San Diego Padres Look To WIN IT ALL in '21 - But Is This Any Different Than '15???

The San Diego Padres have continued their Christmas Shopping Spree by trading for Cy Young runner-up Yu Darvish. This more than solidifies a rotation that was already looking very strong with the likes of Darvish, Blake Snell (Who the Pads just traded for the day before), Dinelson Lamet and Chris Paddack. The Padres also will look forward to the return of Mike Clevinger in 2022. A fifth arm that could be available soon is prospect MacKenzie Gore. In other words, the Padres have an absolute elite rotation and a dominant bullpen that almost single-handedly took out the Cardinals in the 2020 Wild Card Series.

Matt Kemp and Justin Upton were two big signings going in the 2015 MLB Season for the San Diego Padres

However, the Padres have been known to go on such shopping sprees -the same thing happened in 2014/15 and no championship or playoff run was to be found. During that offseason, the Padres traded away some of their best prospects including Yasmani Grandal, Max Fried and Trea Turner. In return, they were able to snag some fine players at the time such as Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and James Shields. However, this wasn’t nearly enough for the Padres to compete for a World Series Title.

The question is, what is different this time? The answer is clear - the Padres are already good. In 2020, this team proved what it could do and had every chance to stand toe to toe with the Dodgers until unfortunate injuries to both Clevinger and Lamet. With a powerful offense that includes Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Eric Hosmer go go along with their potent pitching staff, the Padres enter 2021 already as a favorite to at least win a Wild Card. Hence, the new additions this time are being added to a team that is already ready to win - and this just improves their chances going in 2021.

Ha Seong Kim, recently signed by the San Diego Padres out of South Korea

Furthermore, these signings may even be better. Instead of decent bats like Kemp and Upton, the Padres are signing two elite starters that can jump right into that rotation. They even tapped into the Korean market and signed the powerful Ha-Seong Kim to provide more depth in the infield. All this has happened before the New Year. Although the Dodgers may still be the favorite going in 2020, the Padres have done everything needed to attempt to dethrone them. If a World Series Hangover occurs, look for the Padres to run away with the West in 2021.

So, there are three ways that these moves differ from the 2015 offseason. Firstly, the team is already excellent (unlike in 2014 when they finished in third place with a 77-85 record. Second, the signings themselves are better. And finally, this team already has chemistry and gels nicely - the additions are not expected to do it all; they are just enhancements (albeit HUGE enhancements) to an already amazing ballclub.

MLB Free Agent SIGNINGS & RUMORS - Springer, Bauer, McMann, SUGANO

The MLB Hot Stove is starting to warm up as we enter December. So far the two teams that have been most active in actually signing players has been the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals. The Royals inked their former starter Mike Minor to a 2-year deal worth at least 18 million dollars including a club option for a 3rd year. He is coming off of a tough 2020 where he showed signs of brilliance with the Rangers and A’s but ended up with an ERA over 5. Some of his advanced stats indicate that perhaps he wasn’t as bad as the simple stats say.

Meanwhile, the Royals also picked up former Nationals speedster Michael A. Taylor who had some key home runs during the Royals 2019 playoff push that ultimately ended up in a World Series Championship. Taylor will receive a $1.75MM base salary and another $1MM worth of available incentives, reports Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports. Taylor brings speed, strong defense and some pop to Kansas City where he will try to find the stroke from 2017 that helped him hit .271 with 19 home runs. More stable playing time and a revamped swing could help him do so.

Michael A. Taylor

The New York Mets have also been active early in the Free Agent Market by signing former Twins reliever Trevor May to a one year 15.5 million dollar deal. May has strike out stuff and is one of the better relievers in all of baseball despite an ERA that is usually around the 3.5 range. The 31 year old had a 3.86 earned run average in 24 games for the Twins last season, with 38 strikeouts in 23 ⅓ innings. This is a key signing for a Mets bullpen that, despite some nice names, has struggled to find consistency.

The Mets also signed 11 players to Minor League Deals earlier this week including former Mariner outfielder Mallex Smith, right-handed major-league veteran closer Arodys Vizcaino, and infielder Jose Peraza, who spent the 2020 season with the Red Sox. The rest of the names include Oscar De La Cruz, Johneshwy Fargas, Jake Hager, Harol Gonzalez, Bruce Maxwell, David Rodríguez, Luis Carpio, and Mitchell Tolman.

As far as the rumors go, the Yankees are showing interest in former Astros and Indians slugger Michael Brantley. However, this move may be contingent on whether or not the Yanks can resign DJ Lemahieu. Another 2020 Astro, George Springer, has been connected mainly to the Toronto Blue Jays, who have been in touch with Springer’s agency at least once per week according to their General Manager.

Top Free Agent Pitcher Trevor Bauer was early connected to the San Francisco Giants, but recently the Los Angeles Angels have also shown interest. This makes sense as the Angels have struggled with their rotation for several years. Despite having two superstar offensive players in Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, the Angels will never compete for a World Championship until they can sign some better starters for that rotation.

Trevor Bauer

James McCann has been heavily connected to the New York Mets, who are more interested in McCann than J.T. Realmuto according to most reports. According to some reports, it is increasingly likely that McCann gets a four year deal with the New York Mets. Also, the Twins non-tendered Eddie Rosario and the Red Sox are showing interest according to Jon Morosi.

2020 Braves slugger Marcell Ozuna is drawing interest from the San Francisco Giants but without knowing if there will be a Designated Hitter in the National League in 2021, they are hesitant to make a signing. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays, who know they will have the DH, are also interested and have an advantage over the Giants as long as Rob Manfred drags his feet on the DH decision.

One of the best closers in the game, Liam Hendricks, is also a free agent and both the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants are showing interest. Finally, one of the best pitchers in Japanese baseball has been posted and the Padres, Yankees and Giants are all very interested in Tokyo Giants legend Tomoyuki Sugano. The Yankees may be the favorites but if Sugano is interested in staying in the orange and black in the USA, he will have an opportunity as the Giants are heavily interested. This is a pitcher who has a 101-50 career record in Japan with an ERA of 2.34 over an 8-year career. He also has over 1200 career strikeouts.

Can The LA Dodgers Be Beat? NLDS Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres

It is getting increasingly more difficult to pick against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before the 2020 season began, I talked about how this team was practically an All Star Team. With the Mookie Betts trade, the lineup became completely leak-proof. Everywhere you looked was either an MVP-Candidate or a solid All Star who threatens to hit 30+ home runs every season. They measured up to the hype in 2020, winning 43 games of 60 and leading the Major Leagues in home runs and several offensive categories. Even their pitching, which was the only semi-question mark, led the league in Earned Run Average - and did so easily.

