The part I like the most about making predictions is that it’s my opportunity to get my gut feelings out on paper in way where it won’t jeopardize the success of my fantasy teams. What I mean is that when it comes to draft day I will only act on my instincts and select a certain player when the decision is between two relatively similar players. I am a person of numbers. I spend a shitload of time preparing and fine tuning my estimations and league specific rankings for the exact purpose of sticking to the results on draft day. Winging it just isn’t in my game plan. I play it pretty much by the letter. I do allow for some wiggle room in the later rounds of the draft, but early on and mid-draft there is something a bit robotic about my choices.
However, when it comes to predictions, I am free to toss out any crazy idea I might have. I’d like to preface the upcoming predictions by saying these shouldn’t play more than a coin toss role in your decision making on draft day. What that means is that you shouldn’t use this information to make any serious choices when it’s your turn to pick. However, if it comes down to a toss up between player A and player B, feel free to consider my thoughts when deciding whom to pick. And if that’s not the proper use of “whom”, I don’t care.
Carlos Santana will score more fantasy points than both Cody Bellinger and Rhys Hoskins.
Paul Goldschmidt will be Paul Goldschmidt.
Josh Bell will be more valuable than Justin Smoak.
DJ LeMahieu is currently the most underrated 2B in points leagues and will finish as a top three 2B.
Rafael Devers will finish outside the top 15 third basemen.
Trevor Story is useless in points leagues.
Francisco Lindor will score more fantasy points than every other SS.
Mike Trout will finally finish the season as the hitter with the most points.
Byron Buxton and Tommy Pham will have 20-20 seasons.
Luis Severino will finish outside the top ten starting pitchers.
Jeff Samardzija will score more fantasy points than Dallas Keuchel, James Paxton and David Price.
Francisco Mejia and Austin Barnes will be near must starts at catcher in the second half of the season.
Edwin Encarnacion will lead 1B in home runs.
Both Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen has solid seasons.
Marwin Gonzalez gains catcher and P eligibility.
Jose Quintana will be a top ten pitcher.
Yu Darvish will defeat Shohei Ohtani in a karate match.
If you draft Jose Martinez you are wasting a draft pick.
My spreadsheet will help at least one person win his/her points league.
Manny Machado will have a monster season.
Luis Gohara will dress as C.C. Sabathia for Halloween.
Dinelson Lamet will be the only starting pitcher to have a K/9 greater than 10 drafted after the 15th round.
Aaron Judge owners will eat a big shit sandwich this season based on where they draft him.
Madison Bumgarner will win the National League CY Young Award.
Some of you have already had your draft. If so, I hope it went well. For those whose draft is just around the corner, the best advice I can give is be prepared. The most important day of your fantasy baseball season is draft day. Don’t funk it up.
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