Uncustomed Heroes of 2023: Guardians

Similar to the 2023 Giants, the 2023 Guardians wanted to capitalize on a previous competitive season only for things to end up a lot less successful this time around. The Guardians were coming off an excellent 2022, where their lineup got ahead by contact work, and their youth movement did the work without being A.) big stars or B.) the biggest power guys. So, like the Giants, the Guardians made some offseason moves that went against the previous regime, including getting Josh Bell, who was in full one-dimensional power mode this year [til the trade to Miami]. And subsequently, nobody hit for average, the rotation was overtaxed and halfway through the year they had a whole nother rotation of rookies. It wasn't ideal. Terry Francona bowed out gracefully after the season, and this is yet another team going for a new approach next year with Mike Zunino, so hopefully they'll pick a tactic and stick with it.

One of the big stars of the 'contact era' of the Guardians who struggled this year during the new direction was Myles Straw. He was down several pegs defensively from his strong 2022, and only hit .238, which honestly just made him a wholly less interesting player. Hell, he didn't even get in any fights with Yankee fans this year. 

2024 Prediction: I honestly kinda think that Myles Straw is just as good as the team he's playing for. I think next year will be an improvement for the Guardians, so I think he'll be back to where he was defensively. Don't expect anything too interesting offensively though.

 

In the absence of many trusted rotation arms this year, usual relief piece Xzavion Curry was slotted into the mix, and at the very least he made his versatility well known. In 9 starts he had a 5.24 ERA, while in 32 relief appearances he had a 3.41 ERA. That may be his primary use going forward, but at the very least the Guardians figured out how many uses Curry has.

2024 Prediction: Honestly? What if he takes the ninth after all's said and done? You're hearing about how Cleveland wants to flip Clase, they're not confident in Karinchak anymore, it could happen..

Bo Naylor, brother of mainstay Josh, got another swing at finding his place in the Guards' lineup, and it does seem like going forward he will factor into the catching picture, considering that the nearest other options were Mike Zunino and Cam Gallagher. Naylor was a step up defensively, and also hit 11 homers and 32 RBIs in 67 games.

2024 Prediction: Gets the starting catching gig, keeps it, and becomes just as much of a mainstay as his older brother. Hell, maybe the Guardians find some way to trade for the third Naylor brother. You never know at this point..

And now, two flashes in the pan I wanted to talk about.

Noah Syndergaard was brought to Cleveland in a trade that gave Amed Rosario success in LA. The Dodgers were done with Syndergaard's injury tendencies as well as his cooked throwing arm. The Guardians did well in Thor's first few starts solely because Thor didn't let any runs go anywhere there wasn't a fielder. Then once teams figured him out the ERA ballooned, and Syndergaard left Cleveland after 6 games, with a 5.40 ERA, a 1.290 WHIP, and, pitifully, 18 Ks.

2024 Prediction: Calls it a career. I mean, I hate to say it cause I saw this guy in his rookie season just EIGHT YEARS AGO, but throwing smoke was not a sustainable model for him.

And then you have Lucas Giolito, who stunk it up in LA, then was waived almost immediately as a cost-cutting measure and wound up in Cleveland. Giolito, like Thor, had just 6 starts in Cleveland, and his went similarly badly, with a 7.04 ERA, a 1-4 record and a 1.5 WHIP, despite 39 Ks. Like, say what you will about Giolito, at least his arm still works.

2024 Prediction: Whoever signs him fixes his arm and gets a fantastic year out of him. Probably the Dodgers.

Coming Tomorrow- Before they started clearing their roster for an Ohtani signing that didn't happen, this team made a go at a playoff spot with some jarring mistakes. 

Trade Deadline 2023: The Ones I Didn't Get

 I've already gone over the trade deadline deals I really liked, and some of the smaller ones that didn't make the list, but now it's time to discuss some of the other ones. The ones where, at the time the deal went out, I wasn't quite sure what the tactics were. My rule is if a deal doesn't need to be made, and if you're fine without making a deal, you shouldn't have to. There were too many trigger-happy GMs this deadline, and one of them was someone that has normally been very cautious. 

