2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #298-306

 We reach the last true hero number of the set, hurdle the last 100th post, and begin to head towards the home stretch of this 2020 Final Edition set. Some big guns here, and a few who've already been DFA'd in 2021

On we go...

Card #298- Yu Darvish ASG, Chicago Cubs

By the point in the 2020 season that, if simmed correctly, would have been accounting for an All Star break, Yu Darvish was the best, most dominant pitcher in the NL, and was off to one of the best starts of his career. Though he lost traction to Trevor Bauer as the season went on, Darvish definitely would have been the starting pitcher for the NL ASG team had the season played out at a normal pace, and nobody would have argued with it. At 34, Darvish is still one of the more consistent pitchers in the bigs, and may go down as one of the greatest Japanese pitchers ever to cross over. 

Card #299- Kenta Maeda ASG, Minnesota Twins

Speaking of Japanese players that had incredible 2020s, Kenta Maeda, who, it's very hard to believe, is a year younger than Darvish, would have qualified for his first ever ASG nod, thanks in part to his blistering August with 6 beautiful starts, a 2.39 ERA and 42 Ks. Maeda had control like he hadn't since his rookie year in the states, and led the Twins to great heights. Unfortunately, his follow-up season in Minneapolis hasn't been as celebrated.

Card #300- Sixto Sanchez, Miami Marlins

Yeah, I think Sixto was a pretty obvious pick for a hero card as well. Going into 2020, Sixto Sanchez was one of the biggest prospects in baseball, and was already a steal for the Marlins having been traded there from Philadelphia in exchange for J.T. Realmuto. Sanchez was called upon to supplant the rotation in August, and was undeniably one of the factors that led the Marlins to the postseason, with a 3.46 ERA and 33 Ks in 7 starts, plus a shutout start against the Cubs during the postseason [despite getting roughed up by Atlanta in the next round]. With Sixto's excellent 2020, it's a saddening factor that injuries and rotation capacity have led the Marlins to keep Sanchez down in 2021. Hopefully he'll be back to his old tricks soon.

Card #301- Jonah Heim, Oakland Athletics

Despite Sean Murphy's strong season behind the plate for the A's, the A's were lacking in strong backups at that position last year. So after the trade deadline, they brought up Jonah Heim, a catching prospect, and he was decent in 13 games, with good defensive numbers despite a .211 average. Heim was one of the pieces dealt in the trade that sent Elvis Andrus to Oakland, and Heim, unlike fellow trade package-mate Khris Davis, is still on the Rangers, albeit hitting sub-.200

Card #302- Jon Jay, Arizona Diamondbacks

Jon Jay has been with a different team every season since 2016. The former Cardinals outfielder has become a designated defensive outfield replacement who can hit for average if possible. Last season, Jay spent the summer with the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team he'd been with before in 2018. Unlike his last tenure with the D-Backs, Jay struggled off the bench, with a .160 average in 18 games. Jay actually did pretty well with Anaheim this year before being DFA'd and later demoted to the minors.

Card #303- Antonio Senzatela ASG, Colorado Rockies

Yes, surprisingly, the best starter in Colorado last year was not German Marquez, nor Jon Gray, nor Kyle Freeland, but their fellow battery partner Antonio Senzatela, who'd struggled in the years since his 2017 callup. Senza's 2020 would have definitely been worthy of an ASG nod, with consistency in the face of injury, and a 3.44 ERA in a snakebitten Rockies climate. He's a bit shakier in 2021, but his 2020 should have been commemorated.

Card #304- Tyler Matzek, Atlanta Braves

Talk about another feel-good comeback story from 2020, the season of many. Tyler Matzek was a former Rockies starting piece who struggled in his first two seasons, then spent a good 5 years in the minors, fighting to come back. After a nice minor league year with the 2019 D-Backs, he was signed by Atlanta, impressed in relief in the minors, and was brought to the majors for 2020. Matzek's 2020 was an excellent one, with a 2.79 ERA in 29 innings, with 43 Ks as well. Matzek also had a 1.09 postseason ERA with 14 more Ks, and a winning outcome against the Dodgers! So far he's dealing similar stuff for the Braves, which will hopefully get nastier as the Braves do.

Card #305- Cameron Maybin, Chicago Cubs 

Maybin, like Jay, has also changed teams multiple times since 2015. Mostly, because Cameron Maybin often signs with lower-market teams, has great seasons with them, and always is traded to competitors. It happens. EVERY. YEAR. Maybin began the 2020 season with the Tigers, did an excellent job in a starting OF role, and was subsequently traded to the Cubs. In Chicago, he hit .250 with 5 RBIs, and didn't get much done in his 2 postseason at-bats. Maybin did his best in a run with the Mets, but barely got any hits at all. Not sure what's next for the veteran.

