Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Dodgers

 

There was a moment this season where I genuinely believed that the Dodgers might be returning to the World Series. And that'd be alright. The NL teams are easier to root for than the ALs if they're just gonna be the Rays or the Astros every year, the Dodgers had two Mad Maxes and a rotation so good that even losing Trevor Bauer to a suspension didn't stop them. Once they took down the Giants I thought they had another ring in the making. 

They did not. But they still accomplished so much, especially in the potential last Dodger season for Clayton Kershaw, and the last Dodger numbers for Scherzer and Corey Seager. So many great Dodgers I already posted about this season, and here are the ones I didn't get to.

Kind of alarming that David Price can be an afterthought, but considering the career downturn he'd had, it's sort of understandable. Price, at 35, is only scratching the surface of his former glory. He started only 11 games, had a 3.92 ERA, only 34 Ks, and didn't garner a single win. In relief, he had a 4.18 ERA, 5 wins and 24 Ks in 32 innings. The bottom line was that the Dodgers figured out how to use him, even if he's not really in peak form anymore.

2022 Prediction: In the final year of his contract, Price will do alright in a similar role in LA, then get traded for a big piece at the deadline and finish the year with dignity for a non-contender.

Another rotation piece that's been fit into as many roles as possible in the crowded picture, Tony Gonsolin continued to reward the Dodgers without having the household name as Kershaw, Buehler and Scherzer. In 15 games, Goose had a 3.23 ERA, 65 Ks and 4 wins, a very sharp, nasty stat line for a guy that most people don't really think about.

2022 Prediction: With a few more rotation vacancies, this is Gonsolin's year to really have a stronghold on the rotation and make his case known alongside Urias and Buehler.

Two years after his late-season debut, Gavin Lux still hasn't completely come into his own in LA. Lux hit .242 in 102 games, with 46 RBIs and 7 homers, felled by injuries and slumps. Once Trea Turner was added to the mix, Lux got less and less playing time.

2022 Prediction: With Chris Taylor re-upped, Lux may be a backup yet again. I expect him to get moved in the same deal that moves Price.

The Dodgers' perennial utility bench bat, Matt Beaty, had another decent year in 2021, hitting .270 with 40 RBIs and 7 homers in 120 games, usually used as a late substitution or clutch bat. Beaty also notched an RBI during the NLDS against the Giants.

2022 Prediction: Similar role, similar output. 

I honestly think Blake Treinen's been doing a ton better since the spotlight of the ninth has been lifted off of him. Both his Dodgers seasons have been great, and his 2021 was his best since his 2018 breakout. In 72 appearances, he sported a 1.99 ERA, with 85 strikeouts [dwarfed only by his '18 total], and 7 saves. He was a little less human in the postseason, with a loss in the NLCS, but he still had 8 more strikeouts in hard-fought situations.

2022 Prediction: If the Dodgers don't re-sign Kenley Jansen, which is unlikely but possible, you're looking at a 30-save season. If not, a 3ish ERA in 69 appearances. 

A year removed from his insane postseason come-up, Brusdar Graterol had a few more struggles, with a 4.59 ERA in 32 outings, resulting in a demotion or two. Graterol did make the postseason roster, was scoreless in 4.2 innings against the Cardinals and Giants, then gave up a crucial Braves run in the NLCS despite a 2.08 ERA. Graterol is still sharp, but he's young, and still figuring things out.

2022 Prediction: A step in the right direction statistically, staying up in the majors all year with some big-game middle relief moments. 

And the gonzo bench player of the year for the Dodgers was former Rays and D-Backs outfielder Steven Souza Jr., still bouncing around the league after some injuries cut his stock a bit. Despite hitting .152 in the regular season, with only 5 hits and 17 games, he was included in the postseason roster, had a nice hit in the NLDS against the Giants, and was a decent enough outfield replacement.

2022 Prediction: Will get a nice spring training invitation with someone, but I doubt he'll make the team.

Tomorrow, we look at the team they beat in the NLDS, the surprise hit Giants.

Spring Training Custom: Price Slightly More Right Edition

Yeah, this is probably my favorite one I've done so far this year.

Today, February 29th, is leap day, which is a day that shouldn't exist. And speaking of things that shouldn't exist, here's David Price in a Dodger uniform.

I'm honestly really intrigued by Price's inclusion in the Betts deal. I mean, yes, Mookie to LA itself is pretty great, and makes that outfield a near-classic one. But...Price to LA has some very weird inclinations.

Heck, it reminds me a little of Josh Beckett landing in LA back in 2012. By that point, Beckett had pitched some great seasons, some Championship seasons, and some weak ones. And seeing him play for the Dodgers was equally weird, because here's this guy that used to be leading rotations in Boston and Miami, and now he's like a 4th or 5th man behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu. How is this supposed to make sense?

And that's kinda where I'm at with David Price. This guy was unstoppable with Tampa, he pitched into the playoffs with Detroit and Toronto, had a great year with the Red Sox despite injury and controversy, and all of the sudden he's dropped into an already-stacked Dodger rotation, and will be asked to pitch behind Kershaw and Walker Buehler.

