Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Yankees

Well, after years of thinking the current MLB model would never let it happen again, in 2024 the Yankees made a World Series. The path there was smooth enough that it surprised me. We had little to no trouble with the Royals, and though the Guardians fought hard we had their number in the end. This was a team with insane offensive power, a great rotation, a great bullpen and so many little things clicking into place that had always evaded us. The power duo of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, as well as the insane October abilities of Giancarlo Stanton, made the first two playoff series' insanely fun to watch.

And then we showed up to meet the Dodgers and it really wasn't gonna be close.

No matter how hard we fought, and no matter what we threw at LA, the Freeman-Betts-Ohtani trio was on and hot, and Aaron Judge had cooled down significantly. The Freeman walk-off sealed our fate, but the errors in Game 5 and the eventual comeback just slapped us out the door. Soto joining the Mets was the cruel punchline. We got what we wanted, but it couldn't last.

Will we get back there in 2025? The team certainly seems to want to. We've got Max Fried in between Cole and Rodon, Devin Williams in the ninth, Bellinger in the lineup, and probably some more reinforcements on the way. It could definitely happen, but only if we learn from 2024 and not repeat it more embarrassingly. 

Oswaldo Cabrera began the season as the surprise standout of the Yankees' lineup. The usual suspects were surging, guys like Judge and Soto and Verdugo, but Cabrera was really effective. He did eventually cool down, but Ozzie was a really nice extra piece this year, ending with 8 homers and 36 RBIs despite a .247 average. I think he had less to do once Chisholm came aboard, but he still had a nice postseason double.

2025 Prediction: Even if Cashman keeps working, I reckon there will still be an infield vacancy, and I reckon it's for Ozzie to take. He'll have another strong year, and he'll be even better at the plate. 

Trent Grisham was an extra OF piece included in the Soto deal, and I'm just gonna say it, it's weird that he's lasting longer in the Bronx than Soto did. The thing with Grisham is his defense, and he was a tremendous defensive upgrade for us when utilized. His power bat also gave us 9 homers and 30 RBIs, but with a .190 average, which is the risk you run with Grisham.

2025 Prediction: Will get a bit more starting time, and be a bit more on target at the plate.

Jon Berti was a very late offseason trade, when it became clear we'd be a little wounded in the infield. Berti's known for his solid 3B play as well as his speed on the base paths. Unfortunately Berti only played in 25 regular season games for us, but hit .273 with 18 hits, 6 RBIs, a homer and 5 steals. He also had 2 postseason hits.

2025 Prediction: So much for that. Berti will find a backup role somewhere.

The Yankees' bullpen, from almost the beginning of the season, proved virtually unhittable, and despite some missed time, Ian Hamilton was one of the main reasons behind that. Since coming over, Hamilton has become one of our best bullpen arms, and this year he was equally dominant, with a 3.82 ERA in 35 appearances. He was also great during the postseason, with 3 Ks despite giving up an earned run.

2025 Prediction: Gears back up for a full season of work, impresses. With Holmes gone there'll be room for him to come into his own more.

Additionally, perennial Yankee favorite Tommy Kahnle continued his third stint with the team this year and gave us another strong campaign. In 50 games, Kahnle had a 2.11 ERA, 46 Ks and a 0.8 WAR. In the postseason he had a 2.08 ERA with 7 Ks in 9 appearances. I'm very thankful that Kahnle's always been excellent with us, no matter what incarnation of the team he's a part of.

2025 Prediction: I wanna believe we re-sign him, but something tells me the Phillies or somebody like that will make a move.

The Yankees operated an essential six man rotation this year, made possible by Luis Gil covering for Gerrit Cole and, later, Clarke Schmidt. Yet on one or two occasions the rotation needed a seventh man, either for doubleheaders or for fill-ins for somebody missing a start. That doesn't usually speak to a high quality, and the second half seventh man, Will Warren, got his ass handed to him on a regular basis til Schmidt came back. But during the first half, we turned to former Marlins prospect and frequent IL resident Cody Poteet, who was lighting 'em up in Scranton. Poteet only got 5 appearances this year, thanks to both overflow and more injuries, and he was excellent. He had a 3-0 record, a 2.22 ERA, 16 Ks and a 1.068 WHIP. The true unsung hero of this team, and the reason why we didn't completely crumble under some rotation injuries.

2025 Prediction: The Cubs had to have liked Poteet to trade for him over a prospect. I say he makes the Opening Day rotation [thanks a lot Hayden Wesneski for leaving a spot open] and has a surprise full year as a rotation favorite. 

Jasson Dominguez's Yankee career continues to vex me. He was injured for half the season, then once he got healthy he was absolutely ripping it up in Triple-A, all while Alex Verdugo struggled. In response to cries to activate him, Aaron Boone brought Dominguez up for one game, the Little League Classic, where he was listless in one at-bat, as if to say 'see?', and sent him back down. He got 17 more games at the end of the year, where he hit .179 with 4 RBIs and 2 homers, then was used as a roster option during the postseason but didn't make any plate appearances. Boone is giving this guy what I refer to as 'the Paul Reed treatment', where literally everybody knows he should be getting games in the bigs, but the people who are in position to play are the correct people to be in that position, even if, like Alex Verdugo did in August, they suck shit. If Soto stuck around there was gonna be more of this. But next year there's at least one OF spot open, and Dominguez is being primed for it.

2025 Prediction: You're not ready. None of you are ready. Once this guy gets his mojo, and I doubt it'll take him very long in 2025, we're not gonna be missing Soto for much longer.

So that was 2024. Very wild year. Never would have thought the baseball events of the year would go like this. I didn't collect a great deal this year, and I hope to collect more next year. I have been doing more trades on TCDB, so that's filled a void, but I hope some more permanent employment will allow me to pursue card-collecting like I used to. 

I'll probably post sporadically in January and February, and then around Spring Training we'll start this madness up again. Hopefully it's a little less heartbreaking for the guys in pinstripes. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Marlins

 

The Miami Marlins made the playoffs this year. They also fired the GM that got them here and might be without their ace for another year or so, but...let's at least focus on the good things.

The Marlins built so much over the course of the year by making smart moves, like getting a batting title guy in Luis Arraez to revitalize the contact hitting, swinging A.J. Puk before the season to aid the bullpen, and getting both Jake Burger and Josh Bell to keep the lineup alive in the season's final months. It may not have been enough to stop the Phillies from doing their thing, but it was enough to prove themselves as an underrated force of hitting.

As he has been in the past few years, Jon Berti has been a wonderfully versatile piece that played multiple positions and filled many roles both as a contact hitter, base-stealer and utility guy. This year Berti hit .294 with 114 hits, fourth on the Marlins, and 16 steals. 

2024 Prediction: He's 34. He's given the Marlins a lot. I think he might slip a little bit, even if he does show sparks of his usual material in points.

After 7 wonderful seasons as the first baseman in Houston, the Astros moved on from Yuli Gurriel, and so did the 39-year-old Gurriel, signing a deal with the Marlins. I think because he played for so long, combining his Cuba numbers, Gurriel isn't gonna hang it up until he's 100% sure he's out of juice. So Gurriel tried his hand at another year for Miami, and he was alright. Gurriel hit .245 with 27 RBIs in 108 games, which probably led to the Marlins needing to get Bell.

2024 Prediction: He wants to keep playing. But does anyone want to sign him? Honestly...I think he does one more season somewhere small and then hangs it up.

Joey Wendle's second season in Miami was a step down for his first, at least offensively, as he hit .212 this year with 63 hits in 112 games. The good news is that Wendle is still an excellent defender, and as the starting shortstop he still put himself above the pack. 

2024 Prediction: I think Wendle will be a defensive sub in New York, as they pretty much have the starting infield down, but I think they'll like him in Queens.

As Jacob Stallings is looking more like a backup than ever, the starting catching position went to Nick Fortes, who, while decent defensively, is clearly no J.T. Realmuto at the plate. The 26-year-old hit .206 with 60 hits in 108 games. He was definitely an 'he's what we've got' pick for Miami, but there's always a chance he could improve.

2024 Prediction: Hits higher than .204 at the plate, but don't be surprised if the Marlins pursue an offensive upgrade behind the plate.

One of the most incredible relief seasons of 2023 came from former Orioles relief man Tanner Scott, in his second season for the Marlins. Scott put on a show this season, with a 9-5 record, a 2.31 ERA, a 0.987 WHIP, 12 saves and 108 strikeouts in 74 games. He was also unhittable in one postseason inning against Philadelphia. No matter what he accomplishes next for Miami, the fans will always remember Scott's 2023 season.

2024 Prediction: He will not top that, but he'll still do decently.

Here's something I wasn't expecting- former Rockies utility bat Garrett Hampson actually accomplished a lot for the Marlins in a similar utility role. In 98 games, Hampson hit .276 with 61 hits and 23 RBIs. Hampson really is a cool player to have around, and while the Marlins will have to find utility help elsewhere next year, he's definitely reestablished his legitimacy.

2024 Prediction: I mean, at this rate, he might start a lot more games than the Royals are anticipating.

Lost in the shuffle of Burger and Bell was the Marlins' sly trade for David Robertson, who was having his second straight stellar first half, this one with the Mets. Like last year, his numbers bobbled upon a trade, and while the Marlins made the deal looking for a new closing option, Robertson had a 5.06 ERA with only 4 saves in 22 games. The team had to turn to Tanner Scott to help them out in the ninth for September, and thankfully he did a job, but it was clear that D-Rob let them down.

2024 Prediction: I think this is honestly a good place to call it a day. I'm not sure he thinks that, but I do.

Coming Tomorrow- Several reasons why the Mets couldn't get it done this year.

Fins of Speed

 

Yesterday, after a furious home plate slide that was the highlight of a game between two low-market teams that went into extras, the baseball viewing public learned of a very important fact: Billy Hamilton's on the Marlins this year!

Honestly, all the shenanigans from that Marlins-Pirates game made it worth it, because on one hand it is a lot of supporting players right now in baseball, but on the other hand they're still interesting characters. You have Oneil Cruz knocking out Miguel Rojas's tooth, Billy Hamilton scraping the side of his face on a tag from Jason Delay, and you have Brian Anderson walking it off well into extras. It may not be good baseball, but it sure is intriguing baseball.

What makes the Marlins so exciting, even as they vie for 4th in the NL East, is the fact that, for the second year in a row, the Marlins host the league leader in stolen bases. Last year it was Starling Marte, who was leading the league even before leaving for Oakland, and this year it is infielder Jon Berti, who currently leads the majors with 28 steals. And it's not just Berti who's stealing bases right now, too- Jazz Chisholm had 12 steals before getting injured, and in his first 10 games of the season, Billy Hamilton has 3 steals. He only got his first hit of the year today, but he's already stolen 3 bases. This, folks, is what he does. And he's damn good at it.

So at least you can say that about the Marlins. They may be a one-dimensional hitter's team, and the emphasis may be on power hitters like Anderson, Jorge Soler and Jesus Aguilar, but it's also a very speedy team, with Berti, Chisholm, Hamilton and even Luke Williams providing some nice speed. What'd be really nice is if the Marlins could figure out contact hitting. There's a few people on this team who are proven contact hitters, like Rojas, Avisail Garcia and Joey Wendle, and they're not getting much done at all. I'm thankful that Garrett Cooper is having a better all-around season at the plate, but it shouldn't just be on him. Happy he made an All-Star team, though.

The Marlins do have more things going for them than a lot of weaker teams, like the rotation, on which Braxton Garrett is finally coming into form, and the bench, which has a lot of useful assets right now. But this is still an imperfect team that might not get much else done this year, so I'm glad they can rely on the stolen bases at this point. I also really hope Hamilton has a full, impressive season in Miami, as he deserves it. 

Coming Tonight: A second baseman who competed as a member of the Orioles, Brewers and Twins. Pray for him. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2020: Marlins

 

2020 was the year that the Miami Marlins A.) ended their 17-year-long playoff drought, and B.) were handed their first ever playoff series loss.

The Marlins' rise over the course of the 2020 season was one of the most inspired and welcome developments of a very depressing year. Look at those young Marlins go! Look at them take down the Cubs in a playoff series! Feel-good baseball at its best. Despite being walloped by Atlanta in the NLCS, the Marlins accomplished more this postseason than anyone ever thought they would this year, and it's worthy of merit.

For instance, the biggest deal of the trade deadline was a Marlins deal. Starling Marte, who was already having a nice season in Phoenix, was sent to Miami in exchange for Caleb Smith and Humberto Mejia. Marte responded with some huge early moments for the Marlins, hitting .245 in 28 games with 13 RBIs and 4 homers, before breaking his hand and bowing out for the postseason. Which may have led to the Marlins' earlier ouster. 

2021 Prediction: Someone signs him to a multi-year deal, he hits 30 home runs and yet the home fans still aren't satisfied. 

