2020 MLB Season Will Be One to Remember – If It Happens

MLB Home run derby MLB All star game

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is still in question. Commissioner Rob Manfred has yet to come to an agreement with the players.

While I could rant some more about how I am frustrated about this, I want to talk about how the season may play out if it in fact happens. Fans should be frustrated about how the current process has played out, but should be optimistic about what the 2020 MLB season could hold if and hopefully when an agreement is reached.

Washington Nationals Will Have Fresh Pitchers Coming Off World Series Championship

The Nationals were able to re-sign World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg. Along with Strasburg, they return a pitching rotation that includes 3-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin. With no wear-and-tear from a normal 162-game season, all three of these pitchers could have excellent seasons. It would not be a stretch to predict at least one no-hitter from Max Scherzer this season.

They lost third baseman Anthony Rendon, who was an integral part of the team in 2019. Rendon departing leaves a void, but now outfielder Juan Soto will be the face of the franchise. If the season is to be played, it will be interesting to see how Soto does coming off of an excellent playoff run in 2019.

Rendon, Mookie Betts Will Both Have Great Seasons In Los Angeles

Anthony Rendon and Mookie Betts, two of the MLB’s more popular players, relocated to Los Angeles during the offseason. Rendon signed a 7-year, $245 million contract with the Angels, while Mookie Betts was traded to the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox. With tempered expectations due to the pandemic, it would not be surprising to see both players put up impressive first years for their new teams.

Still, the Dodgers will have an easier time being successful than their Los Angeles counterparts. The Dodgers are basically a shoe-in to win the NL West yet again this season, while the Angels will have to get past the Houston Astros. The Angels also have a new manager in Joe Maddon.

Houston Astros Will Not Be Booed In Empty Stadiums

One of the main offseason stories in the MLB was the handling of the sign-stealing scandal involving the Houston Astros. Many have more of a negative view of the franchise now, and the players would not have been treated with cheers at opposing ballparks. Because of COVID-19, that factor goes away for the Astros. It may be easier for them to focus on winning games and not have to worry about the fans.

New Chicago Cubs Manager David Ross Has Less Pressure on Him in 2020 MLB Season

The Chicago Cubs parted ways with Joe Maddon after the 2019 season, and hired former player David Ross as their new manager. Ross has never been a manager before, but he has plenty of talent at his disposal. If the Cubs had a down year in a normal MLB season, Ross could have faced quite a bit of criticism. Now, Ross will get a chance to feel out being a manager during a shortened 2020 MLB Season, and possibly be more successful because of it. The Cubs are one of the teams that could get hot at any point during the season.

Colorado Rockies are a Dark Horse Team That Could Benefit From Shortened MLB Season

The Rockies have been notorious for being a very streaky team in past seasons. They have four 2019 All-Stars in their lineup with Charlie Blackmon, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, and David Dahl. Pitching is always a question with the Rockies, and the Coors Field effect is always a factor with what some think the Rockies’ floor and ceiling may be as a team.

However, because of the firepower the Rockies have on their team, they could make the playoffs simply by going on one decent winning streak. Their four All-Stars are very streaky hitters, and their pitching is also inconsistent.

The sheer unpredictability of baseball makes it so a shortened season may help teams with less overall firepower. That is why any team could make the 2020 MLB Playoffs. If and hopefully when the MLB finally agrees to a deal with the players, the 2020 MLB Season will be one of the most interesting and fun seasons to watch in a long time.

Why your Favorite MLB Team Won’t Win the World Series!!

World Series

Heck with the positive feeling going into the playoffs, it is important you know why your MLB team won’t win the World Series! The playoffs begin for real today. Sorry Wildcard games we are not including you. It’s all about the Great Eight! You may not like it, but here is why your team will leave you shaking your head at the television! Let the Heartbreak begin.

