Post ASG Predictions Anyone?

[USMA76]

Use the "eye test," "gut feel,""analytics" whatever. Obviously, key injuries change everything. Here are my unsubstantiated guesses for the next 68 games:

Wins: sub .500 the rest of the way. We were leaking oil for the last couple of weeks prior to the break and we're playing a tough schedule coming out of the break starting with a Nats team that's talented and knows they have underachieved. We've had pretty good luck from the seventh inning on which I doubt will continue. Not sure our young guns are ready for the full 162 game grind. My guess: 83 total wins/no playoffs

I have very little faith in Snitker's ability to lead a struggling team or in our bullpen. I might be more bullish if we picked up a top flight reliever.

Id like to hear anyone's thoughts as to what they predict and/or why I'm off base...fire away.

[nsacpi]

I think our underlying level is that of a .500 team and that's what I expect the rest of the way in

one player I'm expecting a strong second half from is Julion...I think he's figured something out with the help of Anibal the Cannibal

[Orphan Black]

I say they play over .500 ball the rest of the way...I think they add a couple of bullpen guys and maybe a starter and finish with 90 wins so 38-30 the rest of the way.

[Tapate50]

I think our underlying level is that of a .500 team and that's what I expect the rest of the way in

one player I'm expecting a strong second half from is Julion...I think he's figured something out with the help of Anibal the Cannibal

Agreed, I do think JT pitches well down the stretch for us. Looks to have figured something out of late

[Russ2dollas]

I bet we get a 3b that hits righties well.

I think we are high 80s and just miss the playoffs

[msstate7]

Acuna gets going

[USMA76]

Acuna gets going

If that happens, the entire landscape changes, IMO.

[Carp]

As long as we play .500 ball we'll be in discussion for a wild card spot. We'll need some help to play as well as we have in the 1st half though.

I see us trading for Odorizzi and Zach Duke. It may not seem like a huge trade, but it really deepens our entire staff. Odorizzi gives us a reliable 3/4 starter that helps take the pressure off Folty, Newk, and Julio. It makes for a pretty strong rotation if Gohara or Soroka can get back on track down the stretch. Duke gives us the true LOOGY we have needed all season and has the extra benefit of being pretty decent against RHH as well. Fried also gets moved to the pen in this scenario giving us another strong LH option.

I'd like to have another bench bat to replace Flaherty, I just think it's not needed as much as SP and RP.

[UNCBlue012]

I think we’re 3-5 games over .500 the rest of the way and grab a wild card spot. We have a tough schedule, but I bet AA sures up the bullpen and Acuna figures it out a bit

[BeanieAntics]

I think we go 36-32 the rest of the way to finish with 88 wins. Not sure if that gets us a wild card spot or wins the division. I think Folty and Newcomb will continue to be solid overall. Julio will have 2 good starts and 1 horrific one like always this season. Anibal stays surprisingly solid all year. 5th starter remains a problem until Soroka gets back. I think Camargo has a good second half with an .800ish OPS from here to the end of the season. Ozzie cools off a bit, but finished with 28 homers and about 5 WAR. Freddie is Freddie. Acuna starts to figure it out by August and finishes the year with about 18 homers and a .270 average. Nick cools off dramatically. Ender continues to struggle, but his defense keeps his head above water. Flowers hits a little better, but walks less. I think the bullpen overall will be better with an addition or two.

As far as trades go, I think we will make a deal for Loogy and a utility option. It won't cost us much.

[GeorgiaGirl]

36-38 wins with a lot of stacking up on wins in August and because September's schedule is mostly a nightmare, September will look like a collapse, playoffs or not (which who knows at that rate that I listed, it could go either way).

Acuna does not figure it out and discussions start on: "Is he a bust?" in September because the Braves can never completely have nice things with young players.
Luiz Gohara has a nice second half and finally distances himself from a tough offseason and early season.
Ender stops pulling as much as he has been and hits better, but not the monster second half we saw in 2016.

[Hudson2]

I say we pick up Moose and a bullpen arm. We will be right in the thick of things for the division.

[USMA76]

I say we pick up Moose and a bullpen arm. We will be right in the thick of things for the division.

Are we substantially better off with Moose vs. Camargo? Moose is a power hitter and five years older but I'm not seeing much difference between their batting averages, WAR, etc. I'm not familiar enough with the stats to project their comparative upsides but Johan appears to have potential and I really like the way he defends the third base position. I'd hate to see us give up very much for a guy who IMO isn't a huge upgrade or who just makes our bench stronger.

As one poster (Enscheff, I think) said Camargo's swagger outstrips his demonstrated ability but, hey, I like a guy with some confidence. As the old saying goes, "if you don't believe in yourself, who will?"

[clvclv]

I say we pick up Moose and a bullpen arm. We will be right in the thick of things for the division.

Soria and Avilan are brought in to help the pen immensely (Moylan finally cut loose and Phillips sent back down). Both are controllable through next year, so they wouldn't be pure rentals. Moose is brought in as much for his experience as anything else (Flaherty finally released) as long as the cost isn't prohibitive.

Really wouldn't be surprised if AA's still keeping the back channel conversations with Toronto open in the event they decide to move Donaldson for significantly less than they'd hoped for. Would think he'd certainly be open to re-signing (or even signing a reasonable extension) at this point if Alex signals the interest in him is serious by trading for him while he's still on the shelf. Let him spend the next 6 weeks taking extra time to heal and take things slow and then cut him loose on everybody during September.

[jsebe10]

I think we make very light or uninteresting moves at the deadline. I also foresee the season crashing in about late Aug or early Sept..and unlike people here I do not see Acuna figuring anything out...

Miss the playoffs.

[Heyward]

84-86 wins, just miss the playoffs similar to the Brewers last year, but someones gotta win the East, and who knows how many wins it will take.

[Hulavol]

I’m not one to bring up old threads to poke fun at people... but I’m kinda glad someone did this time around ...

[Enscheff]

I figured the Phils would regress, but I didn't think they would fall apart.

I kept bracing for the Nats to make a push...and it never happened.

This was the "everything goes right" scenario everyone hopes for but doesn't plan around.

[50PoundHead]

I figured the Phils would regress, but I didn't think they would fall apart.

I kept bracing for the Nats to make a push...and it never happened.

This was the "everything goes right" scenario everyone hopes for but doesn't plan around.

Well put. I never thought that much of the Phillies, but they've been as stable as an Italian coalition government since the first of September. Like you, I was expecting a furious charge from the Nationals, but that didn't materialize at all. I am curious to see how the Nationals handle the off-season and wonder how long a leash Martinez will be given.

[BeanieAntics]

I’m not one to bring up old threads to poke fun at people... but I’m kinda glad someone did this time around ...

You were spot on with almost everything you said. You may even get the record exactly right, but I think i'd take the over on 91 wins at this point.