The Next-Nearest Competitors

 

The playoff race, as it stands, is looking a bit more solidified than usual. Meltdowns are possible, shakeups are possible, but there are large gaps in the standings between teams that are likely in and teams that would normally be scratching at the bit to get in. The NL Central scrum has dissipated and is, at most, like 4.5 games back from the pack, and at least completely cooked. The Mariners have the same record as the Tigers, and are hoping for a divisional berth rather than a wild card.

So basically, the two teams on the bubble right now, who have the greatest chance of sneaking into the playoffs were something to go wrong with current wild card competitors, are the Red Sox and Mets. Two very different teams with very different paths. 

The Sox have essentially been at third place all year, because the AL East, aside from the top two spots, has been pretty set in stone. It was clear that the Sox weren't gonna go for the top division spot, as the Yankees and Orioles outmatch them in terms of depth, but they've still managed to be a fairly sturdy and impressive team this year. It's been helpful knowing that Triston Casas, Jarren Duran, Tanner Houck, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and David Hamilton are all long term guys for this team. Hamilton was a shock breakout, as Trevor Story was gearing up to have a comeback at short, then suddenly he gets hurt immediately and the infield's in jeopardy. Not only is Hamilton an impressive hitter with some contact perks, but he's stolen 33 bases, leading the team by just 1, and he, like Rafaela, has been an upgrade as a defensive infielder. The Sox have needed people like this to play everyday and build the team, and they're now looking like a serious favorite down the road. Y'know, a lot like the Jays were supposed to be.

But stopping them from competing this year has been some rotation inefficiency, some really rough patches [like a lot of August honestly], and the fact that their wild card competitors are just better right now. It very well could happen, and it hasn't been ruled out yet, but at the moment, and at this current pace, the Sox may just miss October.

The Mets, meanwhile, didn't have the straight line journey that Boston had this year. They were dead in May, and then suddenly with help from Grimace, Jose Iglesias and a latin pop hit, the Mets were back. I never thought the addition of Jose Iglesias would be that much of a difference maker, but the former Tigers infielder has been excellent this year, hitting .325 with 54 hits, 21 RBIs and 3 homers. This guy has channeled so much moral delight, just from his OMG song and his imitable clubhouse demeanor. He's gotta be thrilled to be back in the majors and playing for a competitor again, as well as starting virtually every day and relegating Jeff McNeil to the outfield. Good for him, honestly.

The Mets have both Lindor and Alonso hitting amazingly, Nimmo and Martinez also racking up RBIs, Manaea and Peterson starting gems, and Francisco Alvarez being the clutch difference maker. This Mets team is behaving like a well-oiled machine, and if they hadn't burst into a cold spell while the Braves have started streaking, I'd see them as more of a lock for the playoffs. But I do worry that things are gonna take a downturn, as they tend to in September for the Mets, and they're gonna lose sight of the wild card spot. It may just come down to whether they can catch the Braves again, and if so they've got a shot, but they really need to catch fire again for that to happen.

It'd be cool if one or more if these teams made it this year. They're so close, and in a month a lot could happen.

Coming Tomorrow- It's nice to have the luxury of taking over for a legendary catcher while said catcher is still right there helping you along.

No Church in the Wild

 

I'll give the Rockies this, with a lot of their teams failing recently, a lot of the storylines behind their seasons have just been 'which reclamation project is gonna win over the fans next?'

Cause think about it. You've already seen Daniel Bard, Connor Joe, Chad Kohl and now Wynton Bernard figure out their careers while playing for the low-stakes Rockies. Honestly, from a storytelling perspective, it's definitely still a step up from a lot of teams, because at least you can talk about how and why players find their stuff here. It's been fun following Daniel Bard's comeback, honestly.

But now we have Jose Iglesias having a similar comeback year. I remember him for his breakout 2013 that began in Boston and ended in Detroit, as well as his strong Tigers years as a perfectly strong offensive shortstop. The last few years he's bopped around everywhere, having decent years in Baltimore and Cincinnati, struggling in Anaheim and then having a bench support year for a Red Sox playoff run. And when I signed late with Colorado, I worried he'd sort of flame out here.

Not really the case. Yes, his defense isn't as strong as it was, but he's hitting .308, has 120 hits and 47 RBIs. In a season where there's been instability, especially with Kris Bryant, having a guy like Iglesias who can show up everyday and deliver in some way is pretty beneficial. This is why C.J. Cron has been such a success, he shows up, plays a solid 1st base, hits 25 home runs and doesn't let ya down. The Rockies are building the team up with contracted guys who don't let you down, and it's distracted a lot from the one contracted guy who HAS let them down.

