2020 Season (Weekly review)

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

FINALLY:
BASEBALL MAKES ITS TRIUMPHANT RETURN IN 2020

            Gentlemen, start your engines. After the longest off-season in the history of baseball (and Turtleball), America's favorite past-time is back and raring to go. As summer exhibition gets underway, it is a welcome sight to see the stars of the game we all love get much needed practice in to shake off the rust as Opening Day of the 2020 season is under a week away. Instead of the long marathon most baseball fans are accustomed to, the 60 game season in 2020 will be an all out sprint to the finish. That same frenetic energy will translate to the Turtleball League entering its second season. Teams who thought they might rebuild and may be on the bubble of the playoffs now see an opportunity to be ingrained in history forever. 2020 will come down to one simple phrase in the realm of Turtleball; the team that gets hot and sustains it will win it all with or without household names or superstars. As the league saw in 2020, the meteoric rise of unknown players boosted some teams into the playoffs while disappointing slumps of cornerstone names dashed championship hopes of others. 
            
            As the 2020 season gets underway, the Times will be following the shortest season in history at every step. Upon vote of the league, 2020 will be decided by season long stats rather than head to head match-ups in 2019. The league agreed writ large that this is the fairest way of determining the best team in the most unusual season in history. Each week, the Times will review which teams are on the rise and which teams are slipping. In addition, the Times will highlight players who are thriving at the plate or on the mound and which ones are not living up to their contract price. Trades and roster moves will undoubtedly come as the season progresses and the Times will bring all the latest updates and analysis as to the impact of each move by each team here each week. Week to week rather than day to day strategy for each team will bring about unpredictable results and the Times will try it's very best to bring every update and every notable update as the league journeys through the shortest season in the history of baseball.

            Before going any further into dissecting the 2020 season, it goes without saying but the Turtleball League like much of the world has been hit by hard times. After an exciting and unpredictable inaugural season, the flourishing league was blindsided by world events none of the league saw coming. While the league's hard times pales in comparison to the suffering around the world, the return of baseball and Turtleball demonstrates the resilience of people around the world and the owners of this league. The strength of the league has never been stronger and sources tell the Times that every team around the league is exhilarated to begin the 2020 season. We at the Times hope that we can bring a distraction from your day to day to track the happenings of our league and highlight the success of our league.

Happy baseball and good luck,

The Times Staff

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

AMERICAN LEAGUE PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS:
WHO WILL CONTEND FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE IN 2020?

             Opening Day 2020 has finally arrived. The American League took home the first Turtle Ball World Series championship in 2019 with the Detroit Tigers winning it all. The question remains if the American League can win back to back Turtle Ball World Series in 2020. The Times rates the American League’s chances as strong with the American League touting several heavy hitting contenders. With divisions not in play in 2020 due to recent rule changes, the 2020 season will be an all out sprint to the finish. Accordingly, the Times has reviewed each roster in the American League and decided which teams will be true contenders to win it all in 2020. Here are the following teams the Times expects to represent the American League in the playoffs and potentially bring home glory to their home crowd fans when October rolls around.
            The Times does not expect this to be the exact list of contenders come playoff time nor does the Times dispute that injuries and cold streaks will play a factor in ultimately deciding how the season will play out. A team will rise that no one saw coming but for now, the teams below listed in no particular order are the teams the Times sees as being on a upward trajectory for the 2020 regular season and postseason. 

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Baltimore Orioles: In 2019, the Orioles were a surprise as they made the inaugural playoffs but ultimately fell in the Wildcard round. Still, Baltimore was a surprising upstart team and has retooled their roster for the 2020 season. While Xander Bogaerts was shipped off to division rival Boston, the Orioles never relied on their offense in 2019 but rather their pitching to carry them. It appears that the front office for Baltimore will depend on the same strategy in 2020 with free agent additions Homer Bailey and Ian Kennedy joining a stout Baltimore rotation that already featured Blake Snell, Gerrit Cole, Sean Manaea and Zack Britton. On top of those star pitchers, relief pitcher Corey Knebel and prospect upstart Triston McKenzie might join the fray in 2020 adding to what was already arguably the best pitching staff in the entire league. The Orioles will need some offense to supplement their stellar pitching and it remains to be seen which players will provide the spark necessary to propel the Orioles deeper into the playoffs come October (lest we forget that this team has the best prospect in baseball waiting in the wings; Wander Franco). The Times fully expects Baltimore to be in the mix come October and perhaps surprise a few around the league in just how far they manage to go.



Red Sox: After an explosive off-season, the Red Sox come into the 2020 season as a legitimate contender. 2019 was a season Boston’s front office would like to forget but the Times fully expects 2020 to be a major upswing for the Red Sox. Injuries plagued the Red Sox in 2019 and will still be a theme for the 2020 campaign. Chris Sale, Noah Syndergaard and most recently Jake Odorizzi will all be on the injured list for the team as the season gets under way. Still, the Red Sox acquired Xander Bogaerts who is a superstar at the plate and surrounded him with a plethora of talent including Khris Davis, Wilson Ramos, Josh Reddick and Kevin Kiermaier. The 2020 Red Sox will produce fireworks at the plate and should be able to stand toe to toe with any other AL contending team when October arrives. On the other hand, there are big shoes to fill in their pitching rotation with injuries mounting but the Times senses that the Red Sox front office will make a move or two to supplement their rotation as the season develops. A pitching staff that still has Corey Kluber, Craig Kimbrel, Vince Valesquez and Andrew Miller should be more than enough to remain competitive on the pitching side of the ledger.



Tampa Bay Rays: Sticking with teams from the AL East, the reigning AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays are sticking firmly in the list of AL contenders for 2020. After winning the division in 2019, the Rays are seeking to further their teams success into mounting a deeper playoff push come October. This is Trevor Story’s team and the Rays will go as far as Story will bring them. Alongside Kole Calhoun and Randal Grichuk, the Rays display an offense that is balanced across the board and should be a hard out for any team they face this season. Look for prospect Ryan McBroom to be an X-Factor for this team as the season develops and injuries undoubtedly occur. The Rays have one of the best groups of pitchers the league has to offer with Brad Hand, Aaron Nola and Zach Davies on the rubber. Deeper into the season the Rays should get back Michael Pineda who was lights out in 2019 until his untimely suspension. Chase Anderon will also return to the roster after a brief trip to the injured list which will also further the Rays case of being a well rounded contender for the 2020 campaign.



Detroit Tigers: The champions stand alone atop the mountain meaning they are the best team in the entire league until proven otherwise. The Tigers have got the band back together and are going to defend their championship status with the team that won it all for them in the first place. Goldschmidt, Jimenez and Cruz are still pillars of this Detroit offense who have all the tools necessary of repeating their 2019 success. If Mark Canha, Kevin Pillar and Asdrubal Cabrera can follow suit, the Detroit Tigers could once again achieve glory for the Detroit faithful. Above all else, this team is largely healthy and experienced. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander remain one of the deadliest pitching tandems in the league. The Tigers are poised to repeat and it will take a gallant effort from another team in the American League or frankly the league at large to stop this behemoth from doing so.



Cleveland Indians: Coming off their 2019 postseason berth and respectable 2019 campaign, the Indians are poised to make even more progress as the 2020 season begins. The talent is there for the Indians on both sides of the ledger with names like Aaron Hicks, Juan Soto and Ryan McMahon ready to do damage at the plate. While the Indians do have a couple injuries holding their team back to start off the season (Yordan Alvarez and Luis Urias), the team should be able to start off strong and add back these two critical pieces when a final push is needed. Alvarez in particular was a box office type player who will return to the team at a much needed time when October is upon the league. Trevor Bauer is the man on the mound for the Indians and will need to hold the fort down until the rest of the pitching rotation gets up to speed. Watch for upstart prospect Jose Urquidy to make a return to the team after a short stint on the injured list which will raise the Indians chances of making the postseason dance come October. The Indians are truly a wildcard in the American League and the Times expects that when all is said and done this roster will cause at least one upset when the dust settles on the 2020 season.



Texas Rangers: A part of the final four teams in the 2019 postseason, the Rangers defeated their bitter rival Oakland Athletics but then were beaten by the eventual champion Detroit Tigers in the ALCS. The Rangers are supremely confident about their chances in 2020 as they should be. The Rangers were a force to be reckoned with in 2019 and that should not change in 2020. Adding trusty proven veteran hitter Eddie Rosario to an already stacked roster sporting Josh Donaldson, Alex Bregman and George Springer will provide the Rangers with what the Times believes in the final piece to a puzzle that may produce a World Series berth for the club. Pitching is a bit of a question mark for this club as David Price has opted to sit out the 2020 campaign and Aroldis Chapman will begin the season on the outs after dealing with repeated bouts of illness. Despite those question marks, the Texas Rangers will be in the postseason in 2020 and will be a force that few teams can stop in their tracks. Highly coveted prospect Jesus Luzardo will take to the mound for the Rangers in 2020 which will be an added bonus for a superior roster looking to do damage in the upcoming campaign.



Seattle Mariners: Thus far, the Times has named teams that made the playoffs in 2019. In the spirit of finding an upstart out of nowhere type team, the Times ranks the Seattle Mariners as a team that will join the contenders in 2020. On paper, the Mariners have a squad that should not be overlooked. Buried in a tight division in 2019, the Mariners never hit the ground on the right foot. Do not expect that to follow suit in 2020. The Mariners have Gleyber Torres and Corey Seager raring to go with Steven Souza Jr. finally healthy and ready to contribute. Dominic Smith and Todd Frazier are two wily veterans who will also add much needed depth to a team that is on the upswing for 2020. The loss of Domingo German on the mound hurts the Mariners overall prospects but German has indicted he will return to the mound when the time is right and once his suspension ends. An injection of youth on the mound for the Mariners with prospects Zach Plesac, Devin Smeltzer and Ryan Helsley will provide a much needed boost for Seattle. Others may be surprised to see Seattle thrive in 2020 but the Times will not amongst those surprised by a team on the uprise out of no where.