It's honestly a matter of whether or not Price's heftier numbers show up. Because he's one of the best pitchers of the last 10 years, a major strikeout artist, and an asset for any team that has him. I can't imagine that he's done ruling the mound after a few seasons in a stadium that's bad for lefties. Dude still had a 46-24 record in Boston, which isn't bad, though the cumulative 3.84 ERA is his highest out of the four teams he's played for.

So maybe he gets back to his old tricks, supplants Clayton Kershaw in the rotation, exceeds expectations and safely pitches into the playoffs again, continuing his streak of having generally alright postseason luck. Or...maybe he pitches 10 games this year and spends the rest either benched or on the DL. I'm hoping it's the former, but I'm prepared for either outcome.

Coming Tomorrow (?): Speaking of worrying Boston pitchers, this guy was so close to being a Cy Young contender a few years ago, and is now struggling to stay consistent and healthy.

Mook Before You Leap

11 or so years of doing this blog, following baseball...I'm still so gullible.

The past week, I've been hearing rumors of the Red Sox trying to trade Mookie Betts to LA, and the whole time I'm just going '...yeah, RIGHT.' Like, from a logical standpoint, there's no way you trade your star player to a team with an unbeatable lineup. But from a financial standpoint, sometimes you have to do that sort of thing, and this is the second time in the past eight years the Sox have been forced to do something like this to clear payroll.

Now, last time...the Sox gave away Josh Beckett, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. All 3 of them are currently out of baseball. Beckett has already been booted off the HOF ballot. With the exception of maybe A-Gon, none of them made huge impacts on the Dodgers.

So now we have this entire flurry of moves, and at the end of it, I'm gonna ask if it's any better than that firesafe deal that LA relieved Boston of in 2012.

So...the initial deal, which is pretty simple in itself, is Mookie Betts and David Price, two very large contracts, in exchange for Alex Verdugo. Betts for Verdugo alone works because there's no vacancy in the outfield, and they just take each other's place. Betts fits in pretty well with Bellinger and Pollock in that outfield, and Betts and Bellinger together is a pretty insane high-WAR combo. Also, having Betts alongside Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Max Muncy and Will Smith will make for a hella intimidating lineup in 2020.

Then there's the Price question. Since landing in Boston, Price has been hit and miss. On one hand, he's gotten a high of 17 wins and 228 strikeouts, but on the other, his 3.84 ERA is his highest team ERA. Either Price is losing his luster, OR he's just not suited for Fenway, which is something we've been suspecting since that deal was made. Price in Dodger Stadium is an intriguing prospect, and it'll be nice to see what he has left in the tank. I do think it's a Josh Beckett situation where they'll use him late in the rotation and he'll have occasional sparks of his former self, but he could surprise the shit out of me and have a 20-game year.

And then Verdugo in Boston is something that could definitely work. It's a little odd now because the youth movement has sort of grown up, and now fitting Verdugo, himself a product of a different youth movement, in there beside Benny and Bradley (unless they trade him too) might make for a interesting dynamic. I definitely think Verdugo will have a fuller, more fleshed out year now that he's not pushed into either starting or a bench role in the crowded Dodger climate. But again, what will he perform like outside of LA? Will he fit into this roster? I think the two team dynamics are very different.

After this, the deal got a little trickier, as a third team was added to the mix, and the Twins pitched in Brusdar Graterol to go to Boston in exchange for Kenta Maeda. Maeda in Minneapolis is interesting, as, again, there's a less crowded rotation picture, and Maeda could fit behind Berrios and Odo. However, you also have to think about Rich Hill, Randy Dobnak, Homer Bailey, Michael Pineda and Devin Smeltzer, all of whom want rotation spots. AND you have to remember that Maeda is the kind of guy who'll be pushed to the bullpen come September due to being the sole rotation asset to have an ERA over 4 or something like that. Hopefully he'll regain a bit of control in Minnesota?

Graterol in Boston works because Graterol is probably gonna compete for a rotation spot in Boston, now that there are so many, and because the Twins have been touting Graterol for the last few years.

AND THEN, the Dodgers decided to clear up the outfield picture a little by trading Joc Pederson to the Angels in exchange for Luis Rengifo. Both pieces of this deal are gonna be crucial, by the way, so it's kinda funny that this aspect has kinda been minimized,

So, Pederson in Anaheim means he'll be essentially taking Kole Calhoun's place, and sharing an outfield with Justin Upton, Mike Trout, and occasionally Brian Goodwin. Trout-Pederson-Upton is actually a pretty great outfield, and if all three hit over 30 homers in 2020, that'll be insane for the Angels. Pederson seems to be finding his way again after a few middling seasons, and had career highs in homers (36) and average (.249). Maybe he keeps the momentum going as a starter in Anaheim.

Rengifo, meanwhile, is another interesting piece of the Dodger infield picture. Rengifo is a factor at 2nd base and shortstop, and clearly is a rival for Chris Taylor at both of those positions. He's also a rival to Enrique Hernandez, whose average has been flighty ever since getting the starting job. Rengifo is going to jumpstart a bloodthirsty Spring Training battle for those positions. It might end kind of bloody- I'm predicting that Chris Taylor might not be a Dodger for much longer after the dust settles. That or Rengifo gets waived or demoted. But it's gonna make things interesting.

At the end of this, I honestly do think it's bigger than the 2012 deal. The 2012 deal was simply 'we have the payroll, we'll take 'em', and then fitting them into a preexisting picture. Now, the Dodgers are reforming their entire team around this deal, getting rid of Kenta Maeda, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo to make way for Price and Betts, which is a pretty big statement.

