Welcome to The Big Fly. This goes for me as well! My name is Brett Underwood, writer of The Dugout and Cameron White’s roommate. Cameron was generous enough to allow me the opportunity to drop by on his blog and make a guest post. Cameron has done a great job of giving you a season preview and providing a little insight on some of the standout players who could have big seasons.
In this post, I am going to make some bold predictions. When I say bold predictions, I mean that these things are not likely to happen, in fact, they probably will not. They are, however, possible. So here we go…
- Brian Matusz gets 20 wins and has an ERA under 3.50.
- The Orioles have to win around 60 games this year, right? Why not win them when your most talented starter is on the mound? This up-and-coming pitcher just turned 24 and already has a little over a year in the majors under his belt.
- Matusz finished the season going 7-1 last season in August, September and 1 start in October. I’m envisioning that momentum will carry into this 2011 season.
- Billy Butler will hit 30 home runs, drive in 110 runs and still hit .300 (this is assuming at least 110 guys get on base in front of him in that hideous Kansas City lineup).
- I am a huge fan of Billy Butler. He is beginning his 5th season in the majors and he is primed for an explosion. He surprised many with his 21 HR, 93 RBI season in 2009.
- The power numbers dropped slightly last season, but he cut back on his strikeouts and increased his walks. He also jumped from a .301 batting average to .318 from 2009 to 2010. This season, his 45 doubles from last year start carrying over the wall and the power numbers rise drastically.
- Jimmy Rollins stays healthy! That is bold enough, but I’m also predicting that he makes a jump back towards the MVP type player he was in 2007. With this jump will come 20 home runs, 40 stolen bases and a .280 batting average.
- With Chase Utley’s health in question, there have come questions about this Phillies offense. 10 year veteran, Rollins, will step up and prove the doubters wrong.
- With the loss of some Utley home runs, Rollins is likely to run more than usual and try to find more ways to get on base. Getting on base brings about confidence, and Rollins has shown that when he is healthy and confident, he is one of the best in the league.
- Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun combine for 80 home runs (that’s right, I said 80).
- In the final year of his contract, Prince Fielder is now out to earn a paycheck. He will also be turning 27 in May which has proven to be a peak year for many players. Last year was arguably his worst in his 6 year career and he is a man (and a big one) on a mission.
- Braun, also at the magical age of 27, has hit more than 30 homers in 3 out of 4 seasons (last year he hit 25), including 37 in 2008. This guy is a flat out star and one who you might find near the top of the MVP voting come seasons end.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates finish 4th in the National League Central.
- Go ahead and laugh now, this team is not far off. While the starting rotation may not be up to par (I am sugar-coating that as much as possible), there is a lot of young talent in that lineup.
- Look for Andrew McCutchen to lead a young and determined bunch to somewhere around 70-75 wins, which will be good enough for a 4th place finish.
- Gordon Beckham hits .300 with 25 home runs.
- To be honest, the only reason I am putting this is because Cameron drafts him every year in our fantasy league, and the way I see it, at some point it will work out for him.
- In 103 games in 2009, Beckham hit 14 home runs and proved that he has the ability to hit at the major league level. This kid’s talent cannot be denied and it is only a matter of time before he starts to produce. Hopefully for Cameron’s sake it is this year and it’s not another season where a fantasy pick is wasted on the White Sox second baseman.
- Miguel Cabrera does NOT get a DUI during the season!
- That could possibly be the boldest prediction yet, but I am a big Miguel Cabrera fan and am pulling for him to step away from the alcohol.
- Mark Teixiera finishes top 3 in MVP voting.
- If Teixiera could find some way to put together just an average April and May, there is no doubt in my mind he would finish near the top.
- Known for his slow starts, he always finds a way to hit 30+ home runs, drive in 100+ runs and hit close to .300 (excluding a horrid .256 last season). Imagine what his numbers could be if he didn’t waste the first 2 months of the year.
- John Danks finishes top 3 in Cy Young voting.
- Danks went a quiet 15-11 last season with a 3.72 Earned Run Average. If you have not seen Danks pitch, you need to tune in for a game. He has made a name for himself in the Windy City and it will not be long before the rest of the country realizes how good he is.
- Barring he receives a little run support and the White Sox remain in the playoff race, don’t be shocked to see John Danks near the top of the charts in quite a few pitching categories.
- The Dodgers represent the National League in the World Series.
- With hitters in the middle of the lineup such as Ethier and Kemp, and starters on the mound such as Kershaw, Billingsley, and Ted Lilly, the Dodgers could make a run.
- Last season was disappointing for the Dodgers, as Cameron mentioned in his NL West preview, but the talent is still there and the pitching could carry this team into the playoffs and possibly the World Series.
- Yankees win the World Series.
- Wait a second; Yankees winning is a bold prediction? That’s right! The hype around the New York Yankees is not what it used to be as hated rival, the Boston Red Sox, made some major off-season moves. There are questions surrounding the Yankees rotation and some of the key position players such as “Mr. November”, Derek Jeter.
- I am expecting a major trade or pick-up in the middle of the season, which puts the Yankees right back in the mix with the star-studded Red Sox. Also, assuming the Yankees make the playoffs again, how can you pick against the Yanks in October?
- For my last “bold prediction”… wait for it…wait for it…Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan team up to create an Oscar Winning movie!
- Why not? It appears that both are having some struggles right now, just get together and make a crazy movie. I think it could be successful.
- Okay, I lied; I am not seeing that one as a success. I think this last one officially takes the crown for my “bold pick of the year” award.
Thanks again to Cameron for allowing me to make some bold (you can use the word “crazy” if you’d like) predictions on his blog. Continue coming back to The Big Fly for more great baseball news with everybody’s favorite blogger, Cameron White.
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