d0000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> (Blue Jays)<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2. Yankees* </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><b>CORRECT</b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="color: #0d0000;">3. Blue Jays </span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #0d0000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> (Orioles)</span><br style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #0d0000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><div style="background-color: #f8f8f8; color: #0d0000; font-family: Trebuchet, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4. Orioles </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Rays)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0d0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5. Rays </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: #0d0000; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Red Sox)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><div style="color: #0d0000; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AL Central </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />1. Tigers <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Royals)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2. Indians <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Twins)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />3. Royals <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Indians)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />4. White Sox <b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />5. Twins <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Tigers)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AL West </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />1. Mariners <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Rangers)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2. Athletics* <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Astros)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />3. Angels </span><b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4. Rangers <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Mariners)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />5. Astros </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Athletics)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />NL East </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />1. Nationals <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Mets)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2. Marlins* <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Nationals)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />3. Mets <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Marlins)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />4. Braves <b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />5. Phillies <b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NL Central </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />1. Pirates <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Cardinals)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2. Cubs* <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Pirates)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />3. Cardinals <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Cubs)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />4. Brewers <b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />5. Reds <b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">NL West </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />1. Dodgers <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b> </span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />2. Giants <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b></span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />3. Rockies <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Diamondbacks)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />4. Padres </span><b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5. Diamondbacks <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Rockies)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><i style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">*Wild Card Winner </i><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Playoffs</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AL Champion: Mariners <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Royals)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />NL Champion: Dodgers <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Mets)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />World Series Champion: Dodgers, 6 games <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Royals, 5 games)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Awards</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AL MVP: Robinson Cano <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Josh Donaldson)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />NL MVP: Yasiel Puig <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (oof, Bryce Harper)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AL Cy: Felix Hernandez <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Dallas Keuchel)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />NL Cy: Stephen Strasburg <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Jake Arrieta)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AL RoY: Kendall Graveman <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Carlos Correa)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />NL RoY: Kris Bryant <b style="color: blue; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px;">CORRECT</b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />AL Manager: Terry Francona <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Jeff Banister)</span><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />NL Manager: Bruce Bochy </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (Joe Maddon)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Yankee Stats </b><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Alex Rodriguez home runs: 24 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (33)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Carlos Beltran RBIs: 74 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (67)</span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jacoby Ellsbury OBP: .349 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (.318)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Masahiro Tanaka games stared: 29 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (24)</span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">CC Sabathia ERA: 3.91 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (4.73)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Dellin Betances saves: 21 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (9)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Andrew Miller saves: 19 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (36)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luis Severino holds: 10 </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); color: black; font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>INCORRECT</b></span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 13.76px; line-height: 22.016px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> (0, whoops)</span></div>
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<b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Previous Predictions</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/07/mlb-preseason-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/04/2010-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2010</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2011/03/2011-mlb-preseason-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2011</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2012/04/2012-mlb-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/2013-mlb-predictions-from-rods-hbp.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/2014-mlb-predictions-tanaka-jeter-trout.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/2015-mlb-predictions-yankees-mets-rod.html">2015</a></span></div>
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<b style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Results</b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2009/11/i-completely-mispredicted-2009.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2009</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2010/11/i-went-10-for-50-in-my-2010-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2010</a> | 2011 | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2013/03/results-for-my-2012-mlb-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2012</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2014/03/results-for-my-2013-mlb-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" target="_blank">2013</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2015/04/results-for-my-2014-mlb-predictions.html" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2014</a> | <a href="http://www.lennysyankees.com/2016/04/results-from-my-2015-mlb-predictions.html">2015</a></span></div>
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Lenny Neslinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09674248370503916974noreply@blogger.com0