Oakland Athletics: Last but certainly not least are the Oakland Athletics. After a strong 2019 season which ended at the hands of bitter divisional rival the Texas Rangers, Oakland is exhuming confidence about their 2020 prospects of advancing further. This team is chock full of talent and should be no surprise that they round out the list of American League contenders for the 2020 season. Cody Bellinger leads this team at the plate with Brandon Lowe, Justin Turner and Daniel Murphy forming a balanced and potent offensive attack. Pitching options such as Walker Buehler and Chris Paddock will both take another leap forward in their development in 2020 adding to an already heavy roster of talent. Robbie Ray and Max Fried are an often overlooked pitching tandem in the league and the Times expects a bit more of a respect to be put on both of their names when the 2020 season plays out. The Athletics will enter the 2020 campaign with high hopes and the Times believes the Athletics and their faithful fans will have a very fun and rewarding season as October comes around.

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

NATIONAL LEAGUE PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS
WHO WILL CONTEND FOR THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IN 2020?

            The National League is star studded and raring to go as the 2020 season kicks off. Determined to bring home the second Turtle Ball World Series title to their conference, multiple teams are locked and loaded ready to start off the all out sprint to the finish right to bring home glory to their respective franchises. While there are many deserving teams in the National League, the Times assessed each roster and broke down the ones the Times predicts will be in it down the stretch of the 2020 season. The list does not account for injuries that will happen, trades that will occur or slumps that undoubtedly will strike even the most notable of players. Still, the Times has more than a hunch that the following teams will be contending for first place to win a Turtle Ball championship in 2020 when all is said and done.
 

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Chicago Cubs: Defeat is always a tough pill to swallow and Chicago experienced that first hand in 2019. Succumbing to defeat against the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago Cubs came so close to achieving their ultimate goal of winning a championship for the Chicago faithful and their franchise. Despite coming up short in 2019, the Chicago Cubs are not going anywhere in 2020. The offense at the plate for Chicago is replete with star power options. From Gary Sanchez to Ozzie Albies and Rafael Devers, the Cubs tout one of the best batting orders in the entire league. With Jorge Polanco and Hunter Dozier climbing aboard an already crowded field of superior talent, the Cubs may bulldoze their way to the top of the standings if their entire batting order stays relatively healthy over the next sixty game stretch. Chicago couldn’t overcome the strong Detroit pitching duo of Verlander and Scherzer in the 2019 World Series and the culprit of this fact could be that they were without Frankie Montas down the stretch who was suspended. Montas will return to the rotation to join fellow teammates Shane Bieber and James Paxton who comprise a sturdy and reliable starting rotation. The sky is the limit for the Chicago Cubs in 2020 and it would not surprise the Times one bit if they were battling for first place right down to the final game of the season.




San Diego Padres: An NLCS appearance in 2019 put the Padres on the map as a legitimate contender. The Padres enter the 2020 sprint with a loaded roster ready to inflict damage upon the entire league. Jeff McNeil and Didi Gregorious top a dynamic batting order and are primed to have solid seasons at the plate for the Padres. One of the Padres greatest strengths is depth as injuries will most likely strike as they always do at the worst times so the Padres are in great position to play plug and play all season long to outlast their opponents. The club traded for quality veteran started Kenta Maeda to shore up their pitching rotation and complete a solid pitching tandem between Maeda and trusty veteran start Lance McCullers Jr. Kirby Yates could be key for this squad in 2020 by providing the Padres with the all important stat of saves which could prove to be decisive to their hopes of winning a championship in 2020. The Padres should be on everyone’s radar as the season progresses and could pull out a photo finish come season’s end.




Milwaukee Brewers: 2019 saw a last place finish for this NL Central club. The Times fully expects a meteoric rise from the ashes for the Brewers in 2020 to follow suit. Put simply, this club has the talent to fill the stat sheet each week to the brim. Headed by Mookie Betts, the Brewers put forth a respectable lineup highlighted by Miguel Sano and Dee Gordon that are surefire producers at the plate. The Brewers are brewing up a youth movement as well at the plate with Albert Amora Jr. and Paul DeJong expected to take the next big step in their promising young careers. Additionally, the team’s pitchers look healthy and ready to hit the ground running with Mike Fiers, Rich Hill and Nathan Eovaldi all prepped and ready to go. Roberto Osuna and Josh Hader are a dominant relief pitching duo which is worth keeping an eye on. A wildcard for this club on the mound will be first round selection Brady Singer who makes his first start of his major league career early this season. If Singer produces quality innings for the Brewers, it will go a long way to supplementing a roster that looks to take a lot of people by surprise during the course of the 2020 season.




