A prediction game for distraction purposes

by zambranofan on Jul 1, 2009 3:12 PM CDT Comment 35 comments

It's not exactly halfway through the season or the All-Star break yet, but it IS July 1. Perhaps time to look ahead, rather than behind, and take this opportunity to confront one another with our wit and wisdom.

Here's the suggested format:

You create a comparison that could go either way, based on the performances of Cub players the rest of 2009. Other people vote or discuss which they believe is more likely to happen.

When we have a comparison that seems to be evenly split, I will edit this fanpost to create a poll about just that question. If there are at least 100 votes, and the split is within 3 points of 50/50 either way, you will win a genuine Wrigley Field Cubs souvenir, one of last year's giveaways. (You would have to tell me your address to receive the prize.)

Some examples:

Who will have the higher OPS versus RH pitching the rest of the year, Soriano or Bradley?
Who will have more wins, Wells or Harden?
Who will hit more homers from here out, Soto or Fox?
Who will record more strikeouts, Samardzija or Marshall?
Who will have more stolen bases, Fukudome or Theriot?

You get the idea.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Bradley games missed versus Sori's hitless games

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Jul 1, 2009 3:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

here goes

1) Soriano (barely)
2) Harden
3) Soto (because he’ll get more playing time)
4) Marshall (more innings)
5) Theriot (he plays every day)

by elgato on Jul 1, 2009 3:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Who will have more errors, Soriano or Theriot?

by Neifi Puppy on Jul 1, 2009 3:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

On chances alone, it's Theriot

So I don’t think that’s such a good comparison.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jul 1, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does that count "offical" errors or can we include terrible plate discipline and baserunning mistakes?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 1, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Get out your calculators...

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Jul 1, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who will have the higher OPS versus RH pitching the rest of the year, Soriano or Bradley? — Bradley
Who will have more wins, Wells or Harden? — Wells
Who will hit more homers from here out, Soto or Fox? — Soto
Who will record more strikeouts, Samardzija or Marshall? — Marshall
Who will have more stolen bases, Fukudome or Theriot? — Riot

I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 3:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why Wells?

by elgato on Jul 1, 2009 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

because I think Harden

is going to have trouble getting to the end of the 5th for the rest of the season.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who will have a harder time getting to the 6th inning of games in the second half...Harden or Bradley?

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 1, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bradley.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Harden

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's mine.

Who will have a higher OPS: Bradley or Zambrano?

Which number will be higher: Adam Dunn’s HR, or Bradley’s RBI’s?

Who will have more strikeouts: Soriano batting, or Wells pitching?

Who will have more walks: Fukudome batting, or Marmol pitching?

(Sorry, the cynic in me came out when I saw this post.)

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 3:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Answers

1. Zambrano—even if he’s traded to Boston.
2. Dunn, of course.
3. Soriano, only because Wells will be short of 200 because he didn’t pitch the entire season.
4. Marmol, 1.5 per inning pitched.
Book it.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jul 1, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

question about Dunn and Bradley ...

Quite a few posters seem to be upset that we signed Bradley over Dunn. Personally, I wonder why more people aren’t upset that we didn’t sign Bobby Abreu. His power’s down, but he’s an incredible bargain for the Angels — and he wouldn’t be nearly the defensive liability that Dunn would have been in right.

by elgato on Jul 1, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am on record decrying Bradley and opposing the theory of Dunn

I don’t think I ever opined on Abreu. He’s been a bargain for Los Angeles of Orange County-California, but as an everyday player in LF at Wrigley… hmmm…

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jul 1, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Abreu's defense is OK, not great.

Dunn is a better hitter.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and we desperatly need what again? Oh yeah...offense.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 1, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So far Dunn's only been worth 1 win more than Bradley

And Bradley’s been awful. Even with the off year, Bradley’s got a very good chance of being the better signing (when measured in WAR).

by Wreckard on Jul 1, 2009 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if we're getting all cynical

Who will have a higher average, Fontenot or a paper weight?

Who will come off the DL first, Aaron Miles or Mark DeRosa?

by elgato on Jul 1, 2009 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

answers

1, Bradley over Z
2, Bradley RBIs over Dunn HRs
3, Sori K’s over Wells K’s
4, Marmol more walks, over Dome walks

Say this much for big league baseball - it is beyond question the greatest conversation piece ever invented in America. ~Bruce Catton

by KaliCub on Jul 1, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

1) Soriano
2) Wells
3) Soto
4) Marshall
5) Theriot

Who will throw the ball into the stands more, the ballgirl or Milton Bradley?

Ok that was too easy. I’m an MB fan actually.

Who will have the higher OBP minus BA for the rest of the year, Bradley or Fukudome?

Who will have more HR, Aramis in August or Theriot in the whole season?

by cubbybear on Jul 1, 2009 3:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I like that last one.

Theriot has a chance to hit 12-15 HR this year. If Aramis hits that many in August, we’re in good shape.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Theriot won't hit 12-15 HR

He had one outlier week when the wind was howling out at Wrigley, other than that he’s basically been the 2007 version of Theriot.

by aldimond on Jul 1, 2009 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

without

the OBP

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The 2007 version didn't have the OBP either.

In 2008 he improved the OBP and became a decent top-of-the-lineup hitter.

Although his OPS is slightly better this year than last, straight OPS over-emphasizes slugging; his linear-weight-based wOBA is down even with that random outlying WEEK OF POWER!!! What was true both inside and outside the WEEK OF POWER is that his walks are way down (below even 2007 levels) and strikeouts are way up (way above 2007 levels). The Theriot of 2008 is a useful hitter; the Theriot of 2009 isn’t without crazy power surges.

by aldimond on Jul 1, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Predictions

* Who will have the higher OPS versus RH pitching the rest of the year, Soriano or Bradley? Bradley (.775)

    * Who will have more wins, Wells or Harden? Wells (with 5)

  * Who will hit more homers from here out, Soto or Fox? Soto (6)

* Who will record more strikeouts, Samardzija or Marshall? Marshall (65)

* Who will have more stolen bases, Fukudome or Theriot? Theriot (10)

I would add
Who will Have More Home Runs D Lee or A Ram? A Ram (15)

Who will have more Home Runs D Lee or Fonenot? D Lee (14)

by frustratedfan on Jul 1, 2009 3:50 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's the one I really care about...

Who will have more wins at the end of the season?

St. Louis, Milwaukee, or the Cubs?

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Jul 1, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cubs.

by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This doesn't really belong here but .....

BREWERS LOSE!!!! BREWERS LOSE!!!! BREWERS LOSE!!!! BREWERS LOSE!!!!

Milton ...... see the ball hit the ball

by lexmarklover on Jul 1, 2009 3:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cubs can pick up a full game by winning tonight.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jul 1, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That sounds really hard to do.

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jul 1, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Might just be easier...

to have a rainout and be guaranteed that 1/2 game on Milwaukee.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Jul 1, 2009 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the discussion

Remember, the way to win something is for YOU to pose a comparison that gets other posters excited enough to debate about it. One that debate gets rolling, I’ll post a poll. You want to come up with a comparison that evenly splits the BCB community.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by zambranofan on Jul 1, 2009 9:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs