Predictions Roundtable

It's the start of the season so like everyone else, the gents at the Online Neighborhood Tavern aka "this crappy unpopular blog" sat down to give you our predictions on how the upcoming Cub season will go. (you might wanna bookmark this, it'll be good fodder to rip us later on in the season) So here's what we think:

QUESTION: How many games will the Cubs win this year?

• Newman - 77
• John Dooley - 67
• Mikey P - 78
• Marino - 84
• MCav - 79
• Vehere - 77
• CCD - 80
• gaius marius - 78

QUESTION: Will they make the playoffs?

• Newman - NO
• John Dooley - See Above
• Mikey P - No
• Marino Hell - No
• MCav - Absolutely Not
• Vehere - No, I just don't see it
• CCD - Nope
• gaius marius - no
  
  

QUESTION: Will any Cub player or managemnt member win an end of season award(NL MVP, NL Cy Young, NL ROY, NL Manager of Year, NL Executive of Years, etc...)? If so, who and what?

• Newman - no
• John Dooley- No. (I have Wade Miller as a longshot for Comeback Player of the Year, no joking.
• Mikey P - No
• Marino - Yes, Lee and Maddux NL Gold Gloves (did the rest of us forget these awards?)
• MCav - No
• Vehere - No, Only Award - Tribune Co. Baseball Exec of the Year - 3rd Generation Baseball Czar
• CCD - Nope
• gaius marius - no

STARTING PITCHING QUESTIONS: Name the Cubs starter that will...

-make the most starts

• Newman - Maddux
• John Dooley - Maddux 32
• Mikey P - Maddux
• Marino - Zambrano
• MCav - Maddux
• Vehere - Zambrano
• CCD - Zambrano
• gaius marius - maddux

-pitch the most innings

• Newman - Zambrano
• John Dooley - Maddux
• Mikey P - Maddux
• Marino - Zambrano
• MCav - Maddux
• Vehere - Zambrano
• CCD - Zambrano
• gaius marius - maddux
  

-record the most k's

• Newman - Zambrano
• John Dooley - Zambrano 188
• Mikey P - Zambrano
• Marino - Zambrano
• MCav - Zambrano
• Vehere - Zambrano
• CCD - Zambrano
• gaius marius - hard to say, but maybe wood
  

-have the most wins

• Newman - Maddux
• John Dooley - Zambrano 14
• Mikey P - Zambrano
• Marino - Zambrano
• MCav - Zambrano
• Vehere - Zambrano and Maddux (tie)
• CCD - Zambrano 17
• gaius marius - maddux
  

-have the best WHIP (min 160 IP)

• Newman - Maddux
• John Dooley - Maddux
• Mikey P - Zambrano
• Marino - Zambrano
• MCav - Rusch
• Vehere - Zambrano
• CCD - Zambrano
• gaius marius - maddux
  

-have the lowest ERA

• Newman - Zambrano
• John Dooley - Zambrano 3.23
• Mikey P - Zambrano
• Marino - Zambrano
• MCav - Zambrano
• Vehere - Zambrano
• CCD - Zambrano 3.04
• gaius marius - maddux
  

RELIEF PITCHING QUESTIONS: Name the Cubs reliever that will...
-have the most appearances

• Newman - Eyre
• John Dooley - Eyre, 85(not kidding)
• Mikey P - Eyre
• Marino - Howry
• MCav - Dempster
• Vehere - Kerry Wood
• CCD - Eyre
• gaius marius - eyre
  

-have the most saves

• Newman - Dempster
• John Dooley - Ryan Dempster 21 (out of 28)...notice those aren't a lot of chances, plus, I think he's gonna struggle. Just a hunch. No reasoning
• Mikey P - Dempster
• Marino - Dempster
• MCav - Dempster
• Vehere - Dempster
• CCD - Dempster, I wouldn't be surprised if Wood or Howry takes the job at midseason
• gaius marius - howry
  

-have the most holds

• Newman - Eyre
• John Dooley - Howry
• Mikey P - Howry
• Marino - Eyre
• MCav - Dempster
• Vehere - Wood
• CCD - Howry
• gaius marius - eyre
  

-have the best WHIP

• Newman - Howry
• John Dooley - Eyre, 1.07
• Mikey P - Eyre
• Marino - Howry
• MCav - Dempster
• Vehere - Eyre
• CCD - Howry
• gaius marius- howry
  

-have the lowest ERA

• Newman - Howry
• John Dooley - Eyre, 1.87
• Mikey P - Eyre
• Marino - Howry
• MCav - Dempster
• Vehere - Wuertz
• CCD - Howry
• gaius marius - howry
  

HITTING QUESTIONS: Name the Cub everyday player who...
-plays in the most games

• Newman - Lee
• John Dooley - Pierre (162)
• Mikey P - Pierre
• Marino - Pierre
• MCav - Lee
• Vehere - Lee
• CCD - Tie Lee & Pierre
• gaius marius - pierre
  

-has the highest batting average (min 502 AB's)

• Newman - Ramirez
• John Dooley - Murton .323
• Mikey P - Lee
• Marino - Lee
• MCav - Ramirez
• Vehere - Ramirez
• CCD - Ramirez .328
• gaius marius - ramirez
  

-has the most hits

• Newman - Pierre
• John Dooley - Pierre (notice Murton doesn't get the AB's still. Mabry will start 30 games in left)
• Mikey P - Lee
• Marino - Lee
• MCav - Lee
• Vehere - Lee
• CCD - Pierre
• gaius marius - pierre
  

-has the most doubles

• Newman - Lee
• John Dooley - Lee 40
• Mikey P - Lee
• Marino - Lee
• MCav - Lee
• Vehere - Murton
• CCD - Lee
• gaius marius - lee
  

-has the most triples

• Newman - Pierre
• John Dooley - Pierre 9
• Mikey P - Pierre
• Marino - Pierre
• MCav - Pierre
• Vehere - Pierre
• CCD - Pierre
• gaius marius - pierre
  

-has the most homeruns

• Newman - Ramirez
• John Dooley - Ramirez 46
• Mikey P - Lee
• Marino - Ramirez
• MCav - Ramirez
• Vehere - Lee & Ramirez (tie)
• CCD - Lee
• gaius marius - ramirez
  

-has the most Runs scored

• Newman - Pierre
• John Dooley - Pierre 103
• Mikey P - Pierre
• Marino - Pierre
• MCav - Pierre
• Vehere - Murton
• CCD - Pierre
• gaius marius - lee
  

-has the most RBi

• Newman - Ramirez
• John Dooley - Lee 113
• Mikey P - Lee
• Marino - Ramirez
• MCav - Ramirez
• Vehere - Ramirez
• CCD - Lee 106
• gaius marius - ramirez
  

-has the most stolen bases

• Newman - Pierre
• John Dooley - Pierre 36
• Mikey P - Pierre
• Marino - Pierre
• MCav - Pierre
• Vehere - Pierre
• CCD - Pierre 52
• gaius marius - pierre
  

QUESTION: What are you watching for in 2006?

• Newman - Matt Murton proving he can consistently hit Major League pitching.
• John Dooley -THREE THINGS I WILL BE WATCHING IN 2006: 1) Dusty's use of veterans and how that will inhibit the younger players 2) Jacque Jones. Can he return to form? 3) Will Derek Lee and Ryan Dempster match last years' outputs? I think no. But, we'll see.
  THREE THINGS I HAVE FAITH IN, IN 2006 (added) 1) Matt Murton 2) Juan Pierre 3) Jerry Hairston (don't know why, I just have this weird feeling)
• Mikey P - The day Baker gets fired!
• Marino - Will Pierre kickstart the offense?
• MCav - Shit can Baker
• Vehere - D. Lee, A Ram, and Murton
• CCD - Several things:I think Matty Murton will have a solid season. Ronny Cedeno will struggle. How long will Dusty tolerate Cedeno. Can Lee perform at or close to the level hedid in 2005? Can Ramirez stay healthy? Who is going to be the 3-4-5 guys in the rotation. Can Ryan Dempster continue to close games on his high wire act. I expect Juan Pierre to lift the offense and create some excitement on the bases.
• gaius marius - murton to hit, zambrano to experience significant arm probems
  

QUESTION: Will Dusty Baker survive the season as Cub manager?

