Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Blue Jays

 

I think the best way I can sum up the Toronto Blue Jays this year is that, with how the custom order cycled, I was given thirteen chances to make customs of the best players, or most relevant players, on this team. Of those thirteen, I not only was able to do the usual suspects [Bichette, Gausman, Guerrero, Varsho] but the sudden unsung heroes that cropped up, including Davis Schneider, who set the league on fire on his come-up. And yet, as I am here for Uncustomed Heroes, and I only have four left, and two of them are the two next-best players I would have made if the cycle kept going. 

That's the Blue Jays for you. I have two players I absolutely should have talked about during the regular season, but I don't have much more than that. 

Chris Bassitt was one of those guys that was up next in the order a bunch of times, and someone else always overtook him. Jose Berrios at one point, Schneider at another, eventually Alejandro Kirk to round out the season. That shouldn't diminish his umpteenth excellent year, as the perennial workhorse didn't miss a start, led the league in wins with 16, a 3.60 ERA and a career high 186 strikeouts. For the first time in a couple seasons, Bassitt will be staying in one place for more than a year, and I think he's found a nice home in Toronto.

2024 Prediction: Bassitt will be turning 35, so he'll have the chance to establish a Charlie Morton-esque second act. I say he does it, but I don't think he'll be healthy enough to make all 33 starts again. 

The other Blue Jay that it's a wonder I'm just getting to now is Brandon Belt, who I thought nothing of when he signed but launched a homer against the Yankees on a night I was in the Bronx. Belt's consistent, peak years are over, and I don't think the Jays ever expected any Giants-esque performances when they signed him. As a DH, though, Belt was pretty nice, hitting 19 homers and 43 RBIs, despite a .254 average, in 103 games. 

2024 Prediction: A lower-key team will pick him up as a DH option. If he continues to surprise in his mid30s, perhaps a competitor, or an old friend by the Bay, will pick him up for a stretch run.

Though injuries have kept him from a full campaign since his impressive 2018-2021 run, Hyun-Jin Ryu has remained a threatening, intimidating presence in Toronto's rotation. In 11 games this season, Ryu, for the most part, delivered on the promises that his absence left. His 3.46 ERA and 38 Ks aren't completely stellar, but they padded the rotation during the stretch, and allowed for a 6-man platoon that kept the arms from overheating.

2024 Prediction: I don't know if anyone's gonna put trust in Ryu for more than a season. I'm thinking somebody relatively big will get him, but on a flyer. And hopefully, though with reduced velocity, he delivers for them.

The sole Blue Jays trade deadline deal that I actually understood, and of course it's the one that didn't amount to much overall. Jordan Hicks was having a decent year in relief for St. Louis, the Jays knew what he was capable of and dealt for him. In 25 games in Toronto he hit a 2.63 ERA, with 22 Ks and 4 saves. He was also masterful in an inning of postseason play, striking out 2 and allowing no runs. 

2024 Prediction: Hicks will sign a 'bang for your buck' deal somewhere big, and it will go so well that a team will no doubt overpay for him on a multi-year deal starting in 2025.

Coming Tomorrow- They were set to go all the way, and then by the grace of the round-1-bye they were gone. What happened?

Ryu Watching This?

 

Well, the four-man blockade that is the AL East race has now essentially ruled out a candidate. 

After series' with the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees, the three teams now in command of the division, the Blue Jays are now further back from the pack and struggling to stay afloat. Granted, they get to play the still-good-but-human Cleveland Indians right now, which might be slightly more even for them than Boston and Tampa, and they just got done beating the Yankees a few times, but...cracks are beginning to show for the Jays.

First of all, the loss of Julian Merryweather sent the team into a tailspin looking for a new permanent closer. They seem to have settled on Rafael Dolis, but even he's a bit colder than he was last year. Jordan Romano can save, but he's being used more in middle relief right now. You also have some people who had really nice starts beginning to lose footing, like Steven Matz, Randal Grichuk and Teoscar Hernandez. The other night, Robbie Ray got roughed up by the Yankees offense, something that felt more like a thing 2020 Robbie Ray would do.

