Here are my 2016 predictions for the yankees with basic statistics
Bullpen:
Aroldis Chapman: (estimated with no suspension) SV: 40/42 ERA: 1.98 IP: 76 SO: 130 W: 3 L: 2
Will add to the two headed monster with 40 saves and an all star appearance with a seamless transition to the AL.
Dellin Betances: SV: 3/3 ERA: 2.02 IP: 70 SO: 125 W: 4 L: 1
Dellin starts off 2016 strong earning himself another all star game but then struggles with his command in the second half.
Andrew Miller: SV: 1/1 ERA: 1.26 IP: 66 SO: 110 W: 5 L: 1
Transitions well back to the SU role, takes over most of the set up man roles in second half as Betances struggles with control.
Jacob Lindgren: ERA: 3.26 IP: 44 SO: 46 W: 1 L:3
Helps three headed monster in early innings, shows high potential as a setup man in the future.
Chasen Shreve: ERA: 3.90 IP: 45 SO: 55 W: 0 L: 3
Shreve proves he can still be effective as he emerges as a second lefty option to lindgren.
** note** I am leaving most of the bullpen unfilled because it is still undecided who will be pitching here in '16
Starting Rotation:
Masahiro Tanaka: W: 10 L: 8 ERA: 3.96 IP: 175 SO: 177
Masahiro Tanaka struggles to get batters to chase and therefore gives up more walks last year, becomes clear that he is no longer best starter in rotation.
Michael Pineda: W: 11 L: 8 ERA 3.66 IP: 190 SO: 215
Pineda finds constant sucess in the major league level since his rookie year and manages to keep his K/9 over 9.
Nathan Eovaldi: W: 12 L: 8 ERA: 3.88 IP: 220 SO: 235
Eovaldi has a sucessful campaign and has his first full season with a sub 4 ERA.
Luis Severino : W: 13 L: 4 ERA: 2.86 IP: 190 SO: 175
Severino blasts into 2016 with sucess but begins to suffer fatigue after 180 innings pitched and is moved to the bullpen to rest his arm.
Ivan Nova : W: 1 L: 8 ERA 4.69 IP 77 SO: 50
Ivan Nova once again struggles in the majors leading him to be released in the first months of the season after recording one quality start in his first 14 starts
CC Sabathia : W: 3 L: 11 ERA: 5.05 IP: 125 SO: 110
CC Sabathia struggles again and ranks worst in ERA and ranks top 3 in runs allowed. He retires following 2016, hoping to get rid of his demons and alcoholism for good.
Fielders:
Mark Teixiera : AVG: .212 HR: 16 RBI: 45 GP: 70 AB 300
Tex struggles offensively and defensively which opens the doors for Bird and sinks the final nail into his coffin, with 2016 being one of his last years
Greg Bird: AVG: .248 HR: 24 RBI: 70 GP: 100 AB: 400
Bird makes a bee-line for the starting job at first base and put sup impressive HR and RBI numbers once again while his average remains around .240
Starlin Castro: AVG: .273 HR: 17 RBI: 66 GP: 125 AB 500
Castro starts off the season at around .240 and barely misses put on an all star spot, but then picks it up in the second half and raises his average up 8 points from last year, all doing this while missing time with injury.
Dustin Ackley: AVG: .255 HR: 7 RBI: 33 GP: 50 AB: 220
Ackley provides league average replacement in the infield and helps take the pressure off refsnyder at second base when Castro is injured.
Rob Refsnyder: AVG: .265 HR: 12 RBI: 30 GP: 65 AB: 300
Refsnyder puts up good numbers in his rookie year despite only having 300 AB's.
Didi Gregorious: AVG: .280 HR: 18 RBI:60 GP: 150 AB: 625
Didi emerges as an all star for the first time while hitting .318 in the first half. Establishes himself as a top- 10 SS.
Chase Headley: AVG: .225 HR: 10 RBI: 45 GP: 100 AB: 450
Headley's offensive woes carry on to 2016 while his defense improves from 2015 but is still not what it used to be.
Alex Rodriguez: AVG: .235 HR: 18 RBI: 45 GP: 85 AB: 400
A-rod struggles to hit anything over 92 mph and has a sharp incline in his strikeouts and sees a signifigant drop in RBI's because of this. His RISP is well below .200.
Brian McCann: AVG: .245 HR: 20 RBI: 55 GP: 90 AB: 425
McCann does ok offesnively but struggles to keep his position as starting catcher as Sanchez tears it up at the plate. limted also in part of fatigue, makes the case for him to move to first very strong.
Gary Sanchez: AVG: .285 HR: 20 RBI: 65 GP: 100 AB: 475
Sanchez tears it up and takes over as starting catcher at the all-star break, yet struggles with off the field problems.
Brett Gardner: AVG: .245 HR: 11 RBI: 45 GP: 125 AB: 525
Gardner shows that he really is a average hitter as he clocks .245 in one of his worst seasons of his career.