After splitting 2019 between both sides of Pennsylvania, Corey Dickerson got a contract to be the starting left fielder for the Marlins, and took what could have been a death sentence and made it a compliment. Dickerson hit .258 with 17 RBIs and 50 hits during the regular season, and had 4 hits and 3 RBIs in the postseason. While not quite as good as his 2017 All-Star year, he's still a sharp tool to have.

2021 Prediction: A higher average, more offensive production, and gelling into a sort of Josh Reddick-type role with this soon to be contender.

After a breakout season in 2019, Jon Berti had a similar year this year, though not quite as showy. Berti led the team in steals with 9, had 14 RBIs in 31 games, and had 2 more steals in the Wild Card series. Still a very sneaky, under-the-radar talent for this team.

2021 Prediction: The contact hitting continues. 50 steals, as well.

Of the entire rotation this year, including Sandy Alcantara and Sixto Sanchez, perhaps the guy who had the best year is the one nobody was thinking about last year- Pablo Lopez, essentially the fifth man of the five-man rotation. Lopez had a much stronger 2020, with a 6-4 record, a 3.60 ERA and a club-leading 59 strikeouts. It's an impressive run into leadership that hopefully will keep up.

2021 Prediction: Loses ground to Sanchez, Alcantara and a to-be-determined rotation threat [maybe Jordan Yamamoto gets his stuff back together], but still wins 10 games.

The revolving door that is Miami's ninth inning keeps on spinning. The latest veteran to take the closing gig for the Fins was Brandon Kintzler, former Minnesota and Washington relief asset. Kinztler did a bang-up job in the ninth this year, with 12 saves and a 2.22 ERA in 24 appearances. Not bad for a thirty-five year old journeyman.

2021 Prediction: Gets a relief gig somewhere, though I doubt it'll be as starry as this year. Perhaps eighth-inning setup work with the occasional save.

In the period of the season immediately after the Marlins returned from COVID-enforced isolation, Jorge Alfaro was still on the IL, probably still with symptoms. So the Fins turned to former Pirates catcher and lovable dugout presence Francisco Cervelli to start behind the plate, and he did a hell of a job, hitting .245 in 16 games with 7 RBIs and 3 home runs. Once Alfaro returned, Cervelli's playing time phased out, and another concussion effectively ended his career. He will be missed as a backstop presence in the game.

Speaking of journeyman bench players, Matt Joyce is still in the league, and after an impressive year as an OF/Bench type in Atlanta, he embraced a similar role in Miami, getting outfield time when he could but mostly just embracing time at the plate. Joyce's .252 with 14 RBIs in 46 games wasn't bad. He got a few postseason hits, too.

2021 Prediction: A minimized bench role in a larger market team will signal the end of the line for Joyce.

My pick for unsung relief asset of the year for the Marlins is James Hoyt, a Cleveland relief option passed to Miami in an effort to plug up the leaking bullpen after COVID evidently attacked it rather mightily. Hoyt only allowed 2 earned runs in 24 innings, and had a 1.23 ERA to show for it, as well as 20 Ks, a bullpen-high mark. 

2021 Prediction: A few more earned runs, but still a reliable bullpen presence. 

2020 was...slightly less disappointing for former can't-miss-yet-missed-constantly prospect Lewis Brinson. For one thing, he did manage to hit over the Mendoza line this year, even if it was a .226 average. He still garnered 24 hits and 12 RBIs, but it's a low amount for a guy who may have to fight for a starting gig in 2021 with two second-year stars. 

2021 Prediction: After another slow start, the Fins finally give up on him.

At least the Marlins have their other young outfield trade return from 2017, Magneuris Sierra, who's done marginally better than Brinson. Sierra, though hampered by injuries this year, hit .250 with 7 RBIs in 19 games, and hit .280 in the postseason with a few much needed hits. 

2021 Prediction: Sierra will get a starting spot and keep it.

Thanks to the absence of Isan Diaz, the Marlins had room to bring up one of their two incubating rookie prospects. Jazz Chisholm was flipped for Zac Gallen, and already it's looking like the Marlins shouldn't have bit that trade- Chisholm, while at least fun, couldn't hit for average in 2020, with a .161 average in 20 games, despite some decent infield numbers. If Chisholm wants to chase Diaz and Berti for 2nd next year, he's gonna need to find some offensive ability.

