Uncustomed Heroes of 2025: Angels

 

As per usual, we spend December on the blog knocking out customs of every memorable, or notable, season that didn't get one during regulation. We go in alphabetical order, which means once again, we start with the Los Angeles Angels.

At this point, the Angels have to be aware that the usual tactic isn't going to work. The past several seasons have consisted of Mike Trout having an amazing start, getting injured after a month and the season effectively ending for them. The issue is that they're spending so much time focusing on Trout that they can't build an effective team, and are baffled when this doesn't work. So this season, not only did they build a much better team with multiple a new WAR leader and two 35+ home run guys, they actually had 130 games of Mike Trout, his most since his last MVP season in 2019. And STILL, despite all that, the Angels finished in last place, behind the A's, with 90 losses. Wash didn't work, Maddon didn't work, Ausmus didn't work, here they are.

This was a season of baseball from Mike Trout that, while healthier, was not exactly elite. Trout hit .232 with 106 hits, 64 RBIs and 26 homers, and a 1.5 WAR. Exceedingly average. He's 34 years old, he's been injured every year for the past several years, and now he's past his prime and just trying to perform at all. The Ken Griffey comparisons are real, man. A decade of dominance and a lot of empty space afterwards. And you can tell he hates letting people down, too. But yeah, Trout was at least somewhat reliable this year, at least from a power standpoint, but it was his most mediocre season yet.

2026 Prediction: An improvement statistically, though perhaps not appearance-wise.

Luis Rengifo is another one of those guys who seems to jump into the action with the Angels and perform great as a backup, then immediately gets injured and halts the momentum. Last season he hit .300 but in only 78 games. So here he got to start from the getgo, and like Trout, was healthy for most of the year, and played in 147 games. Unfortunately they were not his best work. Despite 119 hits and 43 RBIs, Rengifo's OPS went below 7 for the first time since 2021, and had a blistering -17 bWAR figure. Defensively he was average. Perhaps he's just not a great choice to start.

2026 Prediction: He's a free agent, and I don't think the Angels need to re-sign him considering that they have Christian Moore. Makes camp as a utility guy with a contact team, think the Brewers or Guardians.

After splitting 2024 between San Francisco and Atlanta, the Angels brought on Jorge Soler, thinking he'd boost their power game. Unfortunately, for the first time since his first year in Miami, Soler had some injury troubles, and only made 82 games this year, and not some of his best ones, with a .215 average, 34 RBIs and 12 homers.

2026 Prediction: Crosses 30 longballs again. 

For most of this season, the Angels settled on a compact rotation of Tyler Anderson, Yusei Kikuchi, Kyle Hendricks, Jose Soriano and Jack Kochanowicz, eventually bringing in Mitch Farris and Caden Dana down the stretch. All of this to say that the Angels did not have room for Reid Detmers in their rotation, making 2025 a year without Detmers, Sandoval or Canning, the once promising young core. Detmers moved to the bullpen, and in 63 innings had a 3.96 ERA with 80 Ks. This might be the way going forward.

2026 Prediction: Leads team in appearances, perhaps notches the odd save.

The Angels actually brought on two staples of the Renteria/LaRussa White Sox teams this year, though Tim Anderson didn't go especially well for them. Yoan Moncada, yet another guy who makes waves then immediately misses 5 months, fit right in with this team. As the primary third baseman [in Rendon's absence], Moncada made only 84 games, and hit .234 with 12 homers and 35 RBIs. It's upsetting to realize just how much time Moncada lost after being set up for success in the Boston farm system.

2026 Prediction: Oh how the hell am I supposed to know? Hits .300 for the Twins, then gets clotheslined by the groundskeepers and tears his aorta. I cannot predict this man.

People are already calling Kyle Hendricks's 2025 season, his final one and his only one in a uniform not belonging to the Chicago Cubs, an oddity. I wouldn't go so far. Tim Lincecum on the Angels was an oddity. Jered Weaver on the Padres was an oddity. Brandon Crawford on the Cardinals was an oddity. Kyle Hendricks actually had some nice material in a full season in Anaheim. In 31 starts, he went 8-10 with a 4.76 ERA, 114 Ks and a 1.7 WAR. Considering how unreliable Hendricks had been in the last few seasons for the Cubs, the fact that he was consistent, healthy and had some nice moments is admirable. Dude pitched 11 years strong, did his job and hung it up when it didn't spark joy. Gotta respect it.

