From: tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: As this season draws to a close...
Date: 4 Sep 92 01:35:39 GMT
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853


I collected some predictions to watch:

>From king@cogsci.UCSD.EDU Thu Nov 14 14:33:45 1991
>Prediction:  The Cleveland indians will win 70 or more games next year.

Well, they aren't quite there yet.  But I must say, their chances look
pretty good!  They are currently 60-73, and need only go 10-19 in their
remaining games to reach that plateau.

>From: brian@b11.ingr.com (Brian Enright)
>Date: 1 Mar 92 19:26:24 GMT

Prediction for performances and post-season awards?  I won't comment
on them, but while these looked good last winter, they are absolutely
hilarious now!

>NL Rookie         R. Klesko    (the press has already won it for him)
>AL Rookie         P. Plantier  (can't miss)
>NL Cy Young       G. Swindell  (the boy finally gets to play with real talent)
>AL Cy Young       R. Clemons   (look out Nolan)
>NL Batting title  H. Morris   (a tough break last year)
>                  R. Sandberg (imagine what he could do with a good April/May)
>                  T. Gwynn    (you gotta have him in the top three)
>AL Batting title  W. Boggs     (off year last year. will blow away the field)
>                  (no need to list anyone else)
>NL RBI leaders    D. Strawberry ( due for an incredible year)
>		   H. Johnson   (an underated offensive threat)
>                  G. Bell      (ability to bring in 150 with talent in front)
>AL RBI leaders    J. Canseco   (so much natural ability)
>                  D. Tartabull (offensive machine)
>                  F. Thomas    (its got to be him or Ventura leading the Sox)
>NL Homeruns       G. Bell      (doesn't hurt to be in Wrigley)
>		   D. Strawberry (he may be fun to watch this year)
>                  P. O'neil    (will rise from the shadows of obscurity)
>AL Homeruns       J. Canseco   (power, power and more power)
>                  R. Ventura   (hit 7 hr in 9 games last summer)
>		   F. Thomas    (he would have won if he did not get hurt)
>NL MVP            D. Strawberry(an incredible year for a recent underachiever)
>		   R. Sandberg  (if april/may are good to him, cubs are in W.S)
>		   B. Larkin    (could be best all around player)
>AL MVP            R. Ventura   (another Sandberg in Chicago)
>                  J. Canseco   (I don't like this either, but he's good)
>		   D. Tartabull (NY press can sometimes help)
>World Series	White Sox beat Cubs in 6 games   (See signature below)
> DA BEARZ  DA SOX  DA BULLZ  DA CUBZ  DA HAWKZ  |    Brian Enright

Hm.  Maybe this next one will be a bit better.
>From stvjas@meteor.wisc.edu Fri Sep 13 01:15:52 1991
>1. Jose Rijo will win the 1992 Cy Young award IF he is healthy enough to go
>at least 210 IP.

He's been pretty healthy, but probably won't reach 210 IP.

>2. The Orioles will win 88+ games in at least 3 of the next 6 years (probably
>the last 3) and their pitching staff will have a team ERA among the best 4 in 
>the AL in at least 3 of the next 6 years

Well, their ERA isn't that good yet.  But they have a decent shot at
88 wins this year.

>4. Ben McDonald will not challenge for an ERA title in the next 2
>years, nor will he have 18+ victories either year.  He will probably
>never be the pitcher he was hyped to be, but is still a decent starter
>to have.

Looks like this one was dead on!

>5. The Phillies will give up *many* fewer walks if/when they get rid
>of their bullpen coach (Ryan).

Dunno about this one.  What's up here?

>7. Ricky Jordan will have 90+ rbi IF he starts 145+ games, hitting in
>the 3 or 4 or 5 spot in any lineup or the 6 spot in a lineup with very
>good OBP in the 4,5 hitters. This applies for each of the next 3
>years.

He isn't getting the AB this year, so...

>9. The Dodgers will score at least 20 more runs in 1992 than they did
>in 1991.

Tee hee hee hee...  :-)

>12. Billy Ripken will *never* again hit over .240 with 400+ AB.

This one will take a while to check, but it seems to be holding true
so far!  He is neither hitting .240 nor getting 400+ AB.

>From panix!spira@cmcl2.NYU.EDU Fri Sep 13 12:38:08 1991
>No matter what Lou Gorman and his scouts say, Paul Quantrill will never ever
>be an adequate major league starter.  Never!  (I have never seen a starting
>pitcher who can only strike out 3 per 9 innings at AAA be successful in the
>majors.)

Hm.  Quantrill has been moderately successful *so* far, but in the
pen.  I believe you on this one.