New York Mets: The NL East champs are ready to go at it again in 2020 to try and bring home the gold. 2019 was a decent season for the Mets as they were defeated in the NLDS but still won their division and put up very good numbers across the board. Pete Alonso, Nolan Arenado and Stephen Piscotty highlight a strong starting lineup which is fully healthy. Amed Rosario and Cavan Biggio will take the next step in their rise to stardom in 2020 which will further supplement the Mets’ championship hopes. Injuries on the mound hampered the Mets in 2019 but it appears the rotation is healthy and ready to go as 2020 begins. Brandon Woodruff was magnificent in 2019 as was Seth Lugo in relief. Jakob Junis’ sidelining will hurt the Mets a bit but they have depth at the starting pitcher position and in their farm system to account for that loss until his return to the club. Look for the Mets to be in it until the finish in 2020 as they always seem to do amazin’ things when it matters most down the stretch.




Arizona Diamondbacks: Another team which will see their fortunes flip in 2020 are the Arizona Diamondbacks. Despite having one of the league’s worst records in 2019, the Diamondbacks are expected to look completely different and become competitive in 2020. For starters, Giancarlo Stanton is healthy and that’s a big deal when it comes to home runs and batting average for the squad’s batting order. Bryce Harper had a year we’re not accustomed to seeing from the star player in 2019 so the Times fully expects Harper to be on the upswing in 2020. Pairing Harper and Stanton together, when healthy, could be lethal for the league’s top teams and extremely beneficial for the Diamondbacks quest to become a legitimate contender. Fernando Tatis Jr. is coming off a terrific 2019 season as a rookie and Yoenis Cespedes is rounding into form which we have not seen in a few years. On paper, the Diamondbacks are healthy and tout one of the best batting orders in the entire league which will create a recipe for flipping their fortunes around in 2020. Pitching remains a question mark for this ball club but if the offense takes shape like the Times expects it to for Arizona, decent pitching from their starters and relievers may be all that is needed to propel the Diamondbacks into contention.




Colorado Rockies: Following a trend, the Colorado Rockies are more than a lock to turn around their team’s outlook in 2020. Following a paltry performance across the board in 2019, the Rockies front office spent the 2019 season solidifying their roster and their farm system. The club’s front office pulled the trigger on a monster deal for Christian Yelich which sent shockwaves around the entire league. Additionally, the club was able to woo coveted international infielder and power-hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo to play third base for the Rockies in 2020. Mixing in JD Davis to the pair of Yelich and Tsutsugo will undoubtedly uplift the Rockies to contender status this season. On the mound for the Rockies will be Shohei Othani who was plagued by injury in 2019 and highly coveted international starter Shun Yamaguchi. The Rockies have poured a lot of time, cap space and planning into their international signings and to pull off the Yelich deal which the Times fully expects to pay dividends by catapulting the Rockies from the basement of the league to the very top as the 2020 season progresses.




San Francisco Giants: In one of the wackiest finishes in Turtle Ball postseason history, the Giants lost to the Reds via tiebreaker rules in the first round of the postseason. The front office felt the scorn of being on the short end of the stick of a technical rule and not on the field of play. Despite losing in such a technical fashion, the Giants should not be discounted at all headed into 2020. A strong batting order headlined by Ronald Acuna Jr. and Yoan Moncada will dish out punishment at the plate all season long. Trusty vets like Tim Anderson and Freddy Galvis should provide enough firepower to shore up the batting order and keep San Francisco among the fray of contenders. On the rubber Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke remain mainstays across the league but will require some assistance in order to get over the hump. Adam Plutko, Matt Shoemaker and Touki Touissant remain a three headed wildcard of starters for the club who need to step up in order to make a difference for their team. The Times expects all three of those pitchers to be in for career years and give the Giants a healthy solid rotation and starters they can depend on as the season gets underway. The Giants do not need to worry about technicalities dashing their hopes as 2020 is a literal sprint to the finish and the Times sees the Giants roster as one of the strongest to beat out the competition as the finish line draws near.

