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A recent question posted to one of my blog entries by bbcardz was the following:
That got me thinking, what needs to go right for your team to consider 2020 a success (in your eyes)?
For me and the Reds, here's best case scenario:
1. The Reds get off to a fast start. The Reds are coming off of a long string of last place (or second-to-last place) finishes. Sure, the current wisdom is "watch out for the Reds in 2020" but a sluggish start could easily set the team back to their old (losing) ways. A lot of that will hinge on the hitters (I expect the pitching to be fine during the early part of the season with all the cold weather). The hitters though..guys like Aquino (if he makes the team), Moose, Shogo, and Suarez need to be good right out of the gate.
2. Trevor Bauer pitches more like he did two years ago and nothing at like he did for the Reds last year. Bauer is an outspoken guy with an interesting belief system (in terms of baseball stuff). I kind of like some of his out-of-the-box thinking but it's all for naught if he can't produce between the lines.
3. Joey Votto finds the fountain of youth...or if not that, at least he finds a way to get on base consistently. Votto will probably never be a big masher for the Reds which is a bit of problem since he's the Reds first baseman (a "big masher" position if there ever was one). Still, if he can get on base consistently he can be a positive addition to the lineup. But...if he can't display any power this year I'm hoping that we won't see Votto penciled in as a 3, 4, or 5 hitter by the time we hit the All-Star break.
4. The Reds starting pitching continues to be good. I expect good stuff from Gray, Castillo, and even Disco. If Bauer ups his game again and Miley can be a solid #4 or #5 (depending on where Disco slots in) then the Reds could have one of the best rotations in baseball. A great rotation will win you a lot of games during the season but even more importantly, games in October!
5. The Reds bullpen needs to improve over the long haul (especially the Reds' closer, Raisel Iglesias).
If #1-5 all go the Reds' way (and none of those are super out there, pie-in-the-sky type hopes) then the Reds could have a good season. Good enough to make the playoffs even which would be nice...but as a fan, I'd really love them to get over the hump and not only make playoffs but actually win a playoff series.
For years I kind of made fun of the Nationals for their playoff choking...but if I'm being honest, the Reds have been pretty poor in the playoffs for a long, long time as well (they just don't make the playoffs as consistently as the Nationals so their futility isn't as obvious).
That'll do it for the Reds in 2020...now it's your turn. What does you team need to have happen for this year to be a success in your eyes?
Also, I need to thank Tom from Angels in Order for the surprise PWE full of Reds cards that helped add some visual life to this particular blog post. That included my first two 2020 baseball cards (both of which you can see above). Thanks, Tom!
So who do you think will represent the Reds at the 2020 All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium?My answer to the question was "If the Reds are going to do well this year then I think there will need to be at least two starting pitchers plus a couple of position guys. Suarez is the easiest choice, maybe Moose? If Votto is an All-Star then the Reds will probably be a first place team at the break.".
That got me thinking, what needs to go right for your team to consider 2020 a success (in your eyes)?
For me and the Reds, here's best case scenario:
1. The Reds get off to a fast start. The Reds are coming off of a long string of last place (or second-to-last place) finishes. Sure, the current wisdom is "watch out for the Reds in 2020" but a sluggish start could easily set the team back to their old (losing) ways. A lot of that will hinge on the hitters (I expect the pitching to be fine during the early part of the season with all the cold weather). The hitters though..guys like Aquino (if he makes the team), Moose, Shogo, and Suarez need to be good right out of the gate.
2. Trevor Bauer pitches more like he did two years ago and nothing at like he did for the Reds last year. Bauer is an outspoken guy with an interesting belief system (in terms of baseball stuff). I kind of like some of his out-of-the-box thinking but it's all for naught if he can't produce between the lines.
3. Joey Votto finds the fountain of youth...or if not that, at least he finds a way to get on base consistently. Votto will probably never be a big masher for the Reds which is a bit of problem since he's the Reds first baseman (a "big masher" position if there ever was one). Still, if he can get on base consistently he can be a positive addition to the lineup. But...if he can't display any power this year I'm hoping that we won't see Votto penciled in as a 3, 4, or 5 hitter by the time we hit the All-Star break.