Coming Tomorrow- A lot of people who were promised October in Houston and couldn't get past September. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Cubs

 

I think what 2024 proved for the Cubs is that the next level, which is competition and playoff advancement, cannot be reached until the last of the baby teeth have come out. What was holding back the new, intimidating, explosive version of this Cubs team were some of the dispatches from its 2021-2022 era of tanking. Once those aren't weighing the team back, they can actually make moves to outlast the Brewers, Cardinals and Reds next year. 

One of those big pieces of dead weight, sadly, was the last remaining member of the 2016 World Series team, respected ace Kyle Hendricks. Hendricks...had a weird season. He began with a 10.57 ERA, and an 0-4 record. Hendricks had struggled before, but this was painful, and moving him to the bullpen was really the only choice the Cubs had. Then, amazingly, Hendricks rebounded. In his next ten games, Hendricks had a 3.86 ERA, culminating in a return to the rotation. Whatever he was struggling with, he seemed to get the hang of. And then, of course, he struggled again as the season went on, ending with a 5.92 ERA. But, crucially, his last start for the Cubs was a true gem. He went 8 innings against the Reds and allowed 2 hits and no runs. For what is likely Hendricks' last start at Wrigley in blue, he left the fans satisfied.

2025 Prediction: For the Angels, Hendricks will be decent, with some shades of his Cubs numbers, but more akin to Tim Lincecum's stint there.

The other piece of dead weight that needed to go was Patrick Wisdom. Wisdom was the one piece that remained after the 2021 purge, and his early work laid the basis for a nice few years as a power bat. Unfortunately, the magic has worn off, and Wisdom is now a below-average power bat with no infield perks. In 75 games he hit .171 with 8 homers, as his position was deemed null by Isaac Paredes. Unsurprisingly, the Cubs non-tendered him last month. What else was he really capable of contributing at this point?

2025 Prediction: Serviceable bench bat for somebody dangerous. I say Tampa.

The Yan Gomes experiment wore off in 2024, meaning the starting position finally belonged to Miguel Amaya, who'd been waiting for a couple years. Amaya is a solid defensive catcher with the occasional offensive perk. As a starter, he made for a definite upgrade, with a 1.7 WAR, 47 RBIs and 8 homers in 117 games. The Cubs need someone like Amaya, just a steady, trustworthy catcher who doesn't need to be the center of attention, and can just keep pumping. 

2025 Prediction: Wins a gold glove. Or at least is up for one.

It was a headline-causing incident earlier in the year when the Mets unceremoniously cut Jorge Lopez after throwing a tantrum after a game and proclaiming the Mets 'the worst team in the MLB', not knowing that without him they'd get to an NLCS. But the Cubs, never averse to a bargain, capitalized on this by bringing Lopez on in a crucial relief role. As good as Lopez was in Queens, he may have been better in Chicago; in 24 games, Lopez had a 2.03 ERA with 31 strikeouts. This was Lopez's most wired-in, confident season in years, and hopefully wherever he ends up in 2025 will be a better fit than the Mets.

2025 Prediction: I mean, the Mets ARE looking for bullpen help. Lol. Honestly, it wouldn't shock me if somebody like Kansas City or Minnesota brings him back, they both need guys like him.

The Cubs' initial closing man, Adbert Alzolay, struggled with injuries all year. Their eventual next pick, Hector Neris, squandered the opportunity by being reminded of how terrible he is in the ninth. And so it was up to rookie Porter Hodge, already having an excellent season in relief, to take the closing job next. I think the Cubs may have an answer; Hodge got the closing job late in August, and was responsible for 7 saves to end the year, including polishing off Kyle Hendricks' 8-inning shutout to end his Cubs tenure. Hodge was also the reliever that closed the door on Shota Imanaga's no-hit bid in September. Hodge is young, efficient and confident, and he could be a strong closing option for the Cubs going forward.