Card #306- Nick Anderson ASG, Tampa Bay Rays

Undeniably one of the best relievers of last year, Nick Anderson definitely would have been called upon by A.J. Hinch as a relief asset for the AL ASG team in a 2020 scenario. Anderson came to prominence as one of the hardest-throwing relievers in Miami before getting dealt to the Rays, getting playoff time, and then having a HUGE 2020 with a 0.55 ERA and 26 Ks in 16 innings, as well as a strong first two postseason series before getting chewed up by the Astros and Dodgers. Anderson's out for the majority of the season, but will hopefully be a strong asset when he returns. 

Monday we get the next 9 cards in this set, the third-to-last post of this project. Can confirm 2 big rookies and 1 big traded player.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Cubs (Part Two)

Earlier I presented Cubs customs from the opening lineup day and starting rotation. Here is everyone else, including bullpen pieces.

Craig Kimbrel is obviously not where he was two years ago. Either he never got together after a late start in 2019 or he just isn't right for Chicago. But this was still the second consecutive down year for the closer who was golden for every season from his rookie year until his World Series ring in 2018. He posted a 5.28 ERA, only got 2 saves, and felt merely perfunctory in this improved Cubs bullpen.

2021 Prediction: I really, really hope a 30-save season is in the cards for Kimbrel. If not, he's off this team by June.

The real star of the 2020 Cubs' bullpen was Jeremy Jeffress, without a doubt. Jeffress, after a down year in Milwaukee last year, came right back to life with 8 saves and a 1.54 ERA, giving him a 1.2 WAR on par with his peak years. Jeffress gave the Cubs some true bullpen power, and a lasting closing piece in the wake of Kimbrel's inefficiency.

2021 Prediction: The Brewers re-sign him and he gets another peak year out of it.

2020 was poised to be a huge rookie year for Nico Hoerner, the double-A prospect who was called upon late in the 2019 season and made the most of it. In response...he gave some double-A numbers in 2020, with a .222 average and 13 RBIs. So, in an inverse of last season, a healthy veteran had to take over 2nd base for him. His numbers did go up in September, but it was too little, too late.

2021 Prediction: If the minor leagues are up and running again, they will help Hoerner condition himself to not have a similar season to 2020. 

Speaking of people who would have been in the minor leagues in 2020, Adbert Alzolay made some starts in 2020, which was a long time coming for the Cubs minor league prospect. Alzolay did fairly well in his late-season comeup, with a 2.95 ERA in 6 games, including 29 strikeouts. Just the kind of young strength the Cubs needed down the stretch.

2021 Prediction: Huge presence in the Cubs rotation, lots of strikeouts, and 10+ wins.

Cameron Maybin has played for nine teams in six seasons. In that time, he has also batted .266 with 204 RBIs, 92 stolen bases and 511 hits. He has been consistent even if his uniform has not. And as good as he was with the Tigers to start the season, it was heartbreaking once the realization hit that he would likely not end the season there. Sure enough, the Cubs trade for him to fill Albert Almora's outfield spot, he'd hit .250 in 19 games with 13 hits and 5 steals. I am genuinely glad Maybin is as reliable as he always was.

2021 Prediction: Why break the streak. Shit, I'm gonna predict the exact ones and be really wrong. He, uh, starts the season with the Pirates and ends the season with the Rays. Even if the teams aren't exactly those ones, the formula stays the same.

Funnily enough, Billy Hamilton's career is following a similar formula, since he's played for 5 teams [4 really] since 2018 ended. He made camp with the Giants, then COVID happened, he was released and picked up by the Mets where he played some games and didn't get many hits, then he was released again and picked up by the Cubs. The shocking part is that he actually hit pretty well with Chicago, a .300 average in 14 games [used primarily as a defensive substitution, pinch runner or hitter], and he got 3 hits and 3 of his patented stolen bases out of the deal. 

2021 Prediction: He gets some stolen bases for SOMEONE next year, I just don't know for whom or whether he hits for average at all.

Coming Up Next: They came into this season with two Martes and Madison Bumgarner, and they left it with only one Marte and barely any Bumgarner. 

Cameron Maybin in Detroit, Part III

Cameron Maybin is one of the most oft-traded player of our current, post-Edwin-Jackson era of baseball. Maybin is one of those players where you could feasibly make a lineup of players he was traded for, and they would include such luminaries as Miguel Cabrera, Craig Kimbrel, B.J Upton, Dontrelle Willis and Edward Mujica. Maybin has also been  included in deals with Andrew Miller, Carlos Quentin and Matt Wisler.