We've got a few of these to talk about, so let's dive in. The ones I didn't get, 2023 edition:

-Amed Rosario to the Dodgers, Noah Syndergaard to the Guardians

This was a deal, the likes of which we've seen many times, of two teams trading guys that just didn't work for each other. Rosario had some decent moments last year, but was nowhere near his Mets-era promise. Thor had some early magic but just can't throw as well as he did before the surgeries. I just...don't see why they could help each other. Yes, the Dodgers did need infield help, but was Rosario really the best choice? I can sort of see why now, cause he's been playing a lot better since landing in LA, but I question why they wanted to prioritize someone like Rosario, even getting him at the very beginning of the trade period. Thor in Cleveland I can sort of understand, though I will come back to this later, as Thor is still on the active roster.

-Paul Sewald to the Diamondbacks, Josh Rojas and Dominic Canzone to the Mariners

This is another type of deal I don't get, the lateral trade between two competitors. Maybe the Ms weren't thinking they'd compete when they dealt Sewald, but they're in the thick of the wild card race now, ahead of even the Angels, who went bigger than they did. The D-Backs, of all people, are the ones falling fast, and that's why it confuses me that it's the D-Backs receiving the most here. Sewald is an excellent relief piece and will likely be put right into the ninth. I get why Rojas and Canzone were dealt sort of, there wasn't room for them, but...it does seem like the Mariners get the net win here. Oh, now they have a decent depth infielder and another sharp outfield guy. I'm confused as to why the D-Backs gave two really good pieces up to another contender. Maybe it was just a 'suiting each other's needs' kind of thing, but it's odd to see trades between two teams in similar positions during this period.

-Paul DeJong to the Blue Jays, prospects to the Cardinals

The reason I'm so vexed by this move is that this is very much a reactionary tactic in direct response to Bo Bichette landing on the IL. Not only do we not know how long Bichette will be gone for, but we still have Santiago Espinal, who's a perfectly good shortstop and can cover that position well. The trigger finger was just really itchy, I think. DeJong getting out of St. Louis is something I figured would happen, but like with Whit Merrifield last year, the Blue Jays are making viable starters into depth options because they can. They are lucky that Merrifield became a perfectly good starter this year, but I don't know how much DeJong is going to offer them as a starter before Bichette returns. It seems like it fills a very specific and temporary need, which, yes, is the name of the game during the trade deadline, but I don't even think they intend to use DeJong in that prominent a role going into the playoffs.

-Andrew Chafin to the Brewers, Peter Strzelecki to the D-Backs

Another odd move the D-Backs made as a competitor was another lateral deal to a competitor with more leverage. Andrew Chafin was having an awesome reunion year with Arizona, he was doing so well. I really don't understand why they traded him, and why to the Brewers. It's not like they had too many people that threw with a specific arm, both Chafin and Strzelecki are both right-handers. It's not like there was something behind-the-scenes, clearly Chafin loves Phoenix. And it's the kind of deal where both are good relievers who have slightly high ERAs this year, and...neither team really wins per se, but also neither team really needed to make this trade. Why did these two need to be traded for each other? Who does this help?

-Rodolfo Castro to the Phillies, Bailey Falter to the Pirates

This is literally the Edmundo Sosa deal all over again. Falter wasn't working as a starting piece, the Bucs needed starters ready to go, that I get. Rodolfo Castro was the starting shortstop in the wake of Oneil Cruz's injury, and he was holding the position while Tucupita Marcano was hurt. There are thankfully shortstop options left in Pittsburgh, like Alika Williams and Liover Peguero, but...the Bucs clearly needed Castro more than the Phils did. Because now he's another depth infielder for us, and considering the rumor that we might go for a recently released guy I'll mention later, I'm not sure what he can do for us that, ironically Edmundo Sosa isn't already doing. 

-Garrett Cooper to the Padres, Ryan Weathers and prospect to the Marlins

Both of the next two deals that Kim Ng made vex me, and it's for one simple reason: I am not sure anything was wrong with Garrett Cooper. He was hitting .256 this season with 13 homers and 46 RBIs, that's not bad at all. Because of Yuli Gurriel he was in more of a DH type role, but he was still useful, and still had purpose in Miami. I don't know if he fits into the Padres' lineup quite as well, even if they have needed a stronger DH option. I think it's cool that Ryan Weathers gets to be the second member of his family to pitch for the Marlins, and they definitely have a swing spot for him. I just really don't think they needed to upgrade Garrett Cooper. Because, well...

