Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Braves

 

I've been making a lot of cases for the expanded playoffs, because it'll make the owners happy or whatever the hell, but here's one against- the Atlanta Braves make the playoffs as a dark horse with 88 wins, and roll their way to a World Series, taking down the Astros. Stuff like that won't be guaranteed if there's 14 teams next year. 

I've done most of the big guns as far as the Braves are concerned, but there are still some true unsung heroes on this team. For instance, former journeyman outfield piece Guillermo Heredia became a crucial starter once the main OF started getting hurt. In April and June he hit .300 and .280, and was giving great contact numbers...and then midway through the bottom fell out and he evened his average to around .220. He was pretty ineffective in the postseason as well, but his presence as a veteran everyman OF bat type was appreciated, and he has been kept on for 2022.

2022 Prediction: Less of a midyear drop-off. But also, less utilized.

The resident infield utility man was former Twins and Giants ute Ehire Adrianza. As a backup for Albies and Riley, Adrianza hit .247 with 49 hits in 209 plate appearances. Defensively he fared better. Adrianza got one postseason hit, but had to miss the World Series for personal reasons. 

2022 Prediction: Will become a starter somewhere due to an injury to a huge star. 

One big relief piece for the Braves in 2021 was Luke Jackson, former Rangers farmhand and 2019-era closing option. Jackson had his best season by far this year, with a 1.98 ERA, a 2.3 WAR, and 70 Ks in 63 innings.

2022 Prediction: Similar appearance numbers, beefier ERA.

Possibly the biggest disappointment of the trade deadline season was Richard Rodriguez, plucked from Pittsburgh in order to be a scary bullpen piece in the stretch run. Rodriguez seemed out of his element in Atlanta, and had a 3.12 ERA in 27 appearances, with his first 1+ WHIP since 2019 and 23 hits. The Braves did not keep him on the postseason roster, and have cut him.

2022 Prediction: Returns to Pittsburgh, and the ninth, and does considerably well.

And finally, Tucker Davidson got to redeem himself after an injury in a big way. Davidson had a 3.60 ERA in 4 starts, and was looking like a nice rotation option when he got hurt, and was on the 60-day IL for a while. He wouldn't be activated til the postseason, and would start Game 5. While the start wouldn't be perfect, giving up 4 runs in 2 innings, he'd still gotten back. 

2022 Prediction: Becomes a solid fourth starter with some very big moments for a not-as-good Braves team.

Tomorrow, we examine the Brewers team that I genuinely thought was gonna win a World Series.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #235-243

 The next 9 cards in the set actually have some that would have really meant something foreshadowing the 2021 season. I planned this set to just be a picture of the rest of the 2020 season, to catch everything left before it all scattered again. So for a few of these to be forerunners for exemplary 2021 seasons is slightly gratifying, I think. On with them,

Card #235- Luis Garcia, Washington Nationals

As September brought the numbers of Andrew Stevenson to a depleted, non-competitive Nationals team, it also brought the infield bat of Luis Garcia, soon to not having to hide behind as many aging contract players. Garcia had 16 RBIs and 2 homers in 40 games, and had 37 hits in this period. While he wasn't very high above replacement level, he made a name for himself as a young, homegrown talent that would succeed several departing contracts. Garcia is currently in the minors, stuck behind Josh Harrison and Trea Turner. 

Card #236- Nick Pivetta, Boston Red Sox

In hindsight, this move by Matt Klentak may have been one of his dumbest yet. After a few rocky, disappointing seasons from former Phillies standout Nick Pivetta, Klentak decided that Pivetta would be a nice trade piece to include in exchange for relievers Heath Hembree and Brandon Workman. The result? Hembree and Workman added to the Phils' relief woes, and are now both having improved seasons in healthier environments [Cincinnati and back in Boston]. Meanwhile, Pivetta would impress over both of his starts in Beantown, with a 1.80 ERA, 13 Ks and 2 wins. As reward, Pivetta would get a spot in the 2021 rotation over fellow last-quarter favorite Tanner Houck, and would impress mightily, with 5 wins and a 3.16 ERA in 8 starts so far. I hate to say it, but being traded out of Philly may have been the best thing to happen to Nick Pivetta.

