2020 Topps Final Edition: Cards #64-72

 Seeing some of the players I've customized in 2020 Final Edition cards already on 2021 Topps cards, outdated and all, makes me think that doing this project was the right choice. If Topps isn't going to do things properly, then I might as well make an effort to. A lot of ones in here are players in new uniforms that really would have benefitted from 2020 releases. 

Here are the next 9 cards in the set:

Card #064- Mark Mathias, Milwaukee Brewers

In the last few seasons, the Brewers have gained a habit of bringing a player up in September that foreshadows the direction of an entirely different team. In 2017, it was Lewis Brinson, pre-Yelich-trade. In 2019 it was Yelich's sub, Trent Grisham, pre-Davies-trade. And in 2020, it was Mark Mathias, a ute-type that would plug in for 16 games and hit .278 with 4 RBIs. Will he factor into the Brewers outfield in 2021? Probably not, considering it will consist of Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and Jackie Bradley. Maybe he'll join the battle for 1st? 

Card #065- Archie Bradley, Cincinnati Reds

One of the biggest bombshells in an admittedly quiet trade deadline season, Archie Bradley was bounced from his longtime team in Phoenix to join the playoff-contending Cincinnati Reds. Due to Raisel Iglesias's existence, Bradley returned to his prior role as a relief specialist, and did fairly well in six appearances, with a 1.17 ERA and 6 Ks. Unfortunately, he would get the loss during his appearance in the postseason against the Braves. Good news is he looks to be a charter member of the new and improved Phillies bullpen this year, so that should be exciting.

Card #066- Huascar Ynoa, Atlanta Braves. 

In a year where Mike Soroka would be injured, Cole Hamels would only pitch 1 game, and Felix Hernandez would opt out, the Braves had to find a lot of their own lesser-known talent to start games. Before they settled on Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright for the postseason, they started Huascar Ynoa for a few games. The 22-year-old struggled with an 8.53 ERA, and more earned runs than strikeouts. He fared better in 4 bullpen appearances, which is where he might stay in 2021. 

Card #067- Phillip Evans, Pittsburgh Pirates

It's happened a million times before- a Mets infield prospect that isn't getting any use gets moved to a smaller market and blossoms into a major player. It happened with Justin Turner, it's happening with Andres Gimenez, and last year it happened with Phillip Evans. The former Mets farmhand was signed by Pittsburgh in a low-key deal, and made the team as Colin Moran would spend time as the primary DH. Evans' 11 games in Pittsburgh were a smashing success, even when the team was tanking- he hit .359 with 9 RBIs and 14 hits, making a serious case to start at third. Then...he gets injured, is out for the season, and the Pirates bring up some kid named Ke'Bryan Hayes. Now Evans doesn't have his position as strongly anymore, and is gonna fight to make the team. You hate to see it, cause Evans was killing it last year, but will the Pirates use him as a bench piece? 

Card #068- Zac Gallen ASG, Arizona Diamondbacks

If the 2020 All Star Game had gone as planned, Zac Gallen would have been the D-Backs' only nominee, but oh what a choice he would be. Gallen was having an incredible year in 2020, with a 2.75 ERA and 82 strikeouts, marred only by pitching for a last place team. His 2.1 WAR seems to indicate more fantastic years on the mound, and at 25 [shit that's MY AGE OH NO], he's already on pace to have a nice career if he keeps things up. 

Card #069- Bradley Zimmer, Cleveland Indians

Hey, remember this guy? In 2017 he was brought up as the Indians' favorite outfield prospect, did fairly well in the majors and looked to be a steady favorite. Then injuries and call-downs happened, he couldn't hit in the majors, and he sort of disappeared from relevance. In 2020 he got another chance, and in 20 games he hit .162 with more strikeouts than hits. I'm not sure what's left for the Indians to do with Zimmer. They're giving Oscar Mercado another chance in 2021, but he's only really burned them once. Zimmer has burned them several times, and I'm not thinking he has much left to do in Cleveland.