And yes, the injuries have been very minimal, and easily patched. The open rotation spot was filled by Alek Manoah, who pitched beautifully for his premier start. The opening at third base was filled by Santiago Espinal, who's been decent [though he needs to start hitting for average]. The bullpen injuries are being dealt with accordingly. 

But...what the Blue Jays need to realize is aside from huge seasons from Vlad Jr., Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the 2021 Jays are mostly okay. Like, a lot of 'nothing special' seasons around. Steven Matz has a 6-2 record with 60 Ks, but a 4.28 ERA and a 1.317 WHIP. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is hitting .250 with 14 RBIs. The DH has the least amount of home runs in the lineup. Danny Jansen is once again being outhit by Reese McGuire, and there isn't an abuse allegation to protect him this time. The top 3 teams have less exploitable flaws, and have been tougher to beat, and the Jays, while still good, might need to think about whether or not it's worth it to chase them.

Who knows, they could hit a hot streak and not stop running til October, but they need to figure out where they should go after this losing stretch.

Coming Tonight: His rookie season was decent but one-dimensional, his sophomore season wasn't great. Now he's FINALLY hitting at major league level, of course, the moment where his team exits the conversation.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #46-54

Damn, I almost forgot what day it was, which is weird, because it feels like a friday in every other respect. I suppose I just forgot I made friday a Final Edition day. Ah well. The next 9 cards in the set are coming right up. 

Card #046- James Hoyt, Miami Marlins

A former Houston relief option who had spent the spring training season with Cleveland, James Hoyt was very quickly snapped up by the Marlins, who were in need of serious bullpen help after the COVID scare in their organization. Hoyt responded with the best season of his career to date, with a 1.23 ERA in 24 games, and only 2 earned runs. The fish seem to be banking on Hoyt for a prime bullpen position in 2021, which is a step up from his previous roster-filler status.

Card #047- Kyle Cody, Texas Rangers

The Rangers weren't expecting to include many new options in their 2020 rotation, but after Kluber got hurt, Minor got traded, and Allard underwhelmed, it was only natural to infuse the rotation with some new blood. Enter rookie Kyle Cody, a 25-year-old farmhand who started 5 games and did pretty well, with a 1.96 ERA and 12 Ks. With the additions of Dane Dunning and Kohei Arihara in 2021, Cody isn't a lock for the starting rotation, but he and Kolby Allard could duke it out in camp for that last spot.

Card #048- J.T. Riddle, Pittsburgh Pirates

The longtime Miami utiltyman found himself in Pittsburgh, alongside other super-utes like Adam Frazier, Erik Gonzalez and Kevin Newman, so it shouldn't shock you too much that Riddle didn't get a ton of playing time in 2020. In 23 games, Riddle hit .149 with 10 hits. Not a great sign of things to come as a journeyman. 

Card #049- Hyun Jin Ryu ASG, Toronto Blue Jays

Hyun-Jin Ryu, somehow, would not get the start for the 2020 supposed ASG [Shane Bieber would]. He'd still come in around the third inning and strike out the side, because that's what he does, but he didn't start the game. This would have been Ryu's second consecutive ASG appearance, making up even more for his run of injury-plagued seasons in LA, and another statement that Ryu has become one of the most fearsome hurlers in the majors.

Card #050- Cristian Pache, Atlanta Braves

In a normal year, Pache's would have been one of the biggest rookie cards of the update set. But he's got one in 2021 Topps, so I guess that's the next best thing. Anyway, Cristian Pache was the Andruw Jones of the Braves' playoff run last year- he came in with only a few regular season games under his belt, and by the end of the postseason, everybody knew his name, as one of the starting outfield options for one of the best teams in the NL. Pache had 4 postseason RBIs and 1 postseason home run in the battle against the Dodgers, and while he wasn't the starriest Brave in that series, he's got a lot of eyes on him coming into the 2021 season. 