And of course you can also see them locking up people like McMahon and Elias Diaz and the pitchers, and making sure they have a large base to rely on as they go forward. It does ensure that the Rockies will never be completely terrible, which does contract nicely with a lot of other last place teams.

I'm guessing next year will be a step up if everyone, including Bryant, performs to standard. I dunno if Iglesias will stick around, but they could use a guy like him.

Coming Tonight: A surprise pick for one of the best catchers in baseball. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Red Sox

 

Well, it's Christmastime, and I imagine the Frosty the Snowman specials are getting a lot of play on network TV. You know, the story of the snowman who comes to life with the help of a magic hat, and of course there's the 2nd act conflict where some ass takes the magic hat away and makes the children cry. 

Alex Cora was the magic hat in Boston. You took him away, and so too left the magic. Even with injuries in 2019, they still weren't completely terrible. But in 2020, with no pitching, and no Alex Cora? Absolutely nothing could be done for the Red Sox. It took bringing Cora back, revitalizing the rotation, and adding the littlest pieces like Kiké Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe and Garrett Whitlock, but they were a big force in 2021. The Sox may not have won the East, or the Series, but they reestablished themselves as competitors in 2021. 

Even better, after an injury-plagued 2020, the Red Sox got 31 games out of Eduardo Rodriguez. Eddie had 13 wins, highest on the team, and 185 Ks, 2nd highest [thanks to Eovaldi]. The worrying detail was a high ERA of 4.74, but he proved that his mechanics and velocity are still trusted, and that he can still be a big game pitcher.

2022 Prediction: Of the two major signings made by the Tigers, I predict that Rodriguez will be the more disappointing one. I'm getting Jordan Zimmermann vibes from what they gave him and how long.

After a blistering end to the 2020 season, the Sox gave Bobby Dalbec 1st base [over Michael Chavis, which, in hindsight, shoulda got it]. Dalbec is a one dimensional hitter with occasional perks, and he continued that approach, with a 25-homer year, 78 RBIs, and a .792 OPS. He only hit .240, and his defensive numbers leave a bit to be desired, but he's still a solid member of the team, and can hit for power just like the other big guns on the team.

2022 Prediction: Closer to a peak year. I say he chases 35 homers, has some insane stretch in May, and gets even more eyes on him.

After how unhittable he was in 3 starts at the end of 2020, I kinda figured Tanner Houck would have a bigger role in the Sox team than he did. He was kept in the minors for a great deal of the year, and only appeared in 18 games, but 13 were starts. In those starts he had 73 Ks, and a 3.68 ERA, despite an 0-4 record. He also had 10 more postseason strikeouts, and a win in the ALDS against Tampa, despite some runs against Houston. 

2022 Prediction: Houck has a rotation spot, I think. Paxton might make a run, but Houck has it. And he's gonna be a big eyebrow-raiser off the top of the season. 

The result of a rare trade between Boston and the Yankees, Adam Ottavino was the most utilized reliever for the Red Sox this year, and had a 4.29 ERA, a 7-3 record and 71 Ks. Not quite his Colorado numbers, but still consistent and reliable.

2022 Prediction: Low-key pickup that pays off for another contender. NL, I think. Maybe St. Louis brings him back.

And then, in the last moments of the season, the Sox brought back two former farmhands on waivers. Travis Shaw was an infield piece that left the team in exchange for Tyler Thornburg, and became a star in Milwaukee. Shaw began the season with the Brewers, did alright, and lost the 3rd base job to Luis Urias. So he was claimed by Boston, his old stomping grounds, and hit .238 with 11 RBIs and 3 homers in 28 games.

2022 Prediction: I think he'll retire after not being given a good enough deal.

And after being good-but-not-great in Anaheim, Jose Iglesias also returned to Boston as a backup 2nd baseman for Hernandez's flexibility. In 23 games, Iglesias hit .356 with 21 hits and 7 RBIs, all the production the Angels had been missing. 

2022 Prediction: My guess is the Astros sign him on a one-year.

Tomorrow, as per usual, quite a few Cincinnati Reds. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Angels

 

As the inaugural post of Uncustomed Heroes, our yearly venture into all the guys I didn't get to make customs of, we remember the Angels team that was supposed to be great, and yet continued to be edged out of third by the Mariners. 

