2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #208-216

 Heading further into the 200s with this post, for the Final Edition set. A few of these set up the 2021 season, while a few more set up developments that have since been halted.

Card #208- Donovan Solano ASG, San Francisco Giants

The man now affectionately known as Donnie Barrels would have been the starting 2nd baseman of the NL team had the 2020 ASG happened. It would have been a winning, surprise moment for the longtime journeyman infielder, who'd came up with Miami years ago and never found a true niche until he got slotted into a starting position in 2019. Two straight years of .300+ averages later, Solano was a fixture, a silver slugger winner and a Giants hero. Before his 2021 injury he was hitting .300, so he's still definitely league-caliber.

Card #209- Heath Hembree, Philadelphia Phillies

Heath Hembree was one of two Red Sox relievers traded to Philly to save the sinking rotation, only to get pulled into the wreckage themselves. Hembree had the worst shake of anyone, seeing his already-bad 5.59 ERA sink to a 12.54 in Philly. He's thankfully pitching an improved 0 ERA in Cincinnati, so maybe it is just Philly that brings out the worst in people.

Card #210- Josh Harrison, Washington Nationals

Speaking of Philly bringing out the worst in people...the Phils signed Josh Harrison to a minor league deal for Spring Training [this DID get a Topps card], and both the pandemic and the tight 2nd base race led to Harrison being cut. So then the Nationals pick him up prior to the July start to the season, and then Harrison improved even past his disappointing 2019 in Detroit. In 33 games, he hit .278 with 14 RBIs, not a bad shake at all for an infield in flux. So far in 2021 he's been even better, and even more of a fixture. Thanks, Ruben.

Card #211- James McCann ASG, Chicago White Sox

For the second year in a row, James McCann would have been a reserve catcher on the AL All Star team, and unlike in 2019, he'd be on the roster as a backup. McCann spent all of 2020 being the superior option to the powerful-but-one-dimensional Yasmani Grandal, while being either a bench bat or a DH. However, by ASG terms, he's a catcher, and he'd catch some innings in the ASG. 

Card #212- Mike Freeman, Cleveland Indians

Another career journeyman infielder who finally found a constant place, Mike Freeman followed a decent season as a bench infielder for the Indians in 2019 with another similar season with less immediate results. In 24 2020 games, Freeman hit .237 with 5 hits and 3 RBIs. He was released after the season and is now in the Reds organization.

Card #213- Devin Williams ASG, Milwaukee Brewers

Another no-brainer inclusion. Devin Williams was one of the best relief pitchers in baseball in 2020, rookie or none. He was lights-out in August, and would have been worthy of an addition by Dave Martinez as a relief option. It would have been even more of a cherry on top of an extraordinary rookie season, which hopefully will lead to a strong career and not more earned-run-friendly seasons like his 2021 so far.

Card #214- Matt Kemp, Miami Marlins

Ah yes, one of my favorite parts of doing this series, the zero-year card. Matt Kemp played all of his 2020 games with the Colorado Rockies, but he spent Spring Training with the other 1993 expansion team, the Miami Marlins. Kemp was decent out of camp, and was still working solely as a power-hitter, but the crowded Marlins outfield last year made it impossible for Kemp to make the team. Topps did produce some Gallery, Fire and Heritage High releases of Marlin Kemp, but they were too late.

Card #215- Trevor Rosenthal, San Diego Padres

After a sensational start in Kansas City, and some thrilling comeback numbers, Trevor Rosenthal was dealt to the San Diego Padres in one of many 2020 Padres-Royals trades. Rosenthal was given the ninth in SD, and in 9 games he was unhittable, with a 0 ERA and only 3 hits allowed on top of 17 Ks. While his postseason numbers were a little rockier, he was still a formidable closer again, which led the A's to give him a ton of money...and to him subsequently getting injured.

Card #216- Estevan Florial

One of the biggest Yankee prospects not named Dominguez, Estevan Florial has been a bright star in the minors in the last few years, and in a flash doubleheader with the Mets last season, the Yankees figured it'd be a cool idea to bring him up. The 22 -year-old Florial only had one game last year, but he made it count, with his first MLB hit against the Mets. I'm not entirely sure when Florial will be back in the majors again, but he teased us with a little bit of what he's capable of.