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

WEST COAST EAST COAST CONNECTION
METS AND PADRES SWAP TOP CLOSERS AND PROSPECTS



Yates 2019 notable stats: 1.19 ERA, 101 Ks and 41 saves




Bradley 2019 notable stats: 3.52 ERA, 87 Ks and 18 saves

                While you were watching Opening Day continue to get under way across the league, the Times was following rumors that the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets were about to pull off a shocking trade. The rumors the Times were hearing appeared to be true as the two teams reached an agreement mid afternoon yesterday. The Mets dished closer Archie Bradley and three prospects Alejandro Kirk (C), Alexander Vizcaino (SP) and Tucupita Marcano (3B) to the Padres for closer Kirby Yates and three prospects Jaylin Davis (OF), Ronaldo Hernandez (C) and Tristen Lutz (OF). We reached out to both teams to comment on this potentially scale tipping trade among the National League’s heavy hitters. For the Mets, their front office has had their eyes on Yates for a “long time” and appreciated the services of Bradley but feel that with Yates they now have a dominant closing duo between Yates and Seth Lugo. Additionally, the Mets are very high on Jaylin David who the Mets front office feels could develop into an every day player with plenty of at-bat appearances to make a difference in their outfield depth. For the Padres, front office representatives tell the Times that negotiations between the two teams had gone on for a while but they were happy to get the deal they wanted. Although Yates is a solid closing option, the Padres wanted to get younger at the position and have a solid closer like Bradley under long term contract. With Yates playing on an expiring deal, the move made sense to fill the Padres desire to have stability long term at the position. In addition, the Padres remarked that Vizcaino and Marcano are two prospects they were thrilled to receive in the deal as they see Vizcaino becoming a solid starting option and Marcano providing quality in field depth once he arrives on the scene. There is risk involved in every trade but this trade feels balanced to the Times. Kirby Yates is a difference maker and now the Mets tout a very sturdy relief pitching core which at times was not the best part of their team last year. On the other hand, the Padres farm system strengthened exponentially and Archie Bradley could be in line to see more time on the rubber in 2020 with more opportunities to earn saves or holds.

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

AT THE QUARTER WAY MARK, REIGNING CHAMPS NUMBER ONE OUT OF TOP FIVE

            With a quarter of this shortened season in the books, the top five teams of the 2020 Turtle Ball season are taking shape. Competition to enter the league top ten has been off to roaring start. There are a few surprises and a few familiar names which round out the top five at the quarter way mark. While this top five may change as the season moves along, these are the top five teams which have hit the ground running on the right footing as the league makes it way along this sprint of a season.

TOP FIVE AS OF 08/09/2020
1. Detroit Tigers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Miami Marlins
4. Cleveland Indians
5. Tampa Bay Rays

#1 Detroit Tigers

Rust? What rust? The reigning defending Turtle Ball champions have hit the ground running at a torrent pace. The champs are balanced and poised which is one of the big reasons they sit atop the standings at the quarter way mark. Even with Paul Goldschmidt sidelined, the Tigers’ bats are off to a sizzling start. At the young age of 40, Nelson Cruz is mashing at the plate hitting an average of .351, an OPS of 1.007 along with four homers and sixteen RBIs. Veteran center fielder Kevin Pillar is assisting his teammate by hitting a cool .317 average alongside an OPS of .821. Nearly every Detroit batter has double digit hits so the Tigers are making contact when they step up the plate and making their at bat appearances count. Surprisingly, the home runs are not there yet for the Tigers after that being such a huge part of their offense in 2019. As for pitching, the injury bug has bit the Tigers early with both of their aces Scherzer and Verlander on the IL with nagging injuries. Still, Tigers pitching has produced five quality starts in a season where pitchers are not going deep into games to gain such a stat. The Tigers lead in first place may be slim but they are the defending champs for a reason and they have the roster to hang onto that first place slot for an extended period of time.

#2 San Francisco Giants

San Fran is off to a hot start as they currently sit in second place on the heels of the Tigers. Upstart third baseman Yoan Moncada and veteran first baseman Mitch Moreland have been leading the way for the Giants with their batting averages and OPS being on top of San Fran’s roster. Nearly the entire Giants roster have mashed multiple home-runs at the season’s quarter way mark which is a big reason why the Giants are off to a fast start. Tim Anderson sits on the IL but should return soon which will provide a hot team with a trusty bat known for his clutch hitting when needed. Pitching has been the Giants strong suit thus far with their bullpen posting sparklings ERAs below 2.00 across the board in relief situations. Patrick Corbin and Zack Greinke have an even 3.00 ERA so far through their first few starts of the young season and are advancing the Giants’ starting rotation. Raisel Iglesias and Sergio Ramo have a pair of saves that have been key stats for the Giants. Ticking up RBIs could go a long way for the Giants to overtake the Tigers but with a quarter of total games under their belt the Giants are in good shape heading forward as the sprint continues. 

#3 Miami Marlins

It’s always scorching down in Miami and its no different when they’re in the ballpark. The Marlins are flying out of the gate in third place amongst the top five with youngsters Mike Yastrzemski and Kyle Lewis at the forefront of the batting order both batting over .300 and producing double digit RBIs. Six Marlins batters have nearly ten RBIs so the Miami batting order is driving players home when they are in position to score. If Javier Baez and Victor Robles get into a groove, the Marlins could be on a fast paced trajectory to the top of the standings in no time. However, starting pitching has struggled for the Marlins with Jeff Samardzija and Matthew Boyd posting ERAs nearing 10. Lance Lynn has been white hot for the Marlins however supplementing his teammates’ struggles as he has an ERA under 1.00 and twenty-four strikeouts. Brandon Workman’s three saves deserves ample credit as well as he has been a surprise for the Marlins coming in for relief work. The Marlins margin with the Giants and Tigers is slim so avoiding injuries and staying the course will go a long way for the Marlins chances as the young season progresses. 

#4 Cleveland Indians

Cleveland has begun the 2020 season on the right foot out of the gate. Projected to be one of the top teams in 2020, the Indians are living up to the hype thus far. Reliable veteran outfielder Nick Castellanos has begun his 2020 campaign with a bang posting a .315 batting average, a 1.171 OPS with seven home runs and sixteen RBIs. Juan Soto has returned to the lineup which is a welcome sight for the Indians front office after being sidelined for a brief period of time. The Indians lead the league in OPS as the Indians batters are finding a way to get on base consistently. Trevor Bauer has been nothing short of sensational with an ERA below 1.00, a WHIP at 0.569 and thirty-two batters fanned at the plate. The bullpen has been equally strong for the Indians with the tandem of Jairo Diaz and Yusmeiro Petit each earning three holds a piece with Diaz posting an impressive three saves in this young season. The Indians are right on the backside of the Tigers, Giants and Marlins and are in great shape to overtake all three if they can continue their solid foundation that has been laid by their roster as the 2020 season unfolds.  

#5 Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays are seated in the fifth spot of the top five but they are more than deserving of the final spot rounding out the top five. Consistency has been key for the Rays thus far The trio of Trevor Story, Anthony Santander and Jose Ramirez have been outstanding for the Rays in 2020. Santander and Ramirez both have double digit RBIs and both have smashed multiple home runs. Story has an impressive OPS of .927 and has launched five home runs on the season. The Rays are waiting for the rest of their lineup to heat up and that will undoubtedly happen which will only lead to a good outcome for the Rays. Equally competitive so far has been the Rays pitching staff particularly in the starting rotation. All four Rays starters have twelve plus strikeouts and three out of the four have a WHIP under one. Minor league call-ups Jonathan Hernandez and Cole Sulser have added much needed juice to the Rays’ relief staff with both recording multiple holds and saves. Awaiting Michael Pineda’s return has been less worrisome for the Rays with their fast start and the return of the wily veteran starter will only add more fuel to the fast start of the Rays.  

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

THESE TEAMS ARE ON THE RISE AND PUTTING THE LEAGUE ON NOTICE 

            The top five teams may be off to a hot start, but there a few teams that have been skyrocketing up the standings and are worth noting at this point in 2020. Success during the 2020 season as well as the long term future are what these teams would like to accomplish and their individual success so far in 2020 deserves recognition. While there were several teams that are having good seasons thus far, these three teams have turned around their fortunes from 2019 in 2020 and it has produced winning results for each team's front office management. Here are the teams that could join the top five and be a surprise competitor as the 2020 season continues its sprint to the finish line.

Seattle Mariners (6th place)

Seattle was highlighted at the beginning of the abbreviated season as being a team to watch in 2020. Thus far, the Mariners are living up to their billing as a team seeking to turn around their fortunes and success after a disappointing 2019 season. Currently at sixth place in the standings, the Mariners offense has exploded out of the gate as one of the league’s most potent batting orders. Corey Seager at short stop and Chance Sisco behind the plate are batting well over .300 and have an OPS above .900 at this point in the season. Todd Frazier has also hit well at the plate batting over .300 and knocking two home runs. Gleyber Torres undoubtedly will find his footing as the season progresses which will amplify the Mariners hot start. On the mound, the Mariners have watched Sonny Gray take over as their main starter. With an ERA under one and twenty-nine strikeouts, Gray has been nothing short than dominant on the mound to start 2020 and appears unstoppable. Youngster Cristian Javier deserves recognition as a surprising success story with eleven strikeouts and a respectable ERA at 1.42 to start his very young professional career. The Mariners have an absurd amount of depth in their pitching rotation with Johnny Cueto, Garrett Richards and Kolby Allard waiting in the wings for a space in the rotation to fill in and lend a helping hand if necessary. All in all, the Mariners are off to a fast start and are not a flash in the pan but a team that had a smart offseason with a bright future both in 2020 and beyond.