-Josh Bell to the Marlins, Jean Segura to the Guardians

...this isn't much of an upgrade. Bell is not known for his defense, and he's been having a lackluster year for the Guardians. He may never hit his 2019, or even first-half 2022, heights again. I don't see how he's an upgrade from Cooper. Maybe in name recognition, but not current ability. He did just hit one out last night, but he also hit one out upon arriving in San Diego last year, and he sort of...settled after that. I also don't see why the Guardians would agree to receive Segura if they were just gonna release him immediately. This gives someone like Philly the chance to grab him and bring him back, as unlikely as that may be. It just seems like the Guardians threw out a very big contract from months ago for...nothing. And that's an alarming move, even if this does do the Marlins well going forward.

Maybe some of these will make sense over time, like Bryan Cashman nabbing Bader in exchange for Jordan Montgomery. But at the moment, I am very vexed, and will probably continue to be for a bit.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2022: Phillies

 

Right now, the Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in football, the Philadelphia 76ers are tearing shit up with both Ebmiid and Harden healthy, the Philadelphia Union are sitting pretty after making it to the finals, and the Philadelphia Flyers also exist. But I think the single biggest accomplishment of the year in Philly sports might go to the Fightins. Nobody expected them to sneak into the playoffs, or beat St. Louis, or beat Atlanta, or beat San Diego, or take a win against the Astros, or SHUT OUT THE ASTROS. It was never gonna be perfect, and of course the Phils got no-hit twice this year, but they did what no one thought they could do and make a World Series, and I'm so immensely proud of them.

I was with my Mets fan cousins the other day, and one of them admitted to me that he thinks the Phils have the best lineup in the NL. This is a Mets fan who lives off the McNeil-Lindor-Nimmo-Alonso combo, and he's sitting there saying Turner made the Phils' lineup unstoppable. I went 'can we get that on record?' jokingly. But they are looking good next year, and additions like Trea Turner, Taijuan Walker and Matt Strahm do make me feel really good about their future chances. The NL East is gonna be tight, but they're not as outmatched as they were.

Despite going into the season with the outfield very clearly being Schwarber-Castellanos-Herrera, Matt Vierling did work his way into being a nice depth, and occasional starting, outfielder for this team. In 117 games, he hit .246 with 30 RBIs and 80 hits, plus 2 postseason hits and 1 postseason RBI. He's a handy guy to have around, and even with Brandon Marsh rendering him obsolete for the second half, he was still a big piece of this team.

2023 Prediction: Okay, so at the very least the first half, if not the first three quarters, of this season will use Schwarber at DH, Castellanos in right and Marsh in center. Folks, I think we're looking at our starting right fielder next year, and I think he'll do a nice job for himself. Defensively he's better than Marsh or Castellanos, so we'll be alright.

Zach Eflin struggled with injuries this year, and though he had a decent start with a 4.37 ERA in 13 starts, he mostly worked out of the bullpen after coming back. Surprisingly he did well as a relief, guy, with a 1.17 ERA and a save in 7 appearances. In 10 postseason games he had a 3.38 ERA with 12 Ks, 4 earned runs and a save. All things considered, not a bad end to Eflin's respectable Phils tenure.

2023 Prediction: Zunino's gone, the Rays need a new Florida man. Eflin's from Orlando, and he'll be there for a bit. They will enjoy him this year before he gets injured. 

Brad Hand spent 2021 with 3 teams, and spent 2022 with just one, and one that got him to October. Suffice to say he chose the right team. Hand was never the team's designated closer, but he was a stern, imposing eighth inning man, and he finished the year with a 2.80 ERA with 5 saves. Not as flashy as Alvarado or Dominguez, but the workmanship did not go unnoticed.

2023 Prediction: Part of me kinda wants the Phils to re-sign him, but he's more likely going to a mid-marketer and having a decent year for them.

A team with the best catcher in baseball should also have a great backup catcher, and after FINALLY getting rid of Andrew Knapp, the double-letter backup catcher trend continued after Rupp and Knapp with former Astros backup Garrett Stubbs. Stubbsy was a really nice tool for us, and I got to see him leg out a triple when no one expected him to. In 46 games, Stubbsy hit .264 with 16 RBIs and 5 homers, which was the right kind of backup performance. Sadly, Stubbs did not appear in the World Series against his former team.

2023 Prediction: More of the same. I never hope for a scenario to use him everyday, as that'd imply a JT injury which I do not want, but I think he'll continue his solid work for us.

Speaking of Astros connections, Nick Maton's brother won a World Series ring with the team this year, and Nick himself got a chance at it with the Phils. Nick has been a versatile infield guy for us, and while he didn't have much playing time til later on, he still impressed, hitting .250 with 18 hits, 17 RBIs and 5 homers in just 34 games. A lot of production in a short time. Maton only had 1 postseason at-bat, and it wasn't a productive one.

2023 Prediction: We're likely going with a Hoskins-Stott-Turner-Bohm infield. Bohm and Stott are gonna need to miss games. I think Maton is gonna have some nice games for us in the first half, and unless Bohm or Stott completely collapse, might be a trade incentive for someone.

In the interim period while Eflin was injured, Suarez missed starts and Syndergaard was still in LA, the Phils used relief guy Bailey Falter in starting situations. He actually did pretty well with the opportunity, with a 3.86 ERA, a 6-4 record and 74 Ks. Unfortunately, Falter's sole postseason start was a drubbing at the hands of San Diego. 

2023 Prediction: The Phils rotation has Nola, Wheeler, Suarez and Walker confirmed. Falter's a heavy favorite for the fifth spot out of camp, though Cristopher Sanchez and Andrew Painter are gonna make a run at it, and maybe Hans Crouse if he's anything like Topps has been saying. I think Falter will be the fifth starter as the season opens. I am not certain he will be as the season ends. Painter might be ready next year.

The first move the Phillies made in July was in nabbing Edmundo Sosa from St. Louis in exchange from Jojo Romero. It was initially viewed as an odd move, two competitors dealing, Cardinals giving an excess infielder for a crucial reliever. Sosa was a very fun pickup for us, as he hit .315 in 25 games with 17 hits and 13 RBIs, in addition to his dazzling defense.

2023 Prediction: Our primary backup infielder for next season. He's gonna do a lot of great stuff for us, and mayyyyybe take Stott's job?

The big deal the Phils made was landing Noah Syndergaard in exchange for Mickey Moniak. Thor was always a favorite of mine with the Mets, and though he'd become less of a strikeout guy and more of a leverage guy, he was still a great choice for Philly. Thor continued his leverage further with the Phils, resulting in a 5-2 record, a 4.12 ERA and 34 Ks in 10 games. Thor was also a little shaky in the postseason, as he was still limiting innings.

2023 Prediction: The Dodgers signed him expecting a Tyler Anderson-esque surprise FA triumph. I do not think it'll go as well as they think it will.

In 2019, the Phillies signed David Robertson to a 2-year deal. He pitched 7 games in 2 years for us. He then made the 2021 USA team, used it to be a 2021 Rays bullpen piece, and had a huge start to 2022 with the Cubs. On D-Rob's return to Philly, while he wasn't as consistent as he was in Chicago, he still has a 2.70 ERA, 30 Ks and 6 saves. Robertson had a postseason win against St. Louis, and was scoreless in the World Series with a save and 5 Ks in 4 games against Houston.

2023 Prediction: I don't think he'll be quite as good for the Mets, but he'll have some good moments. Robertson is probably gonna go down as one of the great relievers of the last 10 years, and next season won't be an outlier.

Tomorrow, a few fun odds and ends with the Pirates.

Top 10 Trade Deadline Deals of 2022

 Alright. Prolonged it enough. Built it up enough. Delayed it with National posts. But here, as per usual, is my personal list of the Top 10 Trade Deadline deals this year. I am judging this on how much it affects a team's playoff chances as well as future outlook, and I am keeping in mind star power as well as how much a team gave up to make this.

Here we go, right in with #10:

#10: David Peralta to the Rays, prospects to the Diamondbacks

This was a move a lot of D-Backs fans had figured was coming, and an interesting move as, in a deadline year where the Rays have given up Brett Phillips and had attempted to give up Ji-Man Choi, the Rays still end up as buyers. Peralta is not at his peak anymore, but he's a solid outfield bat, and he can provide star power for a depleted, falling Rays team. I'm not sure if the Rays will make as great of an impact on the postseason as they usually do, but competing with someone like Peralta will definitely give them a slight advantage. 

#9- Tyler Mahle to the Twins, prospects to the Reds

As much as it pains me to see the Reds unload the rest of the talent that made their teams so fun at the end of the last decade, this is at least a useful move because it reunites Mahle with Sonny Gray, and it adds him to a burgeoning rotation that could use some consistent innings eaters. Mahle will be a heck of a talent playing for a true competitor, and might have the best mileage of any of these pitching additions, even a teammate of his. 

#8- Trey Mancini to Houston, Jose Siri to Tampa, prospects to Baltimore

One of the first real blockbusters of the deadline. People had a feeling Mancini would be leaving the O's, as it's the kind of move they can make without compromising the core they've been building this year. Mancini is still a great hitter and can be a massive upgrade at 1st from Yuli Gurriel, giving them yet another upgrade in a monolithic year for the Astros. Meanwhile, Jose Siri is the kind of roster addition in Tampa that could yield outrageous dividends sooner or later. I equate him to somebody like Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes or Tyler Glasnow, where they weren't much in their initial farm system but once they got to Tampa, they figured it out and in a big way. Siri is gonna be huge for the Rays very soon, and I think he'll be the big name in this deal contemporarily. 

#7- Andrew Benintendi to the Yankees, prospects to the Royals

Yes, only #7. While this is a great deal that provides an outfield upgrade for the Yankees to people like Joey Gallo, Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton, as well as bringing a surefire contact hitter like Benny to the Bronx...a couple things have pushed this down. 1, the Yankees have made better moves this deadline. 2, the Yankees also got a major defensive upgrade in Harrison Bader thanks to a deal I will be talking about in another post, and 3, Benny hasn't figured out hitting in Yankee Stadium in his first few games there. I hope it's not like a Joey Gallo thing where the pressure's too much, and I honestly doubt it will be, but it's brought this one down a bit. Still, great move, and one that solves a lot of problems for the Yankees.

#6: Christian Vazquez to the Astros, prospects to the Red Sox. 

I had said somewhere that the only thing keeping the Astros from an essential waltz to the ALCS was a better catcher than Martin Maldonado. WELL...THEY'VE GOT ONE NOW. Vazquez was having another nice season for the Sox, now that he's in Houston he plugs in nicely. I don't think this team has many holes anymore, and it unsettles me. The Astros could very well win the whole thing this year, and Vazquez is more reassurance at backstop than they've had in a while. Excellent move, even at #6.

#5- Noah Syndergaard to the Phillies, Mickey Moniak and prospects to the Angels

Well...I CERTAINLY LOVE THIS MOVE. No offense meant towards people like Kyle Gibson and Ranger Suarez, but the back half of the Phillies rotation has a lot of very dull innings eaters without a lot of fun upsides. We NEEDED a guy like Thor. First of all, hooray, reunited with Wheeler. Second of all, while he's been a strikeout artist for years, those injuries have mellowed him into a more controlling, thoughtful pitcher, and he's had a nice start for the Angels. And thirdly...guys, Noah Syndergaard gets to pitch for one of my teams. As if I needed another excuse to love this guy. Yes, there's the issue of injuries, and Thor has had a ton over the years, which is why this is lower than some other pitching moves, but...on paper this is great. Thor on the Phils. Really helps our postseason chances.

#4- Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the Yankees, J.P. Sears and prospects to the Athletics.

Well...this was the Yankees big pitching move this year. I think it's really good. Montas, while never the standout of the A's rotation, has always been a nasty little strikeout guy for them, and has had some big games even this season. Trivino, while he's struggled recently, has had masterful control as a bullpen asset there. And even if we lose a starting option like J.P. Sears, especially in the wake of losing ANOTHER STARTING OPTION BRIAN, Montas is not only an innings eater, he's an impressing starting asset that gives us another leg up in terms of our rotation. Cole, Montas, Cortes and Taillon are all looking good, even if that fifth spot still worries me [THANKS AGAIN BRIAN]. 

#3- Josh Hader to the Padres, Taylor Rogers, Dinelson Lamet et al to the Brewers

This was my biggest shock of the deadline. Yes, contracts are contracts, but HADER getting dealt, as one of the best closers in the game right now, is huge. Especially considering that this is a deal between two competitors, and they're honestly helping each other. I have a whole post prepared tomorrow involving these kinds of 'you scratch my back' deals, and why they baffle me, but this one I can kind of see the benefits of. Rogers is still a great closer for the Brewers, and he can still help them compete. Hader, meanwhile, is pretty much a rental for the Padres, but he helps them become even more ironclad in the ninth, and adds to the 'all-star team' mentality San Diego is going with for this run. Probably has the most immediate ramifications of any of these deals, and it's still pretty impressive.

#2- Luis Castillo to the Mariners, prospects to the Reds

Initially you look at this deal and it's not very big. Okay, the Mariners get a solid innings-eater like Castillo, big whoop. Well...then you start to think about it. The Mariners got the #1 arm on the board this deadline. They got one of the top arms on the board in the offseason as well, Robbie Ray. So now their rotation is Ray, Logan Gilbert, Castillo, Chris Flexen and Marco Gonzales, with the occasional assist by George Kirby. That is...that is outstanding. Even if this team has had trouble with Houston and now is fighting New York tooth and nail, Luis Castillo puts them over the edge from novelty streaker into the main lexicon of competitors. Luis Castillo could be the Mariners' way of breaking the 21 year playoff drought. And I think he's the exact right guy for this team. 

In a normal year, that'd be a ballsy yet respectable pick for #1, completely changes a team's gameplan and makes for a new favorite in the wild card race. 

This, however, is not a normal year.

#1- Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the Padres, Luke Voit, Mackenzie Gore and C.J. Abrams, along with some prospects, to the Nationals. 

Well...crap. A.J. Prefer just broke the deadline, guys. Let's be clear, we knew Soto would be changing hands, the team and him weren't on great terms, you could see it. We had a feeling Josh Bell would be leaving too considering his season. But...not like this. Oh my gosh. Putting not only Soto but BELL in the same lineup as Manny Machado, Jake Cronenworth, Trent Grisham and eventually Fernando Tatis Jr....uh...yeah, that's gonna be hard for anybody to beat. In terms of the return, the Nats did pretty well too, getting a power-hitting 1B/DH in the wake of Zim's departure, a starting phenom in Gore that I'm surprised the Padres parted with, and a shortstop that wasn't getting any playing time in SD anyway. The Nats now have Abrams, Gore, Josiah Gray, Keibert Ruiz, Lane Thomas, and all these new prospects chilling in the minors. Don't be shocked if they take off in a couple years. For now, the Padres won this deadline, and they got the biggest piece on the board. Get ready for what they're about to do in the NL.

Tomorrow, we're gonna talk about some of these that didn't make much sense.

Norse of Action

 The Angels so far: Noah Syndergaard has won both his starts, Shohei Ohtani has lost both his starts. It's a whole new ballgame.

In the last three games, the Angels have gone from curious AL West denizen to leading the division over the Houston Astros [thanks to Seattle for their help]. And while the argument can be made that the Angels sweeping Texas while the Astros have to combat a much better team like the Mariners does put them on uneven playing fields....I don't care, I'm very happy that someone other than the Astros is in first, and am even happier that it's finally the Angels.

At first glance, though, this seems like an Angels team that is picking up where last year's left off. Rendon and Adell aren't hitting, Trout isn't at 100% yet, the big guns are people like Jared Walsh and somehow Tyler Wade [I'm happy to see it, though]. At the very least, Shohei Ohtani is leading this team in home runs with 3, but for a team that boasts Ohtani, Trout and Rendon all healthy at the same time, you'd think the lineup would be a little bit more forceful. So far, a lot of the minor players have been laying in the hurt, like Matt Duffy, Brandon Marsh and Jack Mayfield. Which isn't bad, I'm just hoping that Trout and Rendon eventually take off fully. Ohtani, I think will be fine. 

The pitching has been the equalizer, and the team has mostly staved off losses not solely on the strength of people like Noah Syndergaard, Patrick Sandoval and Michael Lorenzen, but on the extremely strong bullpen, and the additions of Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera and Archie Bradley. Still, having Noah Syndergaard healthy has been a huge asset, as he's won both his starts, and has focused more on craft and less on being a pure strikeout artist [he's got 5 Ks overall]. Maybe the tide is turning and players are figuring out that throwing hard as hell on every pitch is dangerous [Hunter Greene will learn this very soon, I think].

I am very glad this team has made it to first, but I also think that if the team continues at these little habits, and at this state, they might lose first eventually as well. The core needs to reignite, and people like Jose Suarez and Shohei Ohtani need to even things out on the mound, in order to really convince me that this Angels team has legs.

Coming Tomorrow- A trusted starting pitcher for a team that might be a shoo-in for last place this year.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Mets

 

Business as usual for the Mets. All the promise, all the work, none of the results.

The Mets were looking for big seasons from Jacob deGrom, Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto. Instead they got...pieces of them. DeGrom was incredible, but only for 15 games. Lindor left with a 3.2 WAR, but only a .230 average. Nimmo missed a third of the season. Conforto slowed to a halt. And the Mets had to keep soldiering on before ducking out of first and letting the Phillies, and eventually the Braves, take the East. I hate that it keeps happening...but ya gotta admit it's a little funny.

Signed as an outfield piece, Kevin Pillar, while taking some starts in Brandon Nimmo's place, was mostly a backup/bench OF, which I don't think he loved. I think his biggest highlight of the year was that wild pitch to the face. Otherwise, he hit .231 with 15 homers in 124 games. Nothing too special.

2022 Prediction: Does end up starting, but for a lower market team with less pressure.

Edwin Diaz continues to baffle me. On paper, this sounds like a decent season, his third for the Mets- a 3.45 ERA, 32 saves and a pen-high 89 Ks. While not quite as statistically strong as his last season for the Mets, Diaz did deliver his best season as a closer since 2018, his 57-save year. And yet with his blown saves, shaky appearances and lack of complete control, Mets fans still aren't convinced in regards to Diaz. I'll tell ya this, he's way more consistent than Hector Neris. 

2022 Prediction: A similar season in the ninth, with a lower ERA. I hope.

J.D. Davis's position was sort of lapped by Jonathan Villar prior to the season, which is why it was such a shock that Davis came out to an insane start at the plate, hitting .285 with an .820 OPS in 73 games. Yes, he did get injured after over a month, giving the position over to Villar, but he still had some versatile and consistent stats, making him a useful, if not quite indispensable, piece.

2022 Prediction: With Escobar at 3rd and even more backup outfielders, expect even more of a bench presence with less starry results. 

In one of the most bizarre moves of the year, other than trading Diego Castillo for J.T. Chargois and coming away with a win, the Rays traded Rich Hill to the Mets for Tommy Hunter. Hill somehow came away with some fine numbers, with a 3.84 ERA and 59 Ks in 12 starts. Hill is probably the new Bartolo Colon, and I am 100% here for it.

2022 Prediction: More messy starts with the hometown Red Sox, eventually bottling into relief numbers.

2021 was the last season in Queens for longtime flamethrower Noah Syndergaard, who signed with the Angels during the offseason. Though Syndergaard's output has been limited in recent years, he's still a very powerful pitcher with some larger-than-life personality traits. Thor only pitched 2 innings this year, and came away with 2 Ks and 2 earned runs. 

2022 Prediction: AT LAST, THE ANGELS HAVE AN ACE THAT DOESN'T LOSES HIS FOOTING OR GETS INJURED HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. PLEASE. PLEASE, NOAH, I'M BEGGING YOU.

Tomorrow, a dissection of what happened after the mass Nats exodus.

Thor Years Later

So yeah. We're four years since the big Mets World Series team that...kind of came and went rather quickly. They built a roster, refined it, went to a World Series, then everybody got hurt, then everybody else left, and now here we are. A very okay Mets team trying to rebuild.

And yet the spirit of the 2015 squad is still there, as Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard are still worthy aces. Yes, Thor's ERA is a bit higher than we'd like this year, but he still has 77 strikeouts, and he hasn't gotten injured yet, which tends to happen around this time of year. And deGrom isn't exactly doing a Cy-Young caliber year, but he's still a solid ace.

If anything, the pitchers behind them in the rotation are picking up most of the slack: Zack Wheeler's having his best season to date, Steven Matz has a low ERA, and even Jason Vargas is doing okay. What worries me is Edwin Diaz, who only has 13 saves, and seems to be literally turning into Francisco Rodriguez in 2009. And also Jeurys Familia, who hasn't recovered from his return from Oakland.

What also intrigues me is the All-Veteran bench that the Mets seem to be employing. They've already gone through Rajai Davis and Keon Broxton, but they're now employing Carlos Gomez, Adeiny Hechavarria and Aaron Altherr, and have recently signed both Matt Kemp and Ervin Santana. Man, if this was 2014, they'd be in good shape with all those guys.

