2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #271-279

 The last 60 cards in the 2020 Final Edition set start here. There are still some big rookies, big Topps omissions, and big trades from 2020 to cover with this set, so let's not waste any time:

Card #271- Austin Gomber, St. Louis Cardinals

One of the more intriguing rookies of the 2018 season, Austin Gomber didn't make any appearances during 2019 for St. Louis, and was brought up in 2020 in order to circumvent the number of injured or disappointing starters that was growing. Gomber had a 1.86 ERA in 14 games, but only four of them were starts, and it was seeming like the Cards were running out of room for him. Gomber would eventually become the main piece in the trade that would bring Nolan Arenado to St. Louis, and has been decent in 10 starts for the Rockies.

Card #272- Jesse Winker ASG, Cincinnati Reds

In the span of a few seasons, Jesse Winker went from a bench bat with nowhere to start to one of the most crucial contact sluggers in Cincinnati. Last year, Winker hit .255 with 23 RBIs and 12 homers. It was a season that would have garnered an ASG nod for Winker had the 2020 game happened. Thankfully, it's looking like that redemption could come this year, as he's having a career year so far with a .349 average, 13 homers and 29 RBIs. 

Card #273- Taylor Hearn, Texas Rangers

Taylor Hearn's sole start in 2019 was a disastrous one, as he was rocked in a span of 8 batters, only registering 1 out, and 4 runs, before being removed. So in 2020, the Rangers used Hearn as a bullpen piece, and he did a ton better. In 14 games, Hearn had a 3.63 ERA with 23 Ks, which wasn't bad at all for an eventless team like the 2020 Rangers. He's still getting use from this team, and though he has a higher ERA, he's still getting reps in.

Card #274- George Springer ASG, Houston Astros

Though his outfield mate Kyle Tucker would have started the ASG in left for the AL if last year's game had happened, George Springer would have garnered plenty of votes, and would be a decent choice for a bench bat. It would be a decision not many people would have much trouble with, as Springer hit .265 with 32 RBIs and 14 homers last year, flexing his power muscles one last time before signing with Toronto. 

Card #275- Ian Anderson, Atlanta Braves

Friday we had a lot of cards of rookies that haven't had stellar 2021 seasons. Ian Anderson is not one of those. After becoming a crucial starting arm for the Braves in the regular season, with a 1.95 ERA and 41 Ks in his first 6 starts, Anderson got his first two career postseason wins, and a 0.96 ERA, over three playoff series, as well as 24 beautiful postseason strikeouts. And Anderson is having another phenomenal season so far this year as well, with a 4-1 record in his first 9 starts. Though many sportswriters, including me, worry about Anderson's wrist motion leading to imminent Tommy John, he's still a fantastic pitcher and a gift for Atlanta's struggling rotation this year.

Card #276- Michael Perez, Tampa Bay Rays

In the absence of Travis D'Arnaud, and Mike Zunino's better numbers, the primary starting catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays' playoff year in 2020 was...Michael Perez. Perez came up in 2019, during the period where absolutely no catcher on the Tampa payroll could stay healthy, and was a decent replacement for the oft-injured D'Arnaud. In 2020, he was in the spotlight more, having the better defensive catching numbers than Zunino but still failing to hit higher than .200, despite 13 RBIs. He did hit .286 in the postseason, but was used only as a defensive sub in the World Series. Perez would later be waived by the Pirates, where he has continued to hit in the .100s.

Card #277- Richard Rodriguez, Pittsburgh Pirates

Speaking of the Pirates...how the hell did Richard Rodriguez not have a card in 2020 Topps? Rodriguez has been one of the best relief assets for the Buccos since 2018, and was relevant enough in 2019 to garner some cardboard representation in 2020. But...not the case. A shame, since Rodriguez' 2020 season was another really strong one, with a 2.70 ERA and 34 Ks in 24 appearances, with 4 saves to boot. It would be a preview of Rodriguez becoming the primary closing option in 2021. 

Card #278- Rafael Dolis ASG, Toronto Blue Jays,

Dolis is the second of two players in this 2020 Final Edition set to have both a base card and an ASG card, the other being Jeremy Jeffress. Something about relievers. Anyway, Dolis' scorching season in Toronto would have been enough for the AL to have him on their ASG squad as a reliever. Dolis' 2020 was an excellent comeback season, and it's a pity that he's been struggling so far in 2021.

Card #279- Justin Wilson, New York Mets

2020 was Justin Wilson's second of two seasons on the Mets, and while it wasn't as spotless as his 2019, it was still pretty strong, with a 3.66 ERA and 23 Ks in 19.2 innings. It was a season that got the eye of the Yankees, who signed him for the 2021 season. 

We get the next 9 on Friday. A few people in this batch are having really nice 2021 seasons.

Living in the Past

 

[I had to. I just had to.]