It's never for lack of trying with the Angels. They have so many great players, and stacked the team with so many more, and it just didn't come together. Again. Now, with Thor, and potentially another big contract, people are thinking it'll be 2022 for them. No. Not with the Mariners and Astros looking like they do.

Anyway, Shohei Ohtani won an MVP this year. I obviously made one of him as a hitter. So here's a new card representing his pitching prowess, where he also did pretty well, with 23 starts, the most of ANY LA starter, a 3.18 ERA, a 9-2 record and 156 Ks. For a guy who has a day job as DH, that's pretty phenomenal, and clearly his best pitching numbers yet.

2022 Prediction: A 4 ERA, but still 35 homers. 

Speaking of MVPs, around May, sportswriters were claiming that Mike Trout was off to his best start yet, and had some numbers that were looking very MVP-esque. As it tends to be with Trout lately, he got injured shortly after those articles came out, and didn't play the rest of the year. Over 36 games, Trout hit .333 with 18 RBIs and 8 homers, which is still some sharp stuff, even if it was limited. 

2022 Prediction: I hope the Angels get the full year of Trout next year, they deserve one. He won't win an MVP, but he'll reestablish dominance over the league. 

Like Trout, Anthony Rendon was limited in 2021 with injuries. Unlike Trout, Rendon still hasn't really found himself since leaving the Nats, only hitting .240 in 58 games with 34 RBIs and less hits than he had in the shortened 2020. You have to worry that Rendon's leaving his peak and becoming as alright as Upton and Pujols had. 

2022 Prediction: Oh he'll have a better season, but not anywhere close to his Nats numbers. Like, .280 with 75 RBIs. This is the new normal.

The man lovingly referred by me as Joey Church tried his third team in three years, as the starting SS for the Angels. He was perfectly serviceable in 114 games, hitting .259 with 110 hits. Of course, he's released in August and joins up with his old team for the playoffs. We'll wrap up his 2021 season in that post.

Justin Upton still hasn't had a great season since his first full year in Anaheim back in 2019. The Angels should be aware of this, and I think they're getting the idea finally, but the once-mighty power hitter just doesn't have much left at all, and has now taken the Pujols role of taking up roster and payroll space. Upton has one more year on his contract, which is nice, but his penultimate year in LA was met with a .211 average, with 41 RBIs and 17 homers. 

2022 Prediction: Does not finish the season in an Angels uniform. Might be the end of the road for him, too.

Pretty much every great pitching season for the Angels was cut short by injury. The best one came from Alex Cobb, pinched from Baltimore, who was doing really well with a 3.76 ERA and an 8-3 record before the injuries hit. Looks like a great asset for a contender, though likely not LA.

2022 Prediction: Will be a surprise standout in San Francisco once a major rotation piece [Disco or Webb] goes down.

Aside from Jo Adell, the big rookie call-up this year for the Angels was Brandon Marsh, a bearded outfield bat who had a decent enough time in the bigs, hitting .254 with 60 hits and 19 RBIs in 70 games. He's looking to be a starting OF piece next year, hopefully by then he comes into his own some more.

2022 Prediction: More offensive heft, and a full year of starts, but the defensive numbers might be an issue. 

And the true unsung hero of this team was former Phillies DH Phil Gosselin, who played a similar bench bat role with the Angels this year. While he didn't become as much of a fan favorite as he did in Philly, he still had his moments, hitting .261 with 47 RBIs and 7 homers in 104 games. Like in Philly, he was used as an offensive substitution and clutch bat, which seems to work well for him.

2022 Prediction: More clutch hitting and perhaps a surprising amount of starts. Just not for the Angels evidently.

Coming Tomorrow- An Astros team that, once again, nearly won a World Series.

Topps Cards That Should Have Been: 2012 Red Sox

 

A year before the Red Sox would win a World Series against the Cardinals, during one of the most infuriating World Series matchups of my lifetime, they were still trying to form their legacy without the bulk of the Francona players. Heck, 2012 was the dreaded Bobby Valentine year, which was an unsettling bridge between the strong Francona years and the brief-but-starry John Farrell years. Also, it is kinda funny considering that Valentine was the only Sox manager from '04 to '18 not to win a ring, as Francona, Farrell and Cora all got theirs. 

Anyway, the players, the ones that Topps were unaware of in 2012.

First off, Jose Iglesias, who did get a rookie card in 2011 Update, made a few more starts in 2012 than he did the previous year, but with a spottier average of .118 over 25 games. Iglesias would have better numbers the following year, so good, in fact, that he'd be traded for Jake Peavy [in a move that would ironically get Frankie Montas out of Boston]. 

