TOPPER’S TEAM TAKES
*Article heavily edited for grammar, syntax, and properly capitalizing proper nouns…
Do you smell that in the air? The smell of leather and cheap beer, boos raining from stadiums and America’s pastime is back baby! This year I wanted to look at everyone’s chosen teams and give a semi unbiased opinion of how the season will fare for them. This article is just my opinion and is not based on fantasy but I am welcome to debates on my takes.
Richard and the rays:
Not to be confused with Benny and the jets, a seminal and cohesive pop hit, this rays team is anything but. After coming off a 99 win season and a disastrous 0-2 exit from the playoffs many might see the rays poised to repeat the same feats from last year but I am not one of them. Losing pitchers McClanahan and Glasnow to injury and trade respectively and losing wander Franco to diddling little kids will do that. The rays line up went through drastic changes with losing McClanahan and Glasnow for the upcoming season and Rasmussen and Springs slated to return in August/September if that. This may be the worst rays line up we’ve seen in the last 5 years. Now, I am not one to discredit the fact that the rays have a special talent of pulling something out of nothing when it comes to pitching but a 3, 4, 5 SP rotation of littel, Pepiot and Bradley leaves a lot to be desired. If anything sinks the rays it’ll be the SP rotation. Their hitting is relatively the same but is that enough to carry their lackluster pitching? Time will tell.
CBS Sports over under: 84.5. Dans prediction, just barely over. 86 wins
Pat and Brooke and the unescapable green monster:
HAHAHAHAHAHA. Hahahahaha. Lol.
Okay now that’s out of the way.
The Red Sox are on the verge of finishing last In The AL east 3 times in a row for the first time EVER! Which is awesome for us. The Red Sox are interesting if nothing else because they refuse to improve themselves. A full off season went by and I’d argue for a team of the history and stature of the Red Sox they largely did nothing but piss on their hands. While the AL East was in an arms race for positioning, the Red Sox seemed very content with holding the pace and maintaining their course. Whatever that may be.
Giolito was supposed to be “the guy” this season for the Red Sox rotation but a banged up UCL leaves him as useless as a map of the freedom trail because we can all follow along the signs on the ground how the season will pan out for their SP. bombed out and depleted may be a bit generous for this lineup of righty’s but I will be able to swallow my tongue and be corrected when the time comes.
Batting wise, I am conflicted. Devers, Casas and Story all bring upside to a line up but the question will always be is that enough to carry a team with this poor of pitching? I argue no. Which is a shame because the offense has a serious shot at swinging above their weight.
CBS Over Under: 79.5
Dans prediction: under at 75
The nationals trio aka the problematic three amigos:
Ah yes. The Nationals! A team of yesteryear. Much like the aforementioned movie featuring comedians in the first waning of their careers, the Nationals are seemingly very happy to coast until their time is right.
Here’s the thing, I don’t hate that for them. Letting the farm develop is all well and good but the hopes are misplaced. Any batting line up that features Joey gallo in the clean up and a top 3 SP rotation featuring gray, gore and Corbin leaves a lot to be desired. I’m curious to see how lane Thomas and cj abrams peform but overall I’m not optimistic of this years squad. Wait until Soto signs with them again! That will make switching favorite teams 3 times in 25 years justified.
CBS over under: 66.5
Dans prediction: over but slightly. 70 win team
Vinson’s seeing double! No that’s just buxton on the IL:
The twins exist in a realm where talent doesn’t matter. Also known as the AL central. The AL central has been a hotbed of mediocrity for a minute now but the twins are in oddly a solid position to not only won the division, but excel. The only competitor being the royals and tigers in my mind helps but if healthy the twins have it all going on.
A SP rotation of Lopez, Ryan and Ober provides a solid means to win most games when your offense is relying on the scotch tape and dreams of a healthy Correa, Kepler and Buxton. But when all three are healthy and on, the recent revelation of Lewis seems to clear a path where this offense can be viable and potent. If Buxton doesn’t injure himself walking in grass. Big Ifs.
CBS over Under wins: 87.5
Dan prediction: over. I think the twins will win 92.