So here's the cycle we've been working with here with homegrown Atlanta pitchers. The Braves will bring up an impressive fireballer out of the comfort of their own farm system, they'll come out to a breathtaking start, then immediately need Tommy John surgery. At which point they're out for a season or so and the Braves need to focus on another young homegrown pitcher. It's been happening for the last 12 years. It happened with Kris Medlen, it happened with Brandon Beachy, and it happened with Mike Soroka. 

So...I don't want Braves fans to get their hopes up involving Ian Anderson. Because people have been studying the way he throws ever since he was in triple A, noticing the twist of the wrist before he releases the ball, and they're all prepared for him to need Tommy John surgery. This is going to happen whether you like it or not, and Braves fans just need to accept that. 

I mean, one of the issues with this surgery being available is that pitchers will just continue to pitch the same problematic way, tempting fate, just because that if the worst case does happen, they'll just miss a year and come back stronger. The goal, I surmise, is to avoid the surgery entirely, so that you don't miss any playing time and you don't cost your team a year or so. Look at Justin Verlander- he's gonna be out for another large portion of a season because of last year's surgery. If you know the risk, it's probably a better idea to avoid doing something that will exacerbate things. But, Ian Anderson likes pitching this way, and he'll inevitably wear out his arm. Possibly this year, maybe next year. 

The good news is that the Braves seem to have a rotation that'll counteract this change. First of all, Mike Soroka will be back this year. That helps. Max Fried, Charlie Morton and Kyle Wright all look good, and Bryse Wilson and Huascar Ynoa are fine choices for a fifth spot. If Anderson goes down, the Braves have enough of a team built up that they won't need to worry. Plus, it's looking like the Braves even have security further down the line, with Michael Harris having some insane showings out of camp. Sure to be a presence in their 2023 team. 

I guess what I'm saying is I'm thankful the Braves have a team that's as strong as their farm system. If catastrophes happen, they will be ready. I'm thinking 1st place is theirs again this year, and a World Series run isn't out of the realm of possibility either. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Tigers are trying some new things this year, and this contact-hitting outfielder is one of them.

Division Series' Day 3: Four Leads

 I'm going to warn Braves fans now. Ian Anderson, the way he is throwing, is gonna wreck his arm within a year or so and will eventually need Tommy John surgery. You guys are going to lose a year of Ian Anderson baseball very soon, considering the arc of his arm in his rotation.

That being said, Ian Anderson had another very dominant postseason start, going 5.2 innings with 8 strikeouts and no earned runs. Dude's got a future if he takes care of that arm. Anderson, Soroka and Fried all healthy next year could be dangerous. And just Fried and Anderson in good form now is chasing the Marlins, and pitting them into win-or-die scenarios for today. They will most likely turn to Sixto Sanchez, as the Braves turn to Kyle Wright, so hopefully they have some run support to spare to aid their young pitcher. 

As bad as it looked as a back-and-forth match for a few innings, the Athletics broke through late thanks to some work from Chad Pinder and Sean Murphy on the Houston bullpen, and some subsequent mastery from Liam Hendriks and Jake Diekman. Marcus Semien, Tommy La Stella, Mark Canha and Matt Olson all had solo long-balls early, and kept enough in the tank so that the eventual lead-taking from the Astros would be possible in the first place. Jesus Luzardo got beat up, but so did Framber Valdez, and from there it was a question of who had the better bullpen, which...Oakland did.

I loved this win, and I really hope there's two more just like it coming soon. 

Look, I've resigned myself to my fate already. The Rays are the better team, they're probably gonna win tonight. 

The Yankees, as much as they can slug, and as much as they can put up runs and stay in it, have always been very close with each of their postseason rivals, and if they had a more comprehensive pitching staff, it wouldn't be as close. Tonight, they're starting Jordan Montgomery. Yes, the Rays are doing a bullpen/opener game, but...the Yanks have to start Jordan Montgomery against one of the best offenses in baseball, one that worked Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier and Michael Perez against Tanaka last night. 

Again, stranger things have happened, but...considering what might also happen in LA today, the Rays might NEED to win. Cause someone's gonna need to stop the Astros if the A's can't. 

Also, hey, what do you know, last year's MVP is still elite. Cody Bellinger took longer than usual to get to peak levels, but he's been stellar this postseason, with a home run as well as the game winning catch against these surprisingly tough-to-beat Padres. Like Yanks-Rays, it's gonna come down to the team that has the better pitching, and today will probably be either Dustin May or Julio Urias, both good options, vs. Adrian Morejon. Yes, folks, the Padres are going with Adrian Morejon to start. Which says a lot about how depleted their rotation is without Lamet and Clevinger. 

Look, man...the Dodgers are the best team in baseball, and the #1 seed in the game. So the Padres coming in with a lesser rotation should have figured this would happen. But, regardless, hopefully their lineup will keep them alive tonight.