A very huge move by LA. I'm interested to see the ramifications of this throughout the year.

The Price is Right Once More

Yep. David Price is back. We had a nice run, didn't we?

I mean, to say he was really gone is kind of a stretch, because he didn't exactly have many bad seasons between 2016 and 2018, getting 16+ wins twice in that stretch, but...looking at the years where he made All Star teams, where he had low ERAs, and where he went up against the best for Cy Young votes, David Price's Red Sox tenure doesn't really compare.

Til now, I guess. Dude's got a 4-2 record in 13 starts, but with a 3.38 era and 72 strikeouts. He's not blowing the doors off the place, but his ERA is approaching peak numbers, his speed is definitely there, and he's been one of the few sparks trying to move the Red Sox back to relevance.

I mean, it's very tricky, seeing as the Sox' bullpen is dragging them back and spoiling even Price's best laid plans, and the solid, reliable lineup can occasionally leave players stranded (especially JBJ). And it's not like Price is the only pitcher trying, too; Chris Sale has worked overtime to get his ERA down since his disastrous April, and Porcello and Rodriguez are...fine.

I'll say this: the Sox have moved up to being 7 games behind the Yankees, and are still...sort of in the race. But I don't think this team is refined enough to stay in the race. They spent last offseason accentuating the wrong pieces and spending money on people that aren't amounting to shit this year. And they might be turning into what the Giants have become the last 5 years.

I hope I'm wrong, and I hope the Sox eventually get it together...preferably in a year where the central AL East battle hasn't already been decided, but...it looks a bit dire.

Coming Tonight: Yeah, about time I do one of that big home-run hitting guy from Queens.

Price Check

The Red Sox are in Philly right now, so as if I hadn't heard enough of their 1st place exploits already...it kept coming.

To be honest, it's not misplaced hype- the Red Sox are, in fact, the best team in baseball, and their complete indestructibility is worthy of attention, even if I don't really care for the team. They just...really don't have many flaws. Yes, it's funny that their two ASG-caliber second baseman options are both injured, but Eduardo Nunez isn't doing too badly. Yes, Jackie Bradley isn't hitting for average, but he's still hitting.

The MVP and the Cy Young may come from this team, unless Justin Verlander has a late season push. Mookie Betts is having his best season to date, and Chris Sale has been consistent, unstoppable, and even more impressive than he was in Chicago. And that's just the top 2. JD Martinez is still the best power hitter in baseball. Porcello, Price and Eovaldi are strong as hell in the rotation. Craig Kimbrel's still one of the best closers in baseball. Andrew Benintendi and Xander Bogaerts are still really good.

This team's indestructibility has be a bit worried, not only for the safety of my Yankees, but for the predictability of the end of the season. Granted, the BEST TEAM doesn't always win the whole thing, but with the momentum the Sox have right now...there is a definite possibility of them waltzing to the end, and for a Yankee fan, that's scary. I can only hope that other teams pick up some serious momentum down the stretch in order to stop them, because...a Sox series win, while nice, would be too predictable.

Coming Tonight: He pitched last night against this team, and, as usual since the ASG break, he's been consistent as hell.

"The Price is Wrong, Bitch!"

Okay, I'm pretty sure I've used that line a million times since starting the blog, but today I think it makes a bit of sense.

See...David Price and Dennis Eckersley...don't seem to like each other all that much. There's been this petty brawl between the Sox lefty and the former Sox reliever going on over the last week or so, over some small stuff that honestly shouldn't have incited a petty brawl. One person's calling the other classless, the other says the one should show their face, and it keeps going back and forth. It makes sense that it's happening in Boston, because Boston's the birthplace of meaningless disputes.

The Price-Eck feud is made even more relevant considering the fact that right now, I'm sitting in a beach house in Barrington, Rhode Island, in the heart of Sox country, and this is all the sports fans seem to care about. Not how well the team's doing, not Chris Sale's Cy Young caliber season, not the fact that the Sox just completely STOLE Addison Reed from the Mets, but this...for lack of a better word, bullshit, between a broadcaster and an overhyped lefty. Price isn't even having a terrific season, at least not by David Price terms, and Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale are out pitching him. So if this is his idea of jumping back to relevancy...WHY?

I mean, I get that the Sox are in second, and they need anything they can get to stay popular, but this isn't really the way. Continued bad publicity like this will ensure they wind up in third rather than back in first. And it'll ensure that Price never has a grade-A season ever again.


I'd like to point out that while I am in Rhode Island, a good 45-minutes from Boston, in a beach house with relatives who've never been to Fenway...that I actually hadn't even begun thinking about a pilgrimage. Hm. That WOULD be a good idea...

Coming Tonight: His team's beginning to get picked apart by buyers, and he's the last healthy young starter they've got left.

The Price of Relevancy in Boston

Last November...the bad guys won.

David Price going to Boston was a nightmare that I wished would never come true. And yet, here he is, top of the post, in Boston red-and-white. There it is. This is happening, and nobody can stop it.

Right now the Red Sox are 6-6. This is the part of the year where everything's really close, and you can't really tell how the year's gonna go by who's on first or who's last. But right now, the Sox are essentially tied for 2nd in the AL East with the Blue Jays. Dunno if it means anything for how it's gonna be in September, but you never know.