There were two big figures in 2010s baseball hiding in Boston this year. Andrew Miller, having been shipped to the Sox the previous year, finally settled into a relief role in 2012, with a 3.35 ERA and 51 Ks in 53 appearances, also delivering a 0.7 WAR, his best tally to date, which would be dwarfed by his 2014 numbers both in Boston AND in Baltimore. All this before becoming a fixture with the Yankees and Indians. Basically, this is where the killer second act for Miller began.

And you can also say that 2012 is where Rich Hill started HIS career second act. The Sox had let Boston native Hill pitch a few games in relief the previous years, and while he did go scoreless in 12 innings, he wasn't completely trusted yet. Well, in 2012, the Sox gave him 25 appearances, and Hill responded with a 1.83 ERA. And when the next 2 years would be turbulent for the former Cubs prospect, the Sox would appear again in September 2015 to give Hill four breathtaking starts that would put him on the A's radar and jumpstart his career to the degree it's at this year. It's a career reclamation story you love to see, and it couldn't have happened without Hill's hometown team.

Another former starter used in relief by the 2012 Sox was [checks notes] FORMER PHILS STARTER VICENTE PADILLA? Really?? I knew that he was a late-season star for the 2009 Dodgers, and that he kicked around there as his career wound down, but I'd forgotten that Padilla was a Sox relief piece in 2012. He did fairly well, too, with a 4.50 ERA in 56 appearances. As someone brought up by Phoenix as a relief piece, it's kinda fitting that his career would end in relief as well. 

Speaking of mid-2000s All-Stars still kicking in 2012, this season also delivered the last career numbers for former Brewers and White Sox talent Scott Podsednik. Podsednik had ebbed and flowed since his World Series year in '05, but he made the most of 63 games as a bench bat by hitting .302 with 60 hits and 12 RBIs, a pretty solid run. He'd attempt to make the 2013 Phillies, but would lose the spot to Juan Pierre, and call it career.

Most surprising in this Sox team is the fact that Aaron Cook, former Rockies starter extraordinaire, was a major candidate for a starting role. He was in his early 30s, a lot of his Denver mojo had worn off, but he was called up in May, and after an injury, permanently in June, as a rotation piece. Cook did have some nice starts in July, but struggled with opposing offenses. This was also an era of baseball that was beginning to embrace strikeout artists and one-dimensional hitters, and crafty, low-K starters like Cook were dying off. After a 5.65 ERA over 18 starts, Cook tried to make the 2013 Phillies but was denied, a lot like Podsednik. 

After a strong rookie campaign in 2012 with the Twins, Danny Valencia's role with the team lessened, to the point where he was cut mid-2012 and wound up as a late addition to the Sox's roster. In 10 games he hit .143 with 4 RBIs and a home run. Thankfully, this would be a precursor to stronger years with Baltimore and Seattle. 

Similarly, Marlon Byrd was cut by the Cubs, who he'd made an ASG team with a few years prior, after 13 games and a poor .070 average. The Sox were happy to make a spot for him, as Byrd hit .270 with 27 hits and 7 RBIs in 34 games. While this season would lack the power numbers he'd become known for in Philly and Cincinnati, it would definitely pave the way for the stronger 2013, where he'd become a fan favorite in Queens.

Tomorrow, we'll join the 2007 Reds, and find players at opposite ends of long careers.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Reds (Part One)

 Yes, you've read right. I made so many Reds customs this offseason that I need another post to post them all.

The Reds. The...fourth-place, sub-500 Reds.

And just to make sure, I already posted the following during the season- Derek Dietrich, Luis Castillo, Eugenio Suarez, Sonny Gray, Yasiel Puig, Amir Garrett, Tanner Roark, Aristedes Aquino, Anthony Desclafani and Joey Votto.

That's a large chunk of the Reds' story for this year. And I still had a ton more to make, because this team had so many people contribute to the overall story. And...they just had so many fun players.

For instance, the starting catcher, Tucker Barnhart. After his scorching gold-glove year a few years back, Barnhart has mellowed into a very safe, very okay catcher, with his fielding numbers at a 2, and his batting numbers still below zero. He was also injured for portions of the year, which was fun in itself.
Why Him in 2019?: Gave more time to Curt Casali, who definitely ran with it.
2020 Prediction: The Reds will make their mind up about how much of a liability Barnhart is.

