Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Astros

 

A little while before the playoffs, I wrote a post about the Dodgers and Astros having subpar quality teams for their regime, owing mostly to pitching injuries. The Astros were going with lesser seasons from most of their regulars, a shruggingly existent youth core, and a rotation of people getting by simply because they were the Astros. And I said that they didn't deserve being handed postseason glory again. 

The fact that in the early rungs of the postseason, the Dodgers were nearly eliminated and hit an incredible second wind to take it all while the Astros got bodied by the Tigers before October was really underway is honestly incredible. I was right about one of those teams, and it was the Astros. This was not the team, and they weren't gonna shove themselves into a playoff picture that had no room for them this year. 

Needless to say that worked for me. Didn't have to see teams struggle to figure out a team with obvious flaws. Breathed easier. 

So yes, the Astros' main issue this year was rotation injuries. Three of their usual weapons, Lance McCullers, Luis Garcia and Jose Urquidy, were nowhere to be found this year, and another one, Cristian Javier, only started 7 games before his own injury. They were still good quality starts, but with 24 more of them this team doesn't have to go to Spencer Arrighetti, Jake Bloss or Yusei Kikuchi. Still, in 7 games, Javier had a 3-1 record and a 3.89 ERA. Hopefully whatever recovery he needs goes quickly, he's a pretty crucial part of this team's future with so many people leaving.

2025 Prediction: Some crucial starts in the second half. 

Mauricio Dubon has continued to be one of the most useful extra hands the Astros have. He didn't get as much of a starring role as he did last year with his month of filling in for Jose Altuve, but he was still extremely helpful, and was essentially the starting left fielder this year. In 137 games he hit .269 with 47 RBIs and some above-average defense, though not to the degree of his gold-glove 2023.

2025 Prediction: Something tells me he's gonna be one of the most called upon position players next year. Less people are sticking around, and the ones who are are older. He may be getting a ton more reps at 2nd next year.

After sending Martin Maldonado to a team that matches his mediocrity, the Astros got a new backup in Victor Caratini, who's made the postseason with practically every team he's ever played for, and has caught no-hitters from the best. Caratini, unsurprisingly, had another steady season there, and it was in fact his best statistical season to date, with a 1.3 WAR. In 87 games he hit .269 with 8 home runs and 30 RBIs, and was an above-average backstop. With Yainer Diaz being a more offense-friendly catching option, having Caratini as a backup that can play more often, and swap in at C to give Diaz a start at DH, is a great thing, and hopefully he'll deliver a similar season in 2025.

2025 Prediction: Diaz will get hurt, Caratini will need to start, and while he won't be 2024 good he'll be really competent, giving teams a nice preview for his free agency case.

Folks, in our 20th season of Justin Verlander, we finally landed upon a sight we'd rarely ever seen with the future Hall of Famer, and that is human, beatable JV. The veteran made 17 starts this year, and thanks to both injuries and his age, teams were able to figure him out more than usual this year. JV went 5-6 with a 5.48 ERA and 74 Ks. For the first time since his rookie year in 2005, Verlander ended the year with a negative WAR. Yet despite this, Verlander seems to have no plans to retire yet. He'll be 42 next year, and at the very least he'll be back from whatever injuries were holding him back this year. If anything, it's good for baseball if he does suit up for somebody.

2025 Prediction: 1 year deal with the Detroit Tigers. Not pretty but hangs 'em up with the team that made him a star. Will cross 3500 strikeouts.

I didn't understand the mentality that led to the Astros trading Joey Loperfido and Jake Bloss, two guys who were actually working their way toward aiding the Astros as they competed, and Will Wagner, someone who was league ready and would prove it in Toronto, for Yusei Kikuchi, who'd been terrible in his last ten starts and had established community with the team. And yet, because the Astros' GM always seems to know more than anyone else, this paid off: Kikuchi was wonderful in 10 starts with the Astros, going 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 76 Ks, more than Justin Verlander in nearly double the games. Between Kikuchi, Arrighetti, Brown and Valdez, the Astros really capitalized off of the strikeout this year. 