2025 Prediction: It really is a question of how much the Cubs trust Hodge at this point, because they could very easily get a Kenley Jansen or somebody to take the ninth. I think they do give it to him, and while I don't think he'll get to 40 saves immediately, I think he'll make them proud.

After doing nothing with the Marlins, Christian Bethancourt found himself a free agent, around the time the Cubs were phasing out of Yan Gomes. They were ultimately a perfect match for each other, and Bethancourt returned to his 2022-era surprise dominance. In 24 games, he hit .281 with 15 RBIs and 4 homers, culminating in a wild .814 OPS. 

2025 Prediction: Doesn't do that again. That only shows up when teams aren't expecting it to. Still, that's not gonna stop somebody from taking him on as a backup next year.

The Cubs' big trade of the year was nabbing Isaac Paredes in exchange for Christopher Morel and Dylan Carlson. Paredes in Chicago was...fine. Nothing especially noteworthy or anything, which is kind of surprising for the guy who was supposed to lead them to the postseason. Paredes hit .223 in 52 games, only hitting 3 home runs and 25 RBIs. For contrast, he hit 16 homers and 55 RBIs in 101 games with the Rays. This wasn't the most opportune time for the learning curve to kick in.

2025 Prediction: I think letting him train with the Cubs from the start will be better for him, and he'll have a full year closer to his Tampa standards.

Very late in the season, the Cubs let the fans look into the future by bringing up prospect Kevin Alcantara. It's clear that not all of the Cubs' big prospects have worked lately, as Matt Mervis, Jordan Wicks and Alexander Canario haven't found their footing in the majors yet. Pete Crow Armstrong only got there recently, and his bat still has a-ways to go. So Alcantara was expected to, at the very least, get his feet wet and do one or two cool things. And that's kinda what happened. In 3 games he had 10 at-bats, 1 hit. Decent in the outfield, no immediate signs of anything else. Not sure when the next look at him will be, considering how set the Cubs' OF might be next year [it's Bellinger-Happ-Suzuki, with PCA backing up til Bellinger leaves], but he's definitely in the picture.

2025 Prediction: ...yeah, that IS a crowded OF picture, even with Canario there as well. If somebody is gonna get dealt this season, it might be Alcantara. 

Coming Tomorrow- The Diamondbacks were inches from the playoffs and couldn't make it. A few reasons why they should have.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Cubs

 

I got to watch the 2023 Chicago Cubs play a game at Yankee Stadium this year, and I was very pleased with how many pieces had fallen into place. Some of the extra parts you didn't expect to kick into gear, like Miles Mastrobuoni, Mike Tauchman and Javier Assad, put up some excellent stuff against us, even if the Yankees small-balled Drew Smyly away to pick up the W. 

The Cubs, generally, had more to come away with this year than they did in any year since the exodus. Not all of the tune-up signings worked, but Dansby Swanson sure did, and he brought out the best in people like Nico Hoerner, Chris Morel and Yan Gomes. Plus, Justin Steele brought ace material, on a season that should have earned him more Cy Young votes than it did. It was an excellent effort foiled by a messy September, but it's a year this Cubs squad can build on, especially with Craig Counsell in the driver's seat. 

You can tell the Cubs are finding themselves because Patrick Wisdom, who was deemed a necessary and vital player during the dark ages, had less to do this year than ever. Yes, Wisdom still hit 23 homers, but with only a .205 average, and 11 strikeouts in 97 games. He was also a defensive liability, which led to both Nick Madrigal and, eventually, Jeimer Candelario, being plugged in at third longer term.

2024 Prediction: Midyear cut. It ain't 2021 anymore, folks.

After some decent seasons in New York, Jameson Taillon was brought on for a multi-year deal in Chicago, in the hopes that he'd be a solid mid-rotation option for a while. Taillon delivered on the grounds of consistency and innings-eating, making 30 starts and totaling 150 innings, with 140 Ks. His ERA was close to 5, and his 8-10 record wasn't to the standard Stroman and Steele were setting, but he proved a reliable third-man in a season that thankfully didn't require many starting reinforcements.

