Comments on: Howard Bender’s 10 Bold Predictions for 2012

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:11:02 +0000

Just taking a mid-season look back at this. Funny that the most criticized predictions are the most accurate! Specifically, Adam Jones, Prince Fielder, Bryan Lahair (though this one looks like it fell of a cliff), and Matt Cain.

By: RTBenj

RTBenj — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:25:56 +0000

The Jones and LaHair predictions don’t seem quite so unrealistic now, do they?

By: DRS2Impress

DRS2Impress — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:53:20 +0000

Hello there Mr LaHair, we’ve been expecting you

By: Jordan T

Jordan T — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:14:46 +0000

Don’t look now but Adam Jones has 5 home runs and 3 stolen bases in the season’s first two weeks. 30 stolen bases is still really ambitious but I’d say the chances today are a lot higher than they were when the article was written.

Long and short, much respect.

By: Howard Bender

Howard Bender — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:05:44 +0000

that would be ridiculously awesome. I projected him between 50 and 55, but I’ll certainly take 70…

By: supershredder

supershredder — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:50:56 +0000

I have Maybin stealing 70 bases this year.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 10:39:32 +0000

If Frank Francisco fails at closer for the Mets then I see Ramon Ramirez first crack at taking over the job, not Rauch. Last season, the velocity on Rauch’s fastball dropped off and his HR/FB was higher than Franky’s at 12.9%. Ramirez HR/FB was only 5.0% and he clearly just has closer stuff. He can bring the heat on his fastball and his slider definitely has some filth on it.

Don’t forget about Manny Acosta, either. Over the last three months of the season Acosta had an ERA of 2.06 along with 41K/12BB in 38.1 innings Once he took over the closer’s role in September he went 4 for 5 in save opportunities. His talent has never been in question, it’s always been about taming his wildness.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 07:13:55 +0000

I hope you are right about Adam Jones being a 30/30 guy this season! I have him on two of my teams.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:42:27 +0000

Comerica isn’t that much of a homer killer. The park is basically neutral towards hitters in general and even moderately favors lefty hitters.

It’s a huge park, but it certainly doesn’t play like it is.

By: Joe Sportswriter

Joe Sportswriter — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:28:22 +0000

hence the bold prediction