The cool part for me is that Maybin was traded for Miguel Cabrera and has now returned to the Tigers twice to play alongside him. I do find it funny that now all three of Maybin's seasons in Detroit have been shortened in some way- his 2007 season due to a rookie call-up, his 2016 season due to an injury lopping off his first few months, and this season due to, well, the virus shortening the season. And yet you can still say that Cameron Maybin seems to enjoy playing for the Tigers. Heck, Maybin's best numbers, especially in terms of average, came during his 2016 run in Detroit.

So having him here as a veteran, along with Cabrera, as the team rebuilds is pretty smart. You're gonna see Maybin get less starting time and Victor Reyes and Travis Demeritte get more as we go. Maybin, like Curtis Granderson in Miami last year, is a great guy to inspire the youth and get them working. I don't know if it'll work for Christin Stewart, who's still listless, but JaCoby Jones is off to a really nice start, as is Castro.

Granted, the only starter that's really stood out so far is Spencer Trumbull, but the fact that  the younger arms are showing up helps- Rony Garcia did what he could today, but the Royals got the better of him. The bullpen also seems a bit more refined than usual for the Tigers, so...things have improved from the Tigers' Tork-qualifying last place finish.

I don't think we'll be seeing Riley Greene or Casey Mize this season, but I also don't think the Tigers will be terrible this year either.

Coming Tomorrow- In  Chris Archer's absence, a fireballer ascends in Pittsburgh.

Division Series Update: Climax & Anticlimax

So yesterday, four teams were in position to advance on a win. Three of them lost.

...it's damn great that the one team that won was the New York Yankees, or else I'd be sleepwalking through this post.

Oh, man, what is there NOT to beam about? Sevvy and Green combined for some sharp pitching early. Torres, Gardy and Didi continued their ALDS dominance, while Cameron Maybin got in on the fun with a late-inning homer, and Chapman's save sealed the deal on an already-beautiful ALDS. I'm very proud of these guys, and I hope this dominance and power carries over to the ALCS, no matter who they play. It's likely that it'll be the Astros, which should be VERY tough...

But seeing as the Rays just beat up Zack Greinke, maybe it'll be easier than I thought. Everybody was teeing off of the Cy Young winner yesterday, including Brandon Lowe, Kevin Kiermaier and Ji-Man Choi, leading to a Rays Game 3 victory over the favored Astros. I'm not exactly saying this spells doom for Houston, because they're likely going with Verlander today against Tyler Glasnow, which was a matchup that did them in last time, but...maybe they're more human than we all thought.

Meanwhile, in the NL...I just can't be happy for long, can I?

The Cards-Braves Game 4 went for 10 innings, with a tied-at-4 thing making it wide open for both teams, despite Dallas Keuchel making his short rest well-known with some home runs for Goldy and Ozuna. But...ultimately, Yadier Molina was the hero, sailing a Julio Teheran fly ball into left for an RBI, capping the game at 10, and...anticlimactically forcing a Game 5 in Atlanta. It worries me how close this matchup is looking. It also worries me that the Braves might be going with Folty for Game 5.

Annnnd Max Scherzer decided that there'll be TWO Game 5s on Wednesday. By sheer force of will, it seems, as only Justin Turner was able to get a run through for LA. Also, the Washington offense is still alive and well, taking Rich Hill out in the third thanks to quick work from Anthony Rendon, who was the non-Scherzer MVP of the game.

As the series goes back to LA on Wednesday, possibly putting the ball back in the hands of Walker Buehler (and maybe Stephen Strasburg?), could this lead to Washington's first-ever playoff advancement. Could my World Series winner pick end up flaring out thanks to a Wild Card? I legitimately have no idea how this one will go now.

Still, while we have time, let's eulogize the fallen:

I legitimately thought the Twins had more of a shot than this. I thought their home runs would seal the fate of the Yankees' uneven pitching. I thought that Nelson Cruz and Max Kepler would have field days with Chad Green. This was not the case. And it's sad, too, because the Twins had become such a fun team, even if they were playing mine.

I do think the Twins will be able to regroup and strengthen for 2020, and they may have more of a shot then if they sand off some of their inadequacies. But this was a heartbreaking end to what seemed like a strong year for them.