Card #237- Trent Grisham ASG, San Diego Padres

Which is similar to what I'd say for Trent Grisham. Before the 2020 season, Grisham was backing up Christian Yelich in Milwaukee, and then he gets traded for Eric Lauer and becomes a fan favorite quickly in San Diego, as the Brewers quickly run out of outfielders. Grisham's 2020 season would have made him the starting centerfielder for the NL All Star team, against all odds. Considering that Grisham is still one of the top Padres performers even in 2021, it wouldn't be too far off to see him as an All-Star in the supposed 2020 ASG.

Card #238- Tommy Milone, Atlanta Braves

We seem to have happened upon a theme of disappointing trades here. Tommy Milone got off to a decent start in Baltimore, and was being relied upon consistently as a starter for the first time since 2015. The Braves saw a rotation need in Milone, and traded two minor leaguers for him. Milone made three starts in Atlanta and his Baltimore luck did not hold, with a 14.90 ERA and 16 earned runs. Here, Milone wound up on the IL, and was not of use for the remainder of the season. Enter, of course, Kyle Wright and Bryse Wilson. Milone, for the record, is healthy again, and pitching for Toronto...in a mostly-relief role.

Card #239- Guillermo Heredia, Pittsburgh Pirates

Considering what a turnaround Guillermo Heredia is having right now in Atlanta, I feel as though he may want most people to forget about his 2020 season, despite the fact that I have given him two different cards in this set, commemorating both teams he played for. You've seen the Mets one, now here's the Pirates one, the team that signed him to start the season. In 8 games in Pittsburgh, Heredia hit .188 with only 3 hits and 2 RBIs, and was injured soon after. Once he recovered, there was no room in the outfield for him, and he was promptly sent to the Mets. So yeah...thankfully he's gotten better.

Card #240- Cristian Javier, Houston Astros

I've already talked about Framber Valdez, out of the trio of homegrown young arms shaping up the Houston rotation. Now let's move onto the newer member, Cristian Javier, who burst onto the scene last year after making a few relief appearances and shifted into the rotation. In 10 starts, Javier posted a 3.68 ERA, a 5-2 record and 48 Ks, which certainly put him on everyone else's radar. He also notched 13 postseason strikeouts, and was dominant until the Rays got to him.

Card #241- Tanner Rainey, Washington Nationals

Tanner Rainey has become one of the few consistent relief options for these current Nationals teams. After having a strong year with them in 2019, World Series ring and all, Rainey took it a step higher and had a 2.66 ERA in 20 games with 32 Ks, keeping the opposing offenses at bay for a less-than-stellar Nats team. Unfortunately, Rainey has struggled so far this season comparatively.

Card #242- Brad Boxberger, Miami Marlins

Brad Boxberger did lead the league in saves in 2015, but he hasn't let that define him in recent years, and has just been focusing on being the best relief asset he can be in whatever situation he's thrust upon [Steve Cishek has a similar approach]. Last year he returned to the state where he came to glory, only for the NL-based Marlins, and performed decently in middle-relief. In 20 games he had a 3.00 ERA, and was hitless over 3.1 postseason innings. He's currently bringing similarly consistent numbers to Milwaukee and their mega-pitching staff.

Card #243- Jorge Bonifacio, Detroit Tigers

After several seasons of diminishing returns following his power-heavy 2017 debut, Jorge Bonifacio was finally cut by the Royals following the 2019 season. Luckily, he was soon picked up by the division rival Detroit Tigers in an attempt to ingratiate him into the pool of fellow youngsters. It did not work. Bonifacio hit .221 in 30 games, with 17 RBIs and his weakest WAR yet. To date, he is still a free agent. 