Card #051- Logan Forsythe, Miami Marlins

Logan Forsythe was a spring training option for the Philadelphia Phillies that was cut before the season, which the Marlins decided to cash in on. He was an early starting option at 2nd for the Marlins who was phased out due to health and depth reasons. In 12 games, he hit .118, a shell of his former contact-hitting self from Tampa. It's looking like Forsythe could be done after this season, but you never know, somebody could still sign him later in the season.

Card #052- Daniel Ponce de Leon, St. Louis Cardinals

The former longtime farmhand who came back from a head injury and flirted with a no-no in his first start back was still utilized by the Cardinals in 2020, in a heavier role. Ponce de Leon started 8 of his 9 games, with a 5.01 ERA and 45 Ks. I'm not sure if he'll factor into the Cards' 2021 rotation, considering how many people will be back, but he served a purpose well.

Card #053- Trevor Bauer ASG, Cincinnati Reds

Due to the halfway-point stats of one Yu Darvish, Trevor Bauer wouldn't get the NL ASG start, but he'd definitely make an appearance and throw some fire. Bauer's ASG nod would have been his second overall, which means he'll have to make up for it as a member of the Dodgers. 

Card #054- Brian Dozier, New York Mets

Another player whose 2020 issue would have been his sunset card had Topps made it, Brian Dozier capped off a tumultuous final three seasons of ping-ponging between teams by signing with the New York Mets on a minor league deal. The one-time 40-homer second baseman struggled in 7 games, hitting .133 with only 2 hits. Dozier had some career highs in Minnesota, and though he couldn't sustain it past the mid-2010s, he still retired with most of his dignity intact. 

On monday we'll crack into the next 9 of these. A few important rookies pop up here.

Countdown to an Inevitable Astros-Dodgers World Series Rematch

I know it's a bit early, but...well look.

Do we...need to do the rest of this season?

Actually, screw it. If the season ended today.
Rays win AL Wild card. Cubs win NL wild card.
ALCS: Astros-Yankees.
NLCS: Dodgers-Brewers.
World Series: Astros-Dodgers.

You see? It's that inevitable. It's that obvious. And it could definitely happen.

Now I know what you're thinking. And you're thinking that it's literally impossible for any two frontrunners in OCTOBER, let alone in June, to make it all the way to the World Series without hitting any obstacles. It's physically impossible, because you have to just zoom through endless probabilities and outcomes.

I just ask myself...can any team catch the Dodgers? No. And can any team catch the Astros? Maybe the Twins, but I don't know if they're a World Series team.

So...unless insane things happen soon, we may be looking at a Dodgers-Astros WS rematch. And I kinda like that, because that means the Dodgers might be able to win it.

I mean, think about this. Unlike last year, their entire rotation is very healthy. Ryu, Kershaw and Hill are all themselves. Nobody has an ERA over 4. Hell, Hyun-Jin Ryu is so good that he's only given up 13 runs. For comparison's sake, Lance Lynn, who has started the same amount of games for Texas, has given up 39 runs.

You've also got a lineup where six members [Bellinger, Muncy, Verdugo, Seager, Turner, Pederson] have 1.0 and up WARs. You've also got TWO GREAT BACKUP CATCHERS, David Freese being the best bench player out there, and at the very least some home runs from Enrique Hernandez. This is a fantastic team, and this is after AJ Pollock's injury.

The Dodgers are better than they were in either of the years they lost the World Series. I just can't wait to see how they'll do in a third one.

Coming Tomorrow- His team is slowly gaining some injured players back. Which is nice. But...it's gotta help that he's been playing hella well since April, right?

NLDS' Preview: The Games Truly Begin

These two are already getting things underway in Milwaukee, with a Brewers lead as I write this, thanks to Christian, but Colorado, Nolan Arenado, and Antonio Senzatela's pitching won't be counted out. Hoping for a smooth, enjoyable series between these two.

As for the other matchup...

Folty, a guy who was once deemed too wild to pitch for Houston, and Ryu, a guy who was barely cut from the Dodgers' roster prior to this season, will face off in LA. Either of these two could win, and both have gotten some nice momentum as of late, but only one will.

Hope to see some fantastic playoff baseball from these four teams.

