"Official" 2012 Pirates' W-L Prediction Thread

[magnumo]

As promised, here it is.

PLEASE POST YOUR PREDICTIONS IN THIS THREAD.

The rules have been modified as follows, primarily to accommodate a change suggested by Illinest and supported by others.

CONTEST RULES

1. Poster must predict an exact won-lost record for the Pirates' full regular season.

2. The first poster to predict a specific won-lost record will have "squatter's rights" to that prediction. That is, later predictions of the same W-L record will not be accepted.

3. Poster may change his/her prediction until the regular season begins, as long as the change does not violate rule 2. A prediction vacated by such change becomes available to other posters.

4. The contest will close to new entries when the regular season begins.

5. Since I can't guarantee that I will read every post between now and the beginning of the regular season, please post your prediction in a thread which has an appropriate title (such as this one).

6. If the Pirates do not play 162 games (e.g., due to un-made-up rain-outs) the contest will revert to games won as predicted by each participant.

7. I reserve the right to reject any prediction for any reason.

PLEASE POST YOUR PREDICTIONS IN THIS THREAD.

Please feel free to post any questions or comments here, as well. At this point, I'm kinda wondering how many predictions we will get.

As in the past, I will post acknowledgements for all predictions included on the list and will post an updated list from time to time. I will post the final list after the regular season begins.

Good luck to all.

 

[evolver115]

73-89

I can't bear the thought of 90+ losses

 

[rmilia1]

76-86

 

[thedddd]

69-93

 

[smokeyburgess]

I'm going WAY out on a limb on this one: 79-83. That's by far the best record I've predicted for the Pirates in recent years. Yeah, I know they haven't done much to improve this year, but I gotta feeling....

 

[magnumo]

Guess I should add my own prediction.....

66-96

 

[magnumo]

First Five Predictions

Here's the list so far, ordered by wins predicted:

79-83 smokeyburgess
76-86 rmilia1
73-89 evolver115
69-93 thedddd
66-96 magnumo

 

[Darkstone42]

I'd rather wait to make a prediction until Spring Training as least starts and I can get a feel for what Alvarez might do, whether or not Morton will be ready to start the season, and if the Pirates are able to improve the roster by some miracle, but I also don't want to lose my prediction spot, so here it is:

83-79.

I know, whoa. I'm taking the positive side of all the "what ifs" and also factoring in the division most likely being much weaker.

 

[magnumo]

Acknowledgement

I'd rather wait to make a prediction until Spring Training as least starts and I can get a feel for what Alvarez might do, whether or not Morton will be ready to start the season, and if the Pirates are able to improve the roster by some miracle, but I also don't want to lose my prediction spot, so here it is:

83-79.

I know, whoa. I'm taking the positive side of all the "what ifs" and also factoring in the division most likely being much weaker.

No worries, Darkstone. You can always change your prediction later.

And I admire your optimism.

 

[Burns80y]

Hey fellas it's been a while but i need to jump in on this one.

I don't think i will be close but i'll go with 80-82

 

[TheBurgh88]

Thought they were headed in the right direction, but I have lost all confidence in "Bad Deal" Neal. I have lost all faith in his ability to trade for anything but below average players and fillers while waiting for his no brainer top picks to progress through the system. Not impressed at all with Barajas and Barmes. McLouth stinks. Alvarez looks like a bust. The only above average player they have on offense is McCutchen. Most seem high on Tabata. I just don't see anything there. Presley was a fluke. Only 1 of them should be starting. Neal failed to find even average players at 1B and RF. The offense will be terrible unless Alvarez turns it around.

They will never see the starting pitchers have that kind of a start again as they dramatically over-achieved. I like the Bedard signing but he will be gone by the break. I expect Morton, Karstans, and Correia to be very average. McDonald is solid but wears down after 6 innings. As usual the bullpen will be overworked and wear down in the second half.

They may be decent in the first half in a division up for grabs but expect an epic collapse again in the second half.

62-100

 

[element1286]

75-87; baby steps, still too many questions for me to predict much higher. Wouldn't be shocked if they made 82, wouldn't be shocked with 68. Unless there are major injuries to significant players, can't see them losing 95+.

 

[magnumo]

To Burns80y: Good to see you again.

To TheBurgh88: More pessimistic than me, I see. Nothin' wrong with that.

To element: Hope your prediction is closer than mine.

OK..... I have added the three latest predictions to the list, which now includes 9 participants. If/as additional entries are posted, I will continue to post updates, ordered by wins to facilitate compliance with new rule 2 (that is, to make it easier to find predictions available for future entries).

83-79 Darkstone42
80-82 Burns80y
79-83 smokeyburgess
76-86 rmilia1
75-87 element1286
73-89 evolver115
69-93 thedddd
66-96 magnumo
62-100 TheBurgh88

 

[Illinest]

71-91

 

[magnumo]

And Illinest Makes 10.....

After 2 days, we have 10 participants. Wonder if we'll make 20?

Here's the updated list:

83-79 Darkstone42
80-82 Burns80y
79-83 smokeyburgess
76-86 rmilia1
75-87 element1286
73-89 evolver115
71-91 Illinest
69-93 thedddd
66-96 magnumo
62-100 TheBurgh88

 

[WVUinVegas]

63-99

Let's go Bucs!

 

[magnumo]

Greetings, WVUinVegas. Your prediction makes 11.....

Here's the updated list:

83-79 Darkstone42
80-82 Burns80y
79-83 smokeyburgess
76-86 rmilia1
75-87 element1286
73-89 evolver115
71-91 Illinest
69-93 thedddd
66-96 magnumo
63-99 WVUinVegas
62-100 TheBurgh88

 

[magnumo]

Just a bump to encourage additional participants.

Even under the new rules, a number of entries remain available.

Hey, thecrow124..... where are you?

 

[powwow35]

72-90

 

[magnumo]

Acknowledgement - powwow35

After a couple of days with no activity, powwow35 (at 72-90) has become our 12th participant. Here's the list:

83-79 Darkstone42
80-82 Burns80y
79-83 smokeyburgess
76-86 rmilia1
75-87 element1286
73-89 evolver115
72-90 powwow35
71-91 Illinest
69-93 thedddd
66-96 magnumo
63-99 WVUinVegas
62-100 TheBurgh88