The team that wins the World Series is typically the team that gels - and gets hot - at just the right time. Last season it was the Washington Nationals, led by an unlikely song (Baby Shark) and an extremely hot and talented roster whose celebratory dances and skits were absolutely hilarious. This year, I thought it might be the Cincinnati Reds, who I was very high on pre-season and who did enter the postseason playing great baseball. They didn’t score a single run in their Wild Card Series against the Braves. I was also very high on the White Sox. They’re also out. Of the teams that remain, the Dodgers might be that team - they’re hot, they seem to be highly motivated, firing on all cylinders, and determined to win it all this season.

Now, to get into their opponent in this NLDS, the Padres. Although the San Diego Padres survived a scare against St. Louis (They lost Game 1 and were down 4-0 in the Elimination Game 2), they’re also playing great, although there are some injury issues I am about to get into with the Starting Pitching that is very concerning. Neverthless, there is no lack of stars in San Diego and this series should be extremely exciting. With former Dodger Manny Machado, the MVP-candidate Fernando Tatis Jr, and veterans like Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers in the lineup, the Padres have no shortage of power threats.

Starting Pitching

The latest report is that the Padres don’t expect Dinelson Lamet to be ready for this series. This is going to hurt a lot as Lamet has been one of the most reliable and dominant starters for the Pads this season. He struck out 93 batters in 63 innings and had an ERA of 2.09.

However, according to a tweet by Bob Nightengale, who is not always the most reliable source, the Padres do expect to have Mike Clevinger ready. Clevinger was pitching at his best before his injury, shutting out the Giants through 7 innings on September 13th, while walking just 1 and allowing 2 hits.

The other options for the Padres are solid but concerning. Zach Davies only got through two innings against the Cardinals in the Wild Card Series, 5 hits, 4 runs and bomb. However, he was one of their better options during the season, compiling a 7-4 record with a 2.74 ERA. Chris Paddack also got pounded by the Cardinals and allowed 14 home runs in 59 innings in the regular season - not a favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Garrett Richards and Adrian Morejon are also possibilities but neither would be expected to go more than 4-5 innings if that.

The Dodgers have some issues of their own regarding the rotation. Walker Buehler has pitched just twice since two separate stints on the injured list because of a blister on his right index finger. He did pitch four innings in the wild-card series. He is expected to pitch in Game 1 with Clayton Kershaw going in Game 2. Kershaw had a fantastic season that continued into the playoffs where he pitched 8 shutout innings against the Brewers, striking out 13. Julio Urias and Dustin May are among the other options for the Dodgers, both very solid. All things considered, the Dodgers definitely have an edge with the rotation.

Lineups

The latest lineup the Dodgers put together on October 1st isn’t much different than the lineup we expected to see throughout 2020. They’ve avoided major injuries and have performed as expected, with possible exception of prospect Gavin Lux, who struggled to the tune of .175 batting average. Neverthless, this lineup is relentless, led by Mookie Betts and Corey Seager at the top.

Of course, the Padres also start their lineup with a bang featuring Trent Grisham and then Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in the 2 and 3 hole. Both teams offer even more power in the middle of the lineups. Turner, Muncy, Smith and Bellinger combined to hit 36 home runs in the regular season, while the Padres next four - Hosmer, Pham, Moreland and Myers - combined to hit 37. Cronenworth is also noteworthy as he had an excellent rookie year for the Pads, hitting .285 with 4 homers and a .354 On-Base-Percentage.

When these lineups are dissected, the Padres measure up well. Both lineups contain multiple MVP-type players along with a ton of powerful veterans and highly talented youngsters. The Dodgers may have an edge but it’s a slighter edge than one might expect and statistics agree. Over the course of the 2020 season, the Dodgers hit 118 home runs with a .256 batting average and .338 OBP while the Padres hit just 95 bombs but had a higher batting average at .257 and and an On-Base Percentage only slightly lower at .333. The Dodgers have to be given the slight edge due to their unbelievable power and better offensive performance head-to-head in 2020.

Bullpen

The Padres bullpen has been ridiculously impressive in the playoffs so far. However, having your bullpen lead the team to beat the Brewers in a best of 3 is a lot different than using that strategy to bea the Dodgers in a best of 5. As I mentioned earlier, the Padres starters - with the possible exception of Clevinger, will likely not be going too deep into games. This means relievers like Drew Pomeranz and other lefties will have to be able to consistently retire batters like Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Corey Seager while dealing with righties sprinkled throughout their places in the lineups (Remember the 3-batter minimum too). Adrian Morejon is another one of those lefties but he served up seven home runs in 19 innings this season. Matt Strahm is another reliable option. As for a closer, Trevor Rosenthal is back in his prime apparently and completely dealing with 38 strikeouts in 23 innings and a 1.9 ERA.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers bullpen also has its share of solid arms with righties Joe Kelly, Pedro Baez, and flamethrower Brusdar Graterol to go along with lefty Blake Treinen. Kenley Jansen was excellent throughout the first month of the season as well. Their bullpen started to struggle in September but overall, they have the arms; it’s just a question of using them properly and we’ve seen Dave Roberts fail at that in the past, including last season in my opinion when he insisted on going with Clayton Kershaw out of the pen in an elimination game when he had an array of healthy and rested relievers in the bullpen.

Both teams have excellent arms, but given the performance we’ve seen from that San Diego pen lately, I have to give them a slight edge with the bullpen as we enter this series. However, this Dodger lineup can make any bullpen look atrocious.

All things considered, the Dodgers have the slight edge in this series and, if forced to pick a winner, even myself as a Giants fan would have to give the Dodgers the pick, especially considering the situations with Clevinger and Lamet. That said, this Padres team may be the only team that can take out the Dodgers as every other team will have to do it in a best of seven, which feels damn near impossible.

Most Important Series To Watch As 2020 MLB Season Winds Down

In what has been by far the most wild, unpredictable and bizarre season in the history of baseball, teams that most insiders gave zero chance to play in October are still chasing a playoff berth as well begin the final week of the season. The Miami Marlins are in second place and could be a playoff team in 2020. The Chicago White Sox lead their division (although I predicted this one preseason -and I was called a variety of interesting names when I did so). The Red Sox sit in last place in the A.L East and the San Francisco Giants are in a battle for the final playoff spot in the National League West with the Reds and the Brewers.

What of the many downsides to having these expanded playoffs is the fact that it is not so easy to just glance at the standing and know what has to happen and who has to win what games in order for your team to play in October. So, today, we will try to make sense of the playoff rules 2020 and understand what teams and games need to be focused on as we wind down the 2020 Major League Baseball Season. Let’s start with a basic refresher of exactly how you get into the playoffs if you’re not one of the top two teams in the division.

Obviously, the two teams not in first or second place with the best records would be in as the 7th and 8th seed. However, there is a strong chance there will be teams tied, and in this shortened season, there is not going to be time to have extra playin games, which would have been quite awesome. Unfortunately, ties will be determined by the following method:

1. Head-To-Head Record (Due to the fact that teams are only playing within their division, this may not be applicable)

2. Intravision Record

3. Record in the final 20 division games (plus one until the tie is broken)

In the American League, the 7th and 8th seeds are already starting to become clear - the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians have both created some space between themselves and other playoff hopefuls such as the Baltimore Orioles and the Seattle Mariners. Unless something insane happens, it’ll the Blue Jays and Indians in the playoffs as the 7th and 8th seeds. Here is what the playoffs would look like in the American League if the season ended today:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Toronto Blue Jays (8) at Tampa Bay Rays (1)

Cleveland Indians (7) at Chicago White Sox (2)

Houston Astros (6) at Oakland Athletics (3)

New York Yankees (5) at Minnesota Twins (4)

However, in the National League, things aren’t so clear. There are several teams very close to a .500 record that are all bunched together and some are going to get in and others will be left out. Some of these teams, like the Marlins and Cardinals, are in second place right now but could go into a losing streak and fall out all together. For the purposes of this analysis, we’ll concentrate on the teams not in first or second place that have a chance to get in and those teams include the Philadelphia Phillies, The Cincinnati Reds, The Milwaukee Brewers, and of course, the San Francisco Giants.

As of right now, The Reds are one game above .500, the Phillies are at .500, and the Brewers and Giants one game below .500. Of these teams, only the Brewers and Reds have played each other and the Reds own the better head-to-head record against Milwaukee having won 4 and lost only 3. Here’s how the current intradivisional records look:

1. Phillies 20-17

2. Marlins 20-17*

3. Cardinals 19-16*

4. Reds 19-18

5. Brewers 16-16

6. Giants 15-17

   *Currently in 2nd place, guaranteeing a playoff berth

As it stands, the Giants have the short stick as far as intradivisional record. The good news is with 3 more games remaining against the Rockies and 4 against the Padres, the Giants have every chance to significantly improve that record. The Reds play the Brewers and tomorrow night, which are huge games that could absolutely flip the script on who we expect to see in October. After that, the Reds finish their season with three against the Twins.

An even more important series may be the five game series between the Cardinals and the Brewers, which will definitely seal the fate of those teams and will have massive effects on the others as well. This will be a series to keep a close eye on. It seems obvious to root for the Cardinals, unless you’re a Brewers fan of course, since the Cardinals are already in as one of the top two teams. And obviously, unless you’re a Reds fan, it will be Go Twins when the Reds go to Minnesota.

The Phillies are also a team to keep an eye as the play 3 against the Nationals then 3 in Tampa Bay. There is really no reason to root for the Phillies unless you’re a Phillies fan. The Nationals are not getting in the Tampa Bay Rays are in the American League and definitely getting in. However, the Phillies are going to get 2 starts from Aaron Nola and 2 starts from Zack Wheeler who have been fantastic and can definitely help the Phils reach that October goal. The last team to keep an eye on is the Marlins, as they could go on a losing streak and fall out completely or they could still try to take the division as they have a four game series against the first place Braves. So, more than likely, you’ll probably want to root for the Braves unless of course, you’re one of the 12 Marlins fans. (It’s a joke, guys.) After the Braves series, Miami goes on the play the Yankees which will be a tough series, so definitely keep an eye on Miami as well.

So, that is pretty much where we currently stand in the National League. There are a lot of teams with their eyes on October and this is going to be some of the most exciting baseball we’ve had in a long time, for us Giants fans, it’s been since 2016 that we had a legit shot at the playoffs this late in the year. Unfortunately, the Giants lost yesterday to the Rockies but we’re looking to bounce back today. I want to give a sincere Good Luck to all the fans of the teams currently in the battle. This is going to be wild.

Possible MLB Impact CALL-UPS For The 2020 Season

This year we have seen such an infusion of top prospects in a short period of time because of the truncated season.  It’s like loading up an 8 oz glass of milk with enough chocolate for a 16 oz glass and it tastes GREAT!  We’ve seen Joey Bart, Dylan Carlson, Brady Singer, Jo Adell, Dylan Carlson, Casey Mize, Alec Bohm, Nick Madrigal, Triston McKenzie, Deivi Garcia, Sixto Sanchez, Jazz Chisholm, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bobby Dalbec to name a few.  Not to mention, Luis Robert, Nate Pearson, Jesus Luzardo, Nico Hoerner, Dustin May and others who either we knew were staring the year with their big league club or we saw some last year, but were still classified as prospects.  2020 Topps Update and 2021 Topps will have more rookie cards than an Eskimo has ice.

There are a few factors to consider when predicting who we’re going to see over the next couple of weeks.  Is the team in contention?  Therefore the call-up would improve the club and their positioning for the playoffs.  Does the current team makeup benefit the prospect?  Meaning is there a position for them/would they receive regular playing time?

Lets take a look at some of the prospects I see getting a call and some of the team situations impacting the chances for a call up.

The Yankees have called up #2 prospect Clarke Schmidt, he appeared in relief of a doubleheader vs the Orioles, but the question is, will he get a start or will be a doubleheader arm/taxi squad guy the rest of the way, meaning no impactful innings.  That we’ll have to see.

Yusniel Diaz, Orioles, OF, 55/80 – He was the highest profile piece that the O’s got back in the Machado deal.  He played at AA LY and slashed .262/.335/.472 with 11 HR over 76 games.

Bryan Mata, Red Sox, RHP, 55/80 – He is the team’s #2 prospect now that Dalbec is playing with the big league club.  The Red Sox are out of it and will most likely try to avoid exposing any of their top minor league talent but seeing that Mata pitched at AA last year, he could get the call if the Red Sox run into the injury bug or need additional pitching for doubleheaders. 

Brailyn Marquez, Cubs, LHP, 60/80 – He is the #1 prospect in the Cubs system.  If he gets the call it will probably be for a bullpen role.  He’s 21, only reached High A last year, but he has an electric fastball (80/80 grade).  They wouldn’t insert him into a starting role having only reached High A, but that fastball could be a game changer out of the pen.

I think it’s a long shot, but I could see the Reds calling Lodolo (LHP) or India (3B)

Nolan Jones, Indians, 3B, 60/80 – He’s the #1 prospect in the system.  He reached AA last year and slashed .253/.370/.466 with 8 home runs over 49 games.  The Indians are in a 3 team battle for the division and if they think he can help them, now that they can’t trade for anyone, he’ll be up.  With Ramirez at 3rd, Jones would have to play the outfield.  Mercado and Luplow are hitting under .200 and they just acquired Naylor at the deadline, so the Indians will want to see what they have in him for a little while longer.