The one structural problem with the Red Sox is this, and it has to do with David Price. You see, over the offseason the Red Sox got David Price...then they got Craig Kimbrel, then they did some tightening to get Wade Miley and some others off the roster. And that was it. They didn't really do a ton to tighten the lineup, which was odd.

The Red Sox this year is filled with a ton of extraneous parts that can fit in twelve different places. Travis Shaw and Brock Holt were spare parts last year, and they're both basically starters by now. The guys they hired to hit last year, Sandoval and HanRam, haven't especially worked. Pablo Sandoval's on the DL, and Hanley Ramirez is hitting, but had to be moved to first base, because Hanley in the outfield was too pathetic for words.

The lineup is...generally pretty unfinished. I'm not sure if they can do too much with how they have it right now, as nothing really seems to be in place (except a few of the outfield spots, shortstop, second base, and the DH spot). There's a lot that needs to be done. I love that they're winning games, and I love that Price is hustling in some momentum, but...I'll be seriously surprised if they make a postseason run.

Coming Tomorrow- Last year he broke big with Baltimore. Now he's trying to keep the Marlins out of last.

Overpriced

It's like a nightmare. I mean, no matter where I go, what I do, no matter how much time passes...David Price always ends up being stuck in my division having to play my Yankees seven or eight times a year.

It was bad enough seeing him as a Ray, on winning Rays teams, or as a Blue Jay when they had their mega-ultra-come-up. This is worse, now. This is David Price on the Red Sox. This is the thing we thought would never happen, the thing that seemed so scary, so intimidating that it might only be an anxiety, a figment of our tired Yankee imaginations. This was the monster waiting in the closet and disappearing whenever our parents came in the room, only to pop back out the second we closed our eyes.

David Price as a Red Sock. That right there, is the accurate depiction of the Boogeyman in New York. And it's a fear that's being realized. I don't know if I can take it.

Craig Kimbrel as a Sock is scary enough, because that's one inning of shutout ball, but Price can give you SEVEN. SEVEN INNINGS of pitches that a distance-heavy Yankee team might not be able to hit. Seven innings of bamboozlement.

I mean, this can only work if the Red Sox end up being completely great next year, and it's looking like that might happen. They're retooling their outfield, they're working on the youth movement in the infield, and they just need to work a bit on pitching and they can outdo the Rays and O's next year. And that's bad for the Yankees, because we don't have anyone that can make us into a playoff team yet. We're still borderline. Price can get the Sox over borderline, and this is BAD.

It's gonna take another month or so to see the rest of the picture develop, but this could potentially be a dangerous AL East formation, as far as the Red Sox are concerned. One pitcher doesn't make an amazing roster, that's true, but this could be the start of something big.

Preparing for a Priceless Toronto

Today, the Blue Jays made a very big deal by signing J.A. Happ, who had a very nice comeback season this year with the Mariners and Pirates, to a 3-YEAR contract. This means that Happ, Marco Estrada, Drew Hutchison, R.A. Dickey and Marcus Stroman are all locked up for 2016.

A rotation led by RA Dickey, and ending with Drew Hutchison or JA Happ is actually a pretty solid all around rotation. Only problem is it doesn't leave room for potential free agent David Price.

Which leads me to believe that the Blue Jays are thinking about a 2016 without David Price. And this could be pretty huge.

David Price, in my opinion, was the main reason why the Blue Jays made it so far this season. He was dominant, deadly, and completely on, and lifting him out of Detroit was the best decision they could have made. But now, they're starting to think rationally.

They already know that Mark Buehrle is gonna be gone in 2016, and they already have Stroman and Estrada working the middle of the rotation. They also know that EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER will be after David Price, and that they'll likely be driving harder bargains than Toronto, who already has a few mega-contracts filling up the payroll.

So with this move, they sealed it. Unless they have another mega-trade up their sleeves to fill up roster space, and in my opinion, with this rotation they really don't NEED a mega trade, they're absolutely fine with losing David Price to a higher bidder. JA Happ can be a solid 3 or 4 man, and can give you some nice innings.

And at this point, if they do re-sign Price, it'll break up the zen of this really nicely laid out rotation. Somebody will either have to go or have to be a reliever again, and JA Happ has had enough of that.

I could be wrong, and David Price could be a Cy Young winning Toronto Blue Jay in 2016. But it's looking like the Jays are thinking seriously about a less showy roster, with less pressure on one tentpole pitcher. And that's a really good direction to go toward.

The Perpetually Fearsome David Price

I may talk a lot about how I want the Blue Jays to just stop it with all of these 'we're really good at baseball' things, but I can still appreciate David Price. Why? Because somehow he's managed to have an even better 2nd half than his first, and his first half was pretty nice.

He's had a number of very nice, strikeout heavy starts for Toronto, and is the ace that the Jays definitely needed this year. Like, he even kills the Yankees and still has my respect. Why? Because he's David Price. He's a tough, tough pitcher. He's been one a few postseason teams before, but none that have gotten farther than one or two rungs in (except the 2008 Rays). I'm not saying that the Blue Jays' postseason run will be that deep, but it has the potential to be, if they stay this hot.

No matter what happens to the Blue Jays, I do feel like David Price has been worthy of his amazing season.

