SPECULATOR: Spring Training "What if"s — NL Edition

Extending last week's theme, let's run down eight pressing questions from National League camps:

What if James Loney's (1B, LA) second-half surge is sustainable?

The 2012 Baseball Forecaster dismisses the possibility: "A stepping stone? Nah, he's teased us before." To be fair, there is good reason for that point of view: Loney had a well-established track record over more than 2000 career AB; our fanalytic principles tell us not to get sucked in by a 170-AB stretch where a few errant gusts of wind were at his back. But...

  • Even though elevated h% and LD% drove the surge, it was GBs he was turning into LDs, not FBs. More balls in the air may indicate he can hold some power gains.
  • One Dodger observer points out that Loney's...

Almost!

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