Across this week and next, the Pitcher List staff will be revealing their 10 bold predictions for 2017. We'll be reviewing them through the year on our podcast as a beautiful custom bobblehead is at stake for the winner at the end of the season. We have some creative predictions and it's going to be a fun two weeks as we gear up for the season ahead. To lead it off, we have Ben Palmer's bold predictions for the upcoming season.
These are all predictions that, more than likely, will not happen, but they definitely could. Who knows? Maybe the season will end and I'll look like a prescient genius, or maybe I'll look like a total idiot. Actually that could go for any of my articles.
1. Hector Neris finishes the year with more saves than Craig Kimbrel
Jeanmar Gomez kind of came out of nowhere last season and saved 37 games for the Phillies. That alone was more than Craig Kimbrel saved, and Gomez isn't exactly an incredible closer. In the time that Hector Neris pitched last season, he was fantastic, with an 11.43 K/9, a 2.58 ERA, and a 33.3% chase rate. As of now, the Phillies have a bit of a three-headed monster in the closer role between Gomez, Joaquin Benoit, and Neris, but Neris is far and away the best pitcher of the three. Kimbrel isn't the Craig Kimbrel we all knew a few years ago. His fastball has declined a bit, and he had a seriously high walk rate last year (13.6%). If Gomez can get more saves than Kimbrel, then I think Neris definitely can. It will just take him taking the closer role in Philadelphia, and hopefully the Phillies are smart enough to recognize Neris' talent.
I hope nobody actually takes these predictions seriously…