X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Reviewing Christopher Olson's 10 Bold Predictions for 2016

I was one of several baseball writers who made a list of bold predictions heading into the 2016 season, and now it's time to see how those predictions panned out. This reminds me of when they used to mail the report card to your home in high school. You know you won't have to deal with the fallout for a while, but it's going to be painful when that day comes. Here we go!

Editor's Note: Purchase a full season NFL Premium Pass (including DFS Premium), and also get MLB Premium + DFS for free through the playoffs. Premium DFS research, lineup picks, expert lineups, tools and more. You can see screenshots of our NFL Premium and MLB Premium and DFS tools. What are you waiting for?

Grading The Predictions

1. Jason Hammel will be a top-25 starting pitcher.

Our first shot was looking pretty good until Hammel made his standard fade down the stretch, although this one may have been the result of an injury. The veteran clocked in as the 39th best pitcher according to Fleaflicker rankings, and while he didn't have quite the season I envisioned, he provided quality to owners for most of 2016.

Grade C+

2. Prince Fielder will be closer to a top-25 than a top-10 option at first base.

This one hit, but it feels.... dirty. Fielder struggled all season before succumbing to a neck injury that actually forced his retirement. In the prediction I wrote that weight has likely played a significant role in Fielder's decline, but I'm not in a position to say that the neck injury is related to the size of his body. Still, Fielder finished as the 67th-best first baseman, making this a prediction that is technically correct.

Grade: A- See me after class.

3. Mark Reynolds will be relevant in mixed leagues.

Reynolds was working on making this happen, but a broken hand early in August resulted in a three-week absence. He was beginning to get his footing back after returning, but his season was ended after he was hit in the hand with a pitch on Sept. 18. Reynolds finished the year with a solid .282/.356/.450 batting line, but played in just 118 games, which really hurt his chance to make a fantasy impact. While this goes in the books as a miss, 2016 gave us the best version of Reynolds we have seen in quite some time, and he could be an intriguing late-round bat in 2017.

Grade: D that I turned into a B.

4. David Peralta will be a top-15 outfielder.

2016 was a lost season for a Peralta, as he played in just 48 games as a result of injuries. His numbers from that small sample aren't very impressive, but I think the only fair thing to do (pretty please) is to throw this one out, as he was unable to get his legs under him for most of the year. He will still be a target of mine next year, but wrist injuries can sometimes sap power, so that is certainly worth monitoring in spring training.

5. Mat Latos finishes the season as a top-40 starting pitcher.

Can we please just talk about Justin Verlander? I was so happy when Latos began the year allowing two runs over his first four starts that I actually sent out a tweet that read: "make me proud." The truth of the matter, though, is that Latos' peripherals were all kinds of ugly through that stretch. The 28-year-old couldn't outrun his problems for long, and he was designated for assignment by the White Sox after getting rocked for 25 earned runs over just 31 innings in May and June. Latos worked as a bullpen arm for a bit after getting picked up by the Nationals, but suffice to say he isn't someone you should have on your radar in 2017. I'm so sorry.

Grade: An illustration of a dumpster on fire.

6. Jumbo Diaz will save 30 games for the Reds 

Well, I was only off by 30. The frustrating thing about this prediction is there was a ton of volatility in the Cincinnati bullpen, but Jumbo never got a bite at the apple. In fact, he was shipped off to Triple-A fairly early in the year, and wasn't really used in any high-leverage spots when he was with the big club. The bottom line, though, is that his strikeout rate plummeted and his home run rate soared, so there isn't much to complain about.

Grade: I can't fit that many frowning faces on one page.

7. Justin Verlander reemerges as a top-10 starting pitcher

Wow! What a tremendous pick! Did you guys all see how well Verlander did?!

Okay, that's enough.

Verlander exceeded my expectations, as he comes in as the No. 2 ranked pitcher on Fleaflicker behind Max Scherzer. The former Cy Young Award winner registered the highest strikeout rate of his career in 2016, while also notching a 3.04 ERA. The main catalyst for the success seems to be Verlander's slider, which was scored at 18 runs above average. It will be interesting to see where he goes on draft boards in 2017, as he will likely be ready to rock as long as he stays healthy.

Grade:

screenshot

8. Michael Pineda will be a top-20 starting pitcher.

Pineda's runs above average mark on his fastball was negative 27. I'm tempted to stop right there, but while you let the enormity of that number sink in I can also tell you that he allowed a higher rate of homers (1.4/9) than he did in 2015, while also walking more batters. He actually improved his strikeout rate thanks to a nasty slider, but there is simply no way to be consistently effective when your primary offering is so terrible.

Grade: Is there anything lower than an F?

9. Pedro Alvarez will eclipse 40 home runs for the first time in his career.

Nope. In fact, he failed to reach the 30-home run mark for the third consecutive year. Alvarez had a fairly strong second half, hitting 13 homers and logging a .300 ISO, but he would've needed quite a bit more to even sniff the 40 club. If there is a silver lining here, it's that Alvarez will remain an extremely cheap power source in 2017.