If the Rockies stay in it, they could make the call for #2 prospect, RHP Ryan Rolison

Right now the Tigers have a full rotation, but if they stay close to .500 for a few more weeks and someone goes down they could call on Alex Faedo, now the #3 prospect in the system after Mize, Paredes and Skubal’s call up.

The only way the Twins call top prospects Royce Lewis (SS/3B) or Alex Kirilloff (1B/OF) up is if they get hit with a serious injury bug or a COVID outbreak and need bodies.  Though, maybe one or both get the call during the last week or so to be around the club during a clinching situation.

MacKenzie Gore, Padres, LHP 70/80 – I really think that the Padres could call up Gore to bolster their pen down the stretch and into the playoffs.  They were extremely aggressive at the deadline and I don’t think that’ll stop, so where can they be aggressive now?...With their prospects.

Taylor Trammell, Mariners, OF, 55/80 – I think the Mariners will bring up one of their 3 other top outfield prospects before the end of the season to pair with Kyle Lewis.  Of the 3 I think Trammell is the closest based on age and experience.  10 homers and 20 steals at AA LY over 126 games…guy makes me think of Carl Crawford.

Logan Gilbert, Mariners, RHP, 55/80 – Having nothing to lose, Gilbert gets a call soon and makes a handful of starts before the year is over.  He’s already 23, pitched well at AA last year 4-2 2.88/0.98 ERA/WHIP and 10.1 K-rate over 9 starts, so he’s a logical choice if there is an injury or struggles by any of the current starters.  Plus, it’d be good to give him some competitive innings this year.

The Rays are so deep and healthy that Wander Franco (SS) is blocked right now.  They’d rather him get regular at-bats over at the training site than only catching some BP with the big league club.  Unless there is a rash of bad injury luck, Franco is going to be spectating. IF they do call him up, he’ll hardly play, see what the DBacks did with their top prospect Varsho for the first few weeks after he got the call.  The Rays may call on Vidal Brujan (SS) before Franco but that would be because of the speed.  Vidal grades 80/80 in the running category and has 151 steals in 399 minor league games.  He could pinch run in key spots but his plate appearances would be limited.

If you’re into prospects like I am, this has been an excellent season and it’s not going to stop.  Strap in and get ready for more.  Visit the BALLCAP Sports YouTube Channel for Player Lock videos of some of the top call ups this season. 

Updated MLB POWER RANKINGS Mid-Season 2020

30. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are the only team in baseball still in single digits with wins - and they only have 7! The Pirates just got no-hit yesterday by Lucas Giolito, who did pitch amazing, but the Pirates haven’t hit all season – Josh Bell, Adam Frazier and Jarod Dyson are all hitting under the Mendoza Line and one of their normally better hitters Bryan Reynolds is just over it at .212.  Their pitching hasn’t been a ton better although Trevor Williams has impressed and could be dangled at the trade deadline.  All in all, the Pirates have a lot of work to do and come in at #30.

29. Texas Rangers

I hate to put them this low and didn’t expect to, but they have found themselves in a major tailspin losing 9 of their last 10 including an 8-game losing streak.  Lance Lynn has been the bright spot for this team and he has been a big name in trade rumors as we get closer to the deadline.  The rest of the rotation – one of that I was high on coming into the season – has disappointed.  Offensively, the Rangers are dead last in the American League in On-Base-Percentage (.289), batting average (.211), runs scored (107),  and home runs (24). 

28. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers started the season fairly hot, but have since cooled down drastically.  So far this season, this team has only managed a .297 on base percentage and have the second worst ERA in baseball at 5.92.  They’ve lost 7 of their last 10 and are starting to look more like the team most fans expected to see in 2020.  Some bright spots include Spencer Turnbull and Jacoby Jones but all in all it hasn’t been great.  The Tigers did recently promote several of their big prospects including #1 pick Casey Mize, so there is some excitement there for sure.

27. Kansas City Royals

Coming in at #27 is the 2015 Champions, the Kansas City Royals.  Despite a 5-4 win yesterday against the Cardinals, the Royals have been struggling.  They lost 4 of 5 before that including a 5-0 loss the the Reds in which Trevor Bauer threw a 7-inning 1-hitter.  Earlier in the season, they lost 6 in a row.  Their starting pitching and offense have struggled mightily.  Admittedly, the Royals haven’t had the easiest schedule with 22 of their first 30 games coming against teams with a winning record.  Their bullpen has impressed and, as I said in my first Trade Deadline Video, they could dangle out a couple bullpen arms for prospects.  One of the best stories so far of 2020 has to be Trevor Rosenthal, who has 7 saves with a 1.46 ERA. 

26. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels got a little bump after beating the Astros 11-4 on Monday, but everything considered, this team has been a monumental disappointment. Despite the superstar power of Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon along with the surprisingly dominant season Dylan Bundy is having on the mound, the Angels are 10-22.  The Angels have a team batting average of .233, Shohei Ohtanti hasn’t pitched or hit effectively, Jo Addell is just getting his career started and hasn’t produced yet, and besides Bundy, the Angels didn’t do much to improve their rotation and it is showing. 

25. Boston Red Sox

I got a lot of hate for putting the Red Sox in 4th place and down around #21 in my preseason power rankings, but here we are.  The Red Sox are 10-20 and sitting in last place in the American League East.  For the past 15 years, they have seemed like a team that either wins the World Series or completely falls apart and finishes in the basement.  This year – it’s looking like the basement.  They’ve already been active in the trade market and look for that to continue – Kevin Pillar, J.D. Martinez and Mitch Moreland, among others, could all be on the move. 

24. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles are ahead of Boston after winning 2 of 3 in their recent series.  Nevertheless, after a hot start, they have cooled down significantly.  They were swept by the Blue Jays and lost 2 of 3 to the Nationals before the Red Sox series.  One bright spot for the Orioles this season has been outfielder Anthony Santander, who 10 bombs on the season in just 119 at bats along with a solid .277 batting average.  Meanwhile, 2015 first round pick Ryan Mountcastle finally made his big league debut and has looked solid so far, going 4 for his first 12.  The next few days will determine what the O’s will do at the deadline – they’ll have to get hot quickly to avoid being sellers.

23. Arizona Diamondbacks

Next up is the Arizona Diamondbacks, a team I was high on coming into 2020.  They have not been good.  Madison Bumgarner lost his velocity and got hit hard before going on the Injured List.  Robbie Ray’s control has been horrendous with 25 walks in 27 innings.  He’s also given up an incredible 25 runs in the same span.  Ketel Marte has hit well but has just one bomb after hitting 32 last season.  They have fallen to last in the NL West and have lost 7 straight games.  It has been a rough season thusfar for the D-Backs.  