Jonathan “new kid on the block” and the Yankees:
Losing Cole hurts. A lot. But there is still a lot to be excited for! Judge is healthy! Oh wait. Rodon looks good! After one of his worst seasons pitching ever.
The Yankees trading for Soto left the baseball world optimistic they’d succeed this season in climbing the hump with a 1-2 punch of judge/Soto along with a solid core behind them. But as they deal with an injury bug this spring, the main prerogative is stay afloat.
With the loss of Cole, the health of judge seemingly becomes the biggest question mark as to whether the Yankees are above or below .500 by all star break. While Soto can carry a team, Soto cannot carry a rotation of a broken Rodon and high hopes Nestor. If Cole misses more than two months alarms need to ring in Brooklyn.
CBS Over Under Wins: 93.5
Dans prediction: under. They’ll win 92 because home runs go BRRRR
The new child on the block! Amy and the Mets:
Buckle up kid. You’re in for a treat. After an off season of missing out on prospects the Mets seem content unloading payroll in hopes of capitalizing on marquee talent next year. Where does that leave them in 2024 though?
The batting line up of Lindor, Alonso and McNeil has promise but overall that’s only because of Alonso’s HR tendencies. He’s most likely going to be dealt at the trade line and the rest of the batting order leaves zero to be desired for. Maybe Marte can steal bases again? Unlikely but we’ll see.
Pitching wise ohhhh boy. Quintana, Severino and Manaea leave nothing to the imagination. They’re going to give up runs. And because of the poor offense the Mets are toast. Cohen will empty his coffers but the team will always be in the shadow of the empire of Brooklyn.
CBS Over Under Wins; 80.5
Dans prediction: under. I think they’ll be lucky to reach 70
Speaking of empires: the dodgers and how disappointment is a drug Mark can handle
Congrats Mark. Your team won free agency. Ohtani and Yamamoto look to be a pair of aces worth it alone and the addition of Glasnow makes a formidable 1-3 push come playoffs. No notes. If healthy the team can go anywhere. But that’s the thing, Ohtani will begin the season only hitting and the dodgers past Glasnow will be thin (relatively) past him. Depending on how the bottom half of the rotation is will be how the team moves forward.
Batting wise… cmon. Freeman, Betts, Muncy, Ohtani and Hernandez? Jesus Christ. It’s a murder in LA. Which isn’t surprising given the city but this team has the potential to break almost every stat ever if everything goes right.
CBS over under wins: 103.5
Dans prediction: I’m going over. The team, barring injury, is poised to murder the NL West. Baseball is weird but I’d bet heavy on the dodgers this season. Even if they don’t this is the favorite to win the WS.
The final form… of a dying team.
The Phillies. Always pesky. Always tough. Embodying the city they call home. The city is a rough one but so is the roster.
I don’t know how to feel about the Phillies. Sports are weird in the sense that statically speaking we can’t count on Harper, Turner, and schwarber forever yet they are mostly solid. The clock is ticking for the offense so I’m curious to see if the wheels fall off where the team lands short of expectations. I overall believe that a lineup consisting of above mentioned players along with castellanos, realmuto and Bohm can muster up amazing stats and also lead the way for another year or two. But that clock is ticking.
Pitching wise I actually love it. Wheeler and Nola are a solid 1-2 punch and Taijuan Walker can be a sneaky solid pitcher. Have faith and the offense will carry the pitching more often than not.
CBS Over Under Wins: 89.5
Dans prediction: Over by a long shot. I think they crack 100.
Oh wait… my Brewers!!!!!
Meh.
Hitting wise the Brewers are gonna need some help from the likes of Frelick/Mitchell/Chourio to be relevant. A season of Adames hitting above .250 would be nice as well. Rebuilding years are great!!!!! The NL central is luckily weak so the offense should shine when it matters most.
Same with pitching. Peralta is a suitable ace for the time being, but dealing Burnes is the flag the brewers are waving this year. The flag of mediocrity and poverty. It’s tough out here for a fan. Rea and Miley are suitable MLB pitchers but hardly difference makers and this will be the weakest Milwaukee rotation in recent years.
CBS Over Under Wins: 78.5
Dans prediction: 162-0 baby. Suck it.
I’m going over at 85 wins.