4. The Reds starting pitching continues to be good. I expect good stuff from Gray, Castillo, and even Disco. If Bauer ups his game again and Miley can be a solid #4 or #5 (depending on where Disco slots in) then the Reds could have one of the best rotations in baseball. A great rotation will win you a lot of games during the season but even more importantly, games in October!
5. The Reds bullpen needs to improve over the long haul (especially the Reds' closer, Raisel Iglesias).
If #1-5 all go the Reds' way (and none of those are super out there, pie-in-the-sky type hopes) then the Reds could have a good season. Good enough to make the playoffs even which would be nice...but as a fan, I'd really love them to get over the hump and not only make playoffs but actually win a playoff series.
For years I kind of made fun of the Nationals for their playoff choking...but if I'm being honest, the Reds have been pretty poor in the playoffs for a long, long time as well (they just don't make the playoffs as consistently as the Nationals so their futility isn't as obvious).
That'll do it for the Reds in 2020...now it's your turn. What does you team need to have happen for this year to be a success in your eyes?
Also, I need to thank Tom from Angels in Order for the surprise PWE full of Reds cards that helped add some visual life to this particular blog post. That included my first two 2020 baseball cards (both of which you can see above). Thanks, Tom!
An interesting question, and I appreciate a Reds take on it, considering the buzz around them.
ReplyDeleteMy team (Detroit) is trying to climb out of the sub-cellar. So first one would have to define "going right" which I would set as winning 63 games = avoiding another 100 loss season.
For that to happen, well a lot would have to happen. They need a young Outfielder to suddenly 'figure it out', 'click', etc. They have a fair amount of candidates for that but none are going to be lighting up Topps checklists, that is for sure. They also need that to happen at Third Base, but things are also unlikely to get exciting there either.
Otherwise, they have a # of one year Veteran deals - if those go "right" then we just get grade C prospects for them at the trade deadline.
I think overall for things to go right they have to re-learn to play defense. They have a big spacious park that could play well for them if they put the right players in it. The buzz is all about starting some Rookie Pitchers later in the season. That can have all kinds of outcomes for any given Pitcher, that don't make any difference, as for young Starters, few expect a Tim Lincecum like instant dominance. So those big debuts could go "right", but it is very unlikely that all of them will go "right" & with enough other arms going "right" all around them on the pitching staff.
But it is looking good for Miggy to make his run at 500 Home Runs. All we got, really.
For the A's... I'd like to see them sign Laureano and Chapman to long term contracts and see some of their young stars start blossoming into every day starters. If they do that... I'd call this season a success.
ReplyDeleteThe Red Sox are beyond having anything go right at this point. As the adage goes, winning solves everything, so they need to play well enough to stay in the playoff hunt deep into the season. Offensively, they still have a lot of power even without Mookie. I think they can be in the upper third of offenses still. They'll need that, because their pitching is going to be their biggest weakness. Our starting pitching is full of injuries concerns and lacks any type of depth. The bullpen could be sneaky good, but could also get burned out by pitching so many early season innings. The season could be fun...ugly, but fun.
ReplyDeleteFor the Mets...well, staying healthy is always issue number one, especially for the Mets, but really for any team. Beyond that, the biggest thing is if at least one of their two former 50-save relievers, Edwin Díaz or Jeurys Familia, returns to form after struggling last year. I'm not even asking for both to be good, but at least let one by good. Robinson Canó returning to something like his former form would be great, too. If there aren't many injuries, both the rotation with DeGrom, Syndergaard, and Stroman and the lineup with Alonso, Conforto, McNeil and so on should be solid. Obviously I'd like to see them make the playoffs, but for now I hope they're good enough to be buyers at the trade deadline and play meaningful baseball in September. It should be a very tough division.
ReplyDeleteFor the Orioles ~ field a competent team and get out of the sub-sub-cellar.
ReplyDeleteFor the Nate ~ Repeat! :)
{Nats}
DeleteFor the Cleveland Indians, they have to avoid a major injury to a key player, but that has already happened with the injury of Mike Clevinger. We have to keep pace with the Twins and possibly White Sox in the Central. As for a representative to the All Star game, I am going with Francisco Lindor and a dark horse in Adam Cimber out of the bullpen.
ReplyDelete