>From king@cogsci.UCSD.EDU Fri Sep 13 13:02:17 1991
>Prediction 1:  The Indians will hit at least twice as many home runs 
>               in 1992 as they will hit in 1991.

Not likely at this point.  They hit 79 in '91, and only have 102
through Sunday.

>Prediction 2:  The Indians will score at least 35% more runs in 1992 
>               than they did in 1991.

Again, almost impossible at this point.  The Indians improved their
batting average and speed, but that was never their problem.  They
still are last in the league in walks, and their SLG is nothing
special.

>From ihlpm!zipfel@att.att.com Thu Sep 12 16:30:12 1991
>Even though the Cardinals will win the division next year,
>Felix Jose will not be the MVP. The Straw man will post amazing
>numbers, ie/ .320/.395/.580     
>come close to winning the triple crown, and be voted the MVP
>as the Dodgers win the pennant.

Sorry!  No chance at either one.

>From: Jim.Meeks@ocitor.fidonet.org (Jim Meeks)
>Date: 12 Sep 91 18:04:08 GMT
>MVP A.L.: Ruben Sierra
>MVP N.L.: Dave Justice
>CY A.L.: Jim Abbott
>CY N.L.: Steve Avery
>ROY A.L.: Rico Brogna (Detroit)  or Tim Costo (Indians)
>ROY N.L.: Lance Dickson (Cubs) or Wil Cordero (Expos)
>COMEBACK PLAYER A.L.: Storm Davis (will get traded)
>COMBACK PLAYER N.L.: Andres Galarraga
 
Some of these predictions are reasonably good, but none will
happen. 

>WHO'LL GET TRADED THIS OFF-SEASON:
>Shawon Dunston
>Pedro Guerrero
>Vince Coleman
>Lonnie Smith
>Rob Dibble
>Benito Santiago
>Pete O'Brien
>Greg Swindell
>Danny Tartabull
>Sammy Sosa
>Wally Joyner
>Chris Bosio
>Kelly Gruber
>Geno Petralli
>Don Mattingly
>Steve Sax
>Dan Gladden

Not counting the free agents listed, only Swindell and Sax were
traded.  Not a high hit rate.
 
>Surprise move of 1992: Whitey steps down from Angels' job and accepts  
>managerial job for new Miami franchise.
>Surprise team of 1992: The Houston Astros will win 90 games
 
>Mark it down, it will happen: Texas Rangers aquire Chris Bosio, Julio  
>Machado and Narsico Elvira for second baseman Julio Franco  (I hope it  
>doesn't, however)

Woulda been a neat trade!

>From lyle@ecn.purdue.edu Sat Sep 14 01:51:28 1991
>
>      M.V.P. - `92
>A.L. - Frank Thomas
>N.L. - Hal Morris
>
>      Cy Young - `92
>A.L. - Brett Saberhagen
>N.L. - Jose Rijo  
> 
>      Rookie of the Year - `92
>A.L. - Monty Fariss
>N.L. - Todd Hundley
>
>      Comeback Player of the Year - `92
>A.L. - Glenn Davis
>N.L. - Joe Magrane
>
>      Manager of the Year - `92
>A.L. - Jeff Torborg
>N.L. - Joe Morgan

Not even close on any of these!

>      Division Winners - `92
>A.L. East - Baltimore Orioles
>A.L. West - Chicago White Sox
>A.L. Pennant - Chicago White Sox
>N.L. East - St. Louis Cardinals
>N.L. West - Cincinatti Reds
>N.L. Pennant - Cincinatti Reds
>W.S. Champion - Cincinatti Reds

The O's and Reds still have a chance!

>From SINGEREM8379%SONEVA@SNYBUFVA.BITNET Sun Oct 20 20:55:08 1991
>Valentine,
>     Once again, you put me on the spot.  O.K., I'll take your little
>prediction thing, and go even this far:  I give Belle 80+ walks next year.
>If that sounds like a lot, bear in mind that we're talking about one of the
>up-and-coming power hitters in the majors, and all the pitchers know it now.

>From tedward Sun Oct 20 23:52:57 1991
>Belle will not walk as many as 50 times in 1992.
>Belle will hit more HR than he has walks in 1992.

Belle has 40 BB and 26 HR so far.  He could still reach a total of 50
BB, but no *way* will he get up to 80.


>From srussell@msc.cornell.edu Tue Mar 31 15:08:30 1992
>
>Benito Santiago will start 145+ games at catcher for the...GIANTS!!!

A gutsy prediction!  But wrong...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the predictions!  A couple of these you will see again
eventually!  Let me know if you have any new ones!

Cheers,
-Valentine

-- 
Make outs, not walks!					tedward@cs.cornell.edu
Clemens four Cy Young!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball