Cincinnati Reds Prediction Contest

by JD Arney on Feb 4, 2007 11:10 PM EST in News

contest questions

Alright, I'm all moved in, getting unpacked and all that, and I'm ready with some pretty cool ideas to get us through the next (last) boring month of the offseason.

Here's my first idea (inspired by this): we're going to guess a few things about the beginning of the 2007 season. Winner will receive a $50 MLB.com gift certificate, so this is a good opportunity for lurkers to sign up and start posting.

Here are the predictions I'm asking for, which must be in by next Sunday, February 11.

Who will be the first five pitchers to start games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2007? Not the first five games, because who knows if they'll use a fifth starter right off the bat with all the off days, the first five pitchers. (One point for each pitcher)
Who will record the first save for the Reds in 2007? (one point)
Predict your opening day lineup 1-8. (one point for each correct slot)
Name the final reliever to make the team. (one point)

In case of a tie, post your predicted April record for the Reds (25 games in April, closest prediction wins tie breaker).

Good luck!

Tweet Comment 45 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

My humble predictions...

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
David Weathers
Freel, Hatteburg, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Phillips, Ross, Gonzalez
Belisle

Tie Breaker: 14-11

"if you love the reds so much, why don't you marry them?"

by BobbyO on Feb 5, 2007 12:08 AM EST reply actions

Oh, and by the way...

first.

"if you love the reds so much, why don't you marry them?"

by BobbyO on Feb 5, 2007 12:17 AM EST up reply actions

Sorry Bobby O

But my guesses are nearly the same as yours. It's actually rather comforting - shows some stability in this team.

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
Weathers
Freel, Dunn, Griffey, Encarnacion, Ross, Phillips, Gonzalez
Belisle

16-9

He who laughs last obviously didn't get the joke.

by Daedalus on Feb 5, 2007 12:17 AM EST reply actions

you missed a spot...

in the lineup.

"if you love the reds so much, why don't you marry them?"

by BobbyO on Feb 5, 2007 12:18 AM EST up reply actions

um

that's supposed to say 3. Freel, Dunn, Griffey, Encarnacion, Ross, Phillips, Hatteberg, Gonzalez

He who laughs last obviously didn't get the joke.

by Daedalus on Feb 5, 2007 12:18 AM EST up reply actions

Methinks

Harang, BA, Lohse, Milton, Saarloos
Coffey
Freel, Hatteberg, Jr., Dunn, EdE, Ross, BP, Gonzalez
Coutlangus

TB: 13-12

by ken on Feb 5, 2007 8:24 AM EST reply actions

Question

When you say last reliever, who are you assuming already makes the team?

by Slyde on Feb 5, 2007 8:31 AM EST reply actions

we only have two pitching spots left

one of them has to be a fifth starter, right? so the other has to be a reliever. it doesn't matter who the fifth starter is to pick the one you think will make the team but won't be the fifth starter.

He who laughs last obviously didn't get the joke.

by Daedalus on Feb 5, 2007 11:31 AM EST up reply actions

My assumption from the questions was...

The following are locks (assuimg no injuries):

-Bray
-Coffey
-Cormier
-Majewski
-Stanton
-Weathers

was anyone else under a different impression?

by indy on Feb 5, 2007 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

I agree

but technically I could put one of those guys as my final reliever since he didn't establish any parameters. When there's money involved, I'll look for the loophole. :)

And actually, it needs to be established what happens if one of those guys is injured too. Say, for instance, if both Belisle and Meadows make the team because Cormier falls and breaks his old man hip, then do people that picked either one get a point, or just people who picked Meadows since he's only got a minor league contract and is less likely to make the team?

by Slyde on Feb 5, 2007 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

This

is correct. I'll admit I didn't think about injuries, I'll think about it a little and hopefully come up with something on that one.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on Feb 5, 2007 2:01 PM EST up reply actions

I'll give it a whirl

Harang, Arroyo, Lohse, Milton, Saarloos
Stanton
Freel, Hatte, Jr., EdE, Dunn, Phillips, Ross the Merciless, AGon
Belisle

Tie Breaker: 12-13 :(
(with a better May)

by iamwallaman on Feb 5, 2007 9:30 AM EST reply actions

Consistent

Going to be pretty consistent with everyone else...

Harrang, Arroyo, Milton, Loshe, Saarloos
Stanton
Freel, Hatte, Griffey, EE, Dunn, Ross, Phillips, A-Gon
Belisle

Tie breaker: 14-11 (because of 6 games with the Pirates)

by indy on Feb 5, 2007 9:41 AM EST reply actions

OK, I will try.

Harrang, Arroyo, Milton, Loshe, EZ.
Bray
Hopper,Deno,Hatte,Griffey,EE,Ross BP,Gonzo.
Salmon

18-7
gotta mix it up to score points here.
oh, I just love the way the line-up works out without Dunn. I am predicting a golf injury during spring training.

GO REDS!

by ewquinn on Feb 5, 2007 10:31 AM EST reply actions

Ok.

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
Bray
Freel, Hatte, Griffey, EdE, Dunn, BP, A-Gon, Ross
Love Shack

Tiebreaker: 10-15

"I'm just like everybody else. I have two arms, two legs, and four-thousand hits." - Pete Rose

by BK on Feb 5, 2007 10:42 AM EST reply actions

Here we go.....

Arroyo, Harang, Milton, Loshe, Bailey
Stanton
Freel, AGon, Griffey, EdE, Dunn, Hatteberg, Ross, BP
Meadows
12-13

by WayneNarron on Feb 5, 2007 10:43 AM EST reply actions

Here's my guess..

Harang, Arroyo, Lohse, Ramirez, Saarloos
Stanton
Freel, Phillips, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Hatteburg, Valentin, Gonzalez
Coutlangus
16-9

by snohio on Feb 5, 2007 12:51 PM EST reply actions

Nice Touch with Javy

Given that we'll most likely be facing Zambrano on Opening Day, that's a nice touch putting Valentine as you're starting catcher... going with the ole' Lefty against Righty matchup that Narron gets all giddy about it (not to mention Ross will definitely catch Arroyo in game 2). Nice call... and sorry if I just spoiled this to everyone else for you.

by indy on Feb 5, 2007 2:51 PM EST up reply actions

I thought about doing the same

but then I thought that Opening Day is always handled differently, for some reason. Plus, I believe that Ross will be the primary catcher with LLM only get the occasional start. Besides, Ross had a higher OPS against righties last year than LLM.

As for how they are against Zambrano:
Ross (11 PA) - .222/.364/.889/1.253 (2 HR, 1 BB, 4 K, 3 RBI)
LLM (10 PA) - .300/.300/.400/.700 (2B, GDP)

Obviously both are small samples, but Jerry will see those 2 HR by Ross and give him the nod.

by Slyde on Feb 5, 2007 3:02 PM EST up reply actions

Ross

is going to stink up ST.. :)
And milty is going to be to sore to start the season..

I just wanted to throw some different folks in. I take that same approach with my NCAA touney poles. I always seem to come in 2nd place in those.

by snohio on Feb 5, 2007 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

dick pole

Harang, Arroyo, Kylie, Milton, the Zard
Billiam Bray
Deno, Hatte, EdE, Jr., Dunner, Ross, Phillips, Alexander Luis Gonzalez
Belisle
15-10

No Royce Clayton? Aww...

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

by boobs on Feb 5, 2007 1:41 PM EST reply actions

damn

i forgot about saarloos... Eff!

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

by boobs on Feb 5, 2007 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

And The Winner Is...

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
Coffey
Freel, Hatte, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Ross, Phillips, Gonzalez
Eddie Guardado
15-10

by cooperflood on Feb 5, 2007 2:27 PM EST reply actions

Let's take a look at my human magic eight ball

Harang, Arroyo, Lohse, Milton, Saarloos
Stormy
Freel, Phillips, Dunn, Encarnacion, Hattie, Ross, Gonzalez, Deno
Belilse
12-13

by iheartchrissabo on Feb 5, 2007 2:35 PM EST reply actions

I suck at predictions, but 50 bucks is 50 bucks

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Ramirez
Weathers
Freel, Hatteberg, Griffey, EdE, Dunn, Ross, BP, Gonzalez
Saarloos
11-14

by Slyde on Feb 5, 2007 2:49 PM EST reply actions

This came to me in a dream...

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Ramirez
Stanton
Freel, Hatteberg, Griffey, Dunn, EdE, Ross, Phillips, Gonzo
Belisle
15-10 (thank you, Pirates)

by ben nevis on Feb 5, 2007 3:13 PM EST reply actions

Hm.

1. Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos

2. Bray

3. Freel, Gonzalez, Griffey, Dunn, Edwin, Hatteberg, Phillips, Ross

4. Belisle

by Geki on Feb 5, 2007 3:38 PM EST reply actions

Tiebreak: 11-14

by Geki on Feb 5, 2007 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

Here's mine

Harang, Arroyo, Lohse, Milton, Saarloos
Stanton
Freel, Phillips, Griffey, Dunn, Hatteberg, Valentin, Encarnacion, Gonzalez
Belisle

Tiebreak: 14-11

by KAredsfan on Feb 5, 2007 6:23 PM EST reply actions

List of Facts

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Nuxhall (crafty lefty forever!)
Freel--saving Hamilton from a line of cocaine
Crosby, Philips, Griffey, Dunn, Conine, Moeller, EdE, Gonzalez
Saarloos

Tiebreaker: 24-0 due to a rainout with the pirates rescheduled for july

go ahead and pony up that fifty JD

by rose2hall on Feb 5, 2007 10:52 PM EST reply actions

The true answers

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
Coffey
Denorfia, Hatteberg, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Phillips, Ross, Gonzalez
Elizardo

Tiebreaker: 13-12

Have screwball. Will pitch for food and the major league minimum.

by Seattle Slim on Feb 6, 2007 9:32 PM EST reply actions

And the winner is...

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
Bray
Freel, Hatteberg, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Phillips, Ross, Gonzalez
Burton

Tiebreaker: 14-11

Did I say that?

by dmcgee on Feb 7, 2007 5:06 AM EST reply actions

Why not?

Arroyo, Harang, Milton, Saarloos, Lohse.
Coffey
1. Freel, Phillips, Griffey, Dunn, Encarnacion, Hatteberg, Moeller, Gonzalez
Brian Meadows

Tie: 11-14

by JeterChrist on Feb 7, 2007 8:14 PM EST reply actions

Oh...alright...

Arroyo, Harang, Milton, Lohse, Saarloos
Weathers
Freel, Hatteberg, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Phillips, Valentin, Gonzalez
Elizardo Ramirez

Tiebreaker: 10-15

by Reds123 on Feb 7, 2007 11:27 PM EST reply actions

No real surprises

Harang, Arroyo, Lohse, Milton, Sarloos
Weathers
Freel, Hatteberg, Griffey, Encarnacion, Dunn, Phillips, Valentin, Gonzalez
Belisle (**some spring training injury and Burton gets a spot too)

Tie: 12-13

by Stevo154 on Feb 8, 2007 8:40 PM EST reply actions

I say

Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Lohse, Ramirez.
Weathers
Freel, Phillips, Dunn, Encarnacion, Griffey, Ross, Hatteberg, Gonzalez
Belisle

Reds fan for 40 years!

by gejoe on Feb 10, 2007 1:20 AM EST reply actions

Oh, and tiebreaker

14 - 10. (one rain/snow out.)

Reds fan for 40 years!

by gejoe on Feb 10, 2007 1:23 AM EST up reply actions

Ha!

smart.

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

by boobs on Feb 10, 2007 1:38 AM EST up reply actions

How long do threads stay open now?

I'm going to wait as long as possible on this one.

by Red Menace on Feb 10, 2007 6:12 AM EST reply actions

It seems like a week

I have no scientific proof on this, and I've tried to find the setting on the back end, but it seems like they get closed after a week. Entries are due tomorrow, and tomorrow is the one week mark for the post, I let you decide if you want to risk it.

One thing I can't figure out is if posts that are still being actively commented on stay open for longer than a week.

Can I get a hooha?

by Slyde on Feb 10, 2007 9:09 AM EST up reply actions

must be

the "last" game thread was open for like 3 months until we forgot about it... maybe it's a week after the last comment?

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make.

by boobs on Feb 10, 2007 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

I don't know

I think the rules have changed since the season ended. Seems like threads didn't start closing until after they upgraded the system back in December, I think.

Can I get a hooha?

by Slyde on Feb 10, 2007 5:43 PM EST up reply actions