Every year before the season starts, I make my predictions on what the New York Yankees season might look like, who will star, and who will bomb. Last year I bombed out several times but still had a 50% winning percentage. This year’s predictions were made on March 30, 2021, when things looked risky but pretty rosy for the upcoming season.
Most analysts make their predictions and then forget they ever made them unless they are right on, in the category of “I told you so.” I have always published mine, good or bad. I don’t think anyone could have predicted the roller-coast season the New York Yankees have had. So let’s take a look at how I did with only weeks left to the season.
1. Gerrit Cole will not perform as expected!
After winning 20 games in 2019 and 7 in a shortened 2020 season, most would have suggested he would win 20-21 games this season. But, unfortunately, he won’t come close to that—my prediction score A.
2. DJ LeMahieu will be good, but not as good!
At the very beginning of the season, LeMahieu signed a lucrative six-year contract. Although he is a good hitter and defender, no one would have predicted he would drop his average by 100 points in his next year—prediction score B.
3. Clint Frazier will shine in his first full season!
Boy, was I wrong on this one. Frazier has played in only 66 games due to poor play and injuries. Prediction score F.
4. Aaron Judge will have an injury-free season
I predicted he would play in 135 or more games. I nailed this one; as of today, he has played 127 games, and has been the Yankee’s best performer—prediction score A+.
5. Gleyber Torres will lead the Yankees in home runs
This is another one I bombed on; he may end up with the least home runs of the regular lineup. Prediction score F.
6. Domingo German will be the winningest pitcher
This one could have gone either way; with Injuries, we will never know. After returning to the team, he had a roller-coaster season. Prediction score C.
7. Jonathan Loaisiga will be the Yankees’ best reliever
I was on track with this one. He definitely has been our best reliever before going on the IL with Rotator Cuff problems. Prediction score A.
8. Gary Sanchez will prove the Yankees wrong
I predicted the Yankee’s faith in him was for naught. He has hit better and has been somewhat better behind the plate. But also has had far too many bone-headed mistakes a veteran shouldn’t have. Prediction score C.
9. Yankees will win 108 games
After an abysmal start of the season, the Yankees went on to have a 13 game winning streak and also, for 6 weeks, won more games than any other team. But then, as of today, they own a 7 game losing streak. The Yankees will be lucky to fall only 20 games short of my prediction. Prediction score F.
10. The Yankees will win their 28th World Championship
I still can’t answer this, although it looks improbable with the way they are recently playing. If they get to the wild card and win it, it’s baseball; anything can happen. Prediction score withheld. We will retake a look at these predictions after the season is complete.
At the beginning of the season, I thought that Aroldis Chapman would fail as the Yankee closer because of having made so many nail-biting losses at critical times in recent seasons, but I didn’t make that prediction I should have.