Kansas City Royals
(8th place)

The definition of an underdog, the Kansas City Royals have come out of nowhere to ascend to eighth place in the standings. A solid batting order with an ace like Jacob DeGrom on the mound pitching gem after gem has produced positive results for the Royals in the early phases of 2020. Four Royals batters are hitting over .300 to start the season and have produced quality results for their team. Hanser Alberto, a shrewd and smart in-season free agent signing for the Royals in 2019, has looked razor sharp at the plate so far batting .349, a .925 OPS and eight RBIs to show for it. Starlin Castro and JaCoby Jones have also showed up big for the Royals at the plate as trusted veterans placing smart baseball and producing a very high OPS for the tandem. As for the Royals pitching, all the Times can say is Jacob DeGrom. DeGrom is one of if not the most dominant starting pitcher in baseball and his numbers (28 Ks, 2.45 ERA) so far demonstrate that is more than hyperbole but a scientific fact. Griffin Canning and Asher Wojciechowski have begun their seasons respectably with over fifteen strikeouts apiece for the rotation. The saves and holds may be missing from this rotation but the ERA average has been stellar producing a solid standing position for the Royals in 2020 thus far.

Arizona Diamondbacks
(1oth place)

From the basement to the penthouse, the Diamondbacks are surging to begin 2020. Another team the Times noted was poised to make a huge leap in 2020 is on their way up the standings. Sitting at 10th place, the Diamondbacks have to love what they’ve seen from their roster so far. Led by the red hot bat of Fernando Tatis Jr., the Diamondbacks batting order has gotten off to a very solid start. The resurgence of Giancarlo Stanton has provided the D-Backs with a big bat to play alongside do-it-all upstart Tatis Jr. and it has been a sight to behold. Veteran second baseman Wilmer Flores has also been hot at bat with three homers and eight RBIs on the young season. Pitching is still a question mark for this club but so far so good for Arizona. Two starts for Jon Lester seem to be out of a time machine with an ERA under one along with a very solid WHIP of 0.545. The bullpen has also been impressive with nine holds in relief spread out evenly amongst Caleb Ferguson, Evan Marshall and Richard Bleier. Even with all the injuries on the Diamondbacks rotation, the group the team has assembled has found a way to make things work producing positive results for a club that saw no success in 2019 but now finds themselves in 10th place and on their way up the standings as the 2020 unfolds.

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

NEW NUMBER ONE; TAMPA BAY RAYS ON A ROLL PLUS TWO NEWCOMERS ROUND OUT THE TOP FIVE

A new number one team graces the top of the Turtle Ball league top five while two newcomers burst onto the scene with reckless abandon. The ebb and flow always in flux feeling of the 2020 season produces unpredictable outcomes and thus a new top five has taken shape. The Tampa Bay Rays’ roster has been playing sparkling baseball while the San Francisco Giants and the Detroit Tigers have held steady to remain in the top three close on the Rays tail. However, the Marlins and the Indians have been bounced out of this week’s top five with the Minnesota Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays making noise by charging their way up the top five ladder. Will this top five survive a week without change? Considering the unpredictability of the 2020 season, the Times says don’t count on it.

TOP FIVE AS OF 8/18/2020
1. Tampa Bay Rays
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Detroit Tigers
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Minnesota Twins

#1 Tampa Bay Rays

It’s a party down in Tampa Bay right now. After coming in at number five in last week’s top five report, the Rays have stormed their way to the number one spot and do not appear like they have any signs of slowing down whatsoever. Simply put, Tampa Bay’s offense at the plate has been scorching hot. Trevor Story continues his sparkling 2020 campaign putting forth a line of a .312 average, an OPS of .912, seven homers and fifteen RBIs. Story is not the only story on this squad however with a variety of players playing free and riding the wave of momentum in Tampa Bay. The Rays have the hottest outfield unit in the Turtle Ball League with Anthony Santander (.281 BA), Brian Goodwin (.308 BA) and Randal Grichuk (.327 BA) combining for fourteen homers and fourty-two RBIs. When asked about their offense’s dominance, the Rays front office told the Times “no comment”. Almost as if not to jinx it, the Rays front office brass must be loving what they’re seeing from their team as the season progresses and do not want to cause any hiccups by taking their team’s focus off anything other than the next game at hand. Aaron Nola’s pristine season on the mound deserves recognition as the 27 year old veteran starter has led the way for Tampa’s starters with an even 2.00 ERA with thirty-seven strikeouts. Tampa Bay is humming right now and there is no indication that they will be slowing down any time soon.

#2 San Francisco Giants

The Giants continue to stand tall at the number two spot which was their spot in the standings in the last edition of the top five. A trip to the injured list and a slow start for Ronald Ocuna Jr. has hampered the Giants ability to take the number one slot but their offense is still replete with weapons. Tim Anderson is batting a white hot .420 at the plate with a 1.054 OPS. Marcell Ozuna, Robbie Grossman, Adam Duvall and Yoan Moncado each have double digit RBIs for San Fran’s batting order which has kept the offense humming along. The return of Ocuna Jr. and the subsequent finding of his footing by the young phenom will ensure that the Giants remain the top five for weeks to come as it appears Ocuna’s injury is not serious at this time. The key for the Giants thus far has been pristine pitching as they have the best ERA average amongst the top five in both reviews of the league wide stats. Patrick Corbin (3.91 ERA) and Zack Greinke (1.84 ERA) have struck out a combined forty-seven batters with five quality starts to show for it between the pair. The bullpen has also been coming through for San Fran with relievers like AJ Minter (1.08 ERA), David Phelps (1.04 ERA) and Sergio Romo (2.25 ERA) all making the most of their relief appearances. Overall, San Fran’s rotation have fanned batters left and right with every single Giants starter or reliever recording double digit strikeouts through this far into the season. The Giants are a solid team who should remain in the top five barring injuries to core parts of their team.