 A guy the Reds definitely made up their mind on is Jose Peraza, an infielder who was supposed to be a glorified backup this year, only to need to start after Derek Dietrich proved to be more of a bench bat. In 141 games, he hit .239 with 33 RBIs, a disappointment for the once-impressive infielder.
Why Him in 2019?: His infield woes got the Reds to trade for Freddy Galvis
2020 Prediction: Will be the new Brock Holt in Boston...in every way that implies.

 The Reds, post-Puig, left their outfield to a trio of younger players who were all kinda in the same boat. Winker was the most experienced, having spent 2018 as a bench bat (I saw him walk-off against Colorado last June). Despite only playing 113 games, he bat .269 with 38 RBIs and 18 homers.
Why Him in 2019?: Proved he could start, especially after Senzel's call-up.
2020 Prediction: Will hit 25 homers, chase an ASG nod and finally come to his full power.

 Meanwhile, Jose Iglesias came to Cincinnati on a one-year deal to play shortstop, and he did pretty dang well, with a 1.5 WAR, a .288 average, 145 hits and 58 RBIs, which is on par with his stuff from Detroit.
Why Him in 2019?: Acted as a bridge from Peraza in 2018 to Galvis next year
2020 Prediction: Someone's gotta sign him, but everyone seems pretty set at SS. My guess is Milwaukee.

 And yeeeeah, let's talk about this. Matt Kemp came to Cincinnati in the trade that also brought Puig and Wood, and...Kemp probably worked out the least for all of them. Everything he did for LA in 2018 he shat away here, only hitting .200 with 19 strikeouts in 20 games. No wonder they released him.
Why Him in 2019?: Fell so the farm system could succeed
2020 Prediction: Preferably retirement, but someone could sign him to a minor league deal

 ...Michael Lorenzen slowly became one of my favorites on the Reds. Not only was he a damn-near-immaculate as a relief specialist, with a 2.92 ERA and 85 strikeouts, but he was pretty good as a bench outfield bat too, hitting .208 with 6 RBIs in 53 plate appearances, which is not bad at all for a two-way guy. You just want someone like him to succeed, and he has been.
Why him in 2019?: Probably the best two-way guy in the MLB, since Ohtani didn't pitch at all this year.
2020 Prediction: More homers, and a higher ERA, but same stuff.

And then there's the closer, Raisel Iglesias, who might be the most standard closer in the leagues. He doesn't light the place on fire, he has human moments, but he still gets a lot of saves- this year he got 34, a career high for him, as well as leading the league in games finished with 55. However, he also finished the year with 12 losses, meaning some non-save appearances didn't go well for him.
Why Him in 2019?: Had more saves than any NL Central closer not named Hader.
2020 Prediction: Another 30 save year with a bit more consistency.

All these guys were in the picture on Opening Day. Tonight, a bunch of guys who were added to the roster over time.

Rally Goose Crap

Okay, so...the Tigers aren't THAT bad...but without their star hitter Miguel Cabrera, and with most of their big stars like Michael Fulmer and Victor Martinez in down years...they could be a lot better.

I'm not sure if 'lifeless' is the correct word for a roster without any starters throwing over a 5.00 ERA, but there's not a TON of life in this roster. Nobody's wowing the country on this team. The rotation is good enough to get by, as Matt Boyd is a serviceable ace, but 'serviceable' seems to be the extent of everyone on that staff. The same sort of goes for the lineup; I'll admit that there is some definite bench versatility going on, as Niko Goodrum is a nice spare arm for the outfield, but...other than Nick Castellanos and Jeimer Candelario, nobody's numbers are really ringing a bell.

The good news is that the Tigers have picked the right year to be okay in the AL Central. Aside from the Indians, everybody's doing okay and worse. The Twins have crept up to second place, but are still well under .500. The White Sox and Royals are downright atrocious, with only a few notable performances each. The Tigers do have some players doing their jobs well, but the majority of the roster is either untested or past their prime. They're lacking in players who all surge at once, which is probably why they've dropped to third.

I don't know if this team is even worth being split up at the deadline? Who would be targeted? Jose Iglesias, for his defensive abilities? Nick Castellanos, for his home run hitting? Victor Martinez, to cleanse the team of a contract? It's too early to say.

Still, I do hope they can reclaim second place eventually, as they can be fun in fleeting moments, but...they do have some serious work to do.

Coming Tomorrow- I think I made this custom back in April or May, so its nice to finally be getting it out there. He's big, strong, hits home runs, and plays for one of the best teams in the NL.

Joey Church, Hanging Tough

Last place in the AL Central. Not quite what I was expecting from the 'new and improved' 2017 Detroit Tigers.

