Braves Update: Couldn't We Have Just Done This to Begin With? Edition

 

Deciding to compete right at the beginning of August after being a sub-.500 team for the whole season and losing three of the biggest pieces on the team to injury? St. Louis called, they want their schtick back.

Nah, the Braves rising to the top of the NL East despite losing Ozuna and Acuna for the rest of the year is...too on the nose. We spent the season with so many gonzo picks for division leaders, and the end of this season is looking like the Rays, Astros and Braves are gonna win divisions over more deserving, more fun teams like the Red Sox, A's and Mets...and yeah the Phillies I guess. If an outcome is something the sportswriters could have called in April and it comes true, it's not a fun outcome. The Braves becoming 1st in the East is a foregone conclusion because everyone was expecting them to be a 1st place team all along.

It is a little funny that the ascent to first happened after the additions of Adam Duvall, Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler and Richard Rodriguez. Like, even with all the hype the team needed that little bit to compete again. But still, now we have Fried, Freeman, Duvall, Swanson, Morton and Albies all playing like champs, D'arnaud healthy and hitting, Soler and Pederson already power-hitting up a storm, and the competitors are falling apart.

Most importantly, the rotation has come together. Ian Anderson's still out, but Morton and Fried have stayed strong, Huascar Ynoa's back from the IL and back to his old tricks at the plate and on the mound, Drew Smyly's a fine lower-tier starter and Touki Toussaint is finally delivering on his promise in the minors. Unlike the last few years there's no questionable links, like Wright or Wilson, and this is a solid unit that can run for a bit.

I think it's a long shot that the Phillies or Mets come back to stop them at this rate. The Braves had a huge last few weeks building the lead, they have it, and now they can coast for a bit. There is a chance that the Phils inch up slightly, but...the Phils aren't a playoff team anymore, and the Braves are.

Damn, that was tough for me to say...

Coming Tonight: The other second generation MLBer making waves in the Cleveland rotation.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #64-72

 Seeing some of the players I've customized in 2020 Final Edition cards already on 2021 Topps cards, outdated and all, makes me think that doing this project was the right choice. If Topps isn't going to do things properly, then I might as well make an effort to. A lot of ones in here are players in new uniforms that really would have benefitted from 2020 releases. 

Here are the next 9 cards in the set:

Card #064- Mark Mathias, Milwaukee Brewers

In the last few seasons, the Brewers have gained a habit of bringing a player up in September that foreshadows the direction of an entirely different team. In 2017, it was Lewis Brinson, pre-Yelich-trade. In 2019 it was Yelich's sub, Trent Grisham, pre-Davies-trade. And in 2020, it was Mark Mathias, a ute-type that would plug in for 16 games and hit .278 with 4 RBIs. Will he factor into the Brewers outfield in 2021? Probably not, considering it will consist of Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and Jackie Bradley. Maybe he'll join the battle for 1st? 

Card #065- Archie Bradley, Cincinnati Reds

One of the biggest bombshells in an admittedly quiet trade deadline season, Archie Bradley was bounced from his longtime team in Phoenix to join the playoff-contending Cincinnati Reds. Due to Raisel Iglesias's existence, Bradley returned to his prior role as a relief specialist, and did fairly well in six appearances, with a 1.17 ERA and 6 Ks. Unfortunately, he would get the loss during his appearance in the postseason against the Braves. Good news is he looks to be a charter member of the new and improved Phillies bullpen this year, so that should be exciting.

Card #066- Huascar Ynoa, Atlanta Braves. 

In a year where Mike Soroka would be injured, Cole Hamels would only pitch 1 game, and Felix Hernandez would opt out, the Braves had to find a lot of their own lesser-known talent to start games. Before they settled on Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright for the postseason, they started Huascar Ynoa for a few games. The 22-year-old struggled with an 8.53 ERA, and more earned runs than strikeouts. He fared better in 4 bullpen appearances, which is where he might stay in 2021. 

Card #067- Phillip Evans, Pittsburgh Pirates

It's happened a million times before- a Mets infield prospect that isn't getting any use gets moved to a smaller market and blossoms into a major player. It happened with Justin Turner, it's happening with Andres Gimenez, and last year it happened with Phillip Evans. The former Mets farmhand was signed by Pittsburgh in a low-key deal, and made the team as Colin Moran would spend time as the primary DH. Evans' 11 games in Pittsburgh were a smashing success, even when the team was tanking- he hit .359 with 9 RBIs and 14 hits, making a serious case to start at third. Then...he gets injured, is out for the season, and the Pirates bring up some kid named Ke'Bryan Hayes. Now Evans doesn't have his position as strongly anymore, and is gonna fight to make the team. You hate to see it, cause Evans was killing it last year, but will the Pirates use him as a bench piece? 

Card #068- Zac Gallen ASG, Arizona Diamondbacks

If the 2020 All Star Game had gone as planned, Zac Gallen would have been the D-Backs' only nominee, but oh what a choice he would be. Gallen was having an incredible year in 2020, with a 2.75 ERA and 82 strikeouts, marred only by pitching for a last place team. His 2.1 WAR seems to indicate more fantastic years on the mound, and at 25 [shit that's MY AGE OH NO], he's already on pace to have a nice career if he keeps things up. 

Card #069- Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians

Hey, remember this guy? In 2017 he was brought up as the Indians' favorite outfield prospect, did fairly well in the majors and looked to be a steady favorite. Then injuries and call-downs happened, he couldn't hit in the majors, and he sort of disappeared from relevance. In 2020 he got another chance, and in 20 games he hit .162 with more strikeouts than hits. I'm not sure what's left for the Indians to do with Zimmer. They're giving Oscar Mercado another chance in 2021, but he's only really burned them once. Zimmer has burned them several times, and I'm not thinking he has much left to do in Cleveland.

Card #070- Dan Vogelbach, Milwaukee Brewers

The hitter affectionately referred to as 'Vogey' had a very weird year. After his ASG-caliber year in 2019, he failed to hit for average in two different DH scenarios. Then he gets picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers, gets some time at 1st and SOMEHOW STARTS HITTING, with a .328 average, 12 RBIs and 4 homers in 19 games, in addition to his first postseason hit. Vogey looks to make the team in 2021, and while I'm not thinking he'll start at 1st, he'll definitely be a late-game clutch option.

Card #071- Pedro Baez, Los Angeles Dodgers.

A very odd omission for Topps, the longtime Dodgers relief option had another strong year in 2020, with a 3.18 ERA in 18 games, and some strong setup work throughout the championship yet. As is standard for Baez, he gave up some postseason runs, even in the World Series, but he also had 10 playoff strikeouts, which at least softens the blow a little. Baez will be spending the 2021 season with, of all people, the Houston Astros, but he may have to spend some time on the IL this year. 

Card #072- Jake Lamb, Oakland Athletics

After three straight disappointing seasons, the Arizona Diamondbacks finally cut Jake Lamb, their one time power hitting heir apparent. Lamb immediately signed with the Oakland Athletics, a team needing a power-hitting third baseman after an injury to Matt Chapman. And Lamb responded by FINALLY hitting, with a .267 average in 13 games, 9 RBIs and 3 homers. While his playoff numbers were less successful, this was a message to teams that Jake Lamb could still be useful, and could still be a semi-reliable third baseman. Lamb is looking to make the Braves, and could be useful to them.

Next 9 cards on Monday. A few big rookies in this batch.