Card #070- Dan Vogelbach, Milwaukee Brewers

The hitter affectionately referred to as 'Vogey' had a very weird year. After his ASG-caliber year in 2019, he failed to hit for average in two different DH scenarios. Then he gets picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers, gets some time at 1st and SOMEHOW STARTS HITTING, with a .328 average, 12 RBIs and 4 homers in 19 games, in addition to his first postseason hit. Vogey looks to make the team in 2021, and while I'm not thinking he'll start at 1st, he'll definitely be a late-game clutch option.

Card #071- Pedro Baez, Los Angeles Dodgers.

A very odd omission for Topps, the longtime Dodgers relief option had another strong year in 2020, with a 3.18 ERA in 18 games, and some strong setup work throughout the championship yet. As is standard for Baez, he gave up some postseason runs, even in the World Series, but he also had 10 playoff strikeouts, which at least softens the blow a little. Baez will be spending the 2021 season with, of all people, the Houston Astros, but he may have to spend some time on the IL this year. 

Card #072- Jake Lamb, Oakland Athletics

After three straight disappointing seasons, the Arizona Diamondbacks finally cut Jake Lamb, their one time power hitting heir apparent. Lamb immediately signed with the Oakland Athletics, a team needing a power-hitting third baseman after an injury to Matt Chapman. And Lamb responded by FINALLY hitting, with a .267 average in 13 games, 9 RBIs and 3 homers. While his playoff numbers were less successful, this was a message to teams that Jake Lamb could still be useful, and could still be a semi-reliable third baseman. Lamb is looking to make the Braves, and could be useful to them.

Next 9 cards on Monday. A few big rookies in this batch. 

Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Dodgers (Part Two)

Yes, I still have a ton more Dodgers to talk about in 2019. This is how good they were this year. 17 players missed regulation in terms of customs this year, which means this team was already awesome...and 17 players weren't awesome enough to go during the season, and yet...it's still SEVENTEEN. Some teams have, like, 3.

Rich Hill has sort of gone on consecutive Uncustomed Heroes years because he's a solid pitcher who's fantastic when he's healthy, but he's never a pivotal performer or leading the team. He only started 13 games this year, but Hill still had a 2.45 ERA with a 4-1 record. So he clearly still had some of his stuff.
Why Him in 2019?: Had a lower ERA than Kershaw, Buehler and Maeda. And he's 40.
2020 Prediction: Signs with a middling team, has a few more last hurrah starts and then retires.

 Meanwhile, Kenta Maeda repeated his 2018 voyage of starting well in the rotation and being moved to the bullpen for the postseason. Maeda still had a 10-8 record with 169 strikeouts, but he's not the innings-eating, high-rotation star he was.
Why Him in 2019?: Allowed 1 hit in 7 innings of postseason ball.
2020 Prediction: Will hold onto a starting rotation spot, and potentially might be traded midseason.

 In Maeda's place, the Dodgers looked to two minor leaguers to fill spots, with mostly good results. Tony Gonsolin, one of the most unlikely dominant MLB pitchers this side of Randy Dobnak, lobbed his way to a 2.93 ERA, and had a 2.89 ERA in his 6 starts.
Why Him in 2019?: Unlikeliest big-game pitcher in LA in August.
2020 Prediction: Will start the year in the minors, but will have some big games in an audition for a permanent rotation spot.

 In Gonsolin's wake left Dustin May, a more-touted prospect who was expected to be stronger, but struggled early, and eventually left a game after a liner to the head. After 4 starts, he was moved to the bullpen, and still averaged 3.63 ERA.
Why Him in 2019?: The Dodgers' second-biggest prospect debut.
2020 Prediction: The Dodgers will make a concrete decision on where they want Dustin, and no matter what they decide, he'll deliver 100 strikeouts.