Coming Today- The closer for a still-red-hot Mets team.

Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2015

This year had more competition than any other year for this annual trade deadline list I make. And let it be known that this deadline had more HUGE, FANTASTIC MOVES than a lot of the other years. So, putting this list together until the day AFTER the deadline was all I could manage, as it took that long to figure out a solid list of ten. Shane Victorino, Ben Zobrist, Juan Uribe and Dan Haren all missed the cut.

Jonathan Papelbon gets the head of the post, not because he comes up later, or because he's #1, but because he's...

#10- Jonathan Papelbon to the Nationals, a prospect to the Phillies
Who Wins? Phillies. You'd think the Nats would win here, as they landed one of the best modern closers, and can move into the playoffs with a guy used to October tension. But while the Nats will succeed with Papelbon, it's really the Phillies getting the W here, as they got rid of a guy who was not a great guy for the team dynamic. Papelbon hated it in Philly, and talked about it nonstop. So don't you think your team's a little better now that the shit-talker's gone? Plus, they got a pitching prospect in return, so they can eventually be sort of good again, sometime in the future.

#9- Ben Revere to the Blue Jays, prospects to the Phillies
Who Wins? Blue Jays. Yep, second deal in a row that hurts my dear Phils. And this one...stings. I was just getting used to Ben Revere in Philly. I was gonna put a custom of him on my wall. I certainly wasn't expecting him to get traded. So, this one really hurts. But, sad to say, this does indeed help the Blue Jays, as they needed young outfield help, and they also could definitely use an average- heavy guy like Revere. So, somehow, it works.

#8- Mat Latos, Alex Wood and Bronson Arroyo to the Dodgers, prospects to the Marlins and Braves.
Who Wins? Dodgers. They needed pitching help with Ryu and McCarthy gone, and they got two guys who can definitely supplement the rotation. A Kershaw-Greinke-Anderson-Latos-Wood rotation will definitely work, especially given the powerful run support.  It can be said that the Braves also benefitted, because they got one of the big cuban prospects the Dodgers took time in lassoing.

#7- Mike Leake to the Giants, prospects to the Reds
Who Wins: Giants. Thanks to injuries and inconsistency, the Giants' rotation hasn't been as much of a sure thing as usual, but Mike Leake can be a solid third man. There is a lot of potential in that rotation, even if the postseason isn't exactly a sure thing in SanFran. Bottom line is that the Giants fixed the one problem they've ben having, and that is rotation security. I don't know if this move, which is basically the only big move they made this year besides breaking Travis Ishikawa's heart again, will make the postseason favorites again, but it'll at least help their cause.

#6- Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers to the Mets  Astros, prospects to the Brewers
Who Wins: Astros. Remember, the Mets were INCHES away from landing Gomez, but because Sandy Alderson couldn't seal the deal, he ended up back on the board, and the Astros needed another outfield bat, to relegate Preston "Who Am I And What Am I Doing on the 2015 Astros" Tucker to the bench (where he belongs). So, Gomez and Mike Fiers were traded to the Astros. Fiers will be a decent fourth-or-fifth starter for Houston, but the real star is Gomez, as he's showed no sign of slowing down the past few years, even in a shitty year for Milwaukee. He's gonna be a big piece of the Astros' postseason bid.

#5- Yoenis Cespedes to the Mets, prospects to the Tigers.
Who Wins: Mets. This, I think, more than makes up for losing out on Gomez. Because, as a bonus, the Mets get to keep Zack Wheeler, and they get an awesome outfielder who can hit home runs. Cespedes had a really nice start with Detroit, and I didn't think he'd be traded this soon, but the Mets needed power, and they could potentially be a postseason threat. Cespedes could be their ace in the hole, because Lucas Duda can only strike out so many times.

#4- David Price to the Blue Jays, Daniel Norris and prospects to the Tigers.
Who Wins: Jays. The fact that this trade, as huge as it is, is this low, proves how huge this deadline was. Price is still one of the best pitchers in the game, and has played some awesome baseball for the Tigers. However, the Jays need some serious pitching help, and Price is the ace that they desperately needed. A combo of Price-Dickey-Buehrle-Hutchison could be pretty nasty down the stretch. Now, their only issue is that they're in a tough division, and they might not be able to hang on for that wild card spot. So they may have just given up Daniel Norris, a great pitcher, for no reason. We'll find out what this eventually does for them.

#3- Troy Tulowitzki and LaTroy Hawkins to the Blue Jays, Jose Reyes and prospects to the Rockies.

Who Wins: Jays again. It'd become obvious that Jose Reyes wasn't the greatest fit in Toronto, so shipping him to a park where it might be a bit easier for him to return to streaking could be a good idea. However, the Jays landing a solid hitting shortstop, and a guy who can close games (especially considering the Jays have no closer) was the best part of this. They still have a flawed team, but they now have two people, in Tulo and Donaldson, who are young, can hit, and can shape the future of that roster, instead of those two aging bats Bautista and Encarnacion. This is a promising trade, if not for 2015, then for the future.

