The baseball season is underway and this season not only feels different, it feels optimistically different. The MLB is having a full season, there are plenty of storylines, and every team is allowing fans (with regulations) back into the stadium. The MLB Opening Week didn’t give us any glaring storylines or takeaways. Likewise, didn’t give us any pennant winners. Why would it? rather there are some interesting notes from one week of baseball. We still have 150 or more games for each team which again, is a reminder of why baseball is as good a sport as it is. For all the great reasons, we look like we will have a season to remember.
MLB Teams
Anyone who made preseason predictions likely picked the Yankees to win the American League East Division, understandably. It’s hard to deny that the Yankees have the best roster in the division and arguably in the American League.
Don’t sleep on the Blue Jays and Rays
The thought that kept permeating throughout the first week of action was how well the Blue Jays played against those “mighty” Yankees. The Blue Jays backdoored their way into the 16-team playoff or the closest the MLB will be to having March Madness. That is until Rob Manfred decides to just sell out for the money of extra playoff games. Moreover, the Blue Jays were labeled for the past two seasons as a team a year away from competing. This year, this team has a roster built with talent and hitters across the board. Likewise, younger stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cavan Biggio have made great strides since making it to the majors. The overall young lineup is poised to do serious damage and don’t be surprised if the wins follow.
The Rays surprised everyone last season earning the top record in the A.L. and subsequently reaching the World Series. It’s easy to believe they will decline, considering how they overachieved last year, lost Charlie Morton in free agency, and traded Blake Snell. The Rays return two elements of their roster that led them to the past World Series, depth and pitching. Yes, Snell and Morton are gone, however, Tyler Glasnow looks like one of the best young pitchers in the American League, plus Tampa has one of the best bullpens. Moreover, the Chris Archer trade not only gave the Rays Shane Baz (top pitching prospect) it gave them Chris Archer. Archer rejoined the team this past offseason in one of the more lopsided trades in recent memory. The Rays depth isn’t just in the bullpen, they have interchangeable players in the field that can all field well.
Covid
Covid is still going to be the primary story of the MLB season and the major issue to tackle
Anyone who was eager to see the Mets start their promising season against the Washington Nationals was disappointed. The Nationals had a Covid-19 outbreak that suspended the series and frankly, had to be a wake-up call for the rest of the league. The MLB has to be aware of the primary issue at hand, not money but tackling a global pandemic that has cost our country half a million lives (not to be too grim). The MLB has to prioritize allowing players, managers, and essential staff to get vaccinated if they qualify. It might sideline a player for a game but the big picture has to be in mind.
The MLB should not cut the line (good thing they didn’t). But, they have to be ready to take a week off, if needed, to give doses to their players when they are ready (the All-Star break seems to be enough time). Until then, the players and managers have to avoid an outbreak at all costs. Last season, many fans, including myself, thought the MLB season was in jeopardy when the Marlins and Cardinals had to miss a significant amount of time for outbreaks. Nobody wants it to be the dominating storyline. However, until the MLB tackles the pandemic (and the country for that matter), it remains the main issue this season.
Roster Structure
Depth is going to matter (again)
Already a week into the season and the injuries are starting to pile in. Fernando Tatis Jr, Cody Bellinger, Mike Soroka, it’s a part of the game. Seeing how teams are going to look moving forward we have to ask ourselves “If I remove this player from that lineup, how well does the team recover?” or simply ask, which team has depth. The 162 game shredder that is the regular season requires the best and deepest rosters to make the playoffs. Last season, I was genuinely surprised with how the deeper lineups in the Dodgers and the Rays were able to dominate the competitions in the 60-game season. Once again, the reminder of injuries is a reminder of the importance of roster depth. Those teams that have the reinforcements will be able to keep the roster potent.