2024 Prediction: He's due for a lower-ERA season, and I think his first half is gonna impress a lot of people.

I can admit to being one of the people who had counted Kyle Hendricks out, as I saw a start of his in 2021 and it wasn't great at all, despite having so much respect for everything he'd done for this team since 2015. Though he had a later start than usual, Hendricks blossomed into a skilled performer for this Cubs team, even at 33, and his 3.74 ERA was the lowest by a Cubs starter not named Steele. Now going into the last year on his Cubs contract, Hendricks has recouped some goodwill and looks to be a big part of a different-looking rotation.

2024 Prediction: Finishes strong, with a consistent, classic year [down in Ks] that opens him up for a modest end-of-career contract, possibly even still in Chicago. 

With the rise of people like Javier Assad, Hayden Wesneski and Keegan Thompson, it was looking like there was even less of a place for Adbert Alzolay in the Cubs' pitching plan than ever. Then, despite the presence of a few actual closers in the bullpen, Alzolay found himself ahead in the depth chart, and thereby given the ninth. As a closing man, Alzolay found his groove, with 22 saves, a 2.67 ERA and a 1.8 WAR, finally confirming his place on these forthcoming teams.

2024 Prediction: The team trusts him with the ninth permanently, and he becomes one of the league's great closers. 

For my money, one of the most fitting trade deadline deals happened when the Cubs finally staged a reunion between them and Jeimer Candelario, the third base prospect they'd dealt to Detroit in exchange for Alex Avila. Candelario had become a well-loved power bat in Detroit, and had gotten off to an excellent start in Washington, so the trade was set. Upon arriving in Chicago, Candelario, though not to Washington standards, delivered on some solid 3rd base, and hit .234 with 6 homers and 17 RBIs in 41 games. Not bad, but perhaps not the playoff-making performance I figured.

2024 Prediction: I question why exactly the Reds would want to plug someone like Candelario into an infield of mostly youngsters that's relatively set, but I think the hope is that Candelario provides a first-half veteran aid to the team that can be phased out over time, which I reckon will happen. Maybe some June 2023 style numbers at times, but I don't see this working out as well.

With a rare hole in their rotation, thanks to injuries to Marcus Stroman and the demotion of Hayden Wesneski, the Cubs turned to a rookie named Jordan Wicks who had done quite well for himself in Iowa. In 7 MLB games, Wicks went 4-1 with 24 Ks, though his ERA ballooned to 4.41 despite an impeccable debut. With some competition for that fifth spot, Wicks will have to prove himself in spring training to ensure the continuation of his MLB progress.

2024 Prediction: Some Rookie of the Year votes for sure. 

And then you have the golden boy. The Cubs' system's pride and joy for the last few years, a huge-tier prospect named Pete Crow-Armstrong, who got the call for the stretch run this year. PCA is going to be something for the Cubs, let's be clear on that, but through 13 games he could not muster a hit, despite batting a run in and stealing two bases. It's not a damning stat yet, but considering that a similar immediate slump befell fellow Cubs prospect Matt Mervis earlier this year, it's slightly worrying.

2024 Prediction: Not an Opening Day roster pick, but will get back here and make up for this last-month stuff. With apologies to Wicks, PCA might be a ROY favorite for 2024.

Coming Tomorrow- There's only a few D-Backs left I didn't get to during the season. 

The Cycle Completes Itself in Chicago

 

In 2012, the Chicago Cubs had a slight backbone but were rebuilding and taking on prospects and trying to build a new competitor. 

In 2016, the Chicago Cubs were the best team in the NL and won a World Series.

In 2018, the Chicago Cubs won 95 games but only qualified for a Wild Card spot, which they couldn't win. 

In 2019, the Chicago Cubs failed to make the playoffs and let their manager leave for Anaheim.

In 2021, the Chicago Cubs had a massive firesale, and dealt away the majority of the squad that won the World Series. 