22. Seattle Mariners

All the way up at 22 is the Mariners, who are on a 4-game winning streak after crushing the Padres 8-3 yesterday.  They lost 3 out of 4 before that to the Dodgers, but honestly, most fans likely expected the Dodgers to sweep that series.  Kyle Lewis has been great for Seattle hitting .360 in 111 at bats, definitely making himself a serious contender for Rookie of the Year.  Evan White hasn’t been great but does have 5 home runs and is hitting .375 with runners in scoring position.  The Mariners are 12-19 on the season but sit in 3rd in the American League West.

21. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have won 2 straight against the Reds but have largely disappointed this season.  They were even swept by none other than the #30 Pittsburgh Pirates.  It is safe to say that my prediction that Christian Yelich would the MVP this season was completely wrong.  He is hitting .200 after 100 at bats although he’s hit 7 home runs and managed a .322 on base percentage.  The Brew Crew have a .213 batting average and .297 on base percentage, both second to last in the National League.  It has been disappointing to say the least for the Milwaukee Brewers.

20. New York Mets

The New York Mets come in at #20 after a disappointed first half of 2020. They’ve returned to playing again after a couple positive covid tests and proceeded to get shutout twice by the Marlins.  The Mets are 12-16 on the season and would have been much worse if it wasn’t for some solid offense by guys like Michael Conforto and Dominic Smith.  Pete Alonso, despite a .232 batting average, is also heating up and starting to tear the cover off the ball like he did last season.  The pitching staff has struggled, however, with a 4.89 ERA, good for 10th in the National League.

19. Washington Nationals

The World Champions have not looked great for most of 2020 and things are even worse now that Steven Strasburg has been lost for the season due to surgery on his hand. They’re 4-6 in their last 10 and sit at the bottom of the NL East standings with a pathetic 6-12 home record.  They are second in the NL with a .263 batting average but their starting pitching has not been up to standard.  Corbin, Sherzer and Sanchez have been okay, but not quite as dominant as you’d hope as Nationals fan.  All in all, it has been a rough campaign thus far for the Champions.

18. Cincinnati Reds

Coming in at #18 is the Cincinnati Reds, who are on a 4-game losing streak and have really disappointed this season so far.  The starting pitching has been good as expected, especially Trevor Bauer and Sonny Gray, but the Reds are dead last in baseball with a .203 batting average.  Their entire team is hitting near the Mendoza Line.  Their on base percentage is barely over .300 and the Reds currently sit in 4th place with a record of 11-17.  Shogo Akiyama is hitting .214 with nary a home run.  Eugenio Suarez is hitting .158.  The advanced stats show the Reds have had some bad luck this year, but they better figure something out quick or not only will they not with the World Series like I predicted, but they won’t even be a part of October baseball at all.

17. Miami Marlins

One of the biggest surprises of the season has been the Miami Marlins, who I have all the way up at #17.  They have definitely cooled off after a hot start and also haven’t played as many games as most teams due to their Covid adventures.  However, they’ve just shut out the Mets in back to back games and sit in second place right now in the National League East with a 14-11 record.  The Marlins may actually be buyers at the deadline, which is absolutely insane.  Some of their key contributors this season have been Jesus Aguilar, Corey Dickerson, Jonathan Villar and pitcher Pablo Lopez, who has 1.98 ERA through 5 starts with a 3-1 record and 27 strikeouts in 27 innings. 

16. Philadelphia Phillies

Coming in at #16 is the Philadelphia Phillies, who just eek out the Marlins after beating the Nationals yesterday 8-3 and the Braves on Sunday 5-4.  Despite superstar performances by superstar players like Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto and a very good rotation, the bullpen has been atrocious.  They have tried to address these issues by trading for Brandon Workman but then he blew a save in his first opportunity, so… yeah.   The Phillies are 11-14 and sit in third place right now, still hoping for a chance to slip in the playoffs but that bullpen will have to step it up if they expect to get anywhere in October.

15. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies would have been much higher on this list only a few days ago, but they have fallen apart after a blazing start and are now at .500.  The true test for this team came with a series against the Astros and Dodgers – they lost every game.  They are 3-7 in their last 10 and are barely hanging on to 3rd place as the San Francisco Giants are hot on their heels.  Nolan Arenado, who was wanting to get traded during the offseason, is hitting .231 and Jon Gray is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA.  However, Kyle Freeland has been a nice surprise after a terrible 2019 and Charlie Blackmon is still hitting close to .400. 

14. San Francisco Giants

Next up, and don’t worry folks, they’re moving up this ladder quickly, but after losing 4 straight, including 3 9th inning blown saves, the San Francisco Giants have done nothing but dominate with 7 straight wins including a walk off yesterday in extras against the rival Dodgers. With this latest streak, the Giants have leaped back into playoff contention.  So far this year, the bullpen has been reliable more often than not and the offense has absolutely exploded as the Giants are 4th in the National League in home runs and 6th in batting average.  The starting pitching has been good enough with Kevin Gausman and Logan Webb stepping it up as mainstays in the rotation along with the guy who came out of nowhere, Tyler Anderson, who just threw a complete game 3-hitter.  Offensively, Mike Yastrzemski is for real, Donovan Solano has been incredible and veterans like Brandon Belt, Wilmer Flores and Evan Longoria among others have been vital it helping the Giants stay in playoff contention as the trade deadline approaches.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays are .500 on the season and sit in 3rd place in the American League East in a prime spot to play in October.  They have unfortunately had a lot of injury issues this season, especially with their rotation, but have continued to fight and maintain a spot in the playoffs.  Hyun Jin Ryu has been good with a 3.19 ERA and 33 strikeouts in his first 31 innings white both Chase Anderson and Tanner Roark have provided some solid outings.  The team is 5th in the American League with a .249 batting average and 2nd with 48 home runs, 11 coming from Teoscar Hernandez who is hitting .292 with 19 RBI in just 106 at bats.

12. St. Louis Cardinals

Next up is the casino lovers themselves – just kidding – St. Louis Cardinals.  They’ve won 4 of their last 6 including a 9-3 pounding of the Royals and currently sit in second place in the NL Central trailing only the Chicago Cubs.  This is a team that will be tested with several double headers after having so many games postponed.  However, the talent has been there with Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson and even Adam Wainright – still in 2020 – pitching great out of the rotation.  Although their offense has underperformed overall, Paul Goldschmidt has quietly hit .344 with nearly a .500 on base percentage.  The Cardinals are still a legit contender this season and are currently #12 in my power rankings.

11. Houston Astros

Coming in at #11, just missing out on the top 10, is the beloved Houston Astros.  I maintained coming into this season that this is still an excellent baseball team and so far this year, they’ve done well sitting in second place in the AL West with a 17-14 record.  However, they just got beat by the Angels 12-5 after walking 10 batters and have struggled with command all season as Astros pitchers lead the Major Leagues with 135 walks.  Still, Jose Alutve is starting to heat up, Correa and Reddick have been good and despite losing Verlander for the season, guys like Zack Greinke and Framber Valdez have been fantastic and I still have the Astros at #11.