 Kenley Jansen had something of a down year as closer, which is odd for a perennially dominant guy like Jansen. His 33 saves were his lowest season total since 2013, and his 8 blown saves was his highest season total ever.
Why Him in 2019?: Still closed the Dodgers.
2020 Prediction: Either he goes back to the 40s, or he loses the closing gig.

 Pedro Baez has continued to be a strong bullpen arm for LA, delivering his lowest full-season WHIP in 2019 with a .947, and, sadly, continuing his rotten postseason luck.
Why Him in 2019?: Baez was the most integral reliever in LA.
2020 Prediction: This is Baez' last year before free agency, so he'll have to deliver in order to be on the Dodgers' radar beyond this year.

 After winning a ring last year, Joe Kelly came to his former WS opponents to try to win another one. This didn't exactly happen. Kelly's 4.56 ERA, and his numbers in general, were down from last year, and his postseason numbers weren't much better.
Why Him in 2019?: Solid member of a solid bullpen.
2020 Prediction: Might not last the whole season in LA.

 Julio Urias vexes me. Like, his early troubles made me think the Dodgers had rushed him early, but now that he's had a few seasons, I just assume this is what he does? I dunno, it's odd. This year he started a few more games, and had a 3.26 ERA in 8 starts. As a reliever, he had a 2.08 ERA in 29 appearances, getting his first 4 saves. I guess this means he's better off as a closer?
Why Him in 2019?: The Dodgers finally figured out what to do with him.
2020 Prediction: Will be the strongest reliever on the club next year.

And lest we forget Adam Kolarek, a late-season trade from Tampa who posted a 0.77 ERA in 26 Dodger appearances with 45 strikeouts. In the postseason he was even nastier, despite only pitching an inning over 3 games.
Why Him in 2019?: Kolarek was possibly the Dodgers' best deadline acquisition.
2020 Prediction: A slight decline in production over a full season, but numerous strikeouts anyway.

Coming Tomorrow Morning: Now we get your Giants customs, and I'll do the Indians tomorrow night so we can balance this month back out.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Dodgers

Wanna know how good the Dodgers were this year?

Rich Hill had a 3.60 ERA, 150 strikeouts, and a 11-5 record...and I only JUST NOW got to making a custom of him, because he kept getting usurped by more urgent subjects throughout the year.

...There were people on the Dodgers more urgent...than a guy with an 11-5 record and 150 strikeouts.

Even though they lost the World Series again, the Dodgers were still a fantastic story, going from a disappointment in third to owning the leagues in September. Rich Hill, who sadly has become a bit more normalized after breaking back into the majors 8 years after we'd counted him out, had a great season as third man, even if his usual injuries midseason lessened his power.

Same with Alex Wood, who, after an impressive 2017, slumped to slightly lower numbers, with only 135 strikeouts, and a 9-8 record. Wood, to his credit, was one of the few pitchers who mostly avoided the mid-May injury spree. He missed a FEW starts, but mostly stayed a useful arm. By the season's end, he was sadly optioned to the bullpen, but I doubt he'll stay there for long.

 While not necessarily at starter caliber yet, Enrique Hernandez is a dangerous bench bat who went to work this postseason, getting back to his usual low-average high-power stuff.

 Kenta Maeda, seen here in a really cool shot, went the route I thought Hyun-Jin Ryu would go...he pitched moderately as a started, then was moved to the bullpen post-overflow. He's still a great arm, but he's down a ways from his epic 2016 debut.

 Pedro Baez is still a fantastic bullpen arm during the regular season, despite his dominance sliding a bit once the postseason begins.

And...yeah, this happened this year.

Chase Utley, one of the heroes of my youth, one of the icons of Philadelphia sports of my generation, announced his retirement, and said goodbye during his series in Philly. He's definitely got a HOF case, and he's definitely a legend in Philly, so I couldn't help but memorialize him with a dramatic, dynamic custom. You'll be missed, Chut.

Coming Tomorrow- Proof that signing a bunch of 30-year olds pre-season doesn't amount to a ring.