Bold strategy, Cotton. But...as Gomez is hitting slightly better than he did in Tampa, and Hechavarria has been a solid replacement for Robinson Cano at second. Plus...need I mention all the relatively nice players who are on the lineup, like Pete Alonso, Michael Conforto, Dominic Smith and Wilson Ramos?

This is a surprisingly alright team with a few problems keeping them away from the Braves, but as the Phillies come down slowly from first, the Mets could easily strike. It could happen.

Coming Tomorrow- He was hurt for a month, came back, and...the team's just kinda doing alright.

Thor: The Dark World

After a slight bout of hand, foot and mouth syndrome, which has gone on to plague a starter on the OTHER side of New York, THE MIGHTY THOR HAS RETURNED TO QUEENS.

And it couldn't come at a better time, as the great Mets have either been injured or traded away. The only power right now is coming from the rotation, with deGrom still surging, Wheeler and Matz improving on past missteps, and Seth Lugo starting games in between bullpen sessions. Now, the problem with this team is its sudden drought in fireballing prospects, which was its thing for a while. Yes, they have this Corey Oswalt character, but he's yet to prove himself.

It's nice that Syndergaard is back in New York, tough, as his material as been strong this year, with strikeouts and velocity that's consistent with the rest of his career. He's just the kind of pitcher that gets injured a bit too often (sort of like the rest of the Mets' rotation), but when he's healthy, he's unstoppable. deGrom is probably the standout this year, but Thor is still not to be counted out.

In terms of the rest of the season...again, it'll be nice if they keep the good work up, but it's kind of all for naught- the NL East will come down to either the Braves or Phillies, and the Mets really don't have any place in the race, especially with the piss-poor, injury-laden lineup they have.

Coming Tomorrow- With Moustakas gone, he's one of the few good Royals left on the team.

And Now, Noah Syndergaard Riding the Phillie Phanatic's ATV

I think I'm gonna let the picture speak for itself today. Thor's a beast, he's a great pitcher, but...just seeing him riding the Phanatic's ATV can't help but get a smile out of me.

Coming Tonight: A more serious post, I swear. This one of a Twins slugger.

Thor

Nicknames aren't as big in baseball as they used to be. But when you hit upon a good one, it sticks, and it spreads like wildfire.

Some are just abbreviations, and those only work for a bit. Tulo, J-Bats, HanRam, J.Low. Those are cute, but when you get an ORIGINAL one...oh my gosh, it's a miracle.

Adam Dunn was The Big Donkey, which is a pretty nice one, as well as outlandishly original one. Travis Hafner was Pronk, or Project Donkey, which begs me to wonder what MLB's obsession with nicknames involving donkeys. You get some truly terrific ones like Carl "The Perfect Storm" Crawford, or Nelson "Boomstick" Cruz, or Pablo "Kung Fu Panda" Sandoval.

I could go on, but I wanna talk about my favorite in baseball right now. And that would be Noah Syndergaard, whom the fans affectionately refer to as the Mighty Thor.

THAT...is friggin' amazing. Not only do you get nicknamed after a bonafide superhero, but it's not a fun one like Superman, or Spiderman, or Wolverine. Oh, no. Noah Syndergaard is named after the NORSE GOD OF THUNDER, for crying out loud. The big, strong, muscular, long-haired dude who bashes his enemies with a gigantic hammer. THAT is the kind of guy you wanna be named after. That's the kind of guy you want people to think of when they hear your name. Oh, the Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard? Oh, you mean Thor?

I got so see this in full force when I saw him pitch last year. He gets up to the mound, and the Thor chants begin. I had no idea people called him this prior to that. Every time he got a strikeout that night, which was several because the guy had a no-no through 7 if I remember correctly, the screen would flash with lightning, and a picture of Syndergaard as Thor would light up the screen. It was fantastic. And it fit so well. Syndergaard is pretty ferocious on the mound, and his fastballs are deadly, as they were that night to the San Diego offense.

Best part is he's not even the best pitcher in Queens. Harvey, Thor, DeGrom and Matz (as well as Bartolo "BigSexy" Colon), make up the most dominating, fearsome pitching staff in baseball right now. Hell...you might even call those guys the Avengers. Because there was definitely someone on both of those named Thor.

Here's hoping the good luck continues for Thor and the Mets.

Coming Tomorrow- He was the best pitcher in baseball, and then a few crappy seasons later he returned, rejuvenated. Now he's back, leading his team back to the top in some very treacherous territory.