2021 Pre-Season Profile: Los Angeles Angels

 #16

Starting with the Cleveland Indians at #17, we have officially entered the next tier of teams entering the 2021 season.  Teams 11-17 are teams that will be serious contenders for playoff spots, and it wouldn't surprise anyone to see them be a part of the postseason.  For the Los Angeles Angels, they continue to build a stellar lineup around the greatest player of this generation.  The only question is do they have enough pitching to get over the hump.

2020 Predictions

#13 - 3rd in AL West

MIH - Anthony Rendon

MIP - Shohei Ohtani

PTW - Jo Adell

2020 Results

#22 - 26-34, 4th in AL West

The Angels continue to be one of the more interesting teams every season.  Mike Trout is the best baseball player on the planet, but they can't seem to get him to the playoffs.  Even after bringing in Anthony Rendon, who was their most productive player in 2020, and new manager Joe Maddon, the Angels still squandered another season of Trout's prime.

Additions / Subtractions

The biggest hole for the Angels always tends to be their pitching, and although they didn't address it with star power, they did add a lot of depth.  To the rotation, they added Jose Quintana and Alex Cobb.  They also traded for Reds' closer Raisel Iglesias.  the biggest addition to the pitching staff might be the fact that Shohei Ohtani's arm is healthy enough to pitch again.  As for the offense, they replaced slick-fielding Andrelton Simmons with slick-fielding Jose Iglesias at shortstop.  They also brought in Dexter Fowler to solidify right field so they can show some patience with young phenom Jo Adell.

Most Important Hitter

Jose Iglesias

The lineup never seems to be lacking for production.  With that said, the Angels tend to have a lot of boppers and not a ton of table setters.  Jose Iglesias has a similar reputation to departing Andrelton Simmons for defensive prowess, but Iglesias's bat made a huge jump in 2020, hitting a career high 160 OPS+.  If that production continues, he is the leadoff hitter needed, along with second baseman David Fletcher, to get on base in front of Trout, Rendon, Pujols, and Upton.

Most Important Pitcher

Griffin Canning

The Angels lack the star ace at the top of their rotation.  Most of their rotation are veterans looking for a bounce back.  The one young arm in the group is Griffin Canning.  Playing his first full season in 2020 (if you can call that a full season), he has shown some serious promise of developing into a stud starter.  If he can take some huge strides forward and become the ace of this staff, he might solve all the Angels' pitching problems.

Prospect to Watch

Brandon Marsh

The Angels seem to have an average farm system, boasting only two players in MLB's Top 100 Prospects.  They don't seem to have a lot of talent that is ready to help at the big league level right now, especially with Jo Adell graduating from the list last season.  Their closest to the big leagues is their top prospect, outfielder Brandon Marsh.  This 23 year old left-handed hitter, ranked 53rd on the overall list, seems to be an all around stud.  The only problem is the Angels are loaded at outfield, with Justin Upton, Mike Trout, and Dexter Fowler manning the three spots now, Juan Legares on the roster as a defensive specialist, and Adell still the star in waiting.  Marsh might be blocked from a big league spot, which means he could be a trade piece to bring in a top talent if the Angels are buyers at the Trade Deadline.

2021 Prediction

3rd in AL West

The Angels are getting closer, but I don't think they have enough quite yet to break into the top two in this division.  This offense should score runs, but I still question if they have enough pitching to go from good to great.  With Mike Trout turning 30 this year, and Albert Pujols probably retiring at the end of the season, their window of winning with their generational talents should start getting a little urgent.

Fearless Prediction

Justin Upton and Dexter Fowler will be traded for prospects at the Trade Deadline.

With the young outfield talent waiting behind these veterans, I could see the Angels trading these corner outfielders as a way to possibly improve the roster by letting the kids play while also bringing in more young talent ready to contribute sooner rather than later.  They could be traded without the Angels really selling.  They would be interesting moves for sure.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: St. Louis Cardinals

#12

In 2016, the St. Louis Cardinals missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010.  In 2011, the Cardinals won the World Series.  Will they have the same luck in 2017?

My 2016 Predictions

3rd in NL Central

Matt Holliday ends the 2016 season as a bench player.

2016 Results

86-76, 2nd in NL Central

It didn't feel right when we hit October in 2016 and the Cardinals were not a part of the postseason ride.  The Cards have been declining for several seasons, and the talent level finally caught up with them.  As for my Fearless Prediction, Matt Holliday may have still been a starter by the end of the season, but he did have a good season as he put up a 0.3 WAR.

Additions / Subtractions

The Cardinals are always active in the offseason.  Their big move heading into 2017 was returning a favor to the rival Cubs.  Before 2016, the Cubs signed Jason Heyward out of St. Louis.  So before 2017, the Cardinals signed Dexter Fowler out of Chicago.  Outside of this move, the only other significant moves were subtractions, losing Jaime Garcia to a trade and the aging Matt Holliday to free agency.

Most Important Hitter

Aledmys Diaz

The Cardinals were not sure what to do at the start of 2016 when they knew Jhonny Peralta was going to miss the first chunk of the season due to a PED suspension.  Little did everyone know that Aledmys Diaz was going to emerge as an All Star shortstop.  The year ended with Diaz being listed with the rest of the outstanding young shortstops in our game today.  When a guy comes out of nowhere like that, there is always a sense that it might be a fluke season.  However, the Cardinals can't afford that.  They need Diaz to come out and play at an elite level again and prove that he deserves the hype that is now surrounding him.

Most Important Pitcher

Mike Leake

Mike Leake was one of the prizes of the 2016 offseason for the Cardinals.  However, his production did not match his paycheck as he went 9-12 with a 4.69 ERA.  They were hoping Leake would be able to solidify the top of their rotation.  He is entering the season at the bottom of it, and another season like last year might have him out of the rotation completely.  Mike Leake needs to re-establish himself as dominant starter so the Cardinals can once again have a dominant rotation.

Player to Watch

Luke Weaver

No one is ever happy when the words "Tommy John" are attached to a pitcher.  However, if anyone had any joy about them when it was announced that Cardinals' top prospect Alex Reyes was going to miss the season with Tommy John surgery, it was Luke Weaver.  Weaver is the Cardinals' #3 prospect and is also poised for a big league impact this season.  With Reyes down, Weaver moves up the list of pitchers ready to take a spot in the rotation if the big club needs it.  Watch for Weaver to be the next big arm to burst on the scene for a team that seems to have a limitless supply of pitchers.

2017 Predictions

2nd in NL Central

It is always a certainty that the Cardinals will compete the entire season.  Expect them to be in it all season long, if not in the division race, the Wild Card race for sure.  I have them coming up just short again this year.  Their roster lacks the pop it has sported in the past when they have made their deep postseason runs in recent years.  They could easily make their way into the playoffs, and probably make a deep run if they do (they are the Cardinals).  This just feels like another year where they will be just short.

Fearless Prediction

Carlos Martinez will be the NL starting pitcher in the All Star Game.

I have been a fan of Carlos Martinez for several years.  His arm is electric, and he has shown over the last few seasons that he should be considered one of the best young arms in the game.  I see him taking the next step in 2017 and being a superstar.  This would be fully realized with him being named the starter in Miami for the Mid-Summer Classic.

SNL 42.5 Review - Benedict Cumberbatch, Solange

Original Airdate - 11/5/16

One of the biggest rising stars over the last bunch of years has been Benedict Cumberbatch.  It only made sense that he would find his way to the Saturday Night Live stage eventually.  His hosting debut, as well as the fact that this was the last episode before the election, made this an episode to pay attention to.

Cold Opening

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/hillary-clintondonald-trump-cold-open/3421101

This was the last Cold Open before the election.  The typical Trump vs. Hillary fights took an interesting detour here.  The sketch started as you would expect with the caricatures (sometimes appearing more lifelike than the real thing) continuing to hurl insults at each other.  Eventually, Alec Baldwin breaks character to stop the insults.  Instead, the two go out into Times Square and spread the love instead of the hate they had been doing.  It all ends with an urge to get out and vote.  It was a touching way to end such a divisive and bitter election season.

Monologue

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/benedict-cumberbatch-monologue/3421102

Anything that was touching and inspiring ended when the monologue started.  I'm not saying it was bad.  It was just back to SNL as usual.  The key to a successful hosting gig for such a serious man as Benedict Cumberbatch is to refuse to take yourself seriously.  This started in the monologue as he provides a song, complete with dancing girls, about who he is and why he is important.  It was one of the more refreshing monologues of the season to date.

Best Sketch

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/why-is-benedict-cumberbatch-hot/3421106

Continuing in the vein of making fun of the host and his vanity, we have a new game show.  The premise is Beck Bennett convinced several of his cast mates to join him for a mystery game show they would come to find out was entitled, "Why Is Benedict Cumberbatch Hot?"  One of the contestants was Cumberbatch himself who seemed to be just as confused about the fact as Beck.  The best part is the girls really don't have an answer other than the fact that they swoon every time they see him.

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/surprise-bachelorette/3421108

An honorable mention here is the World Champion Chicago Cubs showing up at a Bachelorette Party.  Good times...

Weekend Update

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-on-the-final-days-of-the-election/3421110

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-on-male-birth-control/3421111

If you are going to have World Series Champions show up, you might as well use them over and over.  It makes it easier when the Cubs' biggest fan is a former castmember.  Insert three Cubs and Bill Murray singing the Cubs Song live from New York.  This is the most memorable Weekend Update guest to date this season.

Dark Horse Sketch

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/criminal-mastermind/3421115

There is something about Brits that make them appear to be criminal masterminds.  The show takes advantage of this, using their host as a criminal genius that works through riddles.  However, what happens when the good guys figure out every riddle?  Comedy, that's what happens.

Grade

It is always refreshing to see a big star like Benedict Cumberbatch not take himself too seriously.  This was shown over and over again throughout this episode, as he constantly was willing to be the butt of so many jokes.  This led to many really strong sketches and very few that could be considered disappointing.  Add to the episode the fact that it was the show's last chance to put its stamp on the election, and you ended up with a very strong show.

***B+***

2016 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs had a breakout season in 2015, leaving many asking if this might be the year they finally win their first championship since 1908.  Can they live up to their 2016 expectations?

Last Season

My 2015 Prediction: 3rd in NL Central

2015 Result: 97-65, 3rd in NL Central, WILD CARD, lost in NLCS

I had their position in the division right because of the depth of that division.  However, I thought they were one year away from making any impact in the postseason.  Well, they ended up getting all the way to the NLCS before running into the Mets' pitching.  This 2015 result leaves everyone looking for them to take the next step, especially considering how young they are.

2016 Additions / Subtractions

As if their lineup wasn't loaded enough last season, the Cubs went out and bought one of the top free agent bats on the market in Jason Heyward.  They also, unexpectedly, brought back Dexter Fowler after that strange ordeal with the Baltimore Orioles.  To add depth to their rotation, they brought in the ageless John Lackey to slide in after Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester.  They seem to be getting closer to having a fully complete team.

Most Important Hitter

Kris Bryant

Last season, Kris Bryant had the breakout season that everyone wishes for.  He was possibly the most hyped rookie coming into the season, and somehow exceeded every expectation.  Entering 2016, Bryant is being billed as a superstar of the sport.  If the Cubs want to have the historic season they are hoping for, Kris Bryant needs to avoid a sophomore slump.  Looking at the lofty expectations, it seems inevitable that he will slump at least a little bit.  However, I also didn't think he could be as good as everyone said he would be last season either.  So who knows...

Most Important Pitcher

Jon Lester

Jon Lester was brought in before last season to be the anchor of a staff that needed one.  By the end of the season, he was a complementary piece to the ridiculous run Jake Arrieta was on.  However, it wasn't just Arrieta's brilliance that pushed Lester into the background.  Lester did not have a great season.  It was good, but it was nowhere near the lofty heights he has been in the past.  He is now entering his age 32 season.  The Cubs need last season to be a blip on the radar for Lester and not a sign of things to come.

Player to Watch

Carl Edwards, Jr.

With players like Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, and Kyle Schwarber bursting on the scene in 2015, it has left the Cubs' farm system somewhat depleted of talent ready to help the big club now.  One prospect that has a potential to impact the team in 2016 is Carl Edwards, Jr.  He made his debut last year, coming out of the bullpen a few times.  The Cubs are set with their lineup, but their pitching is nowhere near invincible.  They also trend on the older side.  This could leave room for a guy like Edwards to get some significant time in 2016.

2016 Prediction

1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

The Cubs are definitely one of the elite teams in the league entering the year.  I see them taking a big step forward and winning possibly the most competitive division in baseball.  However, their rotation is still something that is less than elite, and I see that coming back to bite them in the playoffs.  You will have teams like the Mets, Giants, Dodgers, and Pirates facing off against them in the playoffs.  The Cubs rotation can't compete with these teams.  Their offense can score, but with the elite pitching staffs around, the Cubs' pitching needs to be better for them to break the "Curse of the Billy Goat."

Fearless Prediction

Jake Arrieta will spend at least 1-2 months on the DL.

For the last season and a half, Jake Arrieta has been one of the biggest surprises in baseball.  He turned around a mediocre career and became one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the Cy Young in 2015 over guys like Greinke and Kershaw.  Before 2014, the most innings he had thrown in a season was 119 in 2011.  Then he threw 156 innings in 2014 and 229 innings in 2015.  Add another 20 innings to that 2015 total thanks to their postseason run.  He started the postseason on fire, but ran out of gas near the end.  That means he threw almost 100 more innings last season than he had ever thrown before in a single year.  Entering his age 30 season, and getting that kind of workload for the first time, he seems bound for an injury at some point this year.