Hopeful player stats for the coming year. I mean we can all dream and hope these happen right? I mean whats stopping some of them from doing it. This is also on the premise the As pick up Darren O'Day. This is on the hope the As record is 93-69 and with the numbers i hope happen is very realistic.
Mlb predictions as of right now
1st base: Danny Valencia 267/310/426 19 home runs 66 rbis 56 Runs
Reasoning: If we don't trade Valencia i think he could service a serviceable platoon at first base against left handed pitchers if his old flaws come back. If he's getting most of his at bats against left handed pitchers and the occasional right hander i think he will produce a very solid year. Or another root i could see the As going with is turing him into a pseudo super utility player. He can fill in at the entire infield besides short stop and can play both corner outfield spots so he could earn everyday playing time by doing that. I'm going with a 2.9 War.
2nd base: Jed Lowrie 277/320/422 13 home runs 37 Doubles 55 walks 82 Runs
Reasoning: I could see Lowrie playing 3rd or second but for this I'm going to go with second base. Now if he can discover his 2013 form this will be a steal of a trade. I happen to believe that he could almost return to that level and admirably fill the 2hole in out line up. I expect adequate defense and an above average offensive player i think he could be a 3 War player. I'm going with a 3.1 War.
Shortstop: Marcus Semian 272/330/465 18 homeruns 27 stolen bases 55 rbis 76 Runs
Reasoning: Semian has a bunch of power in his bat and with him not as focused on his defense next year i could see him becoming an Allstar easily. I also expect him to be a very solid defender next season and not making any where near as much errors. Im going to be the first and say Semian is stealing the gold glove for shortstop this year against Simmons. I know its a dream but we can all hope. Honestly i could see Semian very easily exceeding a 4 war this season potentially going into the 5s. I'm going with a 4.7 War.
3rd base: Brett lawrie 275/333/490 25 homeruns 71 rbis 15 stolen bases 61 Runs
Reasoning: Brett Lawrie is due for a big breakout season and i think next season could become the beginning of it. If he could finally live up to his potential next season we could have one of the very best infields next season. Brett Lawrie had a 1.9 War for us this season and i fully expect him to go into the 5 this season or i would hope he does but i think he will at least be in the 3s. Im predicting a 5.2 war.
Right field: josh reddick 291/364/510 29 homeruns 105 rbis 14 stolen bases 76 walks 115 Runs
Reasoning: Josh Reddick probably had his best season this year and we need to immediately lock him up while we can. Josh Reddick returned to the 20s this year in home runs and had a solid average this year. I expect his numbers to get better against lefties next season as it slowly did this season so a 290 average if he can just at least passably hit lefties isn't that far out of line. This is Josh Reddick all star year I'm going way out and saying hes going to be worth a 6.5 War this season. I think he will finish in the top 5 of Mvp to. This probably my most hopeful one.
Center field: billy burns 275/340/390 67 stolen bases 44 rbis 6 Home runs 95 Runs
Reasoning: I think Billys average will regress next season as pitchers figure him out a bit more but i think he will just start taking his fair share of walks like he did in the minors. I think his speed is going to really start bringing peoples attention to it and I believe he will lead the league in stolen bases. Billy Burns was worth a 2.8 War this season and i think he will end next season with a 3.4.
Left field: mark cahna 265/345/492 25 homeruns 81 rbis 11 stolen bases 74 Runs
Reasoning: Mark Cahna once he got regular playing time he crushed the league like many of us were hoping he would. His power showed up in a big way and i expect it to keep on getting better each year. I think he will be one of our most productive players next season easily. I think a 3.9 War is not out of line.
Catcher: Vogt/josh
Vogt 276/365/485 22 homeruns 85 rbis 2 stolen bases 56 Runs
Josh 255/310/431 15 homeruns 47 rbis 33 runs
Reasoning: Vogt was arguably the biggest breakout player this season posting a 3.5 war and having the best season of his career. I think he will build upon this season and get even better. He will hopefully be an allstar again next season and continue to be one of our best players. I undoubtedly expect him to exceed his production and post a war somewhere in the 4s to 5s. Im going with a 4.4 war.
Josh Phegley posted above average production at the plate and was much better then most expected. With him earning more playing time next year as Vogt will probably fill in at other positions as well. I think he will be better next year then he was this year. I think a 2.1 war is well within range for him.
DH: Billy Butler 276/340/421 19 home runs 37 doubles 76 rbis 49 Runs
Reasoning: Billy Butler was not as good as many of us hoped he would be this year and his contract has become something of a burden. But I believe if in the offseason he works out and gets in better shape we could have a solid player again. He found more of his power this season hitting 15 home runs this year and he could potentially hit even more next year. I would expect a 2.5 war for him.
Back up players:
Eric Sogard 244/296/306 12 Steals 3 home runs 3 triples 11 doubles 22 Runs
Reasoning:Eric Sogard is like the joke of the As no matter what he stays on the team, which is a blessing and a curse. Many of us are tired of his offensive production and the player he is but few have as steady of a glove as he does. He is one of the best fielders in the game easily but his bat always leaves something to desire. He's a great backup but he's just not meant to be a starter like he usually ends up being.