Grade: You already know

10. Joaquin Benoit will be closing for the Mariners before the All-Star break.

I said in my prediction piece that Benoit was the Charlie Brown of relievers. That held true in 2016, as he was traded to the Blue Jays a week before Steve Cishek was removed from the closer's role. It should be stated that Benoit would have been taking over after the All-Star break if he had gotten the job, meaning I would only be eligible for partial credit. Benoit tore his calf in a brawl near the end of the season, finishing with a solid 2.81 ERA. There is no word on his status for the 2017 season.

Final grade:

BnOdPGq




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. Headed Back to Cavaliers
Josh Naylor

Returning to Diamondbacks Lineup
Eric Gordon

Remaining with 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers

Deandre Ayton Joining Lakers
Oronde Gadsden

an Active Pass-Catcher This Offseason
Brashard Smith

Speed Could be Put to Use
Emil Heineman

Signs Two-Year Deal with Islanders
Pat Bryant

Off to a Good Start
Simon Holmstrom

Re-Signs With Islanders for Two Years
Cody Barton

Quickly Becoming a Leader With his New Team
UTA

Nate Schmidt Signs Three-Year Deal With Mammoth
Montaric Brown

has Worked With Starters
UTA

Brandon Tanev Moves to Utah on Three-Year Contract
NJ

Evgenii Dadonov Joins Devils on One-Year Deal
BUF

Sabres Snap Up Alex Lyon on Two-Year Contract
Dallas Mavericks

Dante Exum Returning to Dallas
Ryan McLeod

Inks Four-Year Extension with Sabres
NAS

Predators Bring in Nick Perbix on Two-Year Deal
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Has Surgery to Repair a Turf Toe Injury
LA

Cody Ceci Moves to Los Angeles
DET

James van Riemsdyk Joins Red Wings on One-Year Contract
Viktor Arvidsson

Traded to Boston
Charlotte Hornets

Spencer Dinwiddie Lands With Charlotte
Josh Jung

Sent to Triple-A
Jurickson Profar

Officially Reinstated and Hitting in Five-Hole on Wednesday
Spencer Schwellenbach

Going on Injured List With Fractured Elbow
Maxwell Hairston

Facing Sexual-Assault Lawsuit
Tai Felton

Rookie Season Likely to be Spent on Special Teams
LeQuint Allen Jr.

to Have Receiving Role for Jaguars?
Justin Walley

Turning Heads Going into Rookie Season
Bud Cauley

in Great Form Ahead of John Deere Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

a Player to Avoid at John Deere Classic
Jake Knapp

Riding Momentum Ahead of John Deere Classic
Jamari Thrash

Establishing Himself as Reliable Option
Grayson Murphy

Could Provide Rotational Pass-Rush Depth
Joe Andreessen

in a Good Position to Compete for Backup Job
PGA

Sungjae Im Looking for Consistency at John Deere Classic
Ryan Gerard

a Solid Option at John Deere Classic
Bhayshul Tuten

Needs to Improve Pass Protection
Rickie Fowler

Looking to Rebound at John Deere Classic
Cameron Champ

a Volatile Option at John Deere Classic
Brandon Woodruff

Likely to Pitch on Sunday in Miami
Jackson Suber

Staying Below 70 is Key to Success for Jackson Suber
Kevin Roy

Playing Better Heading into John Deere Classic
Justin Lower

Hoping for Something Positive in Illinois
Ben Kohles

a Long Shot at John Deere Classic
Stephan Jaeger

Attempts to Stop Roller-Coaster Ride
Beau Hossler

Needs a Challenge in Illinois
Harry Higgs

Has Potential at John Deere Classic
Nick Dunlap

Keeps Plugging Through Tough 2025 Season
PHI

Dan Vladar Links Up With Flyers on Two-Year Deal
EDM

Andrew Mangiapane Signs Two-Year Pact With Oilers
SEA

Ryan Lindgren Joins Kraken on Four-Year Contract
PHI

Christian Dvorak Heads to Philadelphia
Logan Stankoven

Signs Long-Term Extension with Hurricanes
NYI

Jonathan Drouin Joins Islanders on Two-Year Contract
NJ

Devils Hand Connor Brown a Four-Year Contract
SJ

John Klingberg Lands in San Jose
William Eklund

Signs Three-Year Extension with Sharks
Will Cuylle

Agrees to Two-Year Contract with Rangers
Zac Gallen

Fans 10 in Tuesday's Win
Hunter Goodman

Hits Two More Homers Tuesday
Josh Hader

Stays Perfect In Save Conversion On Tuesday
Milwaukee Bucks

Taurean Prince Staying in Milwaukee
Shane Baz

Fans 11 Against Athletics
Grant Holmes

Strikes Out 10 in Scoreless Outing
Jeff Green

Signs One-Year Deal to Remain in Houston
T.J. Watt

Trying to Become Highest-Paid Non-QB?
Willson Contreras

Doubtful for Wednesday
George Springer

Clubs Two Homers in Seven-RBI Day
Joshua Palmer

Could be a Sleeper
Los Angeles Lakers

Jake LaRavia Lands with Lakers
Laviska Shenault Jr.

