MLB 16 The Show: Diamond Dynasty Ratings Boost Predictions (5/19/16)
Submitted on: 05/19/2016 by
Chase Becotte
Oh, hey guysssss. So welcome back for another year of MLB The Show predictions. This feature was slumbering while The Show figured out a consistent release schedule for new rosters. Now that Friday seems to be the day when new rosters come out, that means I can start predicting ratings changes on Thursdays.
I’ll be breaking down my predictions into three categories once again (high, medium, low) as well as adding a “hold” category for players I think can become higher rated over the course of the season (see: Bryce Harper going from Silver to Diamond last season -- there’s only one Bryce though).
Okay, let’s get to it:
Ratings Boost Probability: High
Jackie Bradley Jr. - He's got a 23-game hitting streak going, and he's one of the best players in the AL this season. He has 7 home runs and a .370 average over the last month.
Ian Desmond - A bit forgotten after a weird offseason, but he's just rolling the last month in Texas. The mix of power, speed and average makes him a solid all-around player.
Adam Eaton - FanGraphs pointed out how valuable Adam Eaton has become, and it makes sense. He’s in the lineup every day, he’s not bad at anything, and he’s at least a plus-player in almost everything. He’s got a bunch of multi-hit games the last month, and he really does look like a top-tier center fielder at this point.
Danny Salazar - It’s only 50 innings, but you take notice of a guy with 61 Ks in 50 innings to go with a 1.8 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Now his xFIP is 3.38 so he’s over his head for now, but Salazar has unbelievable stuff and is getting big-time results right now.
Ratings Boost Probability: Medium
Nick Castellanos - His BABIP is unsustainably high, and he doesn’t know the strike zone, but he's a multi-hit monster. He's hitting .350 on the season and has 6 home runs over the last month.
Ian Kinsler -- I need to point out Kinsler as well because he's hit a home run in four straight games. The power returning somewhat would be exciting as he’s still hitting for average and doing the normal Ian Kinsler things.
Travis Shaw -- I can’t deny it’s weird seeing Shaw just stay on a tear, but he’s been really friggin’ good since taking over for Panda. His run in May so far includes a .323/.397/.615 slash line with an OPS over 1.000.
Ben Zobrist - He’s 34 and showing out like crazy on the stacked Cubs teams. His slash line is .328/.447/.500. I think a lot of folks expected him to go Gold last week, but seems like this could be the week.
Ratings Boost Probability: Low
Chris Sale, Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto -- All three of these guys are pitching their faces off the last month. I’m combining them because all three are already obviously highly rated, and it’s really hard to gauge when those guys will get boosts because they’re already legit. Either way, I just wanted to note them.
Todd Frazier - Power, power and more power. He has 10 home runs the last month, and he’s just been crushing the ball as usual.
Adam Jones - He lost his Gold status a couple weeks back, but Adam Jones seems to be returning to form. I don’t know if the developers will flip him back quite yet, but the track record says he’s a Gold player.
Mookie Betts - I don’t think he’s done enough to earn a boost after a really slow start, but Betts seems to be turning it around.
Khris Davis - You have to point someone out who has 5 home runs in last 7 days, but he’s still pretty much what you expect: slugging outfielder who doesn’t walk and strikes out a ton.
Long-Term Projections
(Again, this list will change and fluctuate. Some guys will be on more in the short term while others will stick around for many weeks.)
Christian Yelich - Yelich got a big boost last week, but everyone knows at this point he’s going Gold soon enough. The question is really how high do you think his rating gets?
Gregory Polanco - Polanco has been boosted to Silver, but he’s a Gold waiting to happen. He’s still really cheap right now in the Marketplace, which is a bonus.
Chris Tillman - He just got a boost last week, but he’s been fire this season.
Aledmys Diaz - His fielding is a mess, and the Cardinals snuck him through waivers not too long ago, but you take notice if a middle infielder with his numbers. He’s a Bronze right now, but I imagine he could get to Silver status before losing playing time when the Cardinals get more healthy.
Trevor Story - He’s leveled out, but Story is still hitting for power. He still strikes out a lot as well, but I mean, there’s no reason to think he can’t become a Silver.
Jackie Bradley Jr. - In the middle of a big-time hitting streak, and he’s 12th in wRC+ as of today. He’s got Gold status written on him at this point.
Odubel Herrera - Odubel Herrera I would classify as sneaky valuable. He’s top 20 in WAR, and he’s playing for a weirdly solid Phillies team (sup, bullpen). The Phillies don’t have any Gold players right now, but he could be the first at some point.
Nick Castellanos - I’ve talked about him already above, but he’s young and hitting well. Those things lead to elevation.
Adam Eaton - Again, as I said, I would consider him an uncrowned top-tier center fielder at this point. He has helium, and so does his team right now.
Jeff Samardzija - Samardzija might even get a boost this week, but it seems like he’s back. He’s got Gold tier in him if he sustains this as the track record has plenty of high points.
Aaron Nola - Top 10 in pitching WAR, and his xFIP is actually better than his ERA, which tells you he’s legit.
Vince Velasquez - Strikeouts for days, and like Nola, he’s also in top 10 in pitching WAR. He needs to be more efficient, but man, why not think he can’t keep rising?
Working...