And now, in 2022, the Chicago Cubs have a slight backbone but are rebuilding, taking on prospects and slowly trying to build a new competitor. What I'm saying is that the Cubs are back where they started.

I would say that this team is a little better than the 2012-2013 one was...but they're not great. The Cubs are very lucky to have large shards of the old WS teams- Kyle Hendricks is still pretty on, and has 30 Ks so far this year. Willson Contreras is still an elite catcher, and he's hitting .304 right now. Jason Heyward is doing the same low-average stuff he does every year. Ian Happ has finally developed enough to be in a position to help carry the team. 

But it's really about the next stage of things, and the people they can bring in to keep the Cubs, at the very least, out of last. And right now, Seiya Suzuki has calmed down IMMENSELY, and is only hitting around .250. Which isn't good, especially considering that we all thought Suzuki was for real a few weeks ago. We already had Fukudome crap out after a little while, we can't have this again. You have Keegan Thompson working really well as a long-man, but Justin Steele struggling as a starter. Nico Hoerner's finding the majors finally but Nick Madrigal's taking longer. And the signings, like Marcus Stroman, Wade Miley, Yan Gomes and Drew Smyly, haven't added too much. Maybe Smyly a little, but not much more.

And the sad part is that the Pirates have lapped this team. The Pirates, who took their starters over a month to get a win, have a better record than the Cubs right now. These are both not great teams right now, but who'd have thought the Cubs would be worse.

The goal for Ross and the gang is gonna be to stay out of last, and stay away from the Reds. Only problem is that lately the Reds have been figuring out how to win games. They've won 5 of their last 7. You never know. I hope the Cubs can find some stuff that can help them not be completely embarrassing, but it hasn't been looking good lately at all.

Coming Tonight: On a team with Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Jo Adell, Anthony Rendon, Noah Syndergaard and newly-minted no-hitter recipient Reid Detmers, would you believe that this guy is making all the headlines?

Topps Cards That Should Have Been: 2014 Cubs

On one hand, I don't fault Topps for underselling the Cubs in 2014. The team was still terrible, the rookies weren't working yet, there wasn't a lot really to show. 

But on the other hand, while Topps wasn't looking, the Cubs built the foundation for their playoff teams that would dominate the remainder of the series. A lot of today's omissions were due to rookie deadline things, but some were due to Topps not really comprehending some of Cubs' big pieces that had been there for most of the season. So I've got to do some work that they really should have done in 2014 Update.

We'll start with the reigning World Series MVP. Jorge Soler was one of two big rookie call-ups in the late summer months of 2014 for the Cubs. In 24 games, Soler hit .292 with 5 home runs 20 RBIs, already flashing some of the power he'd be known for the rest of his career. He'd later become a World Series hero with two different NL teams, and would lead the league in home runs in 2019. 

Kyle Hendricks honestly should have been in 2014 Update, considering that he made his debut before the All-Star break, but...again, the rookie rules were very dumb in this era. Hendricks was brought up to help cover for the loss of Jeff Samardzija, started 13 games and made a very fast impression, with a 2.46 ERA and a 7-2 record. It's funny, I didn't really know that Hendricks was a thing in Chicago til visiting Wrigley in 2015 and seeing his poster hanging there, and to this point he was already a viable starting option. And, obviously, he'd become a strong starting option for the Cubs til this very day. 

And the third very big Cubs rookie in 2014 that didn't make the rookie cutoff was Javier Baez. Unlike the first two, Baez started strong enough but eventually struggled to hit at major league level. And to be fair, he was 21 at the time, and between him and Urias, sometimes the younger call-ups need more time to blossom. Baez finished 2014 with a .169 average and a negative WAR. It wouldn't be until the latter half of the 2015 season where Baez would really take off and become the hard-hitting infielder we all know and love now.

Onto some of the incidentals, Pedro Strop is a middle reliever, which explains why Topps wasn't racing to make a card of him in 2014. In his first full season in Chicago, Strop turned in a great performance, with a 2.21 ERA and 71 Ks in 61 innings, becoming one of the more trusted middle relievers in the Cubs' pen. It would be his strongest season for the Cubs until an equally powerful 2018 season, complete with some save opportunities. 

