About those Five Dumb Predictions for the 2021 Cincinnati Reds

The writer makes predictions about the Cincinnati Reds. He is wrong almost all of the time. He wants the Reds to do well. The predictions are mostly off the cuff and optimistic to a fault.

Tyler Mahle had a bad inning in the penultimate game of the season. He finished the 2021 season as the Reds team leader in fWAR (3.8) for a pitcher.

He fired 180 IP with a K/9 over 10 and had an ERA under 3.40. He struck out over 200 and he looked ace-ish.

He tops 170 IP this year with an ERA around 3.19 and a K/9 over 10.

Joe Dan had a good season last year. He came back from a broken thumb and hit 17 home runs in 30 games. His OPS went down to .881 after that, but he walked 130 times in the final 35 games, so he might be getting more walks this year than he did last season.

Joey Votto's stance change during 2020 is one of the most memorable moments for Reds fans. He went from punchless to puncher, socking dingers down the stretch. Veto will have an early power surge in 2021.

Nick Senzel should have been a Gold Glove finalist and a star player for the Cincinnati Reds. Instead, he got hurt and he played a foreign position.

Jesse Winker had a season in 2021 where he hit 24 dingers in 110 games played. However, the 110th game he played was cancelled because he injured his intercostal muscles.

The Reds are 2 games over .500 at the Trade Deadline. They were 55-50 on deadline day. The Reds stood pat and didn't address their issues with LHP. They finished 83-79 and missed the playoff. It's the first week of October and not the last. I'm writing this in the beginning of the month.

The Cincinnati Reds are talented enough to win just slightly more often than they lose. They have the ability to do that during the first 55% of the season. If they can do it that way, they have a chance to make a big move at the trade deadline. The Reds didn't do anything this winter.