Uncustomed Heroes of 2021: Phillies

 

The Philadelphia Phillies had an MVP, a Cy Young candidate, and a sleeper standout named Ranger, along with so much talent, a few former All-Stars, an ex-MVP and some awesome trade deadline energy...and EVEN THAT couldn't get them into the playoffs. 

Look...I imagine it's tough. Especially in the NL East, where pretty much everyone was human and had flaws. But the Phillies had a chance in July and August to take the East, and lost the lead, paving the way for the Braves to take the east and eventually the MLB. 

The Phillies had most of the season with their rotation hydra of Wheeler-Nola-Eflin, but after 18 games, Eflin hit the IL. To that point, he'd had a 4.17 ERA and 99 Ks, but a 4-7 record. If he'd stayed healthy, yes we might not get the legend of Ranger Suarez, but maybe there'd be more rotation security and less reasons to start Chase Anderson and Matt Moore.

2022 Prediction: A healthy year, with better numbers, dwarfed by Wheeler and Nola still. 

2021 marked the return of Bamboo Brad to Citizens Bank Park. After being a trusted bench bat in St. Louis, Brad Miller kept the magic going in Philly, with 20 home runs and 49 RBIs in 140 games. More importantly, he became a steady replacement for Rhys Hoskins after his injury.

2022 Prediction: So many people could sign him. I'd honestly say the Red Sox, A's and Braves have the best chance. Unless the Phils bring him back, which I'd love, but I'm not 100% sure will happen.

With Adam Haseley, Scott Kingery and Roman Quinn all failing to make a run at the center field spot...Odubel Herrera returned from exile to take it back. Accusations be damned. In 124 games, El Torito had a comeback campaign, with a .260 average, 13 homers, and solid defensive numbers.

2022 Predictions: I get this sinking feeling that the Phils are gonna bring him back.

THANKFULLY, Hector Neris will not be playing for Philadelphia next season. I know, he did have some moments of success, and struck out 98 this season with 13 saves, but his save blows, his 3.63 ERA, and his inconsistency continued to piss off fans and management alike. 

2022 Prediction: Not even the Astros can save him, and he'll be trying to keep his ERA under 4 all year.

Didi Gregorius was injured for a portion of the year, so Joe Girardi did exactly what he did the last time Didi got injured under his watch- HE WENT AND GOT RONALD TORREYES AS BACK UP! Seeing Toe in Philly brought a tear to my eye, as he's just as fun as he was with the Yanks. In 111 games, Toe hit .242 with 41 RBIs and 7 homers, plus some dazzling defensive plays and fun moments. I think the Phillies fans enjoyed him as much as the Yankee ones did.

2022 Prediction: Somebody cool signs him, and he does well enough there, albeit in a bench role.

As for the rookies who tried to find playing time this year, Luke Williams played the biggest role in one of his first games, where he had an insane walk-off that made the fanbase learn his name very quickly. In 58 games he hit .245 with 24 hits and 6 RBIs, a decent outfield audition but not enough to get past Herrera.

2022 Prediction: Falls into a backup role.

The real impressive rookie audition came from Matt Vierling, the contact aficionado who hit .324 with 23 hits and 6 RBIs in 34 games, just coming onto the scene and immediately catching fire. Vierling had the most presence late in the season, which paved the way for potential 2022 success.

2022 Prediction: There's a starting spot with his name on it, and he's gonna keep pounding them where they ain't all the way to a .300 average.

The trade deadline returned Freddy Galvis to Philly, where he came to prominence as an everyday slap-hitter. Galvis's magic has worn off, but he still did decently enough on his return to Philly, hitting .224 with 14 RBIs and 5 homers in 32 games.

2022 Prediction: A season in the Korean leagues to ramp him back up to some humble late-career years in a few years.

And when we needed a closing option, Ian Kennedy came along off of an exceptional start in Arlington, and....Philly happened to him. As it does to all great closers who come this way recently. Kennedy did have 10 saves, let's be clear, but he also had a 4.13 ERA, and 3 blown saves. He was not this human in Texas. The Philly adjustment did a number on him, and even if he had 27 Ks, he was still a bit stifled by it all.

2022 Prediction: A cheap closing option somewhere. Maybe he returns to Arlington.

Tomorrow, some last remnants of another forgettable Pirates team.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2018: Yankees

Once again, for my last post of new customs of the year, I have to look at my favorite team's season. And...while they were good, and while there were definite heroes, they were never going to completely eclipse the Red Sox, so they were playing for second place and any accolades that came with it. The Yankees, in 2018, were flawed; the Sox weren't.

For the first time since 2013, Dellin Betances did not make the All Star team. But...the dude had 115 strikeouts in 66 relief appearances, and a 2.70 ERA. So...he's still one of the best middle relievers in baseball, even if the ASG didn't reflect that this year. He's 30 years old, and he's already one of the better relievers of his era. The Yanks are lucky to have him.

Unfortunately, Sonny Gray in the Bronx just hasn't worked out. He's continued his 2017 woes as a starter, ending up with a 4.90 ERA despite a modest enough 11-9 record. He had to spend 7 games out of the bullpen after the acquisitions of JA Happ and Lance Lynn. Next year, he'll likely be on a squad with a lot less pressure.

 Another insane bullpen talent was Chad Green, who was used as a longer relief man, and in 75 innings notched 94 strikeouts and a 2.50 ERA. Not bad at all. Best will come next season, after a few veterans will be cleaned from the 'pen.

 Ronald Torreyes had a less-starry but still impressive season as backup infielder extraordinare in the Bronx, covering for Didi and Gleyber in injury-plagued moments for both guys, and batting .280 with 28 hits. Unfortunately the Yanks DFA'd him, and he'll be spending next season in Minneapolis.

More proof of the Yanks' bullpen dominance in 2018, another fantastic performance from David Robertson as a setup man and middle reliever, ending his Yanks' tenure with a 3.23 ERA and 91 strikeouts. D-Rob is a free agent next year, so hopefully someone good will snap him up.

 Lance Lynn was a high-profile starting get for the Yanks, and though his numbers paled in comparison to JA Happ's, his strikeouts were still welcome, with 61 in 9 starts, and 10.1 SO per Win ratio. His W/L was a little less lucky. Lynn will be the ace in Arlington next year.

And perhaps the most important move for the Yankees was blocking anyone else from getting Zach Britton...by getting him themselves. He wasn't used as a ninth inning man, and was mainly used in setup (which accounts for the 2.88 ERA, kinda high for him), but he was still sharp enough to notch 21 strikeouts in 25 games. It'll be interesting to see who signs HIM in 2019.

So...that's the end of the customs for 2018. I'll have some 'insert' additions in the next few months, more Anyone Can Pitchs and such, and some more content until Spring Training.

Sounds About Right

...Yeah, I would have called something like this. Dodgers-Astros. Not necessarily a bad thing. I just wouldn't have called the route we took to get there. I wouldn't have called how unlikely of a choice this matchup would have been.

But still, with the amount Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve were able to take us, and the dominance displayed by a rejuvenated Justin Verlander, it's pretty obvious that the Astros deserved to win this series, and...might make this World Series one for the ages. If anybody can take the Dodgers 7 games, it's the Astros.

As...for the runners-up here...

As much as I wanna be a numbskull and brag that this was our year, and say that the Astros had no right...that's not it at all. We had a very lucky October, one that should have ended long before it got going, and the fact that we were able to chase the Astros for 3 games back there is pretty marvelous. I kinda knew this outcome would happen, as optimistic as I am usually, and I was still perfectly alright with it happening, as the Astros are likable, if still ferocious, team.

So yeah...as sad as my Yankees' departure is...we've got an Astros-Dodgers World Series coming up. That's a nice matchup. Especially considering the fact that the Astros have never won a World Series, and haven't been since Roger Clemens was their top ace...and the fact that the Dodgers haven't been to a World Series since Kirk Gibson was their DH.

Fun times are ahead. Very, very fun times.