10. Atlanta Braves

Kicking off the top 10 for the current MLB Power Rankings we have the Atlanta Braves.  Despite a ton of injuries, the Braves have continued to play good baseball.  Max Fried has sparkled this season with a 4-0 record and 1.32 ERA while Mark Melancon has proved that as long as he’s not wearing a Giant uniform, he’s an elite closer.  Freddie Freeman continues to be Freddie Freeman, Marzell Ozuna has 7 bombs on the year and even old friend Adam Duvall has contributed some key hits this season as the Atlanta Braves lead the NL East with a 16-12 record. 

9. Chicago Cubs

Coming in at #9 and dropping a few spots is the Chicago Cubs, who are 5-5 in their last 10 after starting the season on fire.  They’re still 18-11 and lead the National League Central even after getting clobbered by the Tigers yesterday 7-1.  Yu Darvish has shown that he’s still got it after 6 starts and a 1.7 ERA while offensive players like Jason Heyward and Ian Happ have stepped it up while other key guys have struggled like Javy Baez and Kris Bryant.  Overall, however, they’ve gotten the wins and that’s what counts – the Cubs are in first place and are going to be a prime position to buy at the deadline.

8. San Diego Padres

Zooming up the power rankings are the red hot San Diego Padres although they just lost the Mariners, they have proved to be a super exciting team with a ton of talent.  The Padres swept the Astros including a 13-2 pounding on Saturday and Fernado Tatis Jr. is a straight up superstar.  The Padres are 7-3 in their last 10 and recently had a 7-game winning streak.  They are only 4 games behind the Dodgers and still sitting in 2nd in the National League West thanks to timely hitting and outstanding pitching by guys like Dinelson Lamet and Garrett Richard.  This team is really exciting and if the Giants stay hot, it will be a massive clash when they meet with the Padres in San Diego in a couple weeks.

7. New York Yankees

Next up is the famous Bronx Bombers, who got swept by the Rays when they last played which is why they’ve dropped down to #7, but they are still a legit threat to go all the way this season.  They’re 16-9 on the season and are about to welcome back Aaron Judge from the Injured List.  As always, they have struggled with injuries, but also as always, others have stepped it up and performed anyway including Luke Voit and Clint Frazier.  Meawhile, Gerrit Cole has pitched well with 44 strikeouts in 36 innings and a 4-0 record while Aroldis Chapman is just returning from his bout with Covid-19 to add some much needed dominance to that bullpen.

6. Cleveland Indians

At #6 is the Cleveland Indians, whose 2.85 ERA is second only to the Dodgers in all of baseball.  This team is 18-12 on the season tied for 2nd in the Central and in a position to definitely make the playoffs and possibly fight for a division championship.  As expected, it has been their pitching that has done it for Cleveland while the offense has been underwhelming.  Shane Beiber is 6-0 with a 1.35 ERA and leads this fantastic staff that includes guys like Mike Clevinger and Zach Pleasac, who had to sit in the corner after violating Covid-19 rules.  Nevertheless, look for the Indians to be playing in October.

5. Chicago White Sox

When I did my preseason power ranking and put the Chicago White Sox at #6, I was called every name in the book except smart.  However, here we are, halfway into the 2020 season, and I have the White Sox even higher at #5.  They lead all of baseball in batting average and are 3rd in home runs with 55 bombs already.  All they do is crush the ball every day, which is exactly what I said would happen – this team can straight up rake.  They are in second place right now, tied with Cleveland and trail the Twins by just a game and a half.  Meanwhile, their pitchers are doing okay as well… for instance, Lucas Giolito just pitched a no-hitter.

4. Minnesota Twins

Despite my hype for the Sox and Indians, I have to give full credit to the Minnesota Twins, who are 20-11 on the season and 12-3 at home this year.  Despite some struggles offensively, the pitching has stepped up, led by Randy Dobnak who wasn’t even on my radar during the off-season.  He is 5-1 with a 1.78 ERA.  Kenta Maeda has also been phenomenal, flirting with a no-hitter earlier in the year and pitching to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 2.21 ERA.  The Twins come in at #5 easily and have proven that their 101 wins last year was no fluke.

3. Tampa Bay Rays

What’s amazing about the Tampa Bay Rays is they are so deep with their pitching staff that despite injuries to Yonny Chirinos, Charlie Morton and a variety of solid bullpen arms, they still continue to pitch well and win games.  Tyler Glasnow has 48 strikeouts in 28 innings and just pitched 7 innings giving up one run against the Orioles for a win yesterday and Blake Snell has been fantastic with a 2-0 record and ERA just over 3.  Some offensive players like Ji-Man Choi, Hunter Renfroe and Yoshi Tsutsugo have disappointed but led by this pitching staff, the Rays are 20-11 and in first place in the east.  I do believe their hitting needs to be better to make a World Series run, but with that record and the fact that this team is 8-2 in their last 10, I couldn’t put them any lower than #3.

2. Oakland A’s

I was high on the A’s coming into this season, but obviously not high enough.  The Oakland A’s are 21-10, sitting comfortably in first place in the AL West and just crushed the Rangers 10-3 thanks to a strong outing by Sean Manaea, who has been solid along with Mike Fiers and rookie Jesus Luzardo. But their offense has also been solid hitting as many home runs as the Yankees with 45 on the year, tied for 4th in the American League and have shown great patience in the fashion of those old 2002 Moneyball A’s by working 132 walks, second in the league only to the Rays, who have 134.  Their bullpen came into 2020 smoking hot, allowing just 1 run in 20 innings and this team is just overall solid, without any glaring weaknesses.  That said, they will definitely be buying at the deadline as they try to bring the first Championship to Oakland since the Bay Bridge Series in ’89.

1.Los Angeles Dodgers

Sad but true for Giants fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still #1.  Despite a slow start for Cody Bellinger, this team is just too stacked to allow the struggles of one or two (or three or four) of their superstars to effect their record.  They are 22-9 on the season, consistently winning at home and on the road with 11 wins each, and are 8-2 in their last 10.  Despite an extra inning loss to the Giants, who always play the Dodgers hard, this is easily the best team in baseball both on paper and on the field.  Clayton Kershaw has pitched very well, proving that he is still elite, and Mookie Betts has 11 bombs – 3 of which came in one game.  With names like Bellinger, Seager, Turner, Muncy, and upcoming star Will Smith behind the plate, there are just no holes in their offense and the pitching has been more than sufficient for this team.  Also, long time prospect Edwin Rios has finally gotten his chance and hit 3 bombs in 29 at bats with a .279 average before getting injured.  The Dodgers are for real – but can they get over the hump and win it all?  That remains to be seen.

