As we come closer to the beginning of the season, the slow roll of 2020 Topps Final Edition customs continues. Some of these players have been picked up and are on new teams. Some haven't. Some are already in minor league camp. But still, they were important enough during the 2020 season to have needed a Topps card that never came.
Here are the next 9 cards.
The story of Brian Moran in the MLB is a strange but exciting one. In 2019, he made his debut for the Marlins in a game against the Pirates, and the 30-year-old sidearmer from Port Chester, NY came face to face with a familiar adversary...his brother, Brian. With one strikeout, the legend was born, and the relief talents of Brian Moran, while not quite as starry as the power numbers of Colin Moran, were known. He was supposed to start the 2020 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, but after COVID broke out at the Marlins' base, a call was made to any possible relievers who needed work. So Brian Moran returned to Miami. In 5 days he was eaten up by batters, and had a 12+ ERA by the time he was demoted, but this would have been the Topps Marlins card that Moran never got for his 2019 efforts. Moran is currently in camp with another Florida team, the Tampa Bay Rays.
One of the feel-good stories of 2021 was jumpstarted last fall. After being released by his longtime San Francisco Giants, Pablo Sandoval was surprisingly picked up by a new team, the playoff-bound Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately, Kung Fu Panda didn't have much luck at the plate in one game during the regular season, nor did he make any progress during the NLCS. But the Braves seem to have faith in Sandoval, as he's made the team for 2021, so he could have a comeback year this year. At least I hope so, this guy is fun to root for.
The Pirates' quest for pitching gave them relief options from all over the league, even people predominantly known for starting. Enter Chris Stratton, the former Giants low-rotation man, who was used as a big relief piece for the struggling Bucs in 2020. He did a nice job for himself, with a 3.90 ERA in 27 games, and 39 strikeouts. It's looking like Stratton will have a similarly large role in the Pirates' plans this year.
Meanwhile at Stratton's old team, the bullpen was trying new and interesting things in an effort to make a playoff spot that wasn't theirs. One of their tactics was using Marlins relief weapon Jarlin Garcia as a setup/middle relief man in tough situations, and Garcia delivered, with an 0.49 ERA in 19 appearances, meaning he only gave up one earned run in all that time. With a potentially feistier Giants team in 2021, Garcia could be a ninth inning option for a team that desperately needs one.
Yes, another member of the mighty Rays bullpen from last year. For everything it accomplished on the road to the postseason, every strong piece counted, and Andrew Kittredge was another one of those. Appearing in 8 games, Kittredge posted a 2.25 ERA, and was a solid midseason option.
While the primary reliever picked up from Seattle in the Austin Nola Deal, Taylor Williams, wasn't very useful, the secondary one, Dan Altavilla, managed to drastically improve his 7+ ERA with the Mariners to a 3 ERA with the Padres. In 10 appearances, Altavilla knocked 9 strikeouts, helping the Padres make the playoffs, and notched 2 more in the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Who would have thought that this guy would have become one of the most durable relievers in the game? I say that as he's on the IL for 6 weeks, but he's still at it, and still pitching for new teams every year. 2020 was his year in Minnesota, and Tyler Clippard did not disappoint, with a 2.27 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 26 games, a season that seemed like a companion to his strong numbers in Cleveland in 2019. Once he gets healthy, the Diamondbacks will hopefully get more strong stuff out of Clippard.
For Yaz's incredible start in 2020, one that put him onto the radar of so many baseball fans, he'd have at least gotten a reserve nod for a potential ASG roster. But Mike Yastrzemski getting an All Star Game appearance would have been a fitting moment, and a great piece of baseball history considering how many his grandfather made. Hopefully he makes another All-Star team this year while we still have Carl.
I gave you a Rays reliever, so here's a member of the Dodgers' bullpen as part of equal time. 2020 was Caleb Ferguson's best season since coming up in 2018, it was his lowest ERA with 2.89, and his lowest WHIP with 1.018. Unfortunately he didn't make the postseason roster, and he's still on the IL starting the 2021 season, but his relief numbers helped the Dodgers win a World Series. Simple as that.
On Friday, we get another 9 cards from this set. A few good ones for East coast teams in here.
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