Emilio Bonifacio was the victim of Topps being too late and also on time at the same time. By the time Bonifacio suits up for the Cubs, Topps already has a 2014 flagship card out with him as a Royal from the previous year. Then, by the time Update's out, he's already been traded to the Braves. So they miss out on his Cubs numbers, which are pretty good. He hit .279 with 77 hits in 69 games, and having a 1.5 WAR on account of his flexible defensive numbers. I just wish Topps had found time to document it.

And as for the fringe one that Topps probably wouldn't have done, mostly because it came after the Update cutoff, Felix Doubront was a decent starting option for the Red Sox during the early 2010s. By 2014, he was struggling and demoted to the bullpen in Boston, and eventually shipped to the Cubs. Doubront actually did pretty decently in 4 games in Chicago, with 2 wins, a 3.98 ERA and a positive WAR. This would be the last decent numbers of his career. He'd split 2015 with Toronto and Oakland and peter off. 

Tomorrow, we have some more 2014 Topps omissions from Arizona. 

No Cubs Go

 

The Cubs have fallen below .500, and below the Cardinals. The reclamation project that we all thought was in the works earlier this year has dissipated with Jake Arrieta's ERA. So now...for the first time since roughly 2013, the Chicago Cubs have to sell.

Craig Kimbrel and Kris Bryant have been attracting lots of trade attention, and rightfully so. Kimbrel's still an elite closer that could become a fixture anywhere he goes, at least with some time, and Bryant is still pretty elite as a hitter and now has the power to play just about everywhere. I've also seen Zach Davies and Andrew Chafin talked about in trade discussions [UPDATE: So long, Chafin!], same with Ryan Tepera and Matt Duffy. A good chunk of this team is probably gonna get dealt, and that's a reality they have to come to terms with.

It's honestly a case of being alright with who sticks around. I'm guessing Kyle Hendricks is gonna stay put, but not certain. Hendricks still has a few years left on his contract, and is still definitely a leader in the clubhouse. He's also got 12 wins and a 3.60 ERA, and a massive improvement over his start this year. If people go this year, Hendricks, along with Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo, are gonna be the tentpoles that keep this team together as it reforms.

You can see the next generation of this team beginning to take place, with Patrick Wisdom beginning to look more and more like an everyday 3rd baseman for Chicago, and Keegan Thompson looking like a safe bet in the ninth if Kimbrel goes. Also, Nico Hoerner is definitely coming into his own at 2nd, and somehow Rafael Ortega is turning into a nice short-term replacement in the outfield. I do see this team letting Ian Happ loose in a year or so if he keeps hitting like this, but that may be as they figure out what the next stage of this team may be.

As for this current stage, this is gonna be a weird week. A lot of Cubs legends might be playing their last games as Cubs, and we may be saying goodbye to this sort of dynasty that's lasted since 2015. Which is kinda weird.

Coming Tomorrow- A former hero for a 1st place team, now a power bat for a team that once again might be looking to sneak in as a Wild Card.

The North Side Remembers

In an offseason where the Cardinals are the favorites, the Brewers are the sleeper, and the Reds bulk up...the Cubs have decided to override any hype and come out to an astonishing 10-3 start. It is the best division lead in baseball, as the 2nd place Brewers are 5-5. And I am so happy it's happening.

Look, Kyle Hendricks opening the season with a complete game shut out  may have been a hint. But this seem is insanely strong, and capable of huge games. Yes, the once-mighty Cubs  rotation is now without Cole Hamels and, for the time being, Jose Quintana, but Alec Mills has been  stellar in his few starts, and Tyler Chatwood is more of a strikeout artist than he's ever been, in addition to the routinely-great work from Jon Lester and Yu Darvish.  And that's not even mentioning Jeremy Jeffress having his best season in years and Roman Wick flourishing in the ninth.

Meanwhile, the lineup that's struggled to be on the same page for the last few years finally is, and Baez, Rizzo, Contreras, Bryant, Ian Happ and Kyle Schwarber, the homegrown-ish core, are all doing pretty well, and helping out in big ways. Most surprisingly, Jason Kipnis has been an insanely helpful DH/swingman, is hitting .500, and is making up for his last few seasons of inefficiency in Cleveland. The lineup, while not completely perfect yet, is making  for lots of high-offense games...despite being blown out themselves last night courtesy of the Royals.

I just worry about a lot of these guys, even  Bryant, hitting a bit below average and striking out too much, as well as the guys that were paid for, like Jason Heyward, barely hitting at all. But this upward momentum is really nice, and I'm glad this Cubs team is off to a great start.

Coming Tonight: The Astros aren't in first  place. Here's one  of the reasons why.

Purple Haze

[...Well, seeing as I used a Bieber title for Shane Bieber, and a Hendrix song title for Kyle Hendricks, I guess the music pun streak is up to #2...]

Okay, experiment time. So...imagine all five of these players in their prime: Cole Hamels in 2007. Jon Lester in 2010. Yu Darvish in 2012. Kyle Hendricks in 2016. Jose Quintana in 2016.

...now imagine they all wound up in the same pitching rotation at that same time. How insane would that have been?

And that's why it's so satisfying that this Cubs rotation is finally working out. Once Cole Hamels gets back off the DL, which should be soon, we could be back at capacity. Until then, we have Alec Mills starting games, who's fine, but...he's no Cole Hamels. Meanwhile, the other four average 3.40 to 4.50 ERAs, Lester is 9-6 and doing his usual thing (sidenote: how come he doesn't have a stronger HOF case?), and Yu Darvish, who's already been leading the team in strikeouts, is finally starting to get his velocity together, finally notching his first win at Wrigley. I wish it hadn't taken this much time to get together, but...it's still there now.

Perhaps the one constant of this year's rotation has been the strength of Kyle Hendricks, after an insane appearance on May 3rd, throwing a 'Maddux' in 81 pitches and carrying that to a 1.145 WHIP, the lowest in the rotation. Hendricks is flirting with some major dominance this year, and despite occasional shakiness he's still a needed tool in Chicago, and he's definitely gonna have more great starts further down this stretch.

The Cubs currently have 1st place, but must fend it off from incoming scoundrels from St. Louis. Hopefully they can do so gracefully.

Coming Tonight: The Yankees have reportedly gained interest in this dangerous starter from Texas. Knowing what he's been up to lately, I'd be all for seeing him in pinstripes.

NL Wild Card: Triumph in Extras

I wasn't certain the Rockies could pull it off, even as I went to bed with a 1-0 lead in the seventh, but they surprised me. Along with the rest of the viewing audience.

The game-winning RBI came from backup catcher Tony Wolters, who, if he wasn't a hero in Denver before, certainly has to be now. Great bullpen work came from Seung-Hwan Oh, Adam Ottavino (despite giving up the Cubs' sole run), Wade Davis, Chris Rusin and Scott Oberg. And, of course, the presence of guys like Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon made this team even more of a shoo-in for a playoff appearance.

As for the team they silenced...

It's a little sad to see this Cubs team get eliminated so soon, especially after what fans thought was a shoo-in for first seed, but they still had a fantastic season, and this is clearly not the end of their 2010s reign. I imagine they've got enough still in the tank for another playoff run next year, and enough young stars that can stay around to establish a new great team.

Obviously Cubs-Brewers would have been the more dramatic matchup, but I'm still happy we got this one, and I'm sure the Rockies are gonna be more than formidable against the first-seeded Brewers.

Tonight...my Yankees take on the cinderella A's.

NLDS: That Settles It Edition

That...wasn't the outcome I was expecting, but...I guess this is happening again. Dodgers-Cubs NLCS, round 2.

The Cubs, as they do, managed to sneak through, not with an obvious assault but with some surprise attacks. After a year of being out in front, the Cubs got their biggest wins when nobody expected them to, and tonight was no exception- this could have been a game that ended after Michael Taylor's big move, but the Cubs fought back, and made it into the NLCS for the THIRD...THIRD YEAR IN A ROW. That is some Philadelphia-esque stuff right there.

And, as for the departed..

I...I don't know what the problem is.

