Prediction Time

I haven't posted anything since the City Connect uniforms leaked in January. In the words of Regina George of "Mean Girls" fame, they're the "ugliest effing things I've ever seen."

But enough about fashion. Let's talk ball. The weather is its usually crappy self for Opening Day, so the Phils won't open until Friday. Thanks, Mother Nature and MLB scheduling wizards. 

The Phillies will win 96 games this year. How? 

• Kyle Schwarber won't be in left field for 103 games like he was last year, and that alone will save dozens of runs.
• Bryce Harper is healthy and should play a full season, or close to it. An average year means you can expect 33 HR, 96 RBI, a .391 OBP, and a .912 OPS. Yes, please.
• Trea Turner will be the Trea Turner of years past, which means 24 HR, 82 RBI, 42 steals, and an .816 OPS. 
• Ranger Suarez and Christopher Sanchez will both have ERAs below 3.50 and WHIPs of 1.10 or less. Fewer baserunners and runs means more wins.
• Aaron Nola will stop worrying about the pitch clock and will be in the Cy Young conversation, 
• Zack Wheeler should win the Cy Young Award.
• The bullpen won't be an issue.

All of that adds up to big things in South Philly and a tight battle for the NL East pennant. The Braves are still very good, but there's no way all those guys in Atlanta can all put up career numbers again. And some of their starting pitching is old (for baseball) and fragile. 

#RingTheBell