Championship Series' Day 5: In Danger of Losing Me

 

I really thought this Dodgers-Brewers series was going to be close. What a fool I was to judge these teams by how they played during the regular season. Because it's clear that doesn't matter anymore.

The Dodgers have gamed the system. They have the single best October team in the game, and it doesn't matter how well they've done during the regular season. They were good in the first six months, won the division, but they had injury issues and obvious flaws. Right now they have an obvious flaw, mainly that in pitching Shohei Ohtani as often as they are, the Dodgers are making it more difficult for Shohei Ohtani, their best hitter, on hitting. I also think the fact that the bullpen has been so inconsistent that the man they are paying to close games is done for the year and the man they WERE paying to start games is so bad at starting that he's better off in the ninth...that's a problem. I don't know if taking one of the best Japanese pitchers of his era, Roki Sasaki, and making him a career closer because he hasn't cracked 6-inning starts in America yet, is a mistake. It's like using Excalibur as a letter-opener. 

And with all of that, and the fact that the defense isn't where it should be...they're still in position to make it to their second World Series in a row. Because nobody could stop them. Not even the two best teams in the NL.

The Dodgers are just excellent at employing people who are best suited for October. And that's why they've been so good, because Enrique Hernandez, Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, Max Muncy and Blake Snell have gone 'well, it's October so I guess we should start playing well now'. Again, regardless of how things went during the regular season.

That is how you know that the playoffs are too long and too expanded. It used to be 'let's take the best teams in both leagues and see if they can do an extra series, and then one big one against each other'. Now it's become a seventh month to the season with entirely new rules and expectations. Clearly Dave Roberts has figured out how to manage a seventh month because he's one of the only people who realizes that that's what it is now. Every other manager is still acting like the playoffs are what they were, an extra week or so to wrap up the season. And that's why they're all losing. Because they aren't preparing like the Dodgers are. This has become a marathon, and this whole Dodgers team is made up of career sprinters. 

How do you compare that to a very young, very wet-behind-the-ears Brewers team? Of course they're losing! They're playing by the old rules! The Dodgers have a four man rotation plus three extra starters that play relief, their best hitter also is one of their best pitchers, and the contact game has been off the charts because it hasn't needed to shift fully to a power game. 

The Dodgers are gonna make it to another World Series, and probably win. From how they're built now, they won't run out of steam until mid-December at this rate. 

Meanwhile, the series which is on an actual even playing field isn't exactly pleasing me either, because the Mariners have blown their two game lead by watching two great starters, coming off of two great starts, backpedal while the lineup once again fails to show up. The Detroit series was close. This series is also close. The Mariners can't crack the Dodgers' level of consistency because, again, they packed for a three-hour tour. 

I can't say I'm not blown over by Max Scherzer having an ace moment even as his career winds towards a finish. Scherzer's one of the oldest pitchers in the game, he's a lock for Cooperstown, and everything since 2021 has been frosting. He didn't even make the ALDS roster because the Jays didn't think they needed him. They did. He went 5 and 2/3rds, only allowed 2 small runs, K'd 5 and was dominant, as he was tasked to be. The Jays needed an ace moment after Yesavage and Gausman didn't work, and they got one. The offense did the rest, and the usual suspects, like Springer, Guerrero, and the surprisingly-hot Andres Gimenez, made it another blowout. 

The M's are in danger of losing their leverage, and need to win Game 5 to ensure some semblance of superiority heading back to Toronto. Will this finally be the Bryan Woo game? Or will the decision to limit his output haunt Dan Wilson forever?

Uncustomed Heroes of 2024: Rangers

 

Virtually everything the Texas Rangers did this season can be rooted back to injuries. The two big rookies from last year, and the big rookie from this year, were limited by injuries. The majority of the rotation missed time with injuries, and most of them were actually doing really well before hitting the IL. One of the best offensive performers of the year wouldn't have happened without a big injury. And a season that was once again looking like an MVP caliber one from the team's star was cut short due to an injury. Regardless of the talent this team compiled to follow up their first ever World Series win, and regardless of how many were playing well, nobody could stay healthy. And so when it was up to the b-team, nothing was gonna happen.

Josh Jung's season began so happily, with a cheerful mic-ing up on ESPN during one of the first games of the season. The Rangers' 3rd baseman had such a great 2023 three that all eyes were on him for a satisfying follow-up. Ultimately, Jung's season would be cut short soon into April, resulting in Josh Smith taking 3rd for the majority of the season. Jung would return by the end of the season, but it'd be too late. In 46 games he hit .264 with 7 homers and 16 RBIs. Good while he was there, but he wasn't there for long.

2024 Prediction: Another All-Star season.

Meanwhile, Evan Carter, who had an incredible postseason last year, was primed for an equally satisfying full season of work. He'd already broken so many records for rookie performers in the postseason, now it was his turn to go all year. Except...like Jung, he didn't make it all year, and when he wasn't injured he only hit .188 with 5 homers and 15 RBIs in 45 games. Clearly this wasn't the season Carter wanted, and at 21 you can tell he's still got a lot more to prove.

2025 Prediction: Starts with a .280 average, proves this was just an early-career fluke.

With Gray, Bradford, Scherzer and deGrom all hurt, the next-nearest veteran at the helm of the Rangers this season was Andrew Heaney, who, admittedly, has been much better recently as a lower-tier starter. Heaney succeeded last year because he had coverage from Eovaldi, Scherzer and Montgomery. So this season, when the eyes were on him for 32 healthy games, he went 5-14 with a 4.28 ERA and 159 Ks, less than some of Eovaldi's numbers [and he missed 3 starts]. 

2025 Prediction: I think people are gonna learn the wrong lesson and a team with a majority youth rotation is gonna sign him to lead it. And I don't think it's gonna go very well for Heaney.

Leody Taveras, with Carter and Langford out for a bit, got a ton more opportunity to start this year. The 25-year-old, at best, is handy--he doesn't have to be the focal point of the lineup but he can give you some good plays and some good hits. This year he hit .229 with 44 RBIs and 110 hits, but more importantly he led the team in stolen bases with 23. He's still very useful, but I reckon once Carter and Langford can play everyday, and come into their own as they head into their 20s, Taveras will have less of a presence here.