#2- Cole Hamels to the Rangers, Matt Harrison and a ton of prospects to the Phillies

Who Wins: Rangers. I bet you all thought this would be #1. Well, while this is a huge move for Texas, and it moves a powerful pitcher to a very run-support-heavy team, it still doesn't guarantee the Rangers to get to the postseason. The Rangers are still a flawed, semi-injured team, and getting Cole Hamels does not remedy that. Plus, they're third in a division of two teams who are both sure fires for the wild card. They have to contend with Minnesota and Toronto for that last spot. They are FAR from a sure thing. So that's why they're not #1. However..this is still a good move for both teams, as it gives the Phillies a lot more to work with for their future, and the Rangers a new ace, and a great one-two combo once Darvish comes back.

#1- Johnny Cueto to the Royals, Brandon Finnegan and prospects to the Reds. 

Who Wins: Royals. The whole season, their main problem has been their rotation. They have good pitching, but they don't have an ace. They have people like Edinson Volquez and Jeremy Guthrie, who pitch games but are way past their prime. And they have Yordano Ventura, who's been dealing with serious control issues this season. Cueto is their best move, and can definitely hold a rotation, and lead a team into the postseason. Plus, judging by his first start, he loves it in Kansas City. This move is #1 because it could determine how far the Royals go into the postseason.

No, Blue Jays, You're Still Not For Real

I can't believe I have to explain this to you now, but seriously Toronto. Get it in your head that this just isn't gonna happen this year. You're under the delusion that you're a serious contender for the playoffs, let alone the wild card. And yes, trading for Troy Tulowitzki and David Price certainly helps your case...but not by much.

Your main sources of power are three over-30 strikeout machines. And you just landed another guy who strikes out a lot. The young players you brought up early on in the season are not helping. Hutchison's disappointing, Devon Travis just got off the DL, and Dalton Pompey just fell off the face of the earth. Your top two pitchers are, again, over 35. And a lot of your roster is scattered and inconsistent. Plus, you have people like Dioner Navarro and Chris Colabello as starters.

Plus, I had a feeling that Daniel Norris would be very big if he had stuck around in Toronto, but he was just handed over in the Price deal, so now you're future could be a Detroit hero.

The biggest problem is one I was just talking about a few days ago, with the Tyler Clippard deal, and that is the fact that the Blue Jays do not have a closer. They have a ton of middle relievers who occasionally close games, and they have Brett Cecil, who isn't the closer anymore. But they do not have a surefire closer, which will hurt them in the long run. I'd say Drew Storen is available, but I don't know if the Nats would be so generous.

And the sad thing is that there is a chance of the Jays making it, but there are too many balls in the air that could prevent them. First of all, the AL West is taking one of the wild card spots, because the Angels-Astros battle is so close that they both have to go through. And also, there are three teams in the AL East with 51 wins, including the Orioles and the Rays. So, the Jays, if they lose more division series', could end up still being in third or fourth place, or simply not the wild card (you can never count on the Twins)

So, even with Tulo and Price, there is still no guarantee that the Jays have suddenly become this big, sprawling postseason behemoth. But they're pretty good at pretending they are.

Custom Card of the Day: Price Edition

I have to admit that I was worried.

Last season, I was a bit concerned for David Price. He's had a ton of great seasons, and he's probably gonna go down as a Tampa Bay legend. But...after his first few games as a Tiger, I was worried he'd lost his stuff in the transaction. I was worried that he wouldn't get back up to the numbers he had back in 2012, or any of his huge seasons.

But then...we made it to 2015...and the old David Price returned, and started killing batters again.

This might be because he's out of my division, but I've gained a lot of respect for David Price. Right now he's pitching for a team who's lost their two best arms, one to injury and the other to Washington.  This could be a no-win situation, and here he is pitching some of the best stuff of his career, and making the Tigers relevant again. I'm very impressed with his stuff the past week. However, the past week is the past week--there's still a season to get to through all of this.

I think Price is gonna do great this year, possibly better than Verlander.

Coming Tomorrow- Last year, this guy went from being a nobody to being one of the most fun catchers in the AL...to being traded to the most prospering team in baseball.

Custom Card of the Day: Price Edition

...hang on. This Price doesn't look right.

(entire audience face palms)

No, not just because of the team change. I feel like David Price hasn't been pitching like David Price ever since he left Tampa. Like, he joined the team to make a super-rotation with Scherzer, Verlander and Porcello. Now...he's not as good as he was.

Still, even if he's not doing great by Price standards, he's still pitching some nice games. But then every once and a while, he'll do something inhuman and give up some runs. And then people will notice and ask what's wrong. I'm personally hoping that this season's just a fluke, and he goes back to dominating next season, but you can never tell. Maybe the move to Detroit wasn't such a great idea. I don't know.

Bottom line is he'll be pitching in the postseason, alongside those other three guys, and hopefully he'll be red-hot.

Coming Tomorrow- The Mariners were so close to the playoffs, but just missed. Here's one of their comeback heroes.

Top Ten Trade Deadline Deals 2014

Well, it's that time of year again.

If you're from Philadelphia, July 31st is a time for sorrow and disappointment. If you're from Detroit, it is a time to rejoice and be merry. And if you're a Boston Red Sox fan on this particular July 31st, it is a time for confusion and remorse...with one very big exception.

A lot of people were dealt this July 31st, as opposed to the last few deadlines, which were generally quiet. Here, some of them biggest stars in the game were dealt, and some of the biggest hearts in baseball were broken.

Let's go over the top ten deals made this deadline.

