That's ifs, not as in infielders.  That's ifs as in if this, if that, etc.

 

This is the time of year when we can typically gauge the odds of a team being competitive by the number of ifs.  The more ifs, the less likely they will compete.

 

Last year was not a good year for ifs.  IF you recall, there was the IF Sano can play right field, IF Byron Buxton can take the next step, IF Rosario can pick up where he left off the previous year, IF Esco can play short full time, IF the rotation can get someone to step up from the young guys, IF....the list seemed endless last year.

 

So, where are we at for IF's this year?  (Feel free to add to the list)

 

IF Polanco can be solid at short.

 

IF Park or Vargas can make major contributions at DH.

 

IF Castro can hit at all and play solid defense.

 

IF Phil Hughes can return to be a legitimate MLB pitcher.

 

IF our bullpen has a closer.

 

IF our 2-5 rotation guys can eat up innings to give the always overworked bullpen a break.

 

IF I can drink enough beer to get me thru June-September when we are playing for not-last-place.

IF the left side of the infield doesn't bobble ground balls constantly

 

IF Kepler makes the next step 

 

IF all of these veterans makes a difference or just delaying things more

 

IF any young reliever steps up

If Buxton hits half as well as he plays defense

If Sano can hit 25-35 bombs

If Berrios becomes a #2 rotation pitcher

If 25 pitchers are not injured by July

IF the defense improves

IF Rosario returns to his rookie year form

IF Dozier doesn't revert to his early-2016 form

 

If the rotation isn't the worst in baseball again

It's a small list really.

 

If they stay healthy

If the pitchers can regain their control

If they play solid defense

If they can hit

 

Right now the goal should be for them to simply rise to the level of mediocrity.  If they finish within shouting distance of .500 this season will be successful.  

If the FO gets a plan that we can see and feel comfortable with.

If the coaching staff figures out what everyone is supposed to do and communicates well with the players.

If we are going to convert any more young starters to relievers or let them take the place of the old guys who are just place holders.

 

If we can keep what fans are left.

 

It's a small list really.

 

If they stay healthy

If the pitchers can regain their control

If they play solid defense

If they can hit

 

Right now the goal should be for them to simply rise to the level of mediocrity.  If they finish within shouting distance of .500 this season will be successful.  

So, still a lot of little ifs under each of those ifs lol lol

If Buxton hits half as well as he plays defense

If Sano can hit 25-35 bombs

If Berrios becomes a #2 rotation pitcher

If 25 pitchers are not injured by July

Small disagreement on #2. Sano hit 25 HRs last year and that was a relatively bad year. 35 to 40 is my hope for this year.

 

It's a small list really.

 

If they stay healthy

If the pitchers can regain their control

If they play solid defense

If they can hit

 

Right now the goal should be for them to simply rise to the level of mediocrity.  If they finish within shouting distance of .500 this season will be successful.  

How about this even shorter list:

 

If they score more runs than they give up

 

How about this even shorter list:

 

If they score more runs than they give up

..if this happens more often than not...

 

Small disagreement on #2. Sano hit 25 HRs last year and that was a relatively bad year. 35 to 40 is my hope for this year.

 

Agreed. If Sano is healthy this year and doesn't hit at least 30 bombs it'll be a disappointment, especially when you figure there's no chance his strikeout rate drops below 30% or his AVG gets above .260. His game right now is extra base hits and HRs.

To me the Ifs boil down to two:

 

If the new pitching philosophy of Falvey shows results.

 

If the core talented, yet unproven players (Buxton, Sano, Rosario, Kepler, Polanco, Vargas/Park) show improvement over last year.