Aaron Hicks: AVG: .255 HR: 15 RBI: 50 GP: 70 AB: 350
For all purposes takes over for Chris young and begins to see more time inLF as Gardner struggles.
Jacoby Ellsbury: AVG: .280 HR: 15 RBI: 75 GP: 140 AB: 600
Ellsbury has one of his last good years while he hits .280 and manages to stay off the DL long enough to play 140 games.
Carlos Beltran: AVG: .240 HR: 15 RBI: 55 GP: 90 AB: 400
Just makes yankee fans shake their heads more and causes anger in the fanbase for giving someone as old as Beltran a 3 yr contract.
Slade Heathcott: AVG: .265 HR: 5 RBI: 25 GP:70 AB: 350 SB: 15/16
Replaces Beltran in the outfield for most of the year, proves to be effective on base path.
** another note: according to my predictions no one plays 162 games, and for that matter, the most is 150 GP
MLB Standings/ Awards:
**as of 1/12/16
Al East:
x-Yankees: 88-74
y-Red Sox: 86-76 *Red Sox win one game playoff with twins
Blue Jays: 85-77
Rays: 78-84
Orioles: 65-97
Al Central:
x-Royals: 88-74
Twins: 86-76
Tigers: 84-78
White Sox: 75-87
Indians: 73-89
AL West:
x-Angels: 91-71
y-Astros: 88-74
Rangers: 81-81
Mariners: 73-89
Athletics: 63-99
Al East:
x-Nationals: 91-72 *Nationals win 1 game playoff for a division championship
y-Mets: 90-73
Marlins: 73-89
Braves: 63-99
Phillies: 62-100
Al Central:
x-Cubs: 105-57
y-Cardinals: 90-72
Pirates: 88-74
Reds: 72-90
Brewers: 71-91
Al West:
x-Dodgers: 97-65
Giants: 86-76
D-backs: 82-80
Rockies: 78-84
Padres: 75-87
Playoffs:
Wild Cards:
Astros 9 Red Sox 3
Price looses another playoff game, yet he only gives up 3 ER in the game, late inning Astro homeruns win game.
Cardinals 4 Mets 3
Wainwright pitches a gem going 8 and giving up 2 while Matt harvey gives up 4 runs in 5 innings.
Divison Series:
Cubs (4) vs Cardinals (1)
Cubs pounce to an early 2-0 lead and eliminate the cardinals in 5, Zobrist gets hot and gets series MVP. This fuels further rivalry between Cubs and Cards
Dodgers (4) vs Nationals (2)
ROY Corey Seager leads the dodgers to victory, Kershaw throws 2 shutouts, this sets up a NCLS with the two best teams in the MLB.
Angels (4) vs Astros (3)
in a close series it came down to the final outs of game seven to decide the winner of the series, Trout gets the series MVP.
Yankees (4) vs Royals (3)
Yankees starting pitching holds up and are able to hold their ground at home, A-rod comes off the bench and hits 3 clutch HRs, Severino and Tanaka prove to be postseason competitors.
Championship Series:
Yankees (4) vs Angels (3)
Yankees start off by winning the first three games of the series, miss repeating 2004 with a clutch save for Chapman in the 9th inning of game 7. Severino gets MVP Honors
Cubs (4) vs Dodgers (3)
Experience comes in advantage for both these teams who are both filled with young talent, cubs win game 7 despite kershaw giving up only 1 run. Heyward gets MVP.
World Series:
Cubs (4) vs Yankees (0)
Cubs destroy the Yankees as the yankees can only manage a dismal 9 runs in the series. They are out scored almost 4:1. Bryant gets World Series MVP and the Cubs finally brake the curse with a well deserved victory over the fatigued and old Yankees.
Awards:
NL MVP: Bryce Harper
Harper begins to look more and more like a $50 million dollar player as he is a triple crown threat in his second MVP season.
AL MVP: Mike Trout
Mike Trout hits 50 HRs and bats.290 to coast into back to back MVP seasons.
AL ROY: Gary Sanchez
What Sanchez did offensively leads him to the yankees first ROY since Derek Jeter won it back in '96.
NL ROY: Corey Seager
Dodgers add another ROY to their collection as Seager wins while hitting above .300 and slugging near 30 HRs
AL Cy Young: David Price
Price has a sub 2.50 ERA that votes him unanimously as the Cy Young winner.
NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw reigns king again as he proves he's the best at his trade as he wins another Cy Young.
AL Manager of the year: Joe Girardi
Girardi led the seemingly below .500 yankees to their first world series appearance since 2009.
NL Manager of the year: Joe Maddon
Maddon breaks the curse as he leads the cubs to 105 regular season wins.
Other predictions:
- Grienkie cools down from last year and has a ERA in the 2.80-3.20 range
-Miller pitches to a 3.60 ERA
-Samardija struggles in SF
-CC calls it quits
-Showalter is fired
-Sonny Gray is traded at trade deadline