#10- Jarred Cosart and a few prospects to Miami. Jake Marsinick and a few prospects to Houston. Victor- Marlins, by a hair. How it helps Miami- Cosart will be a good fourth or fifth starter for a slowly rebuilding roster. How it helps Houston- Gives a few more prospects that might help in different areas.

#9- Gerardo Parra to Milwaukee, prospects to Arizona. Victor- Brewers. How it helps Milwaukee- Parra is another young outfield arm, and the Brewers are bursting with young power right now, especially with Carlos Gomez and Jean Segura. How it helps Arizona- More help with rebuilding.

#8- Stephen Drew to the Bronx, Kelly Johnson to Boston. Victor- Yankees, I guess. How it helps the Yankees- Brian Roberts was a bit of a mistake for the Yankees. Drew will be a better bat for the second base position, and is a better choice to play everyday. How it helps Boston- It doesn't really, as Johnson was slumping big-time for us.

#7- Tommy Milone to Minnesota, Sam Fuld to Oakland. Victor- Very close, but I'm giving it to the Twins. How it helps Minnesota- The Twins have needed a surefire starting arm ever since Francisco Liriano left. Milone is not great, but he can definitely improve, and Minnesota is low-key enough for him to. How it helps Oakland- Sam Fuld is a nice bat, and he can bolster the lineup a bit.

#6- Justin Masterson to St. Louis, a prospect to Cleveland. Victor- Cardinals, sadly. How it helps St. Louis- Even though he's not as good as he was last year, Masterson is still a good arm, and will do fine in the Cardinals' rotation, which is swishing around this time of year. How it helps Cleveland- You never know. This James Ramsey kid could turn out to be really good.

#5- John Lackey and prospects to St. Louis, Allen Craig and Joe Kelly to Boston. Victor- Actually, the Red Sox. How it helps Boston- Craig is an underrated power hitter, and can definitely fill some holes in the infield or outfield in Boston. Kelly could also help repair some of the damage caused by Boston trading away most of its pitching. How it helps St. Louis- Lackey doesn't have much left in the tank, but he could be a good enough 5th or 4th starter.

#4- Asdrubal Cabrera to Washington, a prospect to Cleveland. Victor- Nationals. How it helps Washington- the Nationals' infield was already strong enough, with LaRoche, Desmond, Rendon and Zimmerman all trading off and playing well. Throw another All Star in there and we could have one of the more legendary infields in recent history. How it helps Cleveland- they need to rebuild, so this may help.

#3- Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to Oakland, Dan Straily and prospects to Chicago. Victor- A's. How it helps Oakland- Gives more pitching help to a team that was already really needing some more of it. Samardzija is a great pitcher, and he's been playing pretty well for the A's so far. How it helps the Cubs- Keeps the youth movement flowing.

#2- Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox, Jonny Gomes and Jon Lester to Oakland. Victor- Red Sox. How it helps Boston. Ladies and gentlemen, the one really good thing the Red Sox did today. Cespedes is one of the best hitters in baseball, and he's won two Home Run Derbies in a row. He's raw power, and the Red Sox need some of that, because they're not doing well this season. This will definitely shift the balance of power in the AL East. How it helps Oakland- Lester will definitely buttress the A's rotation, and him and Samardzija will be a great one-two punch. Gomes will be terrific back where he started his comeback.

#1- David Price to the Tigers, Austin Jackson to the Mariners, Nick Franklin and Drew Smyly to the Rays. Victor- Obviously the Tigers. How it helps Detroit- One of the best pitchers in baseball just landed in the same rotation as some of the other best pitchers in baseball. You do the math. How it helps Seattle- Gives them an outfielder who seems to be doing things right. How it helps Tampa- Two young players can finally sprout here.

Overall, it was a great deadline for a lot of people.

Custom Card of the Day: Price Edition

I think that the number one question that's floating around the MLB this month is 'Will David Price be traded?', followed closely by 'Can't Chris Berman Just Shut Up Already?'.

And it's a valid question. David Price is one of the most dominant, powerful pitchers in the MLB. He's had several really good seasons, and 2014 is no exception. Yet since his contract is running thin, there's a mystery as to whether Price will stick with the Tampa Bay Rays for the remainder of the season.

A lot of people are adamant that the Rays would never let such a major pitcher leave, and that they'd have to hold onto a piece that big. To those people, I suggest to look here and here.

At this point, it's a coin toss. One side says he sticks around, one side says he leaves. And remember, last year it was looking like Asdrubal Cabrera was on the verge of being traded. And he's still in Cleveland. So for David Price, it could go either way.

However, being that there's still a possibility he might be moved, I'm going to list some teams that I'd rather not trade for David Price.

• Red Sox. This one goes without saying, because I'd rather not hate Price more than I already do. This may happen because Boston's pitching has decayed a bit, but it may not happen because Price has lost already this year.
• Dodgers. There comes a point where every GM has to come up for air and say enough. Ned Colletti has yet to reach this point. The bottom line is that, as much as I respect the Dodgers, they have enough, and I don't think they can handle all that pitching talent AND Price.
• Cardinals. Same as Red Sox. Also, the Cardinals have enough young pitchers that they don't really need Price, other than for the sole purpose of cock-blocking every other team that actually NEEDS Price. Speaking of cock-blocking...
• Angels. While this is one of the years where the Angels' rotation is actually lightweight, the Angels would be swooping in at the last minute. Plus, if this happens, the Wild Card is a foregone conclusion for them, and I'd like for the Yankees to grab that one.
• Rangers. This one I absolutely fear, because it makes sense. The Rangers are in need of pitching because half their rotation's injured. Price is enough to give them a boost for 2014 without hindering them in the long run. If this happens, then it'll leave the Astros in the corner by themselves. And I severely wish this would be avoided.
• Tigers. This would turn a playoff team into a foregone conclusion for the World Series. And I'd prefer that if it didn't happen.