Today, we've got one elimination-level game left. If this one goes to five as well, I give up.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Mariners

Back in about...July, I'd say, I had a conversation with my uncle, who's a lifetime Mariners fan. And we were talking about the Wild Card game. How our teams were gonna square off, and it'd be a matter of whether Mitch Haniger and Nelson Cruz could outhit Severino.

That...didn't exactly happen. And the Mariners CONTINUE to be the unluckiest team in baseball. Their playoff drought is about to go into its eighteenth year, they've given away Jean Segura, Robinson Cano, James Paxton and Edwin Diaz...for practically nothing, and they're continuing to unload as we speak. A team that felt playoff-bound midway through this season is going to start next season looking like a shell of itself. Which is unfortunate.

Speaking of a shell of itself, Felix Hernandez is...that. He's lost his velocity, and his ability to consistently win games, and now all he is...is a strikeout artist that's resting on mythology. He's 32, and he's not quite a lock for the Hall, but...if he can turn his rotten luck around, and regain his mid-decade mojo, the Mariners could be in better shape.

 Ryon Healy was plucked from...the eventual Wild Card finalist to play first base, and occasionally DH, for the M's, and this kind of illuminated how unfit he was for that A's roster. He's a hitter with middling defensive ability and a low average, and could only do so much with a .235 average, despite the 24 homers. He'll have to compete with Edwin Encarnacion in 2019, who had a much better season this year.

 Even in a season where he'd be the MLB's top Seager brother by default, Kyle Seager still disappointed for the umpteenth year, continuing his 2017 trend of striking out too damned much and slipping his average. He's becoming a liability both at the plate and in the field, with negative saber metric stats in both categories. Perhaps Healy will be competing with HIS position.

 Alex Colome was a solid eighth-inning man for the M's this year, and made up their impressive bullpen. In a perfect world, he'd be their closer for 2019, but he was traded to Chicago for, admittedly, a needed catching pickup in Omar Narvaez.

Cameron Maybin, kind of like last year, came to a new team at the trade deadline and didn't really do a whole lot for them. Which is a shame, because he was doing alright in Miami. He'll likely be a cheap free agent for someone who needs outfield help (so perhaps he'll return to San Diego?)

Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of Miami, they had a predictably atrocious year after losing all their big stars.

Finality: 2017 Edition

After 50+ years of existence, the Houston Astros have finally won a World Series. How crazy is that? What's even crazier is the fact that they deserved it.

Five years ago, when the Astros were the butt of every joke in the league, I never could have thought a day like this would show up. This is pretty incredible, and well-deserved for everyone on the team. Plus, now Carlos Beltran, Jose Altuve and Justin Verlander have rings to take with them to Cooperstown.

That's the end of our regular MLB coverage for the year. I'm gonna try and keep updating the blog this month with box breaks, card prompts and stuff, but it might get a smidge quieter in a bit. Just know that I'm still gonna be following the game, and preparing for Uncustomed Heroes in December.

It's Only Waiver Thin

Something about the AL West just owes itself to waiver-wire deals, as three teams have made some nice moves to try and up their game in the race. Both the Angels and Mariners want to play the Yankees in the Wild Card game, and the Astros want to play....uh, either the Yankees, or hopefully the Angels or Mariners, in the playoffs. They're bobbing for seeds, and want to make the best of their playoff cases.

The Angels made the biggest move, in acquiring Justin Upton from the perpetually sinking ship known as the Detroit Tigers. Upton's been having one of his best seasons in years, but not only does he get to compete for the first time in a little while, but he gets to help a generally blah team improve its name, by having something else to talk about other than Mike Trout. Honestly, an outfield of Trout-Calhoun-Upton is a pretty nice idea, and Upton will help to elevate them from being a so-so squad.

Then, there's the other vier for the WC race, the Mariners. They went with another help area..

Yes, the Ms knew their pitching was a weakness, so they nabbed Mike Leake from the 'finally realizing they're not competing' Cardinals. Leake's been having a great year, but the fear is that he'll perform similarly than the way he did back in 2015 when he was spun into a competing Giants squad. The fact of the matter is that Leake's never been great on a truly pennant-chasing team, but the M's have a lineup to die for, and a rotation that's been aided. This was more of a utility need then an 'oh-my-god' need, but this will definitely help the Mariners' playoff case.

And then we have the Astros, who actually managed to disarm a competitor..

Cameron Maybe has slowly become one of the great unsung heroes of the MLB, stealing bases left and right, swapping teams every December, and never having a truly bad season, even on the direst of squads. Giving him to the AL West Champion Astros is an idea that may wind up pushing them further into the playoffs.