10 Players That Could be TRADED At MLB Deadline including FIVE SF GIANTS

It’s hard to believe but the MLB Trade Deadline is less than TWO WEEKS AWAY!  There are a variety of reasons to believe this year’s trade deadline will be very active including the fact that with expanded playoffs, more teams will be in the hunt for October.  A team like the Cubs, who are historically very active in the trade market, have gotten off to a scorching start and would love to add some offense and bullpen help to give them an extra boost during the playoffs.  However, due to the uncertainty regarding Covid-19, there are also plenty of reasons to think there won’t be too much activity. 

With the way Covid-19 has effected the economics of baseball, not to mention the fact that a trade means movement of a human from one clubhouse to another (which would likely involve a quarantine delay), this year’s trade deadline will more than likely be a bit slower than your average year.  That being said, there are plenty of players who could be on the move, and in today’s video we look at ten players who could be changing uniforms in the next couple of weeks.

So, in no particular order, here we go…

Kevin PIllar

We have Kevin Pillar – former San Francisco Giant who was not tendered a contract in the off-season and ended up signing with Boston.  He was one of the brightest spots on the 2019 Giants both offensively and defensively and has gotten off to a great start in 2020 with the Red Sox hitting .313 with 9 RBI and 2 bombs in 67 at bats.  He’s already got a .5 WAR through just 18 games. With his sparkling plays in the outfield and recently a very clutch bat, he’s hitting .455 with runners in scoring position, Pillar could be a valuable corner outfielder for a team during September and October, either coming off the bench or possibly in the lineup every day.

Jacoby Jones

Next up, we have Jacoby Jones of the Tigers.  Detroit was off to a great start, but they have started to struggle, especially at home.  The Tigers have fallen to 4th in the AL Central, but Jacoby Jones is hitting .315 with 5 bombs in just 54 at bats.  He’s a guy with a .217 career batting average and most teams will probably realize he’s more than likely overperforming right now.  Typically, he is a decent player who strikes out a ton and has good speed.  He had great defense, especially in 2018, but the advanced stats have been trending downwards defensively.  Still, if the Tigers want to take advantage of the hot start, they may be able to grab a nice prospect or two at the trade deadline for a team that would like Jones’ services for the playoff push.

Greg Holland

Greg Holland is back with the Royals this season after a decent season with the Diamondbacks in 2019.  Holland has been up and down and up and down since his heyday with the Royals back when they won back to back AL Championships in 2014 and 2015 (Along with a ring in 2015).  However, he has shown some promise this year with 10 strikeouts in 11 innings and a 3.09 ERA.  He slider has looked great and he could be a nice veteran arm for a team that needs some bullpen help. 

Lance Lynn

The first of two Texas Rangers on this list is Lance Lynn, who has dealt thus far in 2020.  In Lynn’s first five starts, he is 3-0 with a league leading 1.11 ERA.  In 32 innings pitched, Lynn has given up a mere 12 hits with 36 strikeouts.  If Texas falls out of the playoff race, which may be unlikely since 16 of 30 teams are getting in, look for Lynn to be on the trading block.  He’s 33 years old and owed $8 million in 2021.  If the Rangers are interested in bringing some very valuable prospects over for their future, this could be a move they may pull the trigger on.

Mike Minor

Another Ranger is going to be 33 soon as well and if the Rangers don’t want to give up a guy who is pitching well like Lynn, they could try to move a guy who’s not pitching so well but who has shown the ability to eat up innings and provide depth in a rotation and that’s Mike Minor.  He’s 0-3 with a 5.49 ERA on the season but had a great 2019 and with a FIP of 3.75 and some decent advanced stats this year, some teams could consider him as a much-needed arm in their rotation during the playoff push.  His contract expires after the season, meaning the Rangers may try to get what they can for Minor assuming they themselves fall out of the race.  At the moment, the Rangers are 10-10 so they still have more than a shot this season.

Robbie Ray

The Arizona Diamondbacks have started to heat up lately and are .500 on the season, meaning that they are in a position to slip into those expanded playoffs.  If they should falter, however, one guy who could be on trading block is starting pitcher Robbie Ray.  Ray was 12-8 with a 4.34 ERA in 2019, striking out an insane 235 batters in just 174 innings.  This year he has struggled with his command, walking 20 batters in just 22 innings and his ERA has ballooned to 8.59.  He is set to become a Free Agent after the season, however, and with his ability to strikeout batters and limit hard contact, there are definitely some teams that would love to have him in their rotation.  If the D-Backs fall out of contention, look for Robbie Ray to be on the move.

George Springer

At some point, the Houston Astros have to think about their future.  After losing their first and second round draft picks this year, their farm system is looking increasingly frail.  George Springer is set to become a free agent at the end of the year and, if not traded, he will most likely be on the move.  For one, the Astros probably won’t be able to afford him.  Additionally, I would imagine that Springer is ready to move on to another team where he can start to escape the reputation connected with the 2017 Championship team and the cheating scandal.  The Astros will more than likely be able to get more by trading him this year rather than letting him leave and receiving a compensatory pick.

Trevor Rosenthal

Trevor Rosenthal has had a resurgence to start the 2020 season with the Royals with 13 strikeouts in his first 10 innings of work and an ERA under 1.  The former Cardinal’s career looked to be on fumes when post-Tommy John Surgery he got lit up with the Nationals and Tigers last year, both of whom let him go.  He had no idea where the ball was going and it was a bit of a surprise when the Royals signed him to a minor league deal for 2020.  Now, as we stand two weeks from the deadline, the Royals may have a trade chip on their hands.  If some team is looking for bullpen help and the Royals are looking for prospects, look for Rosenthal to be heading out of KC.

We’ll finish this list with two San Francisco Giants.   There are actually more than two who could be on the move.  I’ve heard Johnny Cueto’s name mentioned – but because of his contract I don’t think he’ll be traded.   Mike Yastrzemski could be someone who the Giants could move for some super prospects, but Yaz has shown that he’s not only an every day big-leaguer but an All Star-caliber player if not a flat out superstar and the Giants have him under team control through at least 2025.  I’d be surprised if they move Yaz, because he could be an amazing compliment to guys like Joey Bart and Hunter Bishop over the next couple of years once they become big league regulars.  Alex Dickerson is also a possibility, but because he’s not great defensively and a bit injury prone, I’m not sure they could get enough to warrant a trade of Dick.

Dovonan Solano

One man, however, who could legitimately be on the move is the man, the myth, the legend – Donovan Solano AKA Donnie Barrels.  He is still hitting over .400 on the year and had an 18 game hitting streak going before going hitless yesterday.  Donovan will be 33 next season and if the Giants are able to obtain a couple of top prospects, it is a move that makes baseball sense.  Solano may not be a .400 hitter and the next Ted Williams, but he is a .300 hitter who hit .330 in 2019 in 215 at bats and could be a huge piece for a team trying to win it all in 2020.  This is a move I hope doesn’t happen as a fan of Donnie Barrels, but if the prospects are right, I see this move as a very strong possibility.

