Some Bold Predictions To Chew On

Making bold predictions is somewhat an exercise of "throwing a few more things at the wall to see what sticks." Hopefully people forgot about the bold ones that were dumb at the time, and just dead wrong now, and remember "that time he called it perfectly!"

Nonetheless, here are some predictions I put out there as we wrap up the third week of March and await Opening Night just two weeks from tomorrow...

Rodriguez vs. Axford

Prediction: Fernando Rodriguez will have a better year than John Axford, and even though it may take an annoyingly long time, by mid-season Rodriguez will have leap-frogged over Axford in getting the higher leverage calls. I have always viewed Rodriguez as a younger, cheaper, and slightly better version of Axford, which is one reason I was irked when Oakland committed $10M over 2 seasons for a spot I felt the A's already had covered for 20% of the cost.

Note that Rodriguez has done nothing to hurt himself so far in the Cactus League, tossing 6⅔ IP and allowing 1 run on 4 hits, with 0 BB and 10 K. Axford has pitched pretty well too, not allowing a run in 5 IP, but he has walked 3 -- get used to it.

Madson vs. Doolittle

Prediction: By June, the A's closer will be Ryan Madson with Sean Doolittle settling into more of a set-up role if he's not on the DL. Doolittle's triceps pain is not considered to be a big deal but it has to be a concern given his injury, and subsequent setback, just last year. When healthy, Doolittle's velocity has been pretty good, if not electric, but he has been hittable.

More to the point, Doolittle's secondary stuff continues to be quite pedestrian and if his fastball isn't at the "elite" level he is likely to take a step backwards from his hey-day. Madson, if he's throwing mid-90s with the plus changeup, just seems like the more natural "9th inning guy" and he has experience succeeding in that role. Just a hunch that those two may switch roles by mid-season.

Doubront vs. The People of Oakland...

Prediction: Felix Doubront will continue to pitch like Felix Doubront always has -- poorly. I know, I know: cross-fit, he has looked great in the Cactus League, he has always had a good arm, he could be the next Jesse Chavez...I get it. I also know that spring training often brings out the best in bad players and the worst in good players, and that ultimately the cream tends to rise to the top while the sludge falls to the bottom.

Doubront has made a career out of pitching ineffectively despite throwing 92-93 MPH, and despite somehow still being only 28 even though he has been in the big leagues for 32 seasons and has played for 47 teams. I just suspect that when the regular season begins, Doubront will revert back into being the "serviceable long reliever" he has always been Did you know that Doubront has a career ERA of 4.89? And that's in a whopping 514 IP. This could be the year he puts it all together! I predict it won't be.

Did I get any of these right? Did I get all of these right? Let me know your thoughts...