NL Wild Card Game Preview: Sudden Death

We go into the playoff with two teams that both have a lot to prove, mostly that they belong in the playoffs they were, until recently, guaranteed a spot in. The Cubs have landed in the past 3 NLCS', have won a World Series, and have spent most of the season on top of the NL Central. Them, plus the ever-ballistic bat of Daniel Murphy, are out for vengeance tonight, hoping to have a rematch with Milwaukee next week.

But, in their way...

The team that nearly kept the Dodgers out of first, with some of the most impressive offensive abilities of the year, and with some surprising improvement from their bullpen and rotation. The Rockies have proved that they've come a long way from being a first round ouster last year, so on a night where history could very well repeat itself, Wade Davis and the Rockies are gonna do their best to defy the odds, take down the Cubs and waltz into October.

It could go either way, and while I'm rooting for the underdogs here, I'd love if either team won and got to play the Brewers later on. Hope it's a nice game.

The Narrative Shift

Well, in the four games since the break, it looks like the Cubs of 2016 might be making an attempt to come back...which is nice, as I was getting tired of talking about how pathetic they looked.

After an All Star Game featuring only one actual Cub, the real Cubs came back, thanks to some quick work from the lineup, and a KILLER DEBUT from Jose Quintana. I mean it, this guy hadn't been this electric all year with the White Sox.

The momentum's been set in place for a much more impressive second half, and as they're about to start a series with the Atlanta Braves, and that might be pretty easy.

Still, the pressure to repeat is still on, and the fans, the baseball world, and everyone wants the Cubs to be this unstoppable, unmovable force this year, even though they're just a pretty good baseball team at this point. Yes, they won a World Series, but repeating might not happen, and right now they're just trying to make it to the playoffs.

Hopefully the pressure will subside, and the momentum will keep going.

Coming Tonight: Not the A's pitcher everyone's after, but a really good, strong pitcher for the A's...that probably won't be traded.

Winter Meetings Update: Day Three

Phew. Yeah. Uh, a lot happened today. Might as well detail the big stuff.

In terms of this Adam Eaton move, today was a slightly more superior sequel to yesterday, as, from Washington's standpoint, everything bad from yesterday was righted. The Nats couldn't get their hands on Chris Sale, so they landed one of the most impressive outfielders in baseball. This is...surprisingly a good deal.

The Nats' outfield was slightly weaker than usual last season, on account of Ben Revere aging 10 years over the course of 1. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Jayson Werth were gonna be the supposed starters, but with Adam Eaton coming in, one of two things will happen- either Werth, on the last year of his 7-year contract, will be phased out and be played as an alternate, or Trea Turner will be phased into an infield role, preferably at shortstop, as he's a bit better of an option than Danny Espinosa at this point. There's at least some flexibility, but it's overall a nice move for the Nats.

Additionally, this sort of rights things in Chicago as well, making sure that Lucas Giolito, who had a slow start but definitely has potential, has a place where can grow without being overshadowed. Yes, this may be wishful thinking, sorta like Carlos Rodon, but...you never know. Giolito wasn't getting 'best prospect in the system' claims for nothing. Also...who'd have thought that Giolito and Yoan Moncada, two prospects from 2016, would wind up on the same season, hurtling towards some full-rookie-seasons in 2017?

Additionally, the Cubs made a move that proves they're willing to move on from their 2016 season, while at the same time proving they're trying to win again. Yeah, not every miracle lasts forever, and Aroldis Chapman's gonna have to find somewhere else to close games next year (preferably New York).

This move, in gaining closer Wade Davis from the Royals, in exchange for consistently-suffocated outfielder Jorge Soler, is a great one. The Cubs have a definite closer/reliever that can get them through 2017, while the Royals have another outfielder, along with Billy Burns, to repopulate the now in-flux lineup, especially considering that they're suddenly shopping Lorenzo Cain.

Pretty sound move overall. Not a ton of outcry from me.

If you want outcry, watch me talk about the Rockies' move to add Ian Desmond.

I understand that the Rox needed to fill their first base position after the supposed departure of Mark Reynolds, but...Ian Desmond's an odd choice. He's a middle-infielder, and an outfielder...and converting him now to play first is a bit...concerning. No, he'll probably be great, and he's proven extreme range in his season in Arlington, but giving him a TON of money and 5 years in order to play a position he's never consistently played professionally before...is a risky bet.

I mean, offense-wise, he'll probably be fine, as it's Coors Field and it usually rewards nice-average people like Desmond, but...overall it's an odd, concerning kind of move, which...kind of sums up the Rockies of late.

Meanwhile, the Marlins are...very quietly making some decent moves. They added Jeff Locke as a late-rotation helper today, as well as adding AJ Ellis as a potential backup catcher. They're preparing for an above .500 season, and they're chasing people. They're also reportedly in the running for Aroldis Chapman...which is kind of pointless because they already have a good enough closer in A.J. Ramos, but...I'm not gonna tell the Marlins' GM how to live his life...as it'd probably kill me.

That's basically it for today, but I guarantee more crazy shit is waiting around the corner.

Defending Sellers

It's very weird. Wade Davis was closing for a World Series champion last year, and now he's in danger of being traded. Baseball is a fickle, merciless game, friends, but...obviously you all know that are you're divulging in its byproducts.

Wade Davis, if it hadn't been for a very conveniently timed injury, would have been one of the three-billion closers dealt this month. The guys that hadn't been able to grab Mark Melancon, Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller were probably aching for someone like Davis. I think the injury is stopping the conversations a bit, but...still, Davis should be on notice.

I do find this very weird- the Royals were obviously not going to repeat their 2015 success, but I didn't expect them to completely deflate. There may be one or two pitchers dealt by the Royals, like Edinson Volquez or Joakim Soria or someone. I mean, yeah, the Red Sox ended up dealing a few guys in 2014, but Davis is a pretty indispensable piece, even if Greg Holland suddenly returns to relevancy.

It's just...very weird. Between the Miller deal, the kemp deal, and now the possibility of Wade Davis...it's just been a very weird 24 hours. Forgive me if I'm having trouble keeping up.

Coming Tomorrow- Probably someone else that will have been traded- an infielder for Cincinnati.

Back to Back

...well how about that...a Mets-Royals series...

...could not have called that one even if I tried.

Still, very happy it's happening, and it's gonna be so much fun. The Royals are a fun team, the Mets are a fun team. Having them play each other for a title? That's genius.