Street Fighting Man

(AHAH...AHAH...AHAHAHA....that is the SINGLE WORST reference joke/pun I have ever done for this blog. TOP HONORS. After almost 10 years, I've never done one that bad.)

Okay, so back to the Dodgers. The sportscasters have been wanting the narrative to go back to favoring the Dodgers, because they're so much fun when they're on top, and that happened...for a week. And then it went back to being the Rockies-D-Backs race again. The Dodgers are a few games behind, but...they're just stuck there. And the race is just sort of going on...around them, sort of like it was before they got hot and made it to 2nd.

And the thing about the Dodgers is that a lot of the team is injured, or in the process of coming back from injury. Even with the reinforcements from the trade deadline, a lot of members of the team are choosing the exact wrong moment to stop playing well, like Kenley Jansen, who's blown a few saves recently. Meanwhile, the other four teams who are thick in the Wild Card race, like the Rockies, Cardinals, Brewers and Phillies, are dealing with less injuries, and comparatively better luck.

Look, even with surging Machado, Turner and Dozier...this may not be the strongest team. There's not as much of the dominance across the board that we saw last year, and a lot of the lineup is comparatively struggling. There are standouts, great players, but...this may not be the team.

And also...the Diamondbacks might have it this year. Because they had a stronger core, and didn't really rely on a part-year come-up. They were just there from the start. And it's sad that the Dodgers aren't able to repeat, but...it can't kill this season for the sportswriters, as much as THEY want the Dodgers to do well.

I mean...at the end of the day, it's hard to explain to people with money that sometimes the people with money won't always be so lucky. But here we are.

Coming Tomorrow- The actual best team in baseball, and their young standout.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2017: Dodgers

It didn't happen. But that doesn't mean it won't.

The Dodgers collected a cavalcade of players, being amazing all in the same single, solitary moment. Only reason they lost is the Astros managed to be better than them by the deciding inch. I do think the Dodgers have what it takes to come back, because the people that are leaving (with the exception of Yu Darvish) are not the important members of the team.

I made a Corey Seager card earlier this year, but I wasn't happy with it, so I made a better one. The guy's got legs, which is nice.

This guy was only a presence towards the end of the season, but he's still an LA hero, and wanted to spend his last season as a Dodger doing something beneficial. The Dodgers are gonna miss Andre Ethier, and I doubt he'll make an impact like he did in LA, but his 2017 stretch run was welcome.

Kenta Maeda's 2016 theatrics took a bit of a backseat this year, as a rotation of Kershaw-Darvish-Wood-Hill came to be, and Maeda found himself fighting with Hyun-Jin Ryu for the last spot. While Maeda had the more consistent season...

...Ryu was arguably scarier in the clutch, and was able to work more strikeouts and crafty stuff despite not having a ton of time on the mound this year. However, the offseason shakes out, I feel like Ryu and Maeda will at least have a place somewhere in LA.

We've all come to terms with the fact that 2015 Joc Pederson might not be coming back, and his subpar 2017 season proved that, but he was able to make some nice clutch moments late in the year. I doubt he'll be starting next year, as Andrew Toles might even be a better bet than Pederson. But his stuff was still appreciated when it was good.

Due to injuries and Cody Bellinger, Adrian Gonzalez had a down 2017, but when he was healthy he gave his all, and gave a veteran perspective to the postseason that was much-needed. A-Gon's one of those respected veterans that have never won a World Series, and even if his stuff wasn't 100% perfect this year, he was a great presence in the dugout...

...Much like this guy. As much as I don't enjoy saying bad things about Curtis Granderson, his performance with the Dodgers post-waiver-deal left a lot to be desired, with more strikeouts than his Mets tenure, and not a ton of positive offensive energy, leading to a diminished role in the postseason squad. I certainly hope he can continue his bat work somewhere, but part of me thinks it might be the end for him this year.

If I had to pick the most surprising standout member of this WS Dodgers team, it'd have to be Brandon Morrow, who went from subpar 5th starter in Toronto to shutting them down in relief for LA when it counted. I don't know if he'll ever have a season like this, but it was very impressive, and in a season with many fingers being pointed at the Dodgers' bullpen (especially Pedro Baez), Morrow's work was appreciated.