2025 Prediction: Kikuchi may be 34 this year, but he'll be eating well. I say he gets at least one nice year out of this Angels deal, and like Tyler Anderson it's not gonna be the first one.

Here's the oddest sight of the year for this team: Jason Heyward, who was very close to competing for a ring this year in LA, was cut in August and picked up by Houston, despite interest from Atlanta. And so we have this...very usual combination, this stage of Heyward's career and this stage of Astros baseball. J-Hey was okay for the 'Stros, he had 4 homers and 9 RBIs in 24 games, and this was a bit more energized than he was for the Dodgers, but he wasn't exactly a key contributor to the postseason team. 

2025 Prediction: Signs with a low-marker team with a lot of openings. Mentors some youth and does alright. Perhaps even Sacramento at this rate.

Coming Tomorrow- Speaking of Sacramento, a few extras from an A's team that outdid some expectations. 

J-Hey in LA

 

When the Dodgers acquired Miguel Rojas, David Peralta, Noah Syndergaard, J.D. Martinez and Jason Heyward prior to the season, I was not expecting J-Hey to be the one with the most consistent numbers.

I mean, those other guys have been fine. Martinez was a starting All-Star and gave them a 25-homer year. Rojas and Peralta have done well enough in starting roles despite being a bit further from their prime than the Dodgers would have liked. Thor...well, Thor's looking for a job. But Heyward was signed as a depth option. Like, it'd be nice if he made the team, but the last few years in Chicago give off the impression that the veteran outfielder didn't have much left. So the Dodgers were taking a calculated risk with J-Hey, and crossing their fingers that they'd get something out of it.

To their surprise, and to mine, Heyward is having his best season since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. His OPS is over 800, he's hitting .262, he's got 35 RBIs and 13 homers, and for the first time in a while his defensive ability isn't doing all the work.

I was thinking about this recently. In 2010, Heyward was flooded with OMG reactions upon entering the league, and was one of the biggest stars in the game within a year or so of coming up. The guy also has a cumulative 30 WAR through his first six seasons, and was a big piece of great Braves and Cardinals teams. Heyward in the early 2010s was absolutely astonishing, and one of those players with a massive exclamation point who excelled in multiple facets of the game. Since joining the Cubs in 2016, he's had a cumulative 10 WAR. Shohei Ohtani has around that much this year alone. It saddens me that Heyward had so much of a career drop-off, even if it got him a ring. And it wasn't even a 'stats slide after 30' thing, no, he was 26 when he started slumping. And as much as I applaud the number of 20 or 21 year olds coming up these days, that can happen. People can peak too early. It's something that's worried me with Juan Soto. 

I'm really just glad that Heyward can be a part of this Dodgers team now and have some things to contribute. If you'd have told the blogs in 2011 'oh, Heyward's gonna be a Dodger soon', people would go crazy, but this is a calmer, more low-key Heyward performance and he's doing really well in a veteran bench role for this team. At 33, it is very nice that he can still be an essential piece of a playoff team, and with the Dodgers still surging and heading for a high seed in October, I hope Heyward can have a nice role in their success.

Coming Tomorrow- This is a year where the people you've heard of in the Orioles' rotation aren't doing near as much as the people you've never heard of. Here's another one of those.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Cubs

I was at a concert in New York City the other night, some prog rock band that'd been around since the 70s or something. And they played this song called Afterglow, which I didn't even think they were gonna play since it was back with their old guitarist who's not with the band anymore [I'm really veering violently from the 'I didn't know anything about this band' conceit I set up in the first sentence], and it's a beautiful song, and regardless of how frail Phil Collins is now, he can still sing it. There's this lyric in there, it's deep as hell when you hear it live. "And now...now I've lost everything, I give to you my soul." Around the chords, it just...blows you away every time, especially live. 

And that kinda sums up the Chicago Cubs this year. I'm not saying Genesis wrote the damned song about the Cubs back in 77 or whatever, but the song fits the struggle. The Cubs lost almost their entire core- Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez, Craig Kimbrel and Andrew Chafin. And they had to ride out the rest of the year with whatever they had left. So they gave their soul to the contenders and walked the rest of the year is this sort of husk of a team, with lots of new players, terrible relievers and barely any resemblance to the team that won it all in 2016. It was downright depressing, and I say this as someone who watched my team beat them at home. 

It's even more depressing seeing Jason Heyward become more and more ineffective with every passing year. Heyward's 31, has played in every season since 2010, and hasn't had a season with a WAR higher than 2.5 since he was 25, in St. Louis. His run from 2010 to 2015 was glorious, and I wish the Cubs had gotten even a hint of that when they signed him for that large contract. This year, Heyward's batting numbers gave a -11 batting WAR total, leading him with a 0.4 WAR finish, on account of his decent outfield numbers and .214 average. I don't know if it's gonna get any better for him.

2022 Prediction: He loses the starting spot to a rookie.

Another remnant of the 2016 WS team came back in 2021, though it was a bit more short-lived. Jake Arrieta, like usual recently, started the season pretty strong, with some decent starts and some good energy, and slowly wore down and let his ERA raise to 6.88 with 11 losses. Eventually the Cubs would cut him, and he'd be picked up by a contender, which we'll cover in a few weeks. 

Meanwhile, one of two pitchers to no-hit a team in 2020, Alec Mills, had a much tougher go at it in a full season with a worse team. Mills had a 5.07 ERA in 32 games, only 20 of them starts, and only notched 87 Ks. 

2022 Prediction: Either he becomes a trusted starter again and leaves at the deadline or it's back to bullpen work full-time.

Another starter who flirted with bullpen work was 2020 rookie Adbert Alzolay. In his first full season, Alzolay had a 5-13 record but a 4.58 ERA, 128 Ks and a 1.162 WHIP, the lowest in the rotation.

2022 Prediction: A big season that lets him climb the ladder to ace status.

After Kris Bryant's departure, while Patrick Wisdom did take third, Matt Duffy became a more flexible infield piece, and had an underrated season overall. Duffy hit .287 with 83 hits 30 RBIs in 97 games, and added a veteran presence that was now severely lacking. While he was nowhere near as good as he was in San Francisco and early Tampa, he still was a helpful figure in a dire era of this team.

2022 Prediction: Whoever signs him won't have the intention of starting him, but he'll slide into a starting position and do very, very well.

Finally, Codi Heuer was part of the return for Craig Kimbrel from the South Side. While he may not have been the biggest name in the trade [that would be Nick Madrigal], Heuer still made the most of his 25 games for the Cubs, with a 3.14 ERA and 17 Ks, an improvement over his Sox numbers. It'll be interesting to see how he does given a full season for them.

2022 Prediction: Oh yeah, the closing position is looking kinda open, isn't it? Heuer might make a run at that.

Tomorrow, another team that needs autopsying, the 2021 Diamondbacks.

J-Hey, Dude!

 After a depressing finish in 2019, the Cubs seem to be heading right back to the playoffs in a high-seed. I feel like if, in 2012, I said 'the Cubs are gonna make it to the playoffs thanks to Jason Heyward, Anthony Rizzo, Yu Darvish and Jeremy Jeffress', you'd go 'sounds about right'

I'm not saying it's solely the veteran presence that's making the difference so far, but ingratiating it with the youth, so that it's a gradual come-up, and that people like Nico Hoerner can jump in with guys like Jason Kipnis, is smart. You don't wanna dump a youth movement in all at once, it doesn't always take immediately [look at Toronto]. But seeing even past younger players like Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber and David Bote come up around veterans is a good way of doing things, and it's worked.

Look, Jason Heyward and Yu Darvish being the main producers of this team isn't something they intended to happen, but it's a nice outcome. Heyward's hitting .297 with 22 RBIs, having one of his most visible seasons as a Cub. Darvish has made up for his slow start in Chicago and is having a Cy-Young-caliber year with 7 wins, 79 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA. Kyle Hendricks has also been beautiful, with a 6-4 record and a 2.93 ERA. Alec Mills is coming off a no-hitter, and Jon Lester is having a solid final season in Chicago, plus Jeremy Jeffress is having another one of his monster years. 

It's slightly alarming that the core of Baez-Rizzo-Bryant hasn't done too much this year, but they're also not...NOT performing, it's just more human numbers and lower averages. Baez may still have a monster postseason. It's still good that this team can be powerful without their peak numbers, though.

I hope they can get a lot done in the postseason, even though they may not look as polished as LA, Atlanta or San Diego. They still have a lot going for them, and could go deep into it.

Coming Tomorrow- How did a little-known Australian middle-reliever turn into one of the most fearsome, consistent closers in baseball right after getting to Oakland? Well...the A's have done this sort of thing before.

J-Hey 10 Years Later

So I just talked about Stephen Strasburg, in his 10th season, and how far he's come from being a rookie phenom that everyone's talking about. And it looks like we have a Jason Heyward custom up today, so...let's do that again.

Jason Heyward's rookie year in 2010 was a big deal, to say the least. He came into a middling Braves team and gave them a jolt of energy, with 144 hits and 72 RBIs, and a 2nd-placing in the ROY race. Heyward was one of those guys where the name may have outweighed the stats, and even to this day he's kind of like that, but back in the day he was just this powerful, speedy Braves outfielder that buttressed this strong team. You can also make the case that Heyward's year led to the establishment of the strong youth movement that's made the team great today, as one year later Freddie Freeman, Julio Teheran and Mike Minor become big Braves fixtures.

Then he has his big 2015 season in St. Louis, misses out on an ASG nomination because the baseball gods are cruel, leads the team to the postseason only to lose out to the Wild Card team...so he joins says Wild Card team, wins a World Series with him and...has existed ever since.

The difference between Heyward and someone like Strasburg or Posey that came in 10 seasons ago is that you can point to statistical highlights with Strasburg and Posey, like a strikeout-leading year, or an MVP or something. Heyward's a pretty statistically unspectacular player, sad to say. He's never hit more than 100 RBIs, he's got a career .262 average, and he's never led the league in anything. He can be a valuable player, and has finished with a WAR over 5 four times, but...with the Cubs, he's been nothing more than fine.

This season is another example- he's had another 100+ hit season, he's gonna have his 50th RBI soon, and he's hitting .257. You can name more spectacular things about the other 2 Cubs outfielders. At least Nick Castellanos is hitting .357. At least Kyle Schwarber has 32 homers, which is a career high for him. Heyward...is just doing his usual modest stuff, which...to be fair, he was even kinda doing in 2010.

Jason Heyward can be a great player, but on the whole...he's just alright. He does his job. He's a perfectly lawful player. You want pop, the Cubs have Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo.

The Cubs have a winning streak going. Consider the Cardinals have dropped a few, I pray it continues.

Coming Tonight: Let's do a change of pace from guys who've played 10 seasons. Here's a guy who's played 11. His stadium's getting torn down soon.

Return of the J-Hey Kid

Jason Heyward is only 28 years old. And he's already had a pretty full career. Which is nice.

I'll say that this may be Heyward's best season since joining the Cubs. Yes, last year was kind of nice, but this is the first we're seeing of 2015-esque league dominance Heyward, and it's a welcome presence in this lineup. He understands, I think, that he's not a home-run hitter anymore, but he's still great at hits and RBIs, and is one of the main producers of a team of dominators. Yes, thankfully the Cubs have Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo to hit home runs, but Heyward might be one of the more consistent members of the team, which is nice.

The Cubs, currently a game over Milwaukee, are doing pretty well. Javier Baez is running the team, Kyle Schwarber's having his best season to date, David Bote and Ben Zobrist have been lights-out off the bench, and Cole Hamels has been back to his old self in 3 starts with the team. There's a pretty specific element of power with this team, one that wasn't even this prevalent in previous iterations of this team. The pitching, while not at 2016 levels, is still sharp- Mike Montgomery has been great as 5th starter, and while Jon Lester's start quality has gone down, Kyle Hendricks has picked up the ace mantle.

This team needs to get a definite lead over the Brewers if they want to truly pave the way to a great postseason. They're at the point where they could do well, but they could get lost in the picture. Remember, the Cubs have made the NLCS three years in a row, and they'd need one more push to make it to tying the Cardinals' recent record of 4. I think they can do well this postseason, but...with the Brewers right behind, it could be tricky.

Coming Tomorrow- With injuries to the top performers, it's up to a perennial standout to try and save the hype of a Surefire Playoff Team that fell far from the mark.

Exactly .500

I feel bad for Jason Heyward, to be honest.

Last season his team won the World Series, and after a while all he could do was just be on 'moral support duty'. Now, he's actually doing well in a Cubs uniform, and the team lands at exactly .500, games below the first place Brewers. Can't catch a break, poor guy.

The Cubs do have a lot going for them this year, but they aren't as ironclad and perfect as they were in 2016...or even in 2015. The flaws are becoming clear, and it's mainly due to people not being as good as they were last year. Jake Arrieta, Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber, John Lackey, Addison Russell...they're all bringing up disappointing offerings to follow incredible 2016 seasons. Plus, the Brewers have the momentum they should be having, and are speeding along with it.

It's sad, because Jason Heyward, Kris Bryant and EDDIE BUTLER are all having really nice seasons. This isn't a bad team, they're just having a bad month. They need to sort out their problems and figure out if they have what it takes to get back into first. It's very sad to see a Cubs team like this look human, but this is sadly what 2017 is giving them, and they need to saddle up.

Coming Tonight: One of the best-hitting 2nd-basemen of all time?

First

I had options this year, for the big ol' 'FIRST CUSTOM OF THE YEAR' distinction. I had a guy who signed a mega-deal with a middle-of-the road team, a guy who signed a smaller deal with a worse team, a guy who pissed off all of New York last October, and Jason Heyward. So I chose J-Hey.

And judging from the look of this card...I chose wisely.

Gonna be a good 2016. For Heyward, for the Cubs, and for Custom Cards.

(ABSOLUTELY NO ONE CAN) Wait 'til Next Year

So now that Jason Heyward...and Ben Zobrist...and John Lackey have ALL joined the Chicago Cubs for 2016...I'm beginning to think that Back to the Future Part II was a year off.

No, seriously. I thought that the 2015 Cubs were pretty awesome...but I'm looking at what this team is going to end up as...and I'm excited. Like, REALLY excited. This is the kind of lineup that little kids have been dreaming of in Chicago for the last few decades. It's so stacked with power, talent, and youth in almost every crevice, that this could be one of the most fun Cubs seasons in a while.

Jason Heyward, Kyle Schwarber and Jorge Soler in the same outfield. Man, the amount of homers that could come from that if all three are on this season...that could be insane. And yeah, that doesn't especially leave a spot for Dexter Fowler, but they could always trade him, or even better, let him play a bigger role in the outfield (though they're probably gonna trade him).

But seriously, I'm looking at this and everything looks amazing. The infield is super-strong. The outfield is powerful. The pitching staff could be amazing. Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein are smart cookies.

I just want the Cubs to do really well with all of this potential. Because they have the potential to be absolutely amazing in 2016. I am seriously praying that it all goes according to plan, because I know how great that would be.

The Madness of the NL Central

When even the third place team has a better record than the first place teams of the other two divisions...yeah, you know you've got something to talk about.

I'd like to talk about the three teams that are on everybody's mind right now, because they're all excruciatingly close in standings, all likely on their way to the postseason, and all in the NL Central.

I'll talk about the Cardinals first, because they've won 75 games, and are being pretty obnoxious about it.

So, this is a team that, like I've said a few hundred times on this blog, is nowhere near as good as it was in 2011, or even 2013, but is still nonetheless winning tons of games. I think it's mostly due to the pitching, which has been lights-out this season, led by Jaime Garcia of all people, who was the fourth-or-fifth starter through all of these huge World Series teams. Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez and John Lackey are all pitching brilliantly, which is probably why this team is doing so well.

Offensively wise, the team shouldn't be doing this well. Their starting first baseman is Mark Reynolds, which is never a good sign. Brandon Moss has been starting a few games since, but they've been relying mostly on Reynolds, who is way past his prime. Plus, Peter Bourjos is a starter in center, and he shouldn't be starting either. Matt Holliday, Matt Adams and Jon Jay are all on the DL, as well as Adam Wainwright. So, if it weren't for Randal Grichuk having a spectacular rookie season, the Cards would be a lot more screwed in the outfield.

Bottom line- I don't know how they're doing it, but the Cards are winning games. Are they a postseason team? It's hard to tell. With the right matchup, they could be taken down very easily. I just don't see them going all the way this season.

Meanwhile, the Pirates are only 5 games out of second, and have a ton of momentum riding on a really nice starting nine.

The Pirates, if anything, have the opposite problem as St. Louis. They have a lot of hitting, but their pitching rotation leaves a bit to be desired. Don't get me wrong, they're winning games, and they're all really nice. Liriano's pitching well, Gerrit Cole is having a landmark season, and AJ Burnett was having a renaissance until he landed on the DL. But people like Jeff Locke and Charlie Morton are bringing the collective skill levels down, as they're only so-so, as opposed to the Cardinals rotation where they're all amazing.

The only saving grace is that they just went and got Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ, two ex-Phillies, because the last time they got an ex-Phillie this time of year (Vance Worley) it went really well for them in the postseason. Blanton and Happ could bring up the dynamic in this rotation, so that the hitting doesn't have to do all the work.

Which isn't the worst thing in the world. Andrew McCutchen has returned to his usual numbers, on the RBI leaderboards, as well as being the team's definite leader. People like Pedro Alvarez, Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Neil Walker are all hitting well too. Plus, Jung Ho Kang, a rookie they got before the season started, is making a case to be the everyday shortstop, as Jordy Mercer is on the DL.

Now, the guys they got at the deadline to hit, like Aramis Ramirez and Mike Morse, haven't necessarily showed their stuff yet, but I have a feeling this team will explode once they get to the postseason, and make a serious case for the Series.

And then...there's the Cubs.

If there is any team, out of both leagues, that I want to succeed in great numbers, more than any other team, it is the Chicago Cubs.

Why? Because this is a fun squad, with an impressive core, and they DESERVE IT.

The infield combo of Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, Starlin Castro and Kris Bryant, is one that could go down in history. I'm getting serious Garvey-Cey-Russell-Lopes vibes from these guys. If they stay together for a bunch of seasons, this team will be HUGE.

The amount of youth packed into this team is making me think they're gonna go far. Jorge Soler can hit for distance, Kyle Hendricks can pitch great games, and Kyle Schwarber is freaking intense. He could be one of the most powerful hitting catchers since Mike Piazza. Plus, they've gotten Chris Coghlan and Dexter Fowler to hit better than they did in the seasons that garnered them all that attention in the first place.

Their pitching staff doesn't show it in the wins category, but these guys are some of the most strikeout-heavy, formidable pitchers in the league. Aside from Jake Arrieta, who has showed his beast-status in the last few seasons, they have Jon Lester, who has had a number of unhittable starts, Kyle Hendricks, who has already gotten himself a fan following in Chicago, thanks to his stuff. Plus, Jason Hammel's been having a great season as well, nearly eclipsing his Cubs numbers from last year.

This team has been hotter than they've been in years lately, and I feel like they could go on a serious tear if they get to the postseason. Like, the Cubs and Mets could be pretty scary in October.

So yeah. That is the NL Central. Three teams that are playing amazingly right now, and could all end up in the postseason, which could lead to one of the most ferocious fights to the finish in years.

I'm just interested to see how it all goes down. I'll have popcorn ready and everything. Because this is gonna be good.

Custom Card of the Day: Heyward Edition

When Jason Heyward came up in 2010, people acted like he was God's gift to the outfield. People thought he would be a multi-MVP, home-run hitting machine for Atlanta. And while that hasn't exactly happened, at least Braves fans can admit he's pretty damn good.

I mean, he missed out on an All Star nod this year because he's not doing as well as Justin Upton is, but still, he's Jason Effing Heyward. You have any idea how impossible it is for Braves fans to be pissed off at Jason Heyward.

I mean, looking at that custom, any impure thought about Jason Heyward automatically disappears.

Coming Tonight- The top awesome home run hitter that may or may not have taken steroids.