2021 Prediction: Won't be a starter, at least not immediately, but he's probably gonna get a few more crucial hits, which will draw eyes to him.

Similar to Chisholm is the other rookie prospect the Ms brought up this year, Monte Harrison, the last of the four prospects in the Yelich deal to make the majors. I can see why the Brewers dealt Harrison as well- at the time of the trade, they already had Trent Grisham and Tyrone Taylor to do the same one-dimensional power hitting that Harrison did this season. In 32 games, Harrison hit a measly .170 with 26 strikeouts and only 8 hits. After a bit, he was used mainly as a pinch runner, which says a lot.

2021 Prediction: Winds up in another city after the Marlins give up on him, and THEN he'll figure out how to hit. 

Coming Tomorrow- I genuinely have a lot of Mets to talk about. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Marlins

The 2019 Marlins...certainly were a thing.

Derek Jeter's quest to rid the team of everything that made them great in 2016 finished this year, with the final core member, J.T. Realmuto, leaving pre-season, and the final bench member, Martin Prado, gone after the season. There are some minor members of that team left, like Miguel Rojas, Jose Urena and Adam Conley, but the bulk of that nearly-playoff team is gone.

So this is what's replaced it. Veterans, inexperienced players, and the occasional ripe call-up like Harold Ramirez, who had a 50-RBI year, in 118 games, and batted .276. Ramirez is a fun outfield guy that could be a major player in subsequent tanking Marlins teams.
Why Him in 2019?: Might be a formative member of a dynasty, so seeing his debut strongly helps.
2020 Prediction: Will lead the team in WAR, and be right up there with Rojas, Brian Anderson and, if he signs like we're thinking he will, Yasiel Puig at the heart of the lineup.

 The other interesting outfield addition, or just utility addition, was Jon Berti, a journeyman who'd been through the Toronto and Cleveland organizations before finding a home in Miami, where he played shortstop and outfield, and led the team in stolen bases.
Why Him in 2019?: 9 of his 17 stolen bases came in September, a month where he batted .287 and softened the blow of ending up in last.
2020 Prediction: A more concrete starting position, and a potential mid-year trade to a contender.

 The Marlins' pitching was definitely an improvement from 2018, with Sandy Alcantara and Caleb Smith making league waves, Zac Gallen getting traded to Arizona for his hot start, and Jordan Yamamoto's unhittable June, with 23 strikeouts and 3 wins in 4 starts. The former Brewers prospect's stuff is pretty nasty, even if he had trouble controlling it in subsequent months.
Why Him in 2019?: Best rookie pitcher to stick around in Miami this year.
2020 Prediction: Will be the breakout arm of the team by ASG-time.

 Jose Urena continued his W/L ratio woes from last year, ending the year with a 4-10 record. He's still a sharp pitcher, with a 6.6 SO/9 average, but he's one of those guys that'd be a little more potent if he were on a better team.
Why Him in 2019?: His injury made it possible for Yamamoto, Gallen, Robert Dugger and Elieser Hernandez too enter the fold.
2020 Prediction: Dare I say it, but at half-year the team might think about moving Urena back to the bullpen.

 Pablo Lopez was an early rotation experiment that went alright, with 95 strikeouts in 21 games despite a 5+ ERA. Before missing time due to injury, Lopez had a scorching June, with a 1.89 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 3 starts.
Why Him in 2019?: Deep-rotation guy that added enough depth to give pitching optimism to a team that has lost theirs since Fernandez died.
2020 Prediction: Will be a steady fifth man that will have a 4 ERA and not piss anyone off.

 Robert Dugger was another pitching prospect fielded in the numerous salary-clearing trades, and he made a late debut in 2019. In 7 games, he lost 4 games, had a 5.77 ERA and only 25 strikeouts, so clearly he'll take a learning curve.
Why Him in 2019?: Last of the major 2019 pitching callups for the Marlins.
2020 Prediction: Of the rookie pitchers, he has the best chance of seeing time in the minors next year.

2019 was the final year on Martin Prado's contract, and he used it as a bench bat primarily. Prado hit .233 in 104 games, adding 57 more hits to his career total of 1542.
Why Him in 2019: Finished what may be his last season as a member of the team that arguably brought him the most success.
2020 Prediction: Retirement.

Coming Tomorrow- The Mets, once again, lapped the Phillies and made an attempt at the postseason. It didn't exactly work, but they had one of their best teams since the 2015 roster dissolved.