Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Rockies

A year after making the playoffs and becoming a sleeper hit basically overnight, the Colorado Rockies followed things up by winning 70 games and acting like nothing ever happened. Lovely.

Ian Desmond is still a lineup presence, because the Rockies are trying to fulfill as much as his overdone contract as possible before cutting him. Desmond had a 20-home-run year, but hit .255 with 119 strikeouts.
Why Him in 2019?: Made it back to the outfield after David Dahl got injured.
2020 Prediction: Back to underwhelming bench numbers

 The slow fall of Antonio Senzatela continues. After Freeland, Gray and Marquez all went down in July, Senzatela was one of the few trusted starters the Rockies had left, and Senzatela rewarded them by having ERAs over 10 in July and August. He finished the season with a 6.71, and an 11-11 record.
Why Him in 2019?: Was fighting as a lone competent starter for a lot of the year.
2020 Prediction: Hopefully the Rox get enough good pitchers so they can finally pitch this guy in the bullpen. He's the Vince Velasquez of the west.

 At least the bullpen was good in Denver. In the absence of Adam Ottavino, Scott Oberg became the scary setup man, with 58 strikeouts in 49 appearances and a 2.25 ERA. Sadly, an injury cut his year short, but his 2.4 WAR was the highest in the pen.
Why Him in 2019?: Best bullpen performer hands down on the team.
2020 Prediction: Does more of the same, gets traded in July.

 After Oberg got injured, it became Carlos Estevez' pen, and he definitely delivered, with 81 strikeouts in 72 innings, and a 3.75 ERA. Not bad at all.
Why Him in 2019?: Only gave up 1 earned run in 11 September appearances.
2020 Prediction: They give him the closing gig after Davis blows it once more, he gets huge in the ninth.

 One of the few rookie pitching experiments to work for the Rox this year was Peter Lambert, even though it took a while. He was still an innings eater, although his ERA rose over the year. He's 22, so hopefully he can get it together, but his rookie year was slightly disappointing.
Why Him in 2019?: Pitched 89 innings in his rookie year.
2020 Prediction: A 4 ERA, but won't be entirely spent as a starter.

After being cut by the Sox, Yonder Alonso wound up signing with the Rockies on a whim, and somehow managed to find his bat again, hitting .260 with 10 RBIs in 54 games.
Why Him in 2019?: Potentially extended his career longevity by not sucking in the second half.
2020 Prediction: Will DH somewhere.

Coming Tomorrow- The Royals lost 100 games this year, and we'll figure out why.

A Tribe Called Quenched

(A new Music pun streak begins!)

It doesn't feel like it, but this is Yonder Alonso's fifth team. I barely even remember his tenure with the Red back in the early part of the decade. It's even harder to remember his Padres tenure, which ended in 2015. It honestly just seems like Alonso's career really started with a breakout season in Oakland last year.

And now...okay, he's not the standout of the Indians, but he's developed into a strong support hitter on a lineup full of more impressive hitters like Michael Brantley, Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor. He's another piece of another durable, strong lineup from the Indians, which has boosted them into first yet again.

The only problem is...the pitching component, which was so strong a few years ago, is beginning to wear. There is still a strong three of Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Mike Clevinger, but after an injury to Carlos Carrasco, and the effeteness of Josh Tomlin, they're now relying on a ton of untrusted arms like Shane Bieber and Adam Plutko, which...can only do you so well on your 4th and 5th days.

And need I mention the bullpen? No? Good!

The Indians are clearly not as indestructible as they were the past few years, but...they're still in first, and unless the Tigers catch up, it may stay that way.

Coming Tonight: Two months ago he was pitching for the Mets. Somehow...it got worse.

Squander Over Yonder

Okay, I haven't been proud of a ton of the puns I've been making lately for titles for posts...but that one could go on my wall.

The Mariners have had sparks of greatness this season, in the lineup, pitching, and in the field. This has been a generally nice team that's had some truly awful luck, especially in terms of pitching. The whole starting rotation went down, and the team had to deal with backups that weren't all up to snuff, which explains why they're probably not going to make the playoffs. Even with a resuscitated King Felix and recently traded Mike Leake on the staff, it's not looking very good for the rotation, or the team.

Still, if anything can be taken from the Mariners' 2017 season, it should be the strength of the lineup, and the fact that veterans, like Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano, new additions, like Jean Segura and Yonder Alonso, and rookies, like Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger, could all work together to form a pretty fearsome lineup. Hell, even Mike Zunino decided to hit, and that almost NEVER happens.

I'm not sure if this means a postseason run is in the Mariners' future from 2018 on, but...if they can fix their pitching, it'd be a nice thought.

Coming Tomorrow- Best Pitcher in Baseball.

Uncustomed Heroes of 2015: Padres

The Padres took a HUGE gamble in the Winter meetings last year...and it did not pay off. The Padres wound up circling fourth, with a load of injuries, disappointment, and fatigue.

Matt Kemp, however, turned his slow start around by getting his average and RBIs way up, and proving his worth in San Diego.

Yangervis Solarte ended up getting the main 3rd base job in San Diego, over Will Middlebrooks and Cory Spangenberg, and didn't disappoint, bringing the same stuff he brought last year after his trade from New York.

Yonder Alonso, once again, was a semi-hard-hitting first baseman. Next year he'll be playing for the A's. Poor guy.

Coming Tomorrow- I guess I have to commemorate my hometown Phillies somehow.

Year by Year Customs: 1991

 

We begin the 2nd to last day of Year by Year with a rookie Red Sock. Can't you feel the excitement? 

 

But, on the upside, here's a Yankee.

 

 Yes, I know I spelled his name wrong, and it's 'Jonny'. Oh well.

 

I couldn't resist to add just one more throwback shot. You know me.

Coming Tomorrow- One last Topps design, the last 'normal' one.