on the Bubble
Orlando Magic

Tyus Jones Signs One-Year Deal With Magic
Raheem Blackshear

to Work Mostly As Special-Teamer
Golden State Warriors

Kevon Looney Heads to New Orleans
Rico Dowdle

Trevor Etienne to Split Carries?
Chuba Hubbard

Should See Majority of Touches in 2025
Milwaukee Bucks

Jericho Sims Staying in Milwaukee
Denver Nuggets

Tim Hardaway Jr. Joins Nuggets
Willson Contreras

Avoids Structural Damage on Hand After HBP
Detroit Pistons

Duncan Robinson Lands With Detroit
Charlotte Hornets

Tre Mann Remaining in Charlotte
Josh Naylor

Scratched From Tuesday's Lineup Against Giants
Kevin Yu

a Near Must-Play at TPC Deere Run
San Francisco Giants

Giants Exercise Bob Melvin's 2026 Option
PGA

J.T. Poston Returns to John Deere Classic Looking for Another High Finish
Josh Naylor

Back in Action on Tuesday
Yordan Alvarez

Suffers Setback
Thriston Lawrence

a Decent Fit For John Deere Classic
Tom Kim

Not Finding Much to be Happy About Ahead of John Deere Classic
Nolan Arenado

Dealing with Finger Sprain
Jacob Wilson

Scratched With Hamstring Soreness
Brandon Woodruff

Ready for Season Debut
Garrett Mitchell

Out for the Rest of the Season
Milwaukee Bucks

Gary Harris Inks Deal With Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Mason Plumlee Heading Back to Charlotte
Si Woo Kim

is a Prohibitive Fade at John Deere Classic
Jakob Poeltl

Agrees to a Contract Extension With Raptors
Ben Griffin

is the Appropriate Favorite at TPC Deere Run
Vasilije Micić

Vasilije Micic Dealt to Bucks on Tuesday
Daniel Suarez

and Trackhouse Racing Parting Ways After 2025 Season
Pat Connaughton

Traded to Hornets
Atlanta Hawks

Luke Kennard Lands in Atlanta
Breece Hall

Aiming to Prove He is "Still One of the Best in the League"
T.J. Watt

Steelers Not Planning to Trade T.J. Watt
Ilia Topuria

Becomes The New Lightweight Champion
Charles Oliveira

Knocked Out At UFC 317
Kai Kara-France

Alexandre Pantoja Submits Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France

Submitted At UFC 317
Joshua Van

Extends His Win Streak
Brandon Royval

Drops Decision
Renato Moicano

Loses Back-To-Back Fights
Beneil Dariush

Gets Back In The Win Column
Felipe Lima

Suffers His First UFC Loss
Payton Talbott

Bounces Back
Alex Bowman

Competitive Run Ends With Third-Place Finish at Atlanta
Erik Jones

Secures A Top-Five Finish After Adversity In Atlanta
Tyler Reddick

Collects A New Career-Best Finish At Atlanta
Chase Elliott

Ends Winless Skid With Atlanta Victory
Brad Keselowski

Falls Short of Atlanta Victory
Carson Hocevar

Recovers From Big One to Finish 10th at Atlanta
William Byron

Caught up in Atlanta Big One but Retains Points Lead
Denny Hamlin

Top In-Season Challenge Seed Denny Hamlin Eliminated in Lap 70 Crash
Ty Dillon

Bottom Seed Ty Dillon Upsets Denny Hamlin to Advance in In-Season Challenge
Kyle Larson

Don't Expect Kyle Larson to Win First Drafting Track Race on Saturday
Christopher Bell

Unlikely to Complete Atlanta Sweep
Brad Keselowski

Seeks Another Clutch Win for Hail-Mary Playoff Bid
Chris Buescher

Unlikely to Lead Enough to Have Much DFS Value
Alex Bowman

Qualifies Best Among Non-Fords but Unlikely to Contend at Atlanta
Ryan Preece

Will Probably Run Better Than Usual at Atlanta
Austin Dillon

Consistently Mediocre at Atlanta
Ty Gibbs

Slightly Faster Lately but Unlikely to be a Factor at Atlanta
Erik Jones

a Low-Key Strong DFS Option
Noah Gragson

Could Have DFS Value as One of the Lowest-Qualifying Fords
Riley Herbst

Unlikely to Replicate February Atlanta Finish
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF