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MLB is Back!
13 Plays1 year ago
Eli talks about the start of the MLB season and the outlook for the playoffs.
July 27, 2020
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Transcript
MLB 2020 Season Overview
00:00:00
Speaker
we will be discussing the MLB and the playoffs of 2020. So as most of you guys know, this season got postponed and shortened. There will only be 60 games and each team has already played at least three of those 60. So we're going to talk about the playoffs first. I think that the AO wildcard will be between the Los Angeles Angels and the Minnesota Twins. And as probably most of you would say, I'd say the Twins would win the series because they have hotter bats. Now the Angels still have the MVP candidate in Mike Trout. They also have Anthony Rendon, Jay Upton. So they have a lot on their team, but the t Twins have a little more with
00:00:54
Speaker
Jorge Polanco, they have Nelson Cruz. They have Josh Donaldson who they acquired in the offseason. Can't lose with that team and you probably can't lose with the Angels.
AL Wildcard Predictions
00:01:07
Speaker
I just think the twins have a little bit more depth. The Angels have a solid. Amount of starters, but if someone gets COVID-19 or someone gets injured, I don't think they're going to have enough solid backups and I think the twins can. So I think that's.
00:01:23
Speaker
the line and I think the twins are going to be the ones that take advantage of that.
NL Wildcard Analysis
00:01:32
Speaker
In the NL wild card I believe we will have the Cardinals and again the Nationals. Well I think the Nationals would probably win but I think the Cardinals still have a shot Cardinals also lost Marcelo Zuna to the Braves. So that's probably the reason why I would pick the Nats over the Cardinals. And I just think that the Nats have more talent overall, especially on the mound with Max Scherzer, Steven Strasper, and they still have Treah Turner and more.
00:02:20
Speaker
So I think the Naps would win that series, but I think the Cardinals still would have a solid chance.
Division Champions Predictions
00:02:26
Speaker
Now we're going to move on to the division champs and of course the series. is So in the AL East, I would have to go with the Yankees, of course, but it's not by a lot. I would still think the Rays have a chance, but I'd still go with the Yankees.
00:02:45
Speaker
They just have too much. I mean, Derek Cole added to that roster and makes them almost unstoppable. And they still have more. Aaron Judge, John Carlo Stanton, but it gets better. Oh, way better. You still have Gio or Shella. Luke Voight who is not great, but he's still ah really good player Luis Severino and I'm not even saying all their top players I'm just saving my voice because they have a lot of players that can dominate and they would have to play the Minnesota Twins now I'm gonna surprise a lot of people saying the Minnesota Twins would win that series why
00:03:35
Speaker
Well, because it's a head scratcher. I think it goes to five games, but in the final game, they're going to put up a big fight. Both teams would. You want to win the World Series. The Yankees want revenge on that year that the Astros cheated. They believe they should have won the finals of the World Series. And I believe they probably would have won because of their depth ah on the mound more.
00:04:04
Speaker
So, I would still pick the twins because of their depth. And the Yankees still have a very good team. I'm just saying that the twins might have more. And, like, Ethan Cruz or someone like me has tested positive for COVID-19, it could be a completely different story. But I'm gonna stay positive and say that I don't think any twins players won't test positive for COVID-19.
AL Central and Cheating Controversy
00:04:34
Speaker
And I could be wrong, but I can't predict that.
00:04:40
Speaker
um And in the AL Central, I believe the Indians would win, just because I think they're a very good team, especially in the infield. They have at first base, they have Carlos Santana. At second, they have Jason Kipnis. Short stop, they've got Francisco Lindor.
00:05:01
Speaker
And at third base, they have Jose Ramirez. So I think they have a solid team there. And then their opponent would be the A.F. Champion, the Oakland Athletics. Now, a lot of people say, what about the Astros? You guys are forgetting that they cheated and I don't want to pick them. I don't think they're going to be good without their cheating scandals. And there's not a trash can. Literally, there's not a single trash can at their stadium anymore.
00:05:31
Speaker
Well, I mean, in their doubles. So I think the A's will lose the series, but they still have a lot in them. They have Matt Chapman, Marcus Simeon, and more on that team. But I think the team that the Indians have is still amazing. They still also have a lot on my Clevenger and more, but they also traded Corey Cluber to the Rangers.
00:06:00
Speaker
And sadly, he got shoulder tightness after one inning on their third game. And as a Rangers fan, I was like, oh, are you kidding me? But, you know, I just think that the Indians would probably win the series.
Surprises in the NL
00:06:20
Speaker
Now we're going to the NL and obviously we're going with the card versus one seed.
00:06:30
Speaker
And I believe the best team would probably be the Padres. I'm surprising you. But I just think they have a very good team in Mani Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Hosmer. So I think they're a solid team. I don't think they're gonna be the best, of course, but
00:06:54
Speaker
I think they're still going to be very good, and I think they're going to surprise a lot of people in coming out the best at the end. So it's really not about how you start, it's about how you finish. The Dodgers got off to a 2-0 start in their series, and the Giants then literally lost their last two games. That's sad. I mean, the Giants have... um hey a f little bit on their roster, but they don't have tons. They have 100 pence.
00:07:27
Speaker
And then that's it. Crickets, crickets, crickets. That's the sound after the Giants say 100 pence. But I think the Padres would lose the series. So 2-1 seeds losing again. That's really, really sad. And of course we forgot the NL Wilds card.
00:07:49
Speaker
I'm just joking. No, we didn't. Okay. So the Nationals would definitely win against the Padres. I think this one goes to three games. I don't think the Padres stand a chance against the Nets. I really don't. So that's really how I feel about it. Next. And it's the Cubs versus the Braves. I think Braves are obviously a very good team. You saw it last night when they played the Mets and they just absolutely f***ed them. And the score is literally 14-1. They absolutely crushed the Mets. And the Mets have a lot of talent. They have Pino Lanzo.
00:08:41
Speaker
And the player who was starting on the mound was Rick Porcello, who's a very talented pitcher, obviously doesn't have the stuff that he used to have, but still very talented.
00:08:55
Speaker
And I actually think the Cubs win the series in five. I just think their team is very good. They have Bryant, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo.
00:09:09
Speaker
Alvar, Almora Jr. who, you know, he's still very good, but he's not great. um Wilson Contreras, so they have a lot on their roster. And the next thing we have to talk
ALCS and World Series Forecast
00:09:25
Speaker
about is the CS's, the championship series. Okay, here we go. So the A-L-C-S is between the Minnesotans and the Cleveland Indians in the same division, so AL Central matchup, the Indians would probably win it in six games. I just think their infield is the best and the best of the best in their, I mean, you should have watched that play that Lindor made in the second game against the Royals. It's a solid backhand and a spectacular throw to beat his man.
00:10:08
Speaker
I don't know how he made that play. And he had to back up the third baseman, which just sounds easy, but it isn't. Trust me, especially on a hard hit ball. From your spot, you have to move a lot to back him up. And Lenore made a great play to get his man. um But I don't think that play is going to happen. I think he's obviously going to make solid plays because he is an all-star shortstop.
00:10:38
Speaker
And there's no beating that. Of course, I will obviously put up a big fight. I just don't think Josh Donaldson Nelson Cruz and Jorge Polanco is going to be enough to beat that solid Cleveland Indians roster. Now we go to the NLCS and we have the Nationals again and the Cubs. I think the Cubs would win it.
00:11:08
Speaker
So that means we're going to have a repeat of the 2016 World Series. But I think that again, what they and they still have a lot on the mound. Don't forget. And I just think that the Cubs are the team to beat this year. And I know they lost a game, but a game doesn't tell you how good they are. One game and it was against the Brewers, who's are very good team.
00:11:38
Speaker
I don't think that came really mattered. I think that they're gonna come out because their schedule is not that hard. They have the pirates, the like but Indians, and the Cardinals again, the White Sox. So that schedule, and the Tigers, the threads again ah pirates cardinal ah Reds again, again.
00:12:04
Speaker
the Brewers, the Indians, then the Twins, and the Pirates again. And the White Sox. That's not that hard to beat. I mean, maybe some Cardinals and Indians matchups might be hard. But I don't think that playing consistently teams that aren't playoff caliber teams can be hard. and And never. And now we go to the World Series. So I'm going to do it like game by game, just to make it fun, I think.
00:12:34
Speaker
So and in one I think I think that oh I really want to go with the Indians. I think they win three straight Cubs and win two. And then I want to go with the Cubs to win it all. I think the Indians games. I just think they're the better team.
00:13:03
Speaker
between the two and that's just how I feel and I don't think the Cubs are a bad team. I don't think nobody should.
Key Players to Watch
00:13:12
Speaker
Um, so that's it for the playoffs. Now I'm going to talk about the top players that I think are going to really, really show what's going to show that they are the best. Okay. So I'm going to start off with Mike Trout and I want a yeah Blake Snell. I think that you Darvish will do pretty good. Kristen Yelich. Max Scherrer. Chris Sale, if he gets to play. Juan Soto, once he recovered from COVID-19.
00:13:53
Speaker
Francisco Lindor. Hyunjin Ryu. Javier Baez. Yeah, Javier Baez.
00:14:05
Speaker
and And... Insuju! No, I'm joking. Joey Gallop. So I think that's a list of very good players. I don't think there are anybody better than those.
Weakest Teams Outlook
00:14:18
Speaker
And and the crazy thing... So, the other day, Shohei Otani pitched. And he failed to record a single out. So they had to take him out. Do you know how crazy it is?
00:14:35
Speaker
to not even be able to record an out. That's just crazy. Way, way, way crazy. Crazy. But that's just how it is. Sometimes you're good. Sometimes you aren't. Now, now we're going to talk about who I think will be the worst teams. Top three. Okay. So first, a team that's actually two and one right now. I'm going to go with the Marlins.
00:15:06
Speaker
There's nobody, I mean seriously I'm gonna tell you who their best player is. You guys won't believe who their best player is. It is literally literally literally Sandy Alcantara and probably that not that many people know his name.
00:15:32
Speaker
So I don't think the Marlins are going to be able to do that much. Obviously, they don't really have that much on their team. I think the next it team that's not going to do that well is the Cincinnati Reds. I mean, they don't got that much either. I mean, their is actually not that bad, but their player is.
00:16:01
Speaker
Joey Votto, or Mike Mustakas, probably Mike Mustakas. But I just don't think that this team can do that much. I mean, they have Trevor Bauer, Joey Votto, Mike Mustakas, but after that, there's nobody. Absolutely nobody. The next team that I just don't think can do anything is more, or their best player is probably Trey Mancini.
00:16:27
Speaker
And I know they're two and one, but they played the Red Sox who had to trade Mookie Betts. Uh, that doesn't really count. Uh, so the next team that I don't think we'll be able to do that much is the Seattle Mariners. I mean, they don't have that much heat. I mean, when you say their best player, he's like, okay. And that player is probably.
00:16:58
Speaker
T. Horton. No, I'm just kidding. Probably Daniel Vogelbach. And then after that, there's nobody. Maybe... Crawford, but... I just... Mariners aren't gonna do anything. And the last team is the Chicago White Sox. I mean, come on, they haven't gotten to nothing. The White Sox have Noemar Mazzara, Tim Anderson, Lucas Giolito, and nobody else besides Jose Abreu. And Yasmeen Grandal.
00:17:31
Speaker
and start, they just don't have much. I mean, the only players that could make a difference are Nomar Mazara, Lucas Gio, Edwin Encarnacion, who's actually not bad, Jose Abreu, and Giosmani Grandal. But you can't have five good players and then be a great team. You need to have more than that. And that's absolutely why I'm not picking them to be good.
00:17:58
Speaker
So thank you for listening to this episode of Eli Studios Sports and we'll see you in the next one!