2025 Prediction: Still has some contact and speed moments but, yeah, won't be starting by the end of the year.

The Rangers' bullpen surprised people, as their strategy of bringing on veterans actually worked. Kirby Yates had a comeback year, and David Robertson, now 39, had an extremely strong year staying in Arlington and doing his thing. In 68 games he had a 3.00 ERA, 99 strikeouts and a 1.7 WAR. He was the fourth-oldest player in the league this year, yet he can still get things done like he has all 16 years.

2025 Prediction: One more season, somewhere he hasn't played. It's halfway decent. And then he hangs it up.

As the starters fell, the Rangers decided to turn to their top prospect, former #2 overall pick Jack Leiter. Leiter had been developing for a few years but hadn't seemed to completely excel as he did at Vanderbilt. In 9 games in the majors this year, Leiter struggled, walking away with an 8.83 ERA, 3 losses, 31 Ks and a -1.6 WAR. Not a great start, but it took his father a bit to come into his own as well.

2025 Prediction: Some improved starts, but given that more people will be healthy next year and his Vandy teammate has lapped him in the depth chart, I don't know how many chances he'll get.

Much like his former Tigers teammate Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, on the way to definite Cooperstown enshrinement, was limited this year thanks to injuries. Though, per the theme, when he was healthy he was still peak Scherzer, which Rangers fans did appreciate. In 9 starts, Scherzer had a 3.95 ERA and 40 Ks, despite a 2-4 record. The big moment for Scherz came when he lapped Greg Maddux on the all-time strikeouts list, moving into 11th overall. He's 100 away from lapping Walter Johnson, for the record, and JV still has Scherzer beat by 9 Ks.

2025 Prediction: 2025, no matter who signs him, will be the last great season of Scherzer's career. He'll have gotten the injury issues out of his system, he'll have some truly great starts, and he'll be in position to retire on a high note.

I dunno, man, ever since leaving the Reds Tyler Mahle has had such troubles staying healthy. He barely was a factor with the Twins, he was signed by the Rangers knowing he'd miss half the season, and he made 3 starts for Texas before getting injured again. His line wasn't great, he had a 4.97 ERA, 10 Ks and a 0-1 record. And thus the reclamation project continues.

2025 Prediction: 20+ starts, and they're good. Unfortunately the majority of them won't be for the team that trades for him at the deadline. But for Pittsburgh or whoever has him the first half...*chef's kiss*

The Rangers knicked 2 different players from the Detroit Tigers right before the Tigers became huge without them. First their primary catcher, Carson Kelly, was added as an alternative to Jonah Heim. Kelly was passable in 31 games, hitting .235 with 8 RBIs and 2 homers. Andrew Chafin was also brought on to strengthen the veteran-led bullpen, which made this Chafin's eighth different MLB team since 2020, seven if you want to count the Tigers twice. Chafin was traded at the 2023 deadline as well, and the Brewers got the worse end of it. 2024 was somewhat similar, as the Tigers got the better season from Chafin; the Rangers got a 4.19 ERA and a 1.655 WHIP in 21 games. 
2025 Prediction: With the Rangers getting Higgy, Kelly will be headed somewhere else. I honestly think he'll be a nice piece for the Cubs, and possibly will outdo Amaya in some areas [UPDATE 12/13: Not too shabby!!]. As for Chafin, give it up for team #9, and possibly #10 if these trends continue. My guess is Toronto. 

And these last two pitchers were the 'well, what are you gonna do?' late season activations. Jacob deGrom, after already missing the World Series, missed 5 more months this year, and showed up in September after the season had already been lost. At the very least, deGrom's stuff was still incredible; in 3 games, he had a 1.69 ERA and 14 strikeouts. He hasn't lost his mojo by any stretch, it's just those injuries that have lessened his appeal. 

2025 Prediction: At long last consistent health, and a return to glory for the Rangers.

And then you have Jack Leiter's former Vandy teammate Kumar Rocker, initially drafted by the Mets, not signed, and then slyly brought over to the Rangers. Waiting for Rocker and Leiter to come up seems to have been more exciting than the reality of having them both in the majors, but Kumar Rocker did give the Rangers something to be excited about in 2025. In 3 starts he had a 3.86 ERA, with 14 strikeouts. Ultimately his control isn't there yet, and those 2 losses do speak to the quality of the 2024 Rangers. But he's definitely got a lot of time to come into his own.

2025 Prediction: Kumar Rocker will be getting Rookie of the Year votes. Lots of them.

Coming Tomorrow- The last remains of a Rays team I really couldn't find much to say about this year.

Championship Series' Day 9: Dragon Slayed

 

It was as if Shakespeare himself wrote it. A team that had made their name on double-digit run scoring that had been shunned from 1st by a corrupt rival eliminates the rival from competition in a double-digit win. In Houston.

This is the kind of Inigo Montoya ending I'd wanted from the Rangers all year. This was their season, and their flag to hoist, and for the Astros to creep in at the end and just claim the season as theirs despite doing half the work was kinda shitty. The Astros didn't have the team they had last year, and just came into some September/October momentum like usual. The Rangers had the mega-team, they just had some slow spots in the second half.

Last night, the Rangers used what had always worked for them, namely that powerful lineup, to silence the Astros. In a matchup that had killed the Rangers before, they got to Cristian Javier early and let Max Scherzer work amicably, only giving up a few early runs that were nothing compared to what Adolis Garcia got up to. By midway through, even if the Astros had come back from worse, it was a foregone conclusion: the Rangers were going back to the World Series for the first time since 2011.

The only thing is that after finally getting the revenge they wanted against the Astros, I worry that the Rangers don't have much left to prove this season. A ring would be nice, but it feels like everything was building to this point, and everything after is just extra. It's fittingly like Inigo Montoya at the end of that movie, not knowing what to do with himself after accomplishing what he'd always meant to.

The Rangers only needed two seasons of Bochy-ball to become a contender, and they could win the franchise's first title. They'll just need to get past either one of these streaky-ass NL teams to do so.

The 2023 Houston Astros. What else can you say? 

I mean, at least they had the decency to shut the door behind them this time. 