Kevin Gausman

An even stronger possibility, however, is Kevin Gausman.  His velocity is up this year, he’s hitting his spots and fooling batters consistently with a nasty splitter and occasional slider.  In over 25 innings, he’s walked just 5 and struck out 34.  He has a 3.1 FIP and with a lineup that actually gives him some run support, he would definitely have a better record than 0-1.  Teams should be lining up to offer prospects for Gasuman this year and I fully expect that he’ll be wearing a different uniform come next month.

Dylan Bundy Sheds Light on Why Orioles Can't Develop Starters

Dylan Bundy with the Baltimore Orioles before being traded to the Angels, where he has a 1.58 ERA thus far in 2020.

The Orioles and their inability to develop pitching is on full display yet again with the performance by Dylan Bundy thus far into the 2020 season.  At the moment Bundy is the best statistical pitcher in baseball with a 3-1 record a 1.58 ERA a WHIP of 0.628 and a K rate of 11.0.  For Orioles fans it’s conjuring up memories of Jake Arrieta and how well he performed with the Cubs immediately.  This doesn’t just stop with Bundy and Arrieta.  In fact the Orioles have a history of not being able to develop starting pitching ever since Mike Mussina.  It’s a primary reason for the struggles they’ve endured for all but about a 4 year period over the last 23 seasons.  In 1999 the Orioles signed a 19 year old fireballing amateur named Daniel Cabrera.  In ’04 he’d make his debut and hang on with the O’s for 5 season but he never reached his potential tallying a 48-59 record with a 5.05 ERA.  In 2002, 2 years after Mussina jumped for the Yankees, the Orioles drafted Adam Loewen with the 4th overall selection.  How’d Loewen do?  Well, by the time he was 27 he was attempting to make it as a hitter with the Blue Jays!  He spent 3 years with the Orioles and posted an 8-8 record with a 5.38 ERA.  Next on this dysfunctional development train is Zack Britton…yes Zack Britton.  He was selected in the 3rd round of the 2006 draft with the intention of him being a starter.  That lasted 3 seasons, as after an 18-17 record with an ERA in the high 4s they moved him to the bullpen, where yes, he did flourish but the organization still gets an F for developing a starter.  NEXT!...Brian Matusz a 4th overall selection in 2008 he hung on with the club for 8 years but owns a 27-41 record and a 4.85 ERA.  By the end he was, what is extinct now, a lefty specialist.  The train keeps on rolling and we get to Kevin Gausman.  He was a 4th overall selection in the 2010 draft and lasted with the team for 6 seasons posting a 39-51 record and a 4.22 ERA. 

Now we get to the issue, the turnaround.  First let’s look at Gausman because when he was traded to the Braves in 2018 he went from a 5-8 and 4.43 ERA in Baltimore to a 5-3 and 2.87 ERA in Atlanta.  Now, to be fair, in 2019 Gausman imploded again and the Braves released him.  He’s currently with San Francisco where he’s made 3 starts, has an ERA of 4.05 and an 0-1 record but his K rate is up to 10.4 after it lived around 8.2 for the Orioles.

Kevin Gausman, former Baltimore Oriole, now with the San Francisco Giants

Jake Arrieta is the big one though.  After 4 bad seasons with the O’s where he went 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA and a 7.0 K/9 he goes to the Cubs and immediately turns it around.  In 2013 he had an ERA of 7.23 over 5 starts with Baltimore and 3.66 ERA over 9 starts with the Cubs.  He’d go on to win a Cy Young with the Cubs and post a 68-31 Record with a 2.73 ERA and 8.9 K/9 rate.  What was Baltimore doing...or not doing to unlock that?

Now we have Dylan Bundy.  The 2011 4th overall selection who disappointed to a 38-45 record with a 4.67 ERA and is now having a resurgence.  3-1 1.58 ERA and a 11.0 K/9 rate.  Can it continue is the question?  He’s using his slider, curve and change more than he had in Baltimore which is the big difference and makes the use of the fastball more effective.  Thanks to Sarah Langs for the research there (@slangsonsports).

Here’s the thing, why couldn’t the Orioles figure that out with Bundy?  If you’re an O’s fan and you’re reading this it should make you furious!

The one time in recent memory when it did look like the O’s had something, they traded it away.  Almost as if they knew they’d mess it up.  Does the name Erik Bedard sound familiar?  On a bad O’s team from ’02-‘07 he was 40-34 with a 3.83 ERA and an 8.7 K/9 rate.  Orioles fan will take this one though, it brought them all-time favorite Adam Jones and a very good starter for a few years Chris Tillman.  After the trade Bedard did being to battle with injuries and never made more than 16 starts in a season for the Mariners over the 4 seasons he was with the club. 

Bringing in Tillman leads me to my next point.  While they can’t develop starters themselves, they have been able to pick it out from the shadows…

• Jeremy Guthrie, doing nothing for Cleveland, picked up off Waivers in 2007. Had a lifetime losing record 47-65 and ERA of 4.12 in Baltimore but O’s fans loved him!  For 5 really bad seasons he was the #1 in the rotation.

• Wei-Yin Chen, signed in 2012 as amateur free agent.  Goes 12-11 with 4.02 ERA in 2012 and in 4 seasons with O’s goes 46-32 with a 3.72 ERA.

• Miguel Gonzalez, signed as a FA in March of 2012 after being cut by Red Sox.  Goes 9-4 in 2012 with 3.25 ERA. In 4 season with O’s goes 39-33 with 3.82 ERA.

• Jason Hammel, picked up from Rockies after 2011 where he went 7-13 with a 4.76 ERA.  Goes to O’s and is 8-6 with a 3.43 ERA.

• Chris Tillman, Picked up in the Bedard Trade. Looking like a bust in the M’s system with 5.28 and 4.84 ERA his first to pro seasons. After a few rocky seasons to start - ‘09-‘11 losing record and ERA over 5, he put together a nice run from ‘12-‘16 where he kept a winning record and an ERA in the 3s.

Ubaldo Jimenez is the big exception to this of course, 32-42 with a 5.22 ERA in 4 years with Orioles…EVERYONE but the Orioles Front Office knew it was a bad idea.

Is it just bad luck, or do they have no idea what they’re doing when developing starting pitching?  Dylan Bundy is going to bring that question back into light.  The Orioles are hoping John Means can break that trend.  Last year Means was runner up to Rookie of the Year with a 12-11 record and 3.60 ERA.  Where there’s a Means the O’s are hoping there’s and end…to the futility streak.

Find me on Twitter @JimRileyLive to continue the conversation