Next 9 on Friday. We get a hero card number, a few fun relievers, and two comeback stories that would have been great if they appeared in 2020 Topps Update.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #118-126

 Baseball season is finally upon us, at least for teams that are not the Mets and Nationals, and we're already beginning to see the picture of how the 2021 season might go. But we still have plenty of 2020 Final Edition posts to go before we've entirely put the 2020 season to bed. Here are 9 more cards from it:

Card #118- Oliver Perez, Cleveland Indians

One of the most unexpected career second acts of the modern era, Oliver Perez went from a trusty starter with the Padres and Mets in the 2000s to a relief weapon for the Cleveland Indians. Since 2018, Oliver has sported a 2.67 ERA in 139 appearances, notching 105 strikeouts in that time. It's clear that Perez is still capable of keeping down a lineup, even at 39. Last season was another strong one for Perez, with a 2.00 ERA in 21 games. As he's signed for another year in Cleveland, I hope his excellent work keeps up.

Card #119- Guillermo Heredia, New York Mets

After beginning the season with the last place Pittsburgh Pirates, former Mariners outfielder Guillermo Heredia found himself with a bit of an upgrade, as the Mets waived him in August. His numbers improved slightly, as he bat .235 in 7 games with 2 homers. Due to the crowded Mets camp, Heredia was tossed to Atlanta before the start of the 2021 season.

Card #120- Nate Pearson, Toronto Blue Jays

In a season where anybody in what would be the minor leagues could be fair game for a call-up, Nate Pearson spent a year where he could have been playing for the Bisons in Buffalo...playing for the Blue Jays in Buffalo. Same location, different stakes. Pearson would be in charge of helping the Jays to the playoffs in the early part of the season, but in 5 starts he proved he may not have been 100% ready, with a 7.50 ERA in that time. The Jays are looking to ease Pearson in a bit more carefully this season, so hopefully the numbers will reflect that

Card #121- Tim Anderson ASG, Chicago White Sox

In a supposed 2020 All-Star Game, Tim Anderson would have been the starting shortstop for the AL. It would have been the culmination of several breakout years for TA7, and it would have commemorated his second consecutive .300+ year, and his year of getting a silver slugger and MVP votes. But, unfortunately, Anderson is still searching for his first All Star Game appearance, and hopefully he'll get there this year, wherever it may be.

Card #122- Christian Arroyo, Boston Red Sox

A former infield prospect who had bobbed around the Giants, Rays and Indians organizations unsuccessfully, Christian Arroyo may have finally found a substantial home in Boston. In 14 games at 2nd, Arroyo hit .240 with 8 RBIs including 3 homers. It was in the midst of a year where the Sox used people like Yairo Munoz and Jonathan Arauz in big positions, and all three of them did well amidst the chaos. Unfortunately, the starting second baseman position in Boston seems to belong to Enrique Hernandez now, so Arroyo may have to fight for bench relevancy. 

Card #123- Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays

One of the many rookie relievers utilized during the Rays' blockbuster 2020 year, Pete Fairbanks was a former Rangers farmhand who came over in exchange for Nick Solak at the previous trade deadline [in hindsight that may have been slightly lopsided in favor of Texas]. Fairbanks still went off to quick work in Tampa, with a 2.70 ERA in 27 games, 39 Ks and a 6-3 record, plus SEVENTEEN POSTSEASON STRIKEOUTS. Granted, he did give up some important runs to the Dodgers, but he was definitely one of the biggest pieces of the Rays' pen last year. Hopefully his power streak continues this year.

Card #124- Cody Ponce, Pittsburgh Pirates

In a year where there were so few rotation options, a lot of otherwise unneeded pitchers got a chance to start games. Enter Cody Ponce, a rookie that had come over in exchange for Jordan Lyles the previous year, who could start games...so in he went. In 3 starts, he had a 3.63 record with 9 Ks- not perfect, but decent. Not sure where he stands in line to start this year, but he could show up.