Custom Card of the Day: Heyward Edition

Every year, for the past few years, with the Phillies being good, the Mets being bad, and everyone else filling in holes, I've always said the exact same thing at the beginning of the season:

"The Braves will come in Third"

Most of this time this prediction does not come true, as they usually find some way to mosey their way to the top. You have to hand it to those Braves; they are terrible at being terrible (also, their fans find inexplicable ways to get TMBG songs stuck in peoples' heads.) They're also terrible at sticking to the plan.

Also terrible at sticking to the plan: Jason Heyward. Every season since his rookie year, he's been plagued by comparisons and people thinking he's peaked, and this and that. What these people need to understand is that the pressure isn't making J-Hey any better. Last season he hit 20 home runs, and had a nice season in the outfield. It was nowhere near his 2010 effort, but honestly do you expect it to be? Hell, the only player recapturing the glory days of 2010 last season was...uhhh, Buster Posey. But THAT'S A BAD EXAMPLE!

I predict that J-Hey's gonna have a great season, one that's gonna put all the naysayers aside, and finally end all the backlash. The team's gonna outdo expectations too: they have way too many Uptons to just end up in third. I wouldn't be surprised if they traded Juan Francisco to Detroit for KATE Upton (rimshot). But I digress.

To sum up, J-Hey's gonna have a great season, the Braves will come in higher than third, They Might Be Giants songs are infectious, the same old stuff.

Coming Tomorrow- He set an MLB record by hitting four home runs with multiple RBI in his first four games. How's that for a return to form?

Custom Card of the Day: Heyward Edition

This season there have been four surprises in the NL East, okay maybe five.

One- the unpredictable ascent of the Washington Nationals.
Two- The Pretty-Much-Predictable decline of my own Philadelphia Phillies
Three- The Titanic Decline of the Miami Marlins
Four- The Entirely Impossible start of the New York Mets
Five- The fact that the Young, Strong Atlanta Braves are stuck in the middle.

This is completely ridiculous. How come the teams that were supposed to do well are sucking, and the teams that were supposed to suck are doing well? The only thing that's gone on as predicted is the Braves landing in 3rd, too good to be in last, and not good enough to be in first.

Believe me, this isn't the only prediction that's gone haywire. The Angels are last in their division right now, The Rays are last in THEIR division right now, tied with Boston, and the Dodgers are leading the NL West. It is a crazy first three weeks. Nobody can believe anything that's going on, especially in the NL East.

Another surprise- Jason Heyward has yet to become the household name he was destined to be. And it's a shame: after a stellar rookie season, he was destined for a huge career, then was saddled with a sophomore slump last year. The guy has talent. His team really needs him, and they sure as hell don't need another David Justice, or another Mark Lemke (I know, how dare I say his name in vain.) They need Jason Freaking Heyward, and they need the one from 2010.

Whether they'll get him or not is beyond me. But you never know; if Jason Heyward gets back to his old self, it won't be the craziest happening in the NL East.

Tomorrow- Meanwhile, all the way on the other side of the country, Some form of magic is happening to a struggling team, and I'm not just referring to their new owner. Their big star is on the slate for tomorrow.

Custom Card of the Day- J-Hey Edition

This marks my third Jason Heyward custom, and I think it's the current best. This means that I have now made more J-Hey customs than I have of Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez, but that can change by the end of the year. Still, the eyes of America, or at least Atlanta, will be on Heyward this season, to see if he can wow audiences and rocket his team to the playoffs again, only to be seconded by Philadelphia. One can only hope.

Tomorrow- another player who everyone's looking forward to watching, except Yankee fans who remember last season's ALCS.

Year by Year Customs- 1980

Enjoy today's batch of customs. I know I already did a Heyward this year, but that was back before I really developed the right formula for making them look cool. So, J-Hey Mach-2.

Tomorrow- as a kid, I loved this set. As a teen, I still do. 1981 is tomorrow.

The Next Hank Aaron? Maybe...

I know one blogger in particular who wanted to see this one. Matter of fact, so did everyone else (well, maybe not the Mets and Philly fans). Still this guy could be the next Hank Aaron, even though his name makes him sound like the lead singer of the Moody Blues.

Tomorrow- When the Yankees got Granderson, this rookie went to Detroit. Such a shame. On his last Spring Training Game in 2009, he hit a Grand Slam.