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:

1 Boston Red Sox (108-54)

The Red Sox will not win the 2018 World Series because the starting pitching turns into a pumpkin when it counts the most. When its October this current starting staff has an ERA well over 5, In fact, David Price acts as if he is the New York Yankees pitching coach (ERA over eight as a member of the Boston Red Sox vs. N.Y. Yankees). Don’t believe me? Watch this montage!  The bullpen is also very shaky before Craig Kimbrel with a lot of red flags as the Yankees come to town. Who is Ryan Brasier and when will that bubble burst!  Other than that, the Red Sox are deep and have the MVP on it (take your pick, Mookie Betts or J.D. Martinez). They set all kinds of team records (108 wins).  The pressure is entirely on Boston who if they don’t win it all, like Seattle in 2001 (116 regular season wins), the season would be considered an epic failure!  J.A. Happ a Red Sox Killer?  Yup, he has a 1.78 ERA against the BoSox since 2015. Ouch, he starts in game one! Sorry, Beantown this hurts me, but the pitching will break those Dirty Water hearts.

2 Houston Astros (103-59)

It’s pretty simple; it’s tough to repeat. The 2018 MLB playoffs have many stacked teams, and unfortunately for the Stros, they are all in the American League. You want proof look at these additions by those sharing the playoff spotlight with Houston (Red Sox got J.D. Martinez, Yankees got Stanton, Britton, and Happ, and the Indians added a ton of bullpen arms and Josh Donaldson). The bullpen is still a significant concern for me. Closer Roberto Osuna (2-2 2.37 ERA 21 Saves) is better than Giles but this team has to find a way to get to him.  Also, the line-up does not seem as scary as it was last year when the Astros won it all. Carlos Correa is just not the same this year end of story. Look, if I were to put money on a team, this is who I’d take but Houston, we have a problem! They are not going to make it two in a row.

3. New York Yankees (100-62)

The Bronx Bombers will not win because those record-breaking Home Runs get neutralized by great pitching in October. The A’s didn’t offer excellent starting pitching; they turned to some reliever from Australia to start. Who do the Yankees get to open up the series versus the Red Sox at Fenway? Not a reliever but certified Yankee killer Chris Sale.  New York also has some concerns with the starting pitching.  J.A. Happ, Servino, and Tanaka do not match-up to the other four teams rotations in the AL playoffs.  If you were to rank the four AL teams and the starting staffs, the Yankees would be last!  The bullpen is the best in baseball so who knows maybe the Yankees should start David Robertson!  Sorry, Frank Sinatra, your song will not be played with World Championship implications for the Bronx Bombers.

4. Cleveland Indians (91-71)

The Cleveland Indians will not win the World Series because they are the Cleveland Indians. It’s been 70 years since they last won and this teams bullpen scares nobody late in games. Sure they added 100 arms at the deadline but Andrew Miller is not Andrew Miller (2-4 4.24 ERA), and Cody Allen has been a pinata the whole year (4-6 4.70 ERA). The starters are excellent, and strikeout bandits but they are going up against an Astros team whose rotation is deeper.  The Tribe is destined to let its faithful down probably in heartbreaking dramatic fashion so no, in 2018 they will not rock! Sorry, Drew Carey maybe next year.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:

1. Milwaukee Brewers (96-67)

The Brew Crew will not win the World Series because they never do. Look, I remember Harvey’s wall bangers (Yount, Cooper, Molitor, Thomas, Oglive) in 1982, what a team. They had good starting pitching as well but when you are starting the bullpen for game one, it just doesn’t sound right.  It didn’t work for Oakland versus the Yankees and it won’t work for Milwaukee. The starting rotation (Wade Miley really?) is just not good enough, but I will say this, Christian Yelich is out of his mind awesome right now. When you look at all these teams left in the playoffs, the Brewers starters just don’t match-up and why they won’t win it all! Hey Aaron Rodgers, Old Milwaukee Beer, and those cheese curds will keep you happy in late October!

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71)

Not since Kirk Gibson took Dennis Eckersley deep have we seen championship baseball in Dodgertown. I believe Ronald Reagan was the president and the year was 1988. LeBron is a Laker, Rams are undefeated at 4-0, and the Azul barely got into the playoffs. Kenley Jansen is not the same, Clayton Kershaw is 7-7 4.35 ERA in the post-season, Rich Hill will get a bad blister, this team is not clutch. Do you feel right about Ryu as your game one starter? Nope! The dream, “Hollywood” ending for the 2018 MLB Playoffs will once again slip away for the Doyers, but hey the Rams are good!

