Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Red Sox

 

Well, it's Christmastime, and I imagine the Frosty the Snowman specials are getting a lot of play on network TV. You know, the story of the snowman who comes to life with the help of a magic hat, and of course there's the 2nd act conflict where some ass takes the magic hat away and makes the children cry. 

Alex Cora was the magic hat in Boston. You took him away, and so too left the magic. Even with injuries in 2019, they still weren't completely terrible. But in 2020, with no pitching, and no Alex Cora? Absolutely nothing could be done for the Red Sox. It took bringing Cora back, revitalizing the rotation, and adding the littlest pieces like Kiké Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe and Garrett Whitlock, but they were a big force in 2021. The Sox may not have won the East, or the Series, but they reestablished themselves as competitors in 2021. 

Even better, after an injury-plagued 2020, the Red Sox got 31 games out of Eduardo Rodriguez. Eddie had 13 wins, highest on the team, and 185 Ks, 2nd highest [thanks to Eovaldi]. The worrying detail was a high ERA of 4.74, but he proved that his mechanics and velocity are still trusted, and that he can still be a big game pitcher.

2022 Prediction: Of the two major signings made by the Tigers, I predict that Rodriguez will be the more disappointing one. I'm getting Jordan Zimmermann vibes from what they gave him and how long.

After a blistering end to the 2020 season, the Sox gave Bobby Dalbec 1st base [over Michael Chavis, which, in hindsight, shoulda got it]. Dalbec is a one dimensional hitter with occasional perks, and he continued that approach, with a 25-homer year, 78 RBIs, and a .792 OPS. He only hit .240, and his defensive numbers leave a bit to be desired, but he's still a solid member of the team, and can hit for power just like the other big guns on the team.

2022 Prediction: Closer to a peak year. I say he chases 35 homers, has some insane stretch in May, and gets even more eyes on him.

After how unhittable he was in 3 starts at the end of 2020, I kinda figured Tanner Houck would have a bigger role in the Sox team than he did. He was kept in the minors for a great deal of the year, and only appeared in 18 games, but 13 were starts. In those starts he had 73 Ks, and a 3.68 ERA, despite an 0-4 record. He also had 10 more postseason strikeouts, and a win in the ALDS against Tampa, despite some runs against Houston. 

2022 Prediction: Houck has a rotation spot, I think. Paxton might make a run, but Houck has it. And he's gonna be a big eyebrow-raiser off the top of the season. 

The result of a rare trade between Boston and the Yankees, Adam Ottavino was the most utilized reliever for the Red Sox this year, and had a 4.29 ERA, a 7-3 record and 71 Ks. Not quite his Colorado numbers, but still consistent and reliable.

2022 Prediction: Low-key pickup that pays off for another contender. NL, I think. Maybe St. Louis brings him back.

And then, in the last moments of the season, the Sox brought back two former farmhands on waivers. Travis Shaw was an infield piece that left the team in exchange for Tyler Thornburg, and became a star in Milwaukee. Shaw began the season with the Brewers, did alright, and lost the 3rd base job to Luis Urias. So he was claimed by Boston, his old stomping grounds, and hit .238 with 11 RBIs and 3 homers in 28 games.

2022 Prediction: I think he'll retire after not being given a good enough deal.

And after being good-but-not-great in Anaheim, Jose Iglesias also returned to Boston as a backup 2nd baseman for Hernandez's flexibility. In 23 games, Iglesias hit .356 with 21 hits and 7 RBIs, all the production the Angels had been missing. 

2022 Prediction: My guess is the Astros sign him on a one-year.

Tomorrow, as per usual, quite a few Cincinnati Reds. 

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #55-63

 Okay, this is the day that I still have engrained into me to do these posts. Fridays are gonna need a few more repetitions, but Monday is firmly in there. Here's the next 9 cards of the set. Some intriguing inclusions here.

Card #055- Nick Margevicius, Seattle Mariners

Nick Margevicius was one of the first players in the 2019 incarnation of the now-ironclad San Diego rotation. Margevicius was brought up with Chris Paddack and Pedro Avila as a way of sprucing up the rotation with youth. It didn't especially work, and Margevicius struggled after his first few starts. So the Padres waived him, and Seattle bit. Due to the overwhelming lack of rotation options, Margevicius started 7 games, ended the year with a 4.57 ERA and was a decent lower-rotation pick after Gonzales, Sheffield and Dunn. Not sure if there'll be room for him in the rotation in 2021.

Card #056- Edward Olivares, Kansas City Royals

Edward Olivares was fulfilling the Franchy Cordero 'extra outfielder' role in San Diego before going the way of Cordero himself and being traded to Kansas City for a reliever. Olivares, though, got to some contact hitting in 18 games in KC, hitting .274 with 17 hits and 7 RBIs, and factors into the starting outfield conversation for 2021. Not bad for one of many Padres outfield prospects to be splayed across the AL. 

Card #057- J.T. Realmuto ASG, Philadelphia Phillies

Realmuto, the catching giant of Philly, would have actually missed the NL starting gig for the ASG voting by a few meters, thanks to some voting from the LA general area. But he'd still make the team as a reserve, because he's one of the best catchers in the game, is one of the best elements of a still-meh Phillies lineup, and, if 2020 had been normal, could have been in his last season in Philly, so to get an ASG nod in both Philly seasons would have been pretty cool.

Card #058- Eric Yardley, Milwaukee Brewers

Another member of the sprawling but mostly anonymous Milwaukee bullpen, Eric Yardley is, heh, YET ANOTHER FORMER PADRES FARMHAND who was waived by San Diego during the 2019 offseason. The Brewers picked him up, and Yardley responded with a 1.54 ERA and 19 Ks in 24 appearances, along with 2 postseason strikeouts against the future World Champions. Yardley is 30, but will still be a crucial piece of the 2021 Brewers bullpen, especially with Devin Williams and Josh Hader looking to be healthy. 

Card #059- Daulton Varsho, Arizona Diamondbacks

The high-ranking Arizona prospect finally made it to the bigs in 2020, but the output may not have been what the fans were hoping for. In 37 games, Daulton Varsho only bat .188 with more strikeouts than hits. He was still an impressive defender and roster piece, but by the end of the season the D-Backs were bringing up Pavin Smith as an alternative. Interesting to see where he spends the majority of the 2021 season.

Card #060- Bobby Dalbec, Boston Red Sox

He appeared on the scene like a freight train. A longtime Salem & Portland slugger, Bobby Dalbec finally made it to the majors in 2020, and made a name for himself quickly, hitting 8 homers in 23 games, his first few all in consecutive games. Dalbec is looking at a starting role with the Sox, and a new young power hitter is exactly what the Sox need right now. 

Card #061- Austin Hedges, Cleveland Indians

After five seasons of low-average, decent-defense work as the catcher in San Diego, Austin Hedges was finally moved out of a starting role thanks to Francisco Mejia and, eventually Austin Nola. Hedgey, along with Josh Naylor, would be traded to the Indians for Mike Clevinger, and Hedgey sort of limped along for 6 games, hitting .083 with only one hit. He'll likely be backing up Roberto Perez this year in Cleveland.

Card #062- Trevor Story ASG, Colorado Rockies

Story would have been the third of three NL shortstops on the proposed 2020 ASG team, and would have been a reserve member. But it would have been his third straight ASG nod, and a foreshadow of his status in 2021 as one of the few marquee Rockies left on the team after Arenado's departure. Story is a fantastic player, and has improved so much since his rookie year, but I worry that his time in Denver is coming to a close.

Card #063- Kyle Finnegan, Washington Nationals

Brought up in the wake of the Nationals' WS win, Kyle Finnegan was one of the many young, unestablished bullpen tools brought in to keep the team strong despite the lack of most of its 2019 core. Finnegan was one of the better relievers on the team in 2020, with a 2.92 ERA in 25 games, with 27 Ks. Will definitely be of use in a stronger, rebound year for the Nats.

The next 9 of these will come on Friday. Some of the most intriguing uniform changes are in this one.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Red Sox

I quote Christian Shephard from Lost when I say 'that's why the Red Sox will never win the World Series'

The Boston Red Sox could have, in all theory, been a good team this year had they had any ounce of good pitching from July until the second week of September. The lineup wasn't bad, there was a nice amount of oddball utility guys coming in late, only Moreland left, and in all actuality Alex Verdugo was a fantastic way of replacing Mookie Betts. But...the pitching problem clouded this team and prevented the Sox from advancing past even the Orioles this year, leaving them with another case of a last place season coming on the heels of a Championship. 