...And then there's the Rookie of the Year.

Cody Bellinger came in with the odds sort of muddied, and made an insanely beneficial situation out of it, not only having a fantastic rookie season but powering his team to the World Series, somewhere they've flirted with going to for a while but hadn't been since 1988. Bellinger will hopefully keep this insane plate work up, as I'd hate for him to be a one-year thing (like Pederson).

Coming Tomorrow- Next year's an even year, but I'm doubting these guys will factor into the conversation.

Custom Card of the Day: Ryu Edition

I made this back in July. It is now September. Hooray for consistency.

Only reason this one kept getting pushed is because right when i was going to post it, he would up on the DL. And then when he'd be active, it would be one of those days, like yesterday, where I forgot to post. So, finally, here is Dodgers pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu.

The Dodgers seem to still be on top of things, which is great, because they're a great team with some great materials. The pitching staff is still doing really well, even if Chad Billingsley and Josh Beckett have been kind of down for the count. Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu and Haren have been playing really well for them, and making the pitching staff into one of the most consistent in the league.

I'd like to see them make it to the postseason again this year, and hopefully go further than last year.

Coming Tonight/Tomorrow- An Orioles outfielder.

Custom Card of the Day: Ryu Edition

And just like that, we're through with July. I know, it barely even feels like August, but July is still over and done with, and that means it's crunch time in the majors.

Because this is another Month in Review post, I'll list the five things I predicted last month, and see if they came true.

1. An All Star game with ALL STARS.  For the most part, the teams delivered, though a lot of deserved All Stars basically dropped out the day before, due to that same BS Sunday rule.
2. The Pirates to remain one of the best teams in baseball. Correct. They are still in the race, competing with the Cardinals for the head of the NL Central.
3. The Yankees to make an attempt to return to the top of the AL East. An unsuccessful one, yes.
4. Toward the end of the deadline, the Phillies/Yankees to NOT unload any of their star players. Well, yeah. The big ones stayed put.
5. Toward the end of the deadline, the Phillies/Yankees to RECIEVE star players from other teams, in exchange for ONLY prospects. Yeah, this one was true too. Man, I did pretty well this month.

Now, here are five things that surprised me during the month of July.

1. First place Dodgers. This was a surprising one, as the Dodgers slowly crept up to the top this month, after a few months of being the low team on the totem pole. It's nice to see a team like that finally do well. I don't know how long it's gonna last, but I'm liking this.
2. Last place Giants. It's not everyday that the team that went to the World Series lands in last the very next year. Poor guys.
3. The Phillies didn't make any huge moves this trade deadline. Usually they're dealing a big star. This is a shocking one indeed.
4. Somebody actually signed Brian Wilson! Somebody actually listened to me!
5. The Jake Peavy deal. I really didn't see this one coming until it happened, and it was a big one. Not only did Peavy end up on the Red Sox, but the Red Sox actually traded their best rookie star, and shortstop, to the Tigers. This was a shocker.

Now, five things that didn't surprise me at all last month.

1. The Cubs unloaded their big stars at the deadline. Happens every year.
2. The Astros unloaded the two guys that were sorta kinda about to become big stars. Meh. Seen it before.
3. A-Rod and Braun's suspensions. We saw this coming a mile away.
4. The Cardinals crept back up and battled with the Pirates for the lead in the NL Central. This is actually an event in July.
5. No speeches at Hall of Fame induction day. Okay, I kid, that needs to change.

And finally, five things I want to happen in August.

1. The Yankees to finally reclaim their stuff and get right back in the race.'
2. The Cardinals to cool down and let the Pirates stay at the top for a while.
3. No random waiver deals that screw up the Update set.
4. The Dodgers to keep playing really well.
5. Yoenis Cespedes to keep hitting a decent amount of homers.

Well, that was a pretty nice month. Bring on August.

Coming Tomorrow- A nice, young player for the Cubs.