He could just stick with the Rays, and that I'm fine with. But...expect hell if any of those teams grabs him.

Coming Tomorrow- The catcher for the Cardinals.

Somebody Clinched

I'm personally very happy that the Dodgers clinched. They had a very nice season, and definitely deserved the terrific run they had in this series. I wish I could post a Juan Uribe custom, but I, and likely a lot of Dodgers fans, forgot he was on the team.

Still, the other three matchups fared slightly similarly-ish:

These guys are up 2-1 against one of the toughest teams in the AL. I really hope they pull through, as they're a lot of fun to watch.

Ugh. WHY DO THESE GUYS KEEP WINNING GAMES??? STOP TOYING WITH MY EMOTIONS! THE PIRATES ARE AWESOME! JUST LET THEM WIN ALREADY!

These guys surprisingly hung on, and got their first win of the series? Will it be enough? If you have trouble answering that question, please remember, the Red Sox are probably going to win the entire thing. So no. Not really.

 



Custom Card of the Day: Price Edition

The Rays...are just kinda there.

In the AL East, when the Red Sox win games, people notice. When the Yankees bomb, people notice. When Baltimore reclaims the lead, people notice. When the Jays collapse under pressure, people notice. But the Rays...they're not necessarily the center of attention.

And it's not their fault. You're dealing with three legendary teams, and an overhyped one. People are gonna wanna know about those other four teams. But the Rays, because they're newer, and because they've had the life sucked out of them since 2008 (sorta like the team that beat them), not too many people care about the Rays.

The irony (or the ironeeee as my girlfriend says) is that while nobody talks about the Rays, as they sorta bob between 2nd and 3rd, people are juuuuuuuust beginning to talk about their star pitcher again.

And I don't blame them. David Price is one of the best pitchers in an AL that's stacked with Felix Hernandez, Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia, all of whom will probably be enshrined one day. Price stole the show last year, and he snuck past Verlander for a Cy Young. And right when he was activated, Price started pounding down batters once again, knocking down any doubt.

While it's not looking like he'll repeat as Cy Young winner (that'll probably go to somebody like Max Scherzer, or Felix Hernandez), he's still keeping the Rays in the conversation.

Okay, him and Wil Myers. But that's it.

...

Okay, him, Wil Myers, and maaaybe Evan Longoria. But that's it.

Coming Tomorrow- Back in 2010, there were three names that Giants fans cared about in the rotation. Lincecum. Cain. Zito. However, that very same season, a fourth man was brought up, and he's been rocking the mound ever since.

Verlander doesn't repeat; Dickey scores

 

This was the one I saw coming. RA Dickey damn well deserved his Cy Young award, despite how his team did, and despite the fact that he's a knuckler. He pitched beautifully this season, and probably won't be this good again. 

 

This one was a little less predictable. You see...everybody kinda thought Justin Verlander would take this one. I'm not saying I'm unhappy that Price won it, but Verlander was slightly more dominant. Price had an amazing season, but Verlander had a better strikeouts season. So, yes, the Price is indeed wrong, bitch.

Wait...what am I saying? I argued AGAINST strikeouts two years ago with King Felix vs. Sabathia. I should be pleased with this!

But I woulda been happy either way. Both are great pitchers.

Next up are the MVPs. If Posey and Cabrera don't win 'em, the world is flawed. 

Custom Card of the Day: Price Edition

 

Right now, David Price is one of the best pitchers in the AL. You ask someone to rile off awesome pitchers, and David Price is usually among the first five. Verlander, Sabathia and Price is usually how it goes. And that's good.

I'm not a fan of the Rays, by any stretch. To be honest, I probably wouldn't like them if they were in any other division as well. But Price...he's just a great pitcher. He throws strikes, he jumps to the top of the stats, he racks up wins. He's a strong pitcher for the modern ages. And I'm kinda glad he's been throwing well this season.

Then again, the AL Cy Young race is tighter than a Cheesecake Factory at 6:30. You have Justin Verlander, who's having a beautiful season, Chris Sale, who has broken out tremendously, CC, who's been dominant whenever he's healthy, and Price. Those four have been commanding the talks, but while the talk is mostly Verlander vs. Sale, it's kinda odd that Price isn't up there with them. Chris Sale's star has fallen since the All Star Break. Price has done the opposite, having a great July and August.

Again, the Cy race is too close to call, but if David Price gets it, I'll be satisfied.

(But a little bit more satisfied if CC Sabathia gets it).

Coming Tomorrow- Stop me if you've heard this one before: an oft traded corner is sent to Toronto, where after awhile he blossoms into a hard-hitting outfielder. And no, not Bautista. Bautista, while on the DL, didn't land on the home-run charts, and on the minds of most sportswriters.