3. Colorado Rockies (91-72)

I’m Sorry, the Coors will not be chilling in championship mode this October. The Rockies barely got by the Cubs thanks to Tony Wolters (.170 AVG. got his first hit in like a month) dramatic single. You have to love baseball right, Tony Wolters the 3rd catcher are you serious? The Rockies made such an impressive run just to make the 2018 MLB playoffs. This team has power and some sneaky good players, but the pitching is not deep enough despite Kyle Freeland’s brilliance (17-7 2.85 ERA) to raise that championship banner. Getting closer but not there, have some Rocky Mountain Oysters next year is just a few months away.

4. Atlanta Braves (90-72)

No question the biggest surprise in the 2018 MLB Playoffs! Maybe the team with the best and most exciting young players in the postseason. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Youthful exuberance does not add up to a championship. Look, the Braves fans who show up are excited they forgot what playoff baseball was (It has been 5 years). Yes, we get to hear that annoying Braves chant for a week or so but that will be it. Like the Rockies, the Braves could be real contenders for years to come but not this year! When you read stories written, “Braves pin playoff hopes on rich history” I’m sorry Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux are not part of this rotation. Go ahead name me the four starting pitchers on this team right now? I didn’t think so!

The 2018 MLB playoffs are wide open.  MLB playoffs are drama filled and arguably the best of all four major sports. One pitch can change an entire series and one player possibly the last guy on the bench can be a hero. So you have compelling reasons why your team will not win the World Series. Who will win and why? Listen to the Unafraid Show (3 pm – 5 pm PST/ 6 pm – 8 pm EST on Friday evening/afternoon on Dash Talk Live), and we will tell you but realize that seven cities will be left counting the days until why your MLB team won’t win the World Series yet again! It’s a hard thing to do to win 11 or 12 games in October.

Jerk of the Week: Astros Fan Steals Ball

When I saw Astros fan Sarah Head catch Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig’s ninth-inning home run in Game 5 of the World Series I was impressed. I know women are dope and phenomenal athletes but it is something a little extra cool about a woman or kid catching a ball like that with ease. Do you understand what the chances are of catching a homerun game in a World Series game? That was dope.

Buddy’s wife caught a World Series home run ball and his friend STOLE IT AND THREW IT BACK! pic.twitter.com/Maaq8zj8Ia
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) October 30, 2017
Almost immediately being impressed changed to disbelief then anger when the dude two seats down from her snatched the ball out of her hand and threw it back on the field. I couldn’t believe this dude really snatched the ball out of her hand. So many fans cheered because in some ballparks, especially Wrigley Field (Cubs), fans are expected to throw opponents home run balls back. The idea is that they are trash and not souvenirs because a homerun is negative for your time.

It turns out that the guy who snatched the ball was her brother-in-law. I’m going to assume the man in between Sarah and the brother-in-law is Sarah’s husband. Do you see the look on his face and his reaction to his brother taking the ball from his wife?

I would have understood if he punched his brother in the face. Sarah said she was going to throw the ball back, but she didn’t get to make that decision. I get more and more irate every time I see this. And no, it’s not because she is a woman. First, he took the ball from her. Second, the husband tries to stop him and he is just so DGF that he threw the ball anyway. The level of disrespect and entitlement it takes to do this is through the roof. I don’t care if it’s a son, best friend, dad, or brother that is unacceptable. I would be willing to bet this not the first time he’s done something like this to his brother or sister-in-law. I believe we all have to agree he’s probably just that guy. He’s the uncle or dad who eats all the kids Halloween candy on the late night and acts like they did it.

Some will tell me, you aren’t supposed to keep the ball but I am not listening to any of that. Home runs and foul balls are a lot harder to catch than many people make it look. So, I don’t care who my team is. If I catch a homerun ball in the World Series it is going home with me, or it is going back to the player in some sort of trade.
I at least draw some comfort in the fact that the brother-in-law agreed to give her his Nolan Ryan signed bat and ball as penance. But then I realized she wasn’t really going to throw the ball back because she is taking memorabilia from her brother-in-law. Sarah bowed to social pressure and just said she would have thrown it back.

I can’t be the only person who feels like this. Right?