I mean, if you're just gonna do the same thing every year, there's no point in trying with the whole 'new and improved thing'. They've got the same core lineup as usual, and it's even less potent than it was last year. People like Justin Upton, Alex Avila and JD Martinez are doing well, and Michael Fulmer is still one of the best young pitchers in baseball. But the heart of this team is tired and aged, and people like Jose Iglesias, Nick Castellanos, James McCann and Victor Martinez are just not cutting it.

I do think they're probably gonna be sellers at the deadline, and somebody like JD Martinez, Justin Wilson or Jose Iglesias could get flipped. I don't think they're gonna be able to get past the Royals, Twins or Indians, though I don't think they'll be in last for very long, as the White Sox also exist.

It's just sad to see someone like the Tigers, who were once the best team in the AL, just get too lazy and cold for their own good.

Coming Tomorrow- A first baseman for my least favorite team other than the Blue Jays.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2016: Tigers

In an alternate universe, the Tigers win the Wild Card spot over the Orioles, face the Blue Jays in the WC playoff game. Do they win, with Verlander on the mound.

Yeah. Yeah, I think they do.

Now, whether or not they get past Texas to play the Indians in the ALCS is another thing, but the 2016 Tigers were the best team not to make the playoffs. They were right there, doing a ton of things right, and teams like the Blue Jays, who had less than half the year the Tigers had, got all the glory.

Jordan Zimmermann didn't have a full season in Detroit, but he did pretty well, especially in the first half. He'll likely have a fuller 2017.

Jose Iglesias had another nice year in the infield for Detroit. Look, he doesn't have to do much at the plate except stay near .300. He's just a great defensive shortstop, and he's good for the Tigers.

Who'd have thought that K-Rod would still be shutting them down, even in 2016. Francisco Rodriguez had another really strong season, even in the AL. This is his first successful AL stint since his run with the Angels, so that was a nice enough gamble for the Tigers, who tried a similar tactic with Joe Nathan a few seasons ago.

Erick Aybar came to Detroit in a late-season waiver deal, after doing his best in Atlanta. He mostly stuck to a backup role for the Tigers, but he still did a pretty nice job in that.

Meanwhile, this guy won the Rookie of the Year.

Michael Fulmer may have won because he got in early and Gary Sanchez didn't get in early enough, but he still had a fantastic season, and made himself a pretty formidable 2nd-in-command to Justin Verlander. Hopefully he'll continue to have some nice seasons.

Coming Tomorrow- The last-place Minnesota Twins.

Custom Card of the Morning: Iglesias Edition

It's not the most surprising thing that the Tigers are off to an excellent start this year. It IS, however, very surprising that despite this excellent start, they're still 2nd in the AL Central. This doesn't usually happen to the Tigers.

However, thanks to the momentum of last year's World Series, the Royals have been unstoppable this season, battering down all their enemies, literally and figuratively (hey, you knew I was going there). So, for the first time in a while, the Tigers are going to have to fight to stay relevant.

Thankfully, they have a rejuvenated squad, thanks to the revival of Jose Iglesias, a guy they picked up from Boston only for him to miss all of the 2014 season. Now he's back, and he's off to a very nice start, sporting a high average, and playing some great defense. Also helping the charge is another guy the Tigers got from Boston, Yoenis Cespedes, who has been hitting pretty well so far, and will hopefully go for a three-peat at the home run derby. Even Joakim Soria, a guy a lot of people counted out, is pitching beautifully, saving games in place of a basically-done Joe Nathan.

The bottom line is the charge is still there. The Tigers still have a lot of power, and are definitely capable of winning a lot of games. The challenge here will be catching the Royals, which, if the Royals are for real this year, may be pretty difficult. Still, the Tigers are a great team, and can definitely handle it.

Coming Tonight: The Pirates are off to a decent start as well, and a lot can be attributed to this newly minted star.

Indifference on a Boston Victory

That's right. The Red Sox just advanced in the playoffs, and I'm not screaming at the television, or cursing my luck, or even acting remotely pissed about it. Why? Because they actually managed to put together a good team this year, rather than just defy everyone's expectations like they usually do. They got a roster of sheer power, and actually went and ran with it, and it's paying off.

Also, it's because they were playing the Rays, but either way.

Meanwhile, these guys managed to stay in the race, securing game 4, and allowing for two very close matches tomorrow night. As much as I love the Tigers, it would be so much more fun to see the A's win. Still, I'd be content if the Tigers made it.