Card #125- Todd Frazier, New York Mets

Speaking of people who could theoretically show up in Pittsburgh this year, Todd Frazier is coming off a very frazzled 2020, split between Texas in New York. Frazier was dealt to the Mets to help with a potential playoff bid, and he got back to what he does best...hit for power, not for contact. So a .224 average with 2 homers and a boatload of strikeouts followed, and the Mets didn't make the playoffs. Womp womp. Frazier's still technically signed to a deal with the Pirates, but I'm not sure if they'll need him at all this year, unless things get REALLY dire.

Card #126- Vimael Machin, Oakland Athletics

Before Jake Lamb was handed the starting 3rd baseman gig in Oakland, there was still a void between Lamb was signed and Chapman got injured, and that void, plus earlier backup gigs, were filled by Vimael Machin, a rookie journeyman who was just jazzed to be in the bigs. Machin's .206 average and minimal plate work put him a bit below replacement level [hence Lamb], but he does look to be a factor into the A's 2021 endeavors. He could be a handy backup infielder for all we know.

Monday we get 9 more cards of this. Some of the most intriguing rookies of last year are in here.

The First Major Trade of the Offseason

I wouldn't normally choose to write about this one, but it's an interesting one. Very, very interesting. The Mariners and Rays just lopped off some players they've deemed as expendable, but it's very funny who gets to earn that distinction.

The big name of this trade, whether you like it or not, is Mike Zunino. Mike Zunino has a career .207 batting average, and has season-averages under the mendoza line twice in his career. This season, he finished with a .201, and has never finished with higher than a .250. Mike Zunino is a great defensive catcher with absolutely no offensive competence, aside from the occasional home run hitting. His only outlier was last season, 2017, where he did well in multiple offensive categories, and finished with a 3.3 WAR. But on the whole, he's a very risky bet on a roster, as he only does a few things really well, and does a lot more truly badly.

Zunino has also been the Mariners' sole competent choice at catcher. Defensively this makes sense. Offensively, this makes less sense. The M's did bring in Carlos Ruiz to be a backup/DH type thing last year, but they didn't need him often. The only other catching options the M's had to work with A.) weren't very good, B.) have just been dealt to Houston, or C.) retired voluntarily midway through the season to pursue a new job with an eating disorders fund.

Now, they're down to David Freitas. Which sucks.

Zunino, along with decent outfield platoon member Guillermo Heredia, have just been dealt to the ever-growing Tampa Bay Rays, another team in desperate need of a catcher, in exchange for Mallex Smith, a Rays outfielder.

Now, in terms of who gets the upper hand here...it's a close call.

Both Zunino and probably Heredia will get to start games in Tampa. Heredia's will depend on the question of whether or not the Rays will want to plug anyone else into that outfield with Kevin Kiermaier and Tommy Pham. Heredia would be a fine choice for that third spot, but we don't know if they have other plans. Zunino will be their starting catcher, and knowing Kevin Cash, he'll do a fine job, and probably figure out how to hit over .250 if he's lucky.

Mallex Smith, who first of all was already traded to the Mariners in 2016 for Luiz Gohara, before getting traded again for Drew Smyly, has become a great outfield fixture for Tampa, leading the league in triples this past year, and having his first 100+ hit season. He will also get a starting gig in Seattle, as their other options aren't coming back (Heredia and Denard Span, who was just released), and will share the outfield with Mitch Haniger and either Dee Gordon or another offseason pickup. Smith will definitely come into his own in Seattle, will be plugged into the leadoff position alongside Gordon and Jean Segura, and could have an even bigger year if the M's decide to come into their own.

This is a great trade for two teams that are on the cusp of winning seasons for 2019. The Rays could potentially sneak into the AL East race, while the Mariners will need a stronger pitching staff to take on Oakland and Houston. This is only the beginning of that conversation.

Perhaps not a scintillating trade from the getgo, but certainly one that's interesting to talk about. Hopefully we'll get some more interesting ones as the offseason plows on.