2021 Halfway Point Review

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

CREAM OF THE CROP; AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST AND EAST LEADERS

AT THE HALFWAY POINT, WHICH TEAMS ARE ON THE RISE?

As the 2021 campaign reaches it’s halfway point, there have been surprises, injuries and prospect call ups that every team has had to manage along the way. A group of teams have separated themselves from the rest and have put themselves on the fast track to the postseason should their seasons shape up to how they started. Since the league contracted, four divisions divided between east and west in both the American and National League have formed. Every team has had to deal with contraction differently, but a few teams have adapted to thrive in a new reality for the Turtle Ball League. The Times took a deeper dive in the standings this All Star break weekend to determine how each team on the rise has done it thus far through the first half of the regular season.

AL EAST AS OF JULY 16

Tampa Bay Rays 9-3-2

Toronto Blue Jays 6-7-1

Detroit Tigers 5-7-2

Boston Red Sox 3-11

New York Yankees 2-12

Tampa Bay Rays

Admit it. You did not see the Rays at the top of the standings at the halfway point. In a league that’s been dominated by Tiger-mania the past two seasons, we don’t blame you for expecting to see Detroit on top of the newly calibrated AL East. The Rays are on a roll and deservingly so. At 9-3-2, the Rays sit atop the AL East and are looking to do damage in the second half of the 2021 campaign. Touting one of the most balanced lineups in the entire league, the Rays have found a way to beat opponents in a variety of ways. Despite losing quality players such as Aaron Hicks and Nick Madrigal, the Rays have had a huge offensive output from players like Omar Narvarez and Garrett Cooper. Narvarez, the catcher, is on pace for a career season as he is batting .300 with a .865 OPS and 8 homers to go along with 26 RBIs thus far. Cooper, the first baseman, has also hit near .300 for the season and has gotten on base as much as Navarez. The glaring weakness for the Rays in the second half will undoubtedly be their pitching. With only two viable starters to turn to in Zach Davies and Robbie Ray, the Rays are in a pinch to find two other starters that can produce down the stretch. In a way, the Rays are operating more as a retooling team than a team that is pushing their chips towards the center of the table in order to compete in 2021. Sources have confirmed that many close to Tampa’s front office sees Tampa towing the line between remaining as competitive as possible in 2021 while also accepting that the team has certain flaws that must be addressed through a retooling effort in the second half of the season before the trade deadline passes. Despite their stance of retooling rather than buying more pieces to win now, the Rays have had an impressive showing from their relievers with relief pitchers like Mike Mayers, Anthony Bass and Andrew Chafin combining for 39 holds on the season. Atop the AL East, the Rays are in an interesting position where they can buy additional pieces to try and challenge for a title this season or they can take the information they’ve acquired about the pieces they have an look to next season to be more competitive and even more effective. No matter the decision the front office makes, the Rays will be competitive down the stretch of 2021 and beyond in the AL East.

AL WEST AS OF JULY 16

Cleveland Indians 11-3

Texas Rangers 8-5-1

Seattle Mariners 7-6-1

Chicago White Sox 6-6-2

Los Angeles Angels 5-8-1

Cleveland Indians

The Indians are hotter than a share of Gamestop stock in late 2020 and that isn’t a fluke. This roster is loaded and it has shown so far at the halfway point. Power is the name of the game for the Indians on offense with eight starters with double digits homers halfway through the 2021 campaign. Outfielder Nick Castellanos has led the charge for the Tribe with 18 dingers, 59 RBIs on a .331 batting average. The Indians batters know how to get on base in bunches during their games as 12 starters have a OPS that is about .600 or more. An interesting aspect to the Indians offense is that they have players that are utility players. Luis Urias and Ryan McMahon are off to great statistical seasons for their individual careers and play multiple infield positions which gives the Indians an edge to have producers nearly every day at every position matchup to matchup. Not to be forgotten is the stellar production the Indians are getting on the bump from their ace Kevin Gausman. Gausman, a eight year veteran, is having a career year for himself with 133 strikeouts on an ERA of 1.73 which is sparkling in it of itself. Jake McGee, the closer, has also had a brillient run in relief for the Indians with 19 saves on the season to go alongside at 2.72 ERA in all of his relief appearances. Brad Hand has also chipped in to the success in relief tossing 19 saves of his own on the season for the Tribe. Simply put, the Indians are the most statistically dominant team in both leagues. Runs, quality starts, ERA and WHIP amongst their pitchers have led the way thus far and it stands that the Indians could get even better. Players such as Byron Buxton, Jose Uridqy, and now Trevor Bauer, remain sidelined by injury or personal legal drama. At this moment, the Indians have emerged as a powerhouse in 2021 and will undoubtedly remain competitive if they can stay healthy. If players such as Buxton and Uridqy return, the Indians will be afforded even more depth at critical positions which will only work to their benefit as the postseason looms large.

[Baltimore Orioles (Vince)]

TOP OF THEIR CLASS;
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST AND EAST LEADERS AT THE HALF; 
WHO IS AT THE TOP?

If the first half proved anything for the 2021 campaign, its that the top two teams in the entire league reside in the National League. The Chicago Cubs (12-1-1) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (11-3-0) have been in a class of their own in either League and at the halfway point they have been carving out a season of sheer dominance on both sides of the diamond. While both clubs are locked in a fairly competitive division race which the Times will review soon, each franchise has differentiated themselves as clear cut favorites to contend for a championship this season. Only time will tell if these two ball clubs will repeat their first half success but so far both front offices have to be very pleased with the results of their respective franchises thus far. What has led to all the success for both of these franchises with half of a season done in 2021? The Times took a deeper look into both rosters to determine their strengths that have led to success and weaknesses they have overcome to remain atop the standings.

NL East as of July 18

Chicago Cubs 12-1-1

Miami Marlins 11-2-1

New York Mets 4-9-1

Minnesota Twins 4-9-1

Washington Nationals 3-9-2

Milwaukee Brewers 3-9-2

Chicago Cubs

The 2019 National League pennant winning Chicago Cubs are at it again in 2021. Savvy front office management, prudent in season signings and stellar week to week matchup strategery have put the Cubbies in prime position to challenge for another pennant, and perhaps even a championship, in 2021. The Cubs success has relied primarily upon their powerful offense at the dish. The nasty trio of Matt Olson at first, Ozzie Albies at second and Rafael Devers at third have cost other managers of other franchises around the league many nights of good sleep. Throw in the major production of players like Whit Merrifield and Brandon Belt and the depth on this roster becomes even scarier. Olson has been a monster this season with 23 homers, 60 RBIs, on a .288 batting average and sparkling .955 OPS. Not to be out done are his young stallions galloping besides him with Ozzie Albies chipping in 15 homers, 61 RBIs, a .259 batting average and a .816 OPS and Rafael Devers hitting 22 homers, 72 RBIs, on a .281 batting average and a solid .911 OPS. It would be criminal to go without mentioning how important Whit Merrifield has been for this ball club. Merrifield, who plays outfield and infield, has contributed 50 RBIs, and more notably 24 stolen bases. The Cubs have four players on their roster with over 10 stolen bases which has been key to winning close matchups this season. When Brandon Belt returns from the IL soon, this offense will be fully