...oh yeah, and the D-Backs won last night too. The October magic on Aaron Nola wore off, and these guys just got past us at almost every point. Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel, Geraldo Perdomo and Alek Thomas are some pretty fine ballplayers, and they've been making it tough for us this series. Merrill Kelly was also pretty tremendous, and had the exact kind of performance his team needed.

Tonight will decide my rooting interest. I'd like to see my hometown team win it. If not, let's go Texas I suppose. 

Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2023

 I think I brought this all on myself.

Sometime yesterday, as a few more deals limped into the gate, I said to myself '...kind of a weak trade deadline this year'. And then 24 hours later I'm regretting that. 

In a sense, this was a weaker deadline year, because a lot of the big names on the board were actually kept, as teams that were thought to be dealing ended up competing anyhow. While there was a large volume of deals, especially in the last hours of regulation, a lot of deals were done solely just to make trades rather than to make sense of them. I have a post full of deals that made no sense ready to go after I'm done with the impressive ones. I'm also doing the Top 10 before I do the honorable mentions, as I think it's more sensible to just get this out there before the topic is stale, and then just post the auxiliary ones.

Needless to say, I did have enough for a Top 10 list, and what I tried to do was not just weigh these trades by the size of the exclamation point, but also by the needs they fulfill. There was no obvious blockbuster deal that I had no choice but to top the list with this year. The best trade of this deadline is gonna be the single smartest move, and that may be different than what you may think. In fact, one of the biggest exclamation point moves of the deadline didn't even make this list. I'll...have words on that one soon enough. 

But for now, my picks for the Top 10 most important trade deadline acquisitions of 2023:

#10: Mark Canha to the Brewers, prospect to the Mets.

There will be some Mets on this list, needless to say. Maybe not all of the ones you think will be here, but...there are some here. One that I think might be an underrated roster boost is the Brewers getting Mark Canha. Right now their outfield, Yelich notwithstanding, isn't great. Joey Wiemer's great defensively but he's not there as a hitter yet. Sal Frelick's a decent option but he's still finding the learning curve. Blake Perkins and Tyrone Taylor aren't doing much better. What Canha does is give the Brewers a strong, versatile option that can fill several roles as well as make sure Yelich isn't the only competent player in that outfield. As the Brewers fight to compete, they need more guys like Canha, and they did manage to stock themselves with decent rentals for a run. Ultimately, Canha's the only one that made this list.

#9: David Robertson to the Marlins, prospects to the Mets.

Second Mets deal in a row, not the last. This is, however, the only Marlins deal on this list. The Marlins made a lot of wacky moves, especially today, to bulk themselves up for a wild card brawl, and while a lot of them didn't make sense, this was their best one because it fulfills a gaping need for the Marlins, and that is a competent closer. The Marlins tried A.J. Puk in the ninth, and he was doing well for a while, but he got hurt, and now he's got an ERA around 5. Everybody else in this bullpen is more suited to middle relief work, including the also-recently-dealt Jorge Lopez. D-Rob gives them an excellent closer who's been having an excellent season, and even though this makes his second straight trade deadline venture, and the fifth team he's played for since the 2021 Olympics, his stock is super high and he's already been fantastic even in early appearances for Miami. Hopefully he'll be able to stay strong in October this year.

#8: C.J. Cron and Randal Grichuk to the Angels, prospects to the Rockies

A trend I noticed a lot this deadline especially was more cathartic, 'all things as they should be' trades. Mostly players who either came to prominence with or were drafted by teams that brought them back. There's a few further up on the list. But this one charmed me. Not only does it bolster a lineup that was already going in for help in terms of bench support, but it gives the Angels two great hitters in positions where they need help. The Angels just demoted Jared Walsh, and had been using Mike Moustakas and Trey Cabbage at first. Meanwhile, they just lost Taylor Ward and are still without Mike Trout. Both Cron and Grichuk fulfill deep needs, and both return to the organizations they came up with. Grichuk never played a game for the Angels before getting traded to St. Louis in exchange for David Freese, while Cron came to prominence as a Halo before finding fame in Denver. With both back where they started, the Angels have a stronger lineup and way more hard-hitting options.

#7: Michael Lorenzen to the Phillies, prospect Hao-Yu Lee to the Tigers

Nothing like a quaint, respectable addition to denote an otherwise quiet deadline for Sam Fuld. Michael Lorenz's been sharp as hell since becoming a starter, and after a solid year with LA last year, he became an All-Star with Detroit and cemented himself as a starting option. With no offense meant towards Cristopher Sanchez, we needed a trusted fifth man, and Lorenzen will do just fine. Now the Phils have a pretty ironclad rotation, with five guys I'd throw out there against the best of 'em, and while I thought Noah Syndergaard would be similar last year, Lorenzen has shown less signs of wear and tear, and also isn't as hard-throwing as Thor was. It sucks losing Lee, who looked like a fun prospect, but Lorenzen makes me very confident going forward. Also, cool that the Phils have just started adding long-haired lanky guys every July, it makes me feel seen.

#6: Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly to the Dodgers, Trayce Thompson and prospects to the White Sox

Not the biggest pitching acquisition the Dodgers thought they'd be leaving the deadline with, but the lack of Cease or Rodriguez aside, adding Lance Lynn to an ailing rotation is a very good move. For one, the Dodgers don't have to start Michael Grove as much. Also, even if Lynn isn't quite as consistent as he was, he's a reliable veteran who can eat innings and give you strong starts, and with the only guys left in this rotation being mostly young guys, that kind of presence will pay off. I don't know what Lynn has left, but I also said something similar when the Yankees got him in 2018, and he responded with some excellent seasons for Texas after that. Also, Kelly is yet another 'let's bring him back' style move this deadline, and I certainly can't argue with the Dodgers having Kelly around again. They love him over there.