#3 Detroit Tigers

No longer at the top, the Tigers did not fall too far as they landed safely down at third place in this week’s top five review. It is not so much that the Tigers are slumping than it is more so that other teams are surging past their production. Paul Goldschmidt is getting back into the swing of things after being sidelined due to quarantine and that should be a welcome sight to fellow teammate Nelson Cruz who continues to be a monster at the plate (.354 BA with 23 RBIs). Yasmani Grandal and Kevin Pillar has cooled off since last week and need to turn things around to contribute to a team that has stayed steady through a month into this shortened season. The return of Max Scherzer on the mound was a sigh of relief for Detroit as their ace appears to be healthy and ready to get back to work. Rumor has it that Justin Verlander played catch recently and is beginning to feel normal again albeit remaining on the injured list for now. Yu Darvish has held down the fort for his teammates with an ERA of 1.88 with twenty-seven strikeouts in his appearances as a starter. The bullpen is a bit of a mess right now for the champs with Pedro Baez being the only Detroit reliever with any sense of control right now (3.48 ERA). Tommy Kahnle’s season ending injury does not improve Detroit’s bullpen but rather takes away depth from a thin rotation so it would not surprise the Times if Detroit moves for a reliever or two to shore up their ability to make good on relief opportunities going forward.

#4 Toronto Blue Jays

One of the two newcomers in this week’s top five review are the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays as they’re affectionately called north of the border have played like a team on a mission as of late. The big reason why the Jays are here amongst the top five this week is because of their stellar pitching especially their relievers. Thus far, Chad Green (0.71 ERA) and Justin Wilson (5.68 ERA) have combined for ten holds and Rafael Romero (0.00 ERA) along with Trevor Rosenthal (0.90 ERA) have combined for ten saves. That is not to say Toronto’s starters have not done their part with Dinelson Lamet having a 1.59 ERA and thirty-six strikeouts to begin his 2020 campaign. German Marquez, a player who bounced around at the 2019 trade deadline, has settled into his new home in Toronto posting a 2.25 ERA with thirty strikeouts here in 2020. One way to describe Toronto’s offense would be with the word efficient. They play as a cohesive unit capable of beating any team they face especially when it comes to clutch hitting. Twenty-two year old short-stop and budding star Bo Bichette leads the batting order with a .361 BA and thirteen RBIs. Erik Gonzalez (.349 BA) and Ian Happ (.297 BA) have chipped in for their part combining for twenty-one RBIs. Unfortunately for Toronto Bichette has hit the injured list but the team acquired veteran first-baseman Howie Kendrick to add some firepower in Bichette’s short absence. All in all, the Toronto Blue Jays have a deep farm system which has only gotten deeper in this year’s FYPD draft and their front office must be very pleased seeing success in 2020 while continuing to add to their future at the same time.

#5 Minnesota Twins

Last but certainly not least is the second of two new teams to the top five review and that is the Minnesota Twins. The Twins have risen through the ranks in large part to the meteoric rise of out-fielder Charlie Blackmon. Blackmon touts an impressive .429 BA with twenty-two RBIs and three homers. The Twins success and place at the number five slot is not solely due to Blackmon’s individual rampage but also due to players like Starling Marte (.358 BA), Jesus Aguilar (.279 BA) and Nick Ahmed (.260 BA) mashing at the plate and driving in runs. Theft has also been a quality tool for the Twins thus far with Jonathan Villar at six stolen bags and right behind him Tim Lopes with four. Hyun Jin Ryu (3.46 ERA) leads the Twins starting rotation with twenty-seven strikeouts and Alex Cobb (3.76 ERA) backs him up with twenty-one strikeouts. Prospect starter Brandon Bielak has begun his professional career on the right foot posting a 1.69 ERA and fifteen strikeouts to show for it. The Twins bullpen is the real strength of their pitching rotation with the duo of Kenley Jansen and Blake Treinen both having an ERA under 1.00 and combining for twenty-three strikeouts in relief opportunities. Seven saves for Jansen has also bolstered the teams standing in the rankings as they tout possibly the best pair of household name relievers in the entire league. The Twins tout a very deep bench of pitchers who may prove useful at the trade deadline to acquire another bat to provide Charlie Blackmon with a legitimate sidekick to ensure the Twins stick around in the top five rather than becoming a flavor of the week type team.