Three Wacky Brewer Predictions for 2013: Part One

As 2012 draws to a close, so do our memories of this past season. We can look back and laugh at some things and at other memories, well, let’s just say we aren’t too fond of them. In the next few days, we will go on a journey to some ultimately wacky, but sane (if that even makes sense) predictions for 2013. Some of these may just be as the title describes, wacky. Some however, may be a distinct possibility.

In part one, we’re going to talk about my first wacky prediction of 2013, which is (drum roll please):

Wily Peralta will win the NL Rookie of the Year.

Wily Peralta could easily invent himself into a future ace. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Okay, what’s not to like about his chances here? We didn’t see much out of Peralta in 2012, only a total of 29 innings pitched, but there’s a lot of upside to him. What we did see of out Peralta in the short time up here is that he has the stuff to fool hitters, and pretty badly at that. Strikeouts amounted for 20.4 percent of his outs and in that, he threw his fastball 70.3 percent of time followed by using his slider 21.6 percent of the time. He also got a lot of grounders as out, which were 55.3 percent of his outs.

Taking a closer look at his stats, Peralta only started in five games, but pitched in a total of six. In those six games, Peralta went 2-1 with an ERA of 2.48, a WHIP of 1.207, had 23 strikeouts, 11 walks and opponents had a .242 batting average against him. The walks are a bit concerning, but something that can be ironed out during the rest of the offseason and Spring Training. He’s fairly accurate with the ball, getting more than half of his pitches in a game as strikes. Peralta’s FIP, or fielding independent pitching stat, was absolutely dominant at 2.65, which can speaks volumes for his 2013.

Really, aside from his opponent’s rather decent .318 on-base percentage against him, Peralta absolutely dazzled in the short time he was given. Then again, Peralta’s only big trouble were walks. He didn’t give up any home runs, barely allowed runners who got on through hits to score, and just looked dominant in most starts. There isn’t much concern with Peralta, at least let’s hope there won’t be, because for a long time in the minors, he proved he was big league ready. He has some reliance on the strikeout, but however his ability to get ground balls into being the majority of his outs is rather impressive.

What Peralta did in 2012 easily earned him a job in this rotation for 2013. He may not be at the front of it, more than likely he’ll be the fourth or fifth guy in the rotation, but that may just be a temporary spot. If he can continue his dominance into 2013, then not only will he have earned a higher position in the rotation, but he also may be taking home the NL Rookie of the Year Award at the season’s end.