#5: Aaron Civale to the Rays, prospects to the Guardians

This was one of those where I had an audible reaction of "oh shit." The Rays have bobbled a huge lead over the AL East solely due to injuries to Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, Zach Eflin and, albeit briefly, Shane McClanahan. They've had numerous open rotation spots buckling, and as Taj Bradley's learning curve spoils a few more wins, they've needed an upgrade. Aaron Civale is perfect for this Rays team, and he's a strong, durable arm that makes me very nervous for the rest of the season. Even as people start to come back, you have one more basically guaranteed day, as Civale's been having a great season, and doesn't need to lead the rotation to impress you [a lot like Eflin]. The Rays didn't need to do much this deadline, but the thing they did do was make it even harder for anyone else to finish the season atop the AL East. 

#4: Lucas Giolito & Reynaldo Lopez to the Angels, prospects to the White Sox

Though it took him a while to rebound after the tack ban, Lucas Giolito reaffirmed himself as a great pitcher this year, and once the White Sox fell below the Tigers in the standings, a deal like this became inevitable. This deal, however, marked the first real instance by the Angels of deciding to pursue competition this offseason, and it was a hell of a statement to start with. Giolito strengthens that rotation even further, even as Sandoval, Canning, Detmers and, yes, Ohtani roll. He's not quite the ace anymore, but he's an excellent foil to Ohtani as a pure flamethrower, and will hopefully give the Angels some great stretch starts. We do know how good he can be in October, remember that. Also, Lopez gives them another solid bullpen arm, as well as more flexibility if need be.

#3: Max Scherzer to the Rangers, prospect Luisangel Acuna to the Mets

Nope, not #1. Scherzer heading to Arlington may have been the biggest flex of the deadline, but I will admit that there's two moves that I think are more advantageous. But still, you can't deny that handing Scherz over to the Rangers is a boss move. Eovaldi's hurt, deGrom's hurt, so there's room, but with Scherzer and newly-added Jordan Montgomery in there, it gives Dane Dunning, Martin Perez and Jon Gray even more reassurance, and it takes some of the pressure off of Andrew Heaney. Scherzer may not be what he was in Washington, but he was still throwing pretty well with the Mets, with a 9-4 record and 114 Ks in 19 games. He still has some excellent material to work with, and he could be the force that keeps the Rangers ahead of the Astros, despite their similar deadline tactics. While this does have a tendency to backfire, especially considering Scherzer's age and human-ness lately, it's still a big statement that could heavily benefit the Rangers if all goes well.

#2: Jeimer Candelario to the Cubs, prospects to the Nationals

Maybe if I were younger I wouldn't rank this so high, but everything about this deal just screams perfection to me. First of all, Candelario came up in the Cubs system, knows it well, and prospered there before being traded for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila [???]. This is another homecoming deal, and it's gotta be cool that Candelario finally gets to get reps in at third in Chicago. But also...Chicago was a seller till a couple weeks ago, and was looking for suitors for Bellinger, Stroman and Steele. Once they got hot, and realized they did have enough to chase the competition this year, they realized they could net an upgrade for Patrick Wisdom at third. Candelario's a perfect fit for this lineup, and a fantastic upgrade from what they already have. I also think that a lot of the Brewers' panicking in the last 24 hours is due to this deal, because they know the Cubs are gonna be even better with Candelario and need to stay above them. I absolutely love this deal, and I hope he keeps his Nats numbers up with the Cubs, cause this could be the last piece they need to sneak into October.

And so, the #1...it is a pitcher, an extremely good if recently-injury-prone pitcher...going to a market that needs to fight to win a division....but it's not the one you might think.

#1: Jack Flaherty to the Orioles, prospects who are not Jackson Holliday to the Cardinals

This, to me, was the smartest move of the deadline. The Cardinals needed to move Flaherty, the Orioles needed a unifying ace, they needed each other. The Orioles pitching, as good as it's been, has been a series of #2 and #3 men in search of a #1. Bradish, Gibson and Kremer have been good this season, but none have felt like an ace. Said ace would have been somebody like John Means, but he's still injured. I was thinking Tyler Wells would fall into that category, but he's fallen apart since the beginning of the season. The O's did try to get Dylan Cease, but the White Sox wanted Holliday in return, so that didn't happen. That's why I'm so won over by them getting Jack Flaherty, because he can be that ace-type guy, and can deliver OMG starts, and the Orioles have needed a guy like that. The injuries do worry me, but I think he's just on a decent enough pace this year, and won't need to sit out as much as somebody like Means. Flaherty might not be the HUGEST piece the Cards could have dealt, but it's an important piece, and it's even more important that Baltimore got him, because this could keep them ahead of Tampa and give them a healthy spot in the playoffs.

Again, I may be wrong about the promise of some of these deals, but this is how they look right now. Tomorrow, I'll reveal the honorable mentions, and why they didn't make the list.

13 Rosins Why

 

It's rare for me to be shy about a baseball opinion. Especially on here.

I've come of age while blogging, and while when I started my influences were bawdy and pissing on the ESPN broadcasters and slagging off Berman, now everybody's kind of fine with how things are. Pretty much every blogger seems to be pro-pitch clock. I'm...a little closer to neutral on it than most of them, but yeah, I was at a game the other night and I got out of there after 2 and a half hours basically, so that tends to help. 

All of these rules are, inherently, fine. But they seem to slowly be pointing towards an alarming trend in baseball that, honestly, might put me in my usual position of griping while a lot of other people nod and stay silent. And that trend is the following: with the monitoring of pitch timing, constant screening of pitchers for tack, and the heyday of call challenging, umpires right now have more power over the game than they've ever had, and that's not a good thing.

Right now, the New York Mets are eating a roster spot because Phil Cuzzi, the only umpire that seems to be ejecting people for substance usage on the mound seems to think one of the greatest pitchers of his generation was too sticky for his liking one time. If it had been another umpire, this may not have happened. If it had been another night, another circumstance, this may not have happened. But because Cuzzi wanted to be a hardass, and because every added rule in the last five years has given him every opportunity to do so without being reprimanded, Max Scherzer is missing 10 games over a tack usage claim that is, as far as I'm aware, completely unsubstantiated. 

David Cone was trending on Twitter earlier, and I was worried he'd gotten canceled or gotten sick, and the latter of which alarmed me considering I was near where he was Friday night [I'll...talk about it eventually], but it was only because he went in depth about the science of stickiness, and that it was a combination of sweat and rosin that did Scherzer in and came off as an illegal substance to Cuzzi. Meanwhile, I think it's legal to sweat on the ballfield. Lord knows Mark Kotsay's been doing a lot of that lately. And it's definitely legal to use rosin on the ballfield. 

So it's really just an ump making an unsubstantiated claim and knowing that because he's an umpire, it doesn't matter whether or not it's confirmed or not. And that's your big issue. The umpire, in general, has had the same purpose as a weatherman. You know, it's not really based 100% in logic and reality, and it's mostly just an educated guess that is purely in their perspective. The difference is that the entirety of the local news doesn't come down to the actions of the weatherman. 

The weatherman is just a piece of a large, functioning team. Meanwhile, the umpire can add strikes to a count if they think a player's taken a second too long figuring things out, and throw a pitcher out of the game despite a banner night if they think their sweat is off.

This is not the first time I've called for automated umps on this blog. I've done it a lot. I don't care if it's an unpopular opinion, if Phil Cuzzi can potentially taint a Hall of Fame case over an opinion he had, then I'm allowed to have this opinion as well. I know why we don't have them, and it's solely because the umpires have a really good union and Rob Manfred is more scared of the umpire's union than he is of the player's union. Think about that for a second. It's clear that the level of umpiring hasn't improved lately, as people like C.B. Bucknor, Phil Cuzzi and, yes, Angel Hernandez have a subconscious bias that makes them unable to properly call a game, and they still call games and nobody reprimands them. There is a clear problem, in the degree of umpiring, and there is a clear solution, in using automated umps, and yet because of egos and politics and, ultimately, the only union I'm not a fan of, nothing's gonna happen, and if anything, the players are gonna continue to get screwed over while the umps continue to control too much of the game.

And you'd think that officiating in general would be called into question all over sports this year after a Super Bowl literally was ended by a referee essentially deciding to end the game rather than risk a Philadelphia victory, but that's not the case. And I don't think enough people are noticing what's happening. Seasons are literally being decided by officiant bias, and ownership is letting it happen because they're afraid to intervene. 

I think Max Scherzer was wrongfully ejected, and while there has been some nice hubbub that's popped up surrounding this, I don't think it'll actually lead to any reform, and the umps will probably keep doing things like this. So I guess we have to be okay with it. Right?

Okay, it's unfair to David Robertson and the Mets that I do a whole post and don't even mention them despite the custom at the top. The Mets are doing alright, better than one would think given the disappointing factors of this season. Nimmo and Lindor are having awesome years, Pete Alonso has 10 home runs, and even with the depleted rotation [thanks a lot again, Phil], people like Kodai Senga, David Peterson and, SOMEHOW JOEY LUCCHESI are mowing batters down at a nice rate.

D-Rob, by the way, is having an excellent start in the ninth, only giving up 1 run so far and notching four saves. I know that having a closing platoon of David Robertson and Adam Ottavino isn't ideal for Mets fans, especially since both are better known as Yankee setup men, but both men have been excellent so far, and D-Rob has had a second consecutive season with a truly excellent start in the ninth. I sincerely hope he can leg it out all year, I think he's earned a nice, competitive, healthy year.

But yeah, the Mets are doing well enough, I just wish they weren't being screwed over by this Scherzer thing. At the very least they get him back in a week or so, but...it shouldn't have happened to begin with, man.

Coming Tomorrow- A pitcher whose tour of low-market cities that are safe for him to pitch in continues. 

Scherz and Jeers

 The good news? At age 37, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer is looking pretty damn good out of camp for the Mets, and might be the staff ace for a rotation that will include Taijuan Walker, Carlos Carrasco and Chris Bassitt. 

The bad news? For at least a few months, that rotation will not include actual staff ace Jacob deGrom. Once again, the man who throws harder than anyone has screwed up his shoulder and has to miss time. Who could have predicted that throwing really hard every damn game will lead to injuries? It's almost like the guys that go all 32 games with great seasons of hard throwing action get injured the following season. Like there's some kind of...CONNECTION there.

And here is where I see a problem with how the Mets think. The Mets, as they are right now, are fine. They will be going with a rotation of Scherzer-Bassitt-Walker-Carrasco-either David Peterson or Tylor Megill. That's fine. Peterson and Megill don't have to be incredible as a fifth starter, they just have to hold the line. But perhaps the realization that, for the first time since 2012, no one from the 2015 rotation of DeGrom-Syndergaard-Harvey-Wheeler-Matz will be starting games for the Mets this year has sent the GM into overdrive, and apparently there's been inklings that the Mets are trying to do business with the Padres, and trying to get Eric Hosmer, Emilio Pagan and Chris Paddack from them in exchange for Dominic Smith. 

The problem, of course, is that the Mets need to do this.

They need to fill a fifth starter ship for a month, maybe two months. They have two perfectly workable starters that can fill this role- they are also young, and could use this room to blossom into the players they could be, a concept that certainly helped Zack Wheeler, Steven Matz and oh yeah JACOB DEGROM. Why plug Chris Paddack, who has been chasing the dragon that was his 2019 season, into a rotation that was already going towards youth naturally. And, more infuriatingly, why take on Eric Hosmer's contract when you can get the same player in Dominic Smith for much less? 

The Mets need to trust themselves, and trust their roster depth. They want to be the alpha of the NL East, spend money and build their teams like that. The problem is it hasn't worked in the last few seasons, and that the teams that have won the NL East recently have been the ones that haven't spent much money at all, like the Nationals and the Braves. So why want to bring in more preexisting pieces from other teams the second that one star, out of, if you were to believe the Mets, many stars, gets injured? Why be so fragile on the success of deGrom when you have Pete Alonso, Starling Marte, Brandon Nimmo, and geeIdunno MAX SCHERZER??? I understand that Jacob deGrom is the best pitcher in baseball, but if you are admitting that your team cannot last without getting players from another team to replace him, you're admitting defeat. In April. 

The Mets could very well do all of this and still finish in third as the spoiler for the umpteenth year. They need to convince the league they are for real without genuflecting and carrying all of this potential energy that never pays off. Maybe this is the season they win the division? Maybe the Phillies, Marlins or Braves have it this year.

What will help, though, is if Max Scherzer has another nice season, even with 38 around the corner. That alone will be a good sign.

Update, not even an hour later: ….fuck’s sake…

Coming Tomorrow- He's big, he's strong, he hits home runs, and his team is once again burning up Spring Training.

Mad Max: Fury Road

 

He wanted to compete again. And so he is.

Max Scherzer pitching for the Dodgers has basically been thought of as their killswitch. And so far, Scherzer has been lights-out in LA, with 7 wins, a 1.43 ERA and 85 Ks in 10 games. Adding this to his Nats numbers give him stats that still fit him into the Cy Young race, even though teammate Walker Buehler and Phillies hurler Zack Wheeler would still like to add their first rather than Scherz' fourth. 

But...even at 37, Max Scherzer is giving peak numbers, and is in a rotation alongside extraordinary performances by Walker Buehler, Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin. Urias has an outside chance at becoming a 20-game winner next week, especially if he wins today against the D-Backs. Jansen has another 30-save season, Muncy has another 30-homer season, and Turner and Smith have 25-homer years. 

And yet...even as the Dodgers come close to their 100th win [I'm writing this Saturday morning], they are still looking at a wild card spot. 2nd best team in the league, better record than any other division leader, and they still have to play 1 game against the very dangerous Cardinals to advance to play the Giants. Because the Giants are just that good this year. 

Which also means that, despite all the Dodgers' dominance this season and their insane heights over the course of the year, they may not even have a proper chance this year. And even if they do make it past the Cardinals for the wild card spot, they'll still be coming in at 4th seed, and will have to play the Giants, despite having a better record than both the Brewers and [NL East division leaders]. That's kind of mismatched, and a little unfair. But hey, this is how the structure works, and Manfred's probably gonna widen the playoffs next year anyway because he wants to give the Astros and Cardinals more of a chance.

The bottom line is a team as good as the Dodgers shouldn't have to go through this many hoops in order to prove that they can compete again, and they have a good chance of losing before they can even defend their throne, even if they're arguably the more deserving playoff team in comparison to the Giants. 

But, with that rotation, and with enough tools to keep them going, they have more of a chance than the average wild card team, and they could potentially make another World Series this year. Especially if they keep putting Mad Max on the mound.

Coming Tonight: Perhaps the wisest move the Yankees made at the deadline. And no, it's certainly not a Luis Cessa Reds custom.

2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #289-297

 As we approach the final hero number card, which we will hit on Friday, we continue our rectification of the 2020 Topps sets, including uniforms and players that should have been there, and depicting an All Star Game that should have happened.

Onto the next 9 cards:

Card #289- Max Scherzer ASG, Washington Nationals

The only thing standing between Max Scherzer and his eighth consecutive All Star nomination was a global pandemic. Thankfully, if the 2020 ASG had been played as normal, Max Scherzer definitely would have been given an invite for the NL squad. Now 36, Scherzer is still undeniably one of the best pitchers in baseball, still can pile up strikeouts like nobody else, and providing a low ERA, even though his 2020 numbers were a bit elevated comparative to previous years. The good news is that Scherzer's currently leading the NL in Ks, and is on pace for another career year, and that 8th ASG nod.

Card #290- Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

One of two major pitching rookies called up in July of 2020, Tarik Skubal did his best when faced with some of the best lineups in the central divisions, but struggled. In 8 games, he posted a 5.63 ERA, a 1-4 record and 37 Ks. His 2021 numbers are slightly better, and he's beginning to get the hang of MLB hitters, but being on the Tigers certainly does not help.

Card #291- Jordan Romano, Toronto Blue Jays

Jordan Romano is a rarity these days, a rare native son of Canada who actually gets drafted by, and debuts with, the Toronto Blue Jays. Although Romano was a multiple-time Rule 5 draft pick, and bopped around from Chicago to Arlington and back to Toronto during the 2019 offseason, he finally made a name for himself as a Blue Jay last year, spinning 15 innings of solid relief work over as many games. Romano finished the season with a 1.23 ERA and 21 Ks. Romano has been similarly dominant during the 2021 season as well.

Card #292- Elias Diaz, Colorado Rockies

By 2019, with Francisco Cervelli missing time due to concussions, the starting catching job in Pittsburgh was between Elias Diaz, longtime backup, and Jacob Stallings, fellow longtime backup. Somewhere in late 2019, Stallings won the job, and Diaz was cut, and signed with the Rockies to back up Tony Wolters. In 2020, Diaz had 26 games to prove himself, and hit .235 with 9 RBIs and 2 homers. Not much, but on par with what Wolters was doing. Now Diaz is backing up Dom Nunez, and hitting significantly worse.

Card #294- Mike Trout ASG, Los Angeles Angels

What do I even need to say about this one? Of course Mike Trout starts the 2020 ASG in the outfield. Of course people vote for him, of course he plays, of course he had another phenomenal season last year. It's kind of a foregone conclusion at this point. Even with an injury this season, Trout is still seen as the best in the game, and will likely come back and get right back to where he was.

Card #295- Brett Phillips, Tampa Bay Rays

Yeah, in the scope of the 2020 season, this is a very important one. Brett Phillips, the man who went to Milwaukee with Adrian Houser and Josh Hader in exchange for Mike Fiers and Carlos Gomez, then went to Kansas City in exchange for Jorge Lopez, was dealt again, to Tampa from Kansas City, in the last throes of the season. It was a very low-key deadline deal, one that didn't mean much at the time. Heck, it didn't mean much for the regular season either, as Phillips hit .150 with 3 hits and 3 RBIs in his 17 regular season games. But all it took was one plate appearance in the postseason to turn things around, driving in the game-winning RBI during a very long World Series game against the Dodgers, and keeping the Rays alive a little longer. Phillips is having a much better 2021, though his inability to hit for average persists.

Card #296- Luis Torrens, Seattle Mariners

Last post we talked about Luis Torrens, former Yankee prospect who was catching games in San Diego in August 2020 before being traded for Austin Nola. Torrens walked right into the starting catching spot for the Mariners, and did a decent job at the plate, hitting .254 with 6 RBIs in 18 games. His defensive abilities were a concern, and given another starting role in 2021, Torrens would disappoint, with a .178 average in 25 games. Torrens is currently back in the minors, waiting for his next chance.

Card #297- Max Schrock, St. Louis Cardinals

Once the Cardinals returned from their long COVID shutdown last year, there were several holes in the roster that needed to be filled. One of the was filled by utility infielder Max Schrock, who'd come to the team in the Stephen Piscotty deal. Schrock was a decent defensive piece that struggled at the plate in 11 games, with a .176 average despite 1 home run. Schrock was demoted thereafter, waived by Chicago and then Cincinnati, and is now a decent bench bat, albeit an injured one, for the Reds.

On Friday, we get to card #300, and some other cards as well. Lots of ASG cards coming up in this one.

Scherz, Mine and Ours

 

How's this- a 9 inning complete game victory with 9 strikeouts and an earned run, immediately followed by a taxi to the hospital to watch your wife give birth to your third child. To Max Scherzer, it's just another day of being the best.

I mean, the fact that Scherzer is still one of the best pitchers in the game right now is kind of superfluous. He's already a Hall of Famer, for sure. He already has 3 Cy Youngs and a World Series ring. If this season continues at a strong pace, he will hit 3000 strikeouts this year, after leading the leagues in said category 3 times already over the course of his career, and in wins 4 times. Scherzer's place among all-time pitchers is already pretty cemented, and he's already one of the greatest Jewish ballplayers to grace the bigs. But the reality of Scherzer collecting all of those accolades, and at 36 showing no sign of slowing down and continuing to be among the best...that just speaks to his incredible abilities. 

For the record- looking back at the deal that sent him to Detroit 11 years ago, you see a lot of big names. Curtis Granderson obviously. Ian Kennedy. Austin Jackson. Edwin Jackson. Only Scherzer and Kennedy are still in the leagues, and only Scherzer is still a trusted starter. And this is a guy that had never had a winning season prior to the trade, had WAR earnings around 1.2 or 1.3 in both of his Arizona seasons, and was thought of as a lower-key piece of the trade. And he's the HOFer of the deal.

Max Scherzer's great for baseball. This shouldn't be disputed. 

However, looking at the 2021 Nationals, I'm seeing some similar patterns to their 2019 squad, and they're not exactly wowing me. The top performers right now are people like Scherzer, Ryan Zimmerman, Josh Harrison, Yadiel Hernandez, Yan Gomes and Jon Lester. All of these people are over 30. If you'll recall, this was one of the chief strategies of the 2019 squad- getting older veterans to mix in with the kids and creating a strong core that way. It's not a long-lasting strategy, it's not a feasible way of creating a long-lasting franchise, but it works in short term. And if they wanna do that, fine. They're in third now, and they had a nice week that brought them here. But I worry about the overabundance of older players.

Not that the youth is doing badly, because they still have younger guys like Trea Turner, Juan Soto and Victor Robles doing well. But it's not the focus of the team. This team still has a very old median age to it, and it's very visible. Even the newer additions to help the team, like Josh Bell and Kyle Schwarber, skew older. Neither are hitting for average either.

So as good as Scherzer is doing, I worry about the sustainability and future of his Nationals. As everyone should.

Coming Tonight: An ace that has done the unthinkable- stay on the Detroit Tigers for SEVEN SEASONS.

Championship Series Update: I Like the Sound of This Edition

I had to make this one, because I kind of love that I can make current Expos customs with accurate uniforms. Hell, if the Nats do well enough in the postseason, maybe this can get some people to consider bringing the Expos back!

Anyway, yesterday was a day of pitching battles. Scherzer v. Wainwright was the first one, and while both performances were steady, it was Scherzer's that won out because...well, he's Max Scherzer. I mean, come on. You try going against that kind of power. Scherzer, as well as the bullpen, allowed only one run from the Cardinals (thanks Doo), while Daniel Hudson got the save after returning from paternity leave. It was also a nice day for Adam Eaton, Matt Adams and Michael Taylor, who shined in some moments of hitting and RBIs. I sincerely hope the Nats keep this up as they head back to Washington.

This one was also a pitching battle, and while you'd think Greinke-Tanaka would be a lot more lopsided...you have to remember how impressive of a postseason pitcher Masahiro Tanaka is. He set some sort of record about allowing 2 or less runs in each of his first 7 postseason starts, which is pretty damn insane, and should shut up some of the Tanaka haters, because even in the Bronx there are some.

Tanaka kept stymying the Astros, which is impressive enough, but GLEYBER TORRES may have had the flashier night, taking 5 RBIs, which was 71% of the Yankees' offensive output last night, which means everything other than solo homers from Gio Urshela and Giancarlo Stanton was thanks to him. Which is pretty awesome for a second-year player.

Tonight is Verlander vs. Paxton. Another tricky one, but...you never know.

Division Series Update: Climax & Anticlimax

So yesterday, four teams were in position to advance on a win. Three of them lost.

...it's damn great that the one team that won was the New York Yankees, or else I'd be sleepwalking through this post.

Oh, man, what is there NOT to beam about? Sevvy and Green combined for some sharp pitching early. Torres, Gardy and Didi continued their ALDS dominance, while Cameron Maybin got in on the fun with a late-inning homer, and Chapman's save sealed the deal on an already-beautiful ALDS. I'm very proud of these guys, and I hope this dominance and power carries over to the ALCS, no matter who they play. It's likely that it'll be the Astros, which should be VERY tough...

But seeing as the Rays just beat up Zack Greinke, maybe it'll be easier than I thought. Everybody was teeing off of the Cy Young winner yesterday, including Brandon Lowe, Kevin Kiermaier and Ji-Man Choi, leading to a Rays Game 3 victory over the favored Astros. I'm not exactly saying this spells doom for Houston, because they're likely going with Verlander today against Tyler Glasnow, which was a matchup that did them in last time, but...maybe they're more human than we all thought.

Meanwhile, in the NL...I just can't be happy for long, can I?

The Cards-Braves Game 4 went for 10 innings, with a tied-at-4 thing making it wide open for both teams, despite Dallas Keuchel making his short rest well-known with some home runs for Goldy and Ozuna. But...ultimately, Yadier Molina was the hero, sailing a Julio Teheran fly ball into left for an RBI, capping the game at 10, and...anticlimactically forcing a Game 5 in Atlanta. It worries me how close this matchup is looking. It also worries me that the Braves might be going with Folty for Game 5.