I have no idea why the Washington Nationals can't win an NLDS. I have NO IDEA why this keeps happening. They've had consistently great teams, with great performances, and not a ton of changes. They deserve to get there, and this year they deserved to win, and...somehow...they STILL couldn't make it through. What is the meaning of this? Is there a curse? Is this a Montreal thing still?

Still, they had a great season, and should not be discouraged. Knowing the Nationals, they'll probably be a few steps down in 2018 but be back in full force in 2019, as they go by an every-other-year strategy (sort of like Cam Newton).

So, the matches are set, and tomorrow night...showdown in Houston. I can't wait.

Playoffs Update: Predictability Wins!

As if this guy wasn't having a big enough season. Three home runs in one playoff game, off of Chris Sale and friends. And this is only the beginning.

I knew the Astros would be able to clobber the Red Sox, but I didn't think it'd be like this. Last night's game was unbelievable, and today they're making even quicker work of them. Eduardo Nunez is down, the pitching looks human, and...the Big Bad Red Sox that made it so difficult for the Yankees back there aren't looking so big and bad anymore. What's more, the Astros are looking stronger, and more powerful, than they've looked in months. This will be more evident once they get to take on the left field wall in Fenway.

As for the other matchup...

Well, damn if I didn't see this coming.

Not sure why everybody's been getting the best of Sonny Gray this year, but Jay Bruce and the gang made quick work of him, even with Trevor Bauer on the mound, doing career work, for them. This was something I saw coming, because as good as the Yankees are, the Indians are miles ahead, and already putting their feet on the trophy. Tonight, the Indians face CC Sabathia, which will hopefully be a little tougher for them. Hope the Yankees' lineup wakes up, too.

And, to preview the NL matchups:

This one's gonna be tight. The Cubs are fighting to survive, the Nats are fighting to finally win an NLDS. Can they do it this year? Well, with Stephen Strasburg on the mound and Bryce Harper in the lineup, anything's possible. Even with Kyle Hendricks, one of the few Cubs stars to make an effort to repeat the 2016 glory, on the mound, the Nats are going try to start strong. This is either gonna be close or an absolute blowout.

And, on the other side of the country,

 Well, just looking at this, you can make a guess as to who's gonna win, but, as the sportswriters LOVE to point out, Clayton Kershaw is never great in October, and hopefully this year he finally turns that stat around. Plus, as Taijuan Walker is a solid, yet unspectacular, third starter (it honestly should have been Robbie Ray tonight), the Dodgers will be encouraged to smack the living daylights out of the ball. I'm thinking a LA win will happen, but stranger things have happened.

Let's see how this one goes.

Move over Rover...and Let Kyle Take Over

(Okay, so the pun SORT OF makes sense...)

When I was in Wrigley last year, they have banners for all the big players, the heavy hitters, streaming from the ceiling. And this is June, so, no Bryant or Russell yet. Rizzo. Castro. Lester. Arrieta. Chris Coghlan. And then they needed some extras so Chris Denorfia. Justin Grimm. And...Kyle Hendricks was already on a banner.

This is pre-2016 Kyle Hendricks, this is 'just getting by and starting a few games' Hendricks. His stuff wouldn't pick up until the end of last year.

Now...aside from obvious standouts like Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks is one of the major pitching threats in Chicago, going towards October. He's got a low ERA, he throws strikes, he's pretty consistent, and he's young- even if there's a lot of good arms in this rotation, Hendricks is still 26, and has a lot left to do in the game. In comparison, John Lackey is 37. Other side of the age spectrum.

Arrieta's been good, but is beginning to lose his stuff, and I think he's been a bit overworked. For the postseason, the Cubs will need to rely on people like Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks, great pitchers who...aren't Jake Arrieta, to come in and start important games when Arrieta can't. Hendricks can do it- this season, he's probably going to come up a ton in Cy Young talks. He's that good.

Man...when even the little guys are in top form for the Cubs, you know they're gonna be dangerous.

Coming Tomorrow- He gets knocked down, and he gets right back up again...especially if the person knocking him down is Billy Butler.

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.