• Newman - Yes
• Mikey P - No
• Marino - Yes
• MCav - See Above (NO)
• Vehere - Not a chance. Bring on Crazy Lou Pinella
• CCD - He will survive the season. But he will not come back for 2007.
• gaius marius - maybe the year but not the offseason
  

QUESTION: Will Jim Hendry survive as GM?

• Newman - yes
• Mikey P - yes
• Marino - yes, till just after the season
• MCav - No
• Vehere - He shouldn't survive to Opening Day, but he will
• CCD - He will survive. He will find himself on a short leash after Dusty's departure following the season.
• gaius marius - shamefully, yes
  

QUESTION: Who do think will win the following?

-AL East

• Newman - Yankees
• John Dooley - Blue Jays
• Mikey P - Yankees
• Marino - Yankees
• MCav - Orioles
• Vehere - Yankees
• CCD - Yankees
• gaius marius - red sox
  

-AL Central

• Newman - White Sox
• John Dooley - White Sox
• Mikey P - White Sox
• Marino - White Sox
• MCav - Indians
• Vehere - Indians
• CCD - White Sox
• gaius marius - twins(great race with the sox)
  

-AL West

• Newman - Athletics
• John Dooley - Angels
• Mikey P - Angels
• Marino - Athletics
• MCav - Angels
• Vehere - Athletics
• CCD - Angels
• gaius marius - athletics (another great race with the angels)
  

-AL Wildcard

• Newman - Blue Jays
• John Dooley- Indias
• Mikey P - Indians
• Marino - Orioles
• MCav - Yankees
• Vehere - White Sox
• CCD - Red Sox
• gaius marius - angels (time for king george to clean house)
  

-NL East

• Newman - Mets (dethroning the Braves, finally!)
• John Dooley - Atlanta
• Mikey P - Braves
• Marino - Mets
• MCav - Mets
• Vehere - Braves
• CCD - Braves
• gaius marius - braves
  

-NL Central

• Newman - Cardinals
• John Dooley - Cardinals(toughest one to pick. Seriously, anyone can win this. I'm picking the veterans.)
• Mikey P - Cardinals
• Marino - Cardinals
• MCav - Cardinals
• Vehere - Cardinals
• CCD - Astros
• gaius marius - cardinals
  

-NL West

• Newman - Dodgers
• John Dooley - San Diego
• Mikey P - Dodgers
• Marino - Dodgers
• MCav - Dodgers
• Vehere - Dodgers
• CCD - Dodgers
• gaius marius - dodgers
  

-NL Wildcard

• Newman - Brewers
• John Dooley - Mets
• Mikey P - Brewers
• Marino - Braves
• MCav - Phillies
• Vehere - Phillies
• CCD - Phillies
• gaius marius - astros
  

-AL Pennant

• Newman - A's
• John Dooley - White Sox
• Mikey P - Angels
• Marino - A's
• MCav - Orioles
• Vehere - Indians
• CCD - Angels
• gaius marius - angels
  

-NL Pennant

• Newman - Mets
• John Dooley - Mets
• Mikey P - Cardinals
• Marino - Cardinals
• MCav - Mets
• Vehere - Phillies
• CCD - Phillies
• gaius marius - dodgers
  

-2006 World Series Champs

• Newman - A's
• John Dooley - White Sox
• Mikey P - Cardinals
• Marino - Cardinals
• MCav - Mets (YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST)
• Vehere - Indians (Cubs miss their chance in '03 and everyone else gets theirs, '07 - Giants)
• CCD - Angels
• gaius marius - dodgers--how's that for a darkhorse!
  

That's it. Let us know what you think. How many games will the Cubs win, etc...