Unless they re-sign him, 2020 will be the final Boston season for veteran outfield star Jackie Bradley Jr. I always criticized Bradley's way of refusing to hit for average while always doing well in the outfield, but Bradley rounded out this year, hitting .283, his highest single season batting average, with 22 RBIs and 7 homers, definitely a strong finish to the contract. 

2021 Prediction: Something tells me Boston won't re-sign him, and he'll sign somewhere in the central divisions where there's not a lot of pressure, and have another strong year.

 

After two straight years of stellar stats, ASG starts and prime home run material, perhaps the lack of crowds reverted J.D. Martinez back to a less-polished state. Martinez only mustered 7 homers this year, hitting .213 with, at the very least, a high-for-Boston 27 RBIs. It's a worrying detail as Martinez could become the umpteenth contracted player in Boston to crap out midway through the deal [Sale has already begun this]. 

2021 Prediction: 30 homers again, but his contact abilities will be shot.

Other than Martin Perez, the only thing resembling quality in the rotation this year was Nasty Nate Eovaldi, two years removed from his stellar postseason run. Eovaldi's season was honestly pretty nice, though- 4-2 record in 9 starts, a 3.72 ERA and a club-leading 52 Ks. Not 2018-Sale levels, but definitely a fine ace audition.

2021 Prediction: Eovaldi will pitch well, but his cruciality to the Boston rotation will hinder on whether or not Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez completely recover from injuries. If the team needs him badly...he may get traded in July. 

Rafael Devers led the Red Sox in strikeouts with 67. For those keeping score, that means Devers struck out more times than any of their pitchers struck other people out. NOT A GREAT STAT, BOSTON. 

What makes Devers' season such a double-edged sword is that he still led the team in RBIs with 43, and tied Xander Bogaerts for home run leader with 11. So he's still a good hitter, and still bat .263 this year, but between him and Martinez, the Sox are bleeding strikeouts. It's a risk they need to ask themselves if it's worth it to take.

2021 Prediction: Another really impressive offensive season, but the strikeout totals are still gonna keep him out of any higher conversations.

Damn this guy...Bobby Dalbec may be the unsung hero of the entire year. This guy's a career minor leaguer, a guy meant to remain a farmhand, and yet he makes his way up this year, and proceeds to hit 8 home runs in 23 games, and 16 RBIs, setting some sort of home run per come-up record I believe, and freaking out a large majority of Boston fans. True, he didn't exactly hit for average, which only made him a marginal step up from Michael Chavis, but he added a great deal of pop and surprise to the Boston lineup in August and September. 

2021 Prediction: Bobby, I'd like you to meet Cory Sullivan and Chris Shelton. They'll help you out with what's about to happen.

Tanner Houck scares the shit out of me, and should scare the shit out of you too. Tanner Houck, with only 3 games under his belt, was one of the most valuable players in the Red Sox roster this year on WAR alone. Houck won all three of his games, and had a 0.58 ERA, with 21 Ks and a 0.882 WHIP. The translation here- Tanner Houck is not only the real deal, but he might be one of the most dangerous pitchers in baseball if these numbers indicate future stats. 

2021 Prediction: AL Rookie of the Year, 3rd in Cy Young voting, 15 wins and 200 Ks. Get ready, AL East. 

One more round of applause for Matt Klentak. Thanks to him, the Phillies had two relievers that didn't do shit and won't stick around, and the Red Sox got a potential future catcher in Deivy Grullon and Nick Pivetta, who looked cooked for the Phils then SUDDENLY SPRUNG TO LIFE IN BOSTON, winning both his starts, with a 1.80 ERA and 13 Ks. He and Houck suddenly made the Sox' rotation look pretty accomplished in late September, and led to the Sox winning 5 of their last 7 games of the season. so...THAAAANKS MATT.

2021 Prediction: The bubble pops slightly, and Pivetta slowly returns to his old self, but not without a few choice classic moments. 

Coming Tomorrow- A bright spot in the 2020 season was the Cincinnati Reds, while still being a generally fun and feel-good team, making the playoffs. Which means, for the second year in a row, I have a lot of Reds left to post.