The lineup in Houston's already really good, but there's been an emphasis on bulky, 30+ home run hitters, even as the infield's full of young, speedy hits guys. Maybin's presence will spread the youth towards the outfield, as well as bringing versatility, immense speed, and likability, to a team that could use that. He's basically this year's equivalent of Coco Crisp landing in Cleveland- we didn't know how good it would look until it happened.

These are some pretty nice moves. As a card-collector, it's a bit annoying to see these guys not making the Update set, but if that's my only problem, it's not bad.

Maybin, You're Gonna be the one that saves me...

(If you're gonna title a post with a horrible pun, own up to it.)

The Angels were atrocious last year, they did only a few things to improve the roster, and now they're surprisingly doing well. Huh. Didn't think just getting rid of Jered Weaver would turn the whole team around.

Look, they're not in first yet, and there are some problems still left to be solved, but it's definitely improvement. Mike Trout is definitely still the anchor here, and his hamstring issue is definitely scaring some people, but...right now the third-place numbers are proving there's a least some hope left.

Cameron Maybin, who saved the Braves from obscurity a few years ago, is having a pretty nice season so far. The usual home run crew of Albert Pujols, Kole Calhoun and Yunel Escobar are doing pretty well. The pitching staff is a little worrisome, but Ricky Nolasco is doing the best he can trying to hold up the mostly-injured rotation.

As this has become a pretty lopsided division, I'm not sure if the Angels are going to get better or worse, but it's not looking like they'll make much of an impact other than Trout-related activities. Which is definitely a shame.

Coming Tomorrow- The ubiquitous third-baseman for a surging NL West club.

Interesting Developments in the Motor City

The Tigers have not made any huge moves yet, with the exception of nabbing Francisco Rodriguez. But they're also in the process of making some very small moves which could help to bring them back on top in the AL Central. And this is a pretty big deal, seeing as the Tigers almost won a World Series 3 years ago.

The Tigers just traded some small prospects to get Cameron Maybin back, who hasn't been a Detroit Tiger since they were a perennial last-place team, back in 2007. So joining a last-place, pitching-deprived Tigers team may feel like nothing's changed for Maybin. Maybin, however, is now a prime outfielder, and could definitely win the LF job over Tyler Collins for 2016.

This doesn't mean anything, really, because the Tigers need to tighten up their pitching staff. Verlander-Simon-Sanchez works well enough, despite some aging, but Kyle Lobstein, Shane Greene and Daniel Norris need to either improve or leave. Norris is probably the most optimistic-looking of the three, and if the other two don't work, they need to pipe in people who do.

The Tigers aren't expected to be a huge force this offseason (obviously), but if they can make little moves that can rebuild their pitching staff, and tighten their roster ever-so-slightly by using smaller players, small trades (like the Maybin one, which barely even got any front-page coverage), and little momentums, they can potentially get back to third or second place.

The AL Central could be a tough division, because the White Sox are one or two big players away from contending, and the Indians have the toughest pitching staff in the central, that could be trouble if backed up by a good lineup. If the Tigers can at least get by those two, and potentially fight the Twins, they could be cooking with gas.

Not saying this could definitely happen, but from the way they've been working so far...the Tigers have a chance.

Custom Card of the Night: Maybin Edition

This is the guy that may be the reason why the Braves are still in third place.

See...the secret weapon in Atlanta used to be the pitching. And then that dried up. And then everyone thought the secret weapon was Freddie Freeman. And, sadly, Freeman has landed on the DL. But the whole season, Cameron Maybin has been powering a mostly-vacant lineup. It's a wonder he's even a Brave, as he was sent over in the trade on the literal first day of the season, for Craig Kimbrel.

To go from a team where you're barely needed like the Padres to a team where you're needed so much that the trade rumors aren't helping the fans is one hell of a transition.

I'm actually really happy that Cameron Maybin is playing well, because Maybin was sent to Miami in the Miguel Cabrera deal, and never really regained his footing after that. He did have some very nice years in San Diego, but getting Matt Kemp and Justin Upton seemed to ruin his chances.

With the Braves, he's been energetic, high-hitting, and everything the Marlins needed him to be in 2008. It's looking like there's a chance of Maybin being traded, and while it makes sense, I do feel bad for Braves fans once he leaves. He's been great so far, and I'd love to see him as a Brave for a little longer.

Coming Tomorrow- A White Sox pitcher who's been provided a much needed spark this year.

Year by Year Customs: 1986

Finally got these up. After today's smattering of customs, there are four days in Year by Year left, including a brief update set. Enjoy these.

Got his autograph personally.

Coming Monday: The first set I ever completed from scratch.