Jake Smolinski 267/320/405 13 home runs 5 stolen bases 2 triples 21 doubles 36 Rbis 41 Runs
Reasoning: Jake Smolinski has a chance to be a very solid back up outfielder next season as hes due to fill in left and right field. He has godly numbers in triple A and if he can translate that into the majors he could become a great player. Hell probably be around a 1.5 war.
Sam Fuld: 231/331/341 17 Stolen Bases 3 hone runs 5 triples 13 doubles 21 Runs
Reasoning: Super Sam is not a great player, his offensive is worse then Eric Sogard but his defense and speed are tremendous assets to the team. He is also pretty cheap and survives as a solid backup to billy burns when he needs to fill in. Hell probably be worth around a 1.2 i mean he was worth a .9 this year.
Andrew Lambo 281/320/485 17 home runs 4 stolen bases 23 doubles 62 rbis 54 Runs
Reasoning: I would imagine Lambo could become a serviceable platoon at 1st base with Valencia and could also service as a backup outfielder next season as well. He could move to left field to give Cahna a day off and let vogts bat get in the line up. Lambo has legit power in his bat and i think he could be the new Moss. Hell be a great bargain pick up and will be worth around a 2.8 war this season which is great for a designated for assignment pickup.
Pitchers
1st: Sonny Grey 2.25 era 220 innings pitched .188 average 1.01 whip 184 strikeouts 21-5 wins 8.7 war
Reasoning: Sonny Grey was arguably the best pitcher in the american league for most of the year and led in Era until September. If he could keep his dominance throughout the whole year he could very easily win his first Cy Young, and i expect him to run away with it next season. Since the As will be better next season he wont be pressing nearly as much and will actually get most of the wins he deserves.
2nd: Jesse Hahn 3.10 era 160 innings .220 average 1.20 whip 173 strikeouts 15-12 Wins 4.3 war
Reasoning: Jesse Hahn is confusing he has so most potential but he keeps getting injured. If he has a healthy season next year he could easily become a number 2 starter. I think if he is healthy he could dominate the league.
3rd: Chris Bassit 3.65 era 190 innings 210 strikeouts 1.35 whip .235 average 11-9 Wins 3.8 war
Reasoning: No one at the beginning of the season knew if he could become a starter or a reliever but when he got his chance he proved he could become a capable starter. He got better with every start striking out more batters with every start he had. I think he could post elite strikeout numbers next season if he has a full season.
4th: Kendal Gravemen 3.52 170 innings 143 strikeouts 1.22 whip .245 average 13-10 3.5 war
Reasoning: Kendal Gravemen had an elite spring training at the beginning of this season, and made our hopes for him explode. He fell apart at the beginning of the regular season but when he came back he was a very solid pitcher and i think he could become a very solid pitcher this season.
5th: Rich Hill 4.32 era 180 innings 175 strikeouts 1.44 whip .255 average 15-12 2.1 war
Reasoning: We signed Rich Hill to a one year six million deal and i think he will be a 5th starter for the As. He will provide a great veteran presence in the rotation and give the rotation a boost at eating a good amount of eatings.
Bullpen
Closer: doolittle 1.55 era 73 innings 94 strikeouts 41 saves 2-1 Wins 2.6 war
Reasoning: A bullpen with a healthy Doolittle will be a much better unit in general. I think he will easily go to the All star game this year and be one of the best relievers in baseball this year.
8th: O'Day 1.33 era 74 innings 83 strikeouts 5 saves 4-3
Reasoning: Assuming we sign Darren O'Day he would immediately go into our set up role and form one of the best one two punches in baseball. I think he will be even better this year since he will be pitching most of his games in a pitchers park.
7th: liam Hendricks 1.77 era 71 innings 84 strikeouts 2 saves Darren 5-1 Wins
Reasoning: A bull pen with Hendricks O'Day and Doolittle could very easily become our version of the 3 headed monster. It would become arguably the best 7-9 in baseball and would give us one of the best bullpens in the majors.
6th: Ryan Dull 3.91 era 63 innings 74 strikeouts 5-3
Reasoning: I don't know what to make of Ryan Dull he has great minor league numbers and he started out the year for the As in a torrid manner firing off a few consecutive innings before flaming out a bit. I think he could potentially become a very solid reliever and could very serviceable to our bullpen.
5th: Drew Pomeraz 2.65 era 67 innings 81 strikeouts 7-4
Reasoning: Drew Pomeraz showed that he is a much better reliever this year then a starter and if he has a full year as a reliever he could become very dominant. If he lives up to these numbers we could very easily have a top 5 bullpen.
4th: Evan Scribner 3.70 era 58 innings 76 strkeouts 2-5 Wins
Reasoning: Evan Scribner is a cheap reliever and if he can lower his home run total he could become a very good reliever like he was at the beginning of the year. Because his K to Walk ratio is good enough to take a risk on it.
3rd: Sean Nolin 3.60 era 94 innings 63 strikeouts 4-6
Reasoning: Sean Nolin is out of options so he is either going to get traded or he is going to become a spot starter for the As. He would be a very good long reliever for the As and could fill in if a pitcher got hurt.
Lineup:
1. Billy Burns
2. Jed Lowrie
3. Josh Reddick
4. Mark Cahna
5. Stephen Vogt
6. Brett Lawrie
7. Danny Valencia
8. Billy Butler
9. Marcus Semian
Rotation:
1. Sonny Grey
2. Jesse Hahn
3. Chris Bassit
4. Kendal Gravemen
5. Rich Hill