Annnnd Max Scherzer decided that there'll be TWO Game 5s on Wednesday. By sheer force of will, it seems, as only Justin Turner was able to get a run through for LA. Also, the Washington offense is still alive and well, taking Rich Hill out in the third thanks to quick work from Anthony Rendon, who was the non-Scherzer MVP of the game.

As the series goes back to LA on Wednesday, possibly putting the ball back in the hands of Walker Buehler (and maybe Stephen Strasburg?), could this lead to Washington's first-ever playoff advancement. Could my World Series winner pick end up flaring out thanks to a Wild Card? I legitimately have no idea how this one will go now.

Still, while we have time, let's eulogize the fallen:

I legitimately thought the Twins had more of a shot than this. I thought their home runs would seal the fate of the Yankees' uneven pitching. I thought that Nelson Cruz and Max Kepler would have field days with Chad Green. This was not the case. And it's sad, too, because the Twins had become such a fun team, even if they were playing mine.

I do think the Twins will be able to regroup and strengthen for 2020, and they may have more of a shot then if they sand off some of their inadequacies. But this was a heartbreaking end to what seemed like a strong year for them.

Today, we've got one elimination-level game left. If this one goes to five as well, I give up.

One-Eyed Ace

...So we're just gonna gloss over the fact that Max Scherzer broke his nose in practice, then pitched a gem the next day with a black eye?

I mean, for Scherzer, it's just another postscript on his HOF plaque. Like there's any doubt that he's getting one. I mean, come on. At this rate, Scherzer will hit 3000 strikeouts and 200 wins before turning 37, he's come in the top 5 of Cy Young voting every year since 2013 (and in that interim has only seen his ERA rise above 3 ONCE), he's got 3 Cy Youngs, six going on seven ASG appearances, and he's saved this Nationals team from completely bottoming out. I know that people have always been fixated on Clayton Kershaw as our generation's ace, but if Kershaw is the Greg Maddux, then Scherzer might be the Randy Johnson. Kershaw has had human moments in the last few years. Scherzer hasn't had one since 2012.

The Nats, however, have had several human moments this year. The non-performances of Brian Dozier and Yan Gomes, the inability for any prospect to stay on the 40-man for more than five minutes (Kieboom, Stevenson, Noll...they've gotta keep waiting), the umpteenth injury to Ryan Zimmerman, the inefficiency of most of the bullpen (like, you know you're in trouble when your idea to spice up the 'pen is signing 42-year-old Fernando Rodney), and the inefficiency of Dave Martinez to manage the team out of tough spots. It's the final phase of the Nats' transition from contenders to rebuilders, and it's not looking pretty.

You look at the pitching, though, and...there's still some hope. Scherzer's here til 2021, Strasburg's here til 2023, and Corbin's here til 2024. Unless massive trades happen, this pitching staff is gonna stay pristine for a couple years. I just wonder if...by the time these contracts are up, will the Nats have another contending roster? Or will said contracts keep them from rebuilding completely.

Food for thought.

Coming Tonight (?)- I might get the 2nd half of the SC break up, but next custom is a Royals pitcher, so excuse my lack of drive to post it as soon as possible.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Nationals

First of all...how did I not make a Strasburg during the year??

Yeah, it may have been due to injuries, but Stephen Strasburg had another fantastic year for the Nationals, FINALLY blossoming into the consistent, big-game strikeout artist that the team had in mind when they drafted him, ever-so-subtly, in the late 2000s. This was a fairly standard, if slightly truncated, year for Strasburg, with a 10-7 record, a 3.75 ERA, and 156 strikeouts, his lowest since his last injury-depleted season in 2015. Even with strong pitchers onhand, as well as Patrick Corbin's rise to DC, he's still a formidable threat to any NL East batter, and I imagine he'll stay that way.

 Jeremy Hellickson's 2018 success shouldn't have been a surprise, but after depressingly dim numbers with Baltimore in 2017, it was a pleasant one. Signed late in the offseason, Hellickson joined the rotation after Erick Fedde proved to be ineffective, and he got back to his old tricks, with a 3.45 ERA in 19 starts. Yes, his velocity is down, judging by his 65 strikeouts (which is exactly what he had in 20 starts with Philly last year), but he still kept batters down, even as a fifth man.

 Thanks to Juan Soto, Victor Robles' role in the Nats' outfield was slighter than he'd wanted, but he still popped in down the stretch to hit a few home runs, and notched 17 hits in 21 games, which isn't bad. I'm not sure if he'll be a part of the conversation for 2019, as it's already looking like a Soto-Eaton-Taylor outfield (with a possible campaign by Howie Kendrick).

 The rest of these are dupe customs I prepared for an award season that was admittedly not kind to Washington. Juan Soto was, in my opinion, a serious threat for the ROY award, but Acuna's numbers proved too juicy for voters to ignore. Soto is still a great young outfielder, and will likely blossom upon Harper's exit next year.

 Meanwhile, Max Scherzer was inches away from his THIRD consecutive Cy Young award, but had to be separated from Jacob deGrom by literal inches (and ERA, I think). Still, a 300-strikeout year, an 18-7 record, and a 2.50 ERA is nothing to be mad at. The fact that Scherzer can do all of those things...at 33...and for it to be called a normal season for him? That says all you need to know about Scherzer as an all-time talent. The man has led the league in strikeouts AND WHIP...for the past THREE SEASONS. 33 is typically when people STOP leading the league in things like that.

Keep up the good work, Max.

And then...there is Bryce Harper. Who played his final season in Washington this year, after seven landmark seasons as an outfielder, arguably only three of them great. Say what you will about Harper's exploits, and his 2018 season (which...would have been his weakest had it not been for his 2016), but Harper left his mark on Washington, gave him nearly everything they asked for when they drafted him, and made the Nationals a playoff-caliber team. One wonders where they'll go without him. Perhaps further than the NLDS.

Coming Tomorrow- The worst team in baseball, 2018.