The next 9 cards go up Monday, and there are some interesting ones in there. Like Kemp, another zero-year type card, as well as some more big rookies and relievers. 

This Might be the White Sox Team

The standings may not show it, but this is the best full White Sox team we've had in a decade.

It's not hard to see why. The youth movement of Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Tim Anderson, Nick Madrigal and Luis Robert has finally prospered. Dallas Keuchel gives this team a genuine ace. Jose Abreu staying with the team has ensured that they'll continue to have a power-hitting star. Yasmani Grandal and James McCann give them catching  mobility and lineup support. Danny Mendick, Adam Engel and Nomar Mazara give steady depth. I'm just...impressed.

We're obviously a bit further from perfection, cause there's still a few people like Steve Cishek, Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion who aren't entirely on the right pace. And you still have the occasional rookie talents like Zack Collins and Dane Dunning who disappoint their first times out, but...this team has depth, and it has more assets than previous Sox teams.

The big question is 'will it be  enough  in  this iteration of the AL Central?' Because the Twins and Indians are going to the playoffs, the East could take 4 teams, and they're only 8 spots. The Sox are one of those teams, like the Rangers and Orioles, who are on the bubble, and could be sealed by either  a good week or a bad one. It'd be cool to see this team in the  wild card round, and it'd be  nice to see Keuchel and Giolito getting playoff  action. But it takes some good weeks from the White Sox, some good weeks that I really hope are up ahead.

Coming Tonight: Another backup catcher, this one from a team with an excellent pitching staff with...absolutely no hitting.

South Side of the Moon

(Music Pun Streak #19. Fine, I squeezed in one more easy one.)

As far as middling-to-bad teams go, the Chicago White Sox are a very interesting case. Right now their best player, Tim Anderson, is a guy that no one's heard of, their best starter, Manny Banuelos, is a guy who was a highly-touted Yankee prospect more than eight years ago, and the guy with their highest WAR, James McCann, is already on pace to top his highest WAR numbers by two weeks from now. Weird, weird stuff.

And yet having people like Anderson, Yoan Moncada and Leury Garcia playing so well at the same time is what's propelling this White Sox team out of last place. That and...not being the Kansas City Royals. Still, this team is gaining more momentum because its individual parts are syncing up in terms of ability and output. The core of this team, aka the infield, is playing pretty well, with even Jose Abreu hitting for average, and McCann is having a career year at catcher. Yes, the outfield is a bit more problematic, but at least Leury Garcia is there.

And Banuelos is sort of lifting the rotation right now, as Ivan Nova, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez are giving ERA showings above 5. And yes, it's nice having the one-two punch of Kelvin Herrera and Alex Colome, but the team isn't in save position too often, as their wins tend to be blowouts...as do their losses.

Still, it's a nice change that the lineup is looking generally alright so far, even if the pitching needs a lot of work. The Sox are better than they've been in a while, and are looking to get better.

Coming Tomorrow- [sigh] guess whose team is back in first. I'll give you a hint....I hate them.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2015: Tigers

The Tigers began the year in 2nd, and ended it in last. Which takes some serious skill, and some serious roster-dropping.

Ian Kinsler had a really nice season this year, scoring well in the WAR department, and being one of the few heavy-hitters still in the lineup. Even though, at this point, the Rangers got the more offensively-productive end of the deal in landing Prince Fielder to get him, Kinsler is an amazing defensive player, and a great all around roster presence.

Anthony Gose was an even bigger surprise, popping up in an outfield spot and hitting better than he has in his few seasons. Hopefully it's not a fluke.

Anibal Sanchez, while slipping down another rung in the rotation, still pitched well enough this season. With so many heavy-hitters leaving the rotation, Sanchez is one of the few constants, and the Tigers need those.

James McCann started a ton of games behind the plate for the Tigers this year, and did not disappoint, bringing youth, speed, and more emphasis on defense to a position guarded by bat-heavy Alex Avila. McCann should be a shoo-in for the job next year.

Daniel Norris came to Detroit in exchange for David Price, and hasn't done a great deal in his few starts, but still has a nice arm, and will likely be used very well by the Tigers next year.

Coming Tomorrow- The last remaining Twins worth posting.