2026 Bold Predictions

[Look at Ray Ray Run]

Just as was the case last year, this team sucks so there's tons of opportunities to be bold!

Last year I called Garrett Crochet leading the AL in IP because fading the actions of Chris Getz are a quick way to look like a savant!

On to this year:

1. Sam Antonacci wins the AL Rookie of the Year with a 3.5+ WAR season, despite not making the opening day roster. It's a relatively weak rookie class, and it's being headlined by pitchers who have a lot of up and down early in their careers. This is so bold, that Sam doesn't even show up on any of the lists. In fact, you can find odds on 4 OTHER White Sox players to win the award. The EV is real this spring, and this guy is about to mash. "If you play him, he will crush."

2. Grant Taylor leads the White Sox in pitching WAR. This isn't all that bold given that he is projected to for me as of today, but Taylor should be able to generate enough innings out of relief and, possibly, as a spot starter to make this an easy win. Shane Smith is a solid MLB starter, but Taylor is on another level. He had some terrible luck last year, and once we increase that sample the baseball odds should work themselves out. This is also a reflection of a very weak rotation, but Taylor will be in the 3.5-4 WAR territory so he would lead some other teams as well.

3. Murakami rips victory from the James Woods jaws of defeat down the stretch, and sets the record as baseball's new strike out king! 

4. Curtis Mead outplays Miguel Vargas, partly because Miguel Vargas further solidifies himself as a pumpkin but also because Mead finds a little bit of that lost from with the broken wrist in 2023. It's a now-or-never year for Mead, who had much more promise than Vargas pre-injury. 

5. The White Sox draft Justin Lebron with the #1 pick in the draft.

I may add a couple as spring training nears an end, but this is what I have as of now!

 

[chitownsportsfan]

I get "bold' is doing a lot of work here but every one of those seems absolutely insane to me, like 1 in 100 seasons type stuff. The only one I could possibly see would be Murakami setting the K record.

As for a bold prediction I'd say that Baldwin gets around 120 starts, hits around 20 HR and finishes around 2.5 WAR. 

[T R U]

Jarred Kelenic makes the team and leads them in WAR, Chicago White Sox complains about it all season and Harrold makes a triumphant return due to this. 

[Snopek]

From least to most bold (I think):

• Colson gets optioned to AAA in May after a horrendous start, but restores our faith by having a solid final few months in the majors. 
• Quero finishes with a higher WAR than Teel.
• Murakami homers in the first four games of the season, including one on his first AB of the season.
• Meidroth doubles down the right field line on 3-1 pitch in the 6th inning of the game vs the Braves on June 11. Alas, he gets thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. Such is life.

[Chicago White Sox]

9 minutes ago, T R U said:

Jarred Kelenic makes the team and leads them in WAR, Chicago White Sox complains about it all season and Harrold makes a triumphant return due to this. 

Why would I complain about Kelenic being awesome?

[T R U]

8 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Why would I complain about Kelenic being awesome?

I supposed you would come around because ultimately that would be a good thing, BUT you will complain that he made the team initially and cite how awful he was last season before coming around. This is my bold prediction don't s%*# on it. 

[46DidIt]

Sox lose less than 100 games 

[DoUEvenShift]

24 minutes ago, Snopek said:

• Meidroth doubles down the right field line on 3-1 pitch in the 6th inning of the game vs the Braves on June 11. Alas, he gets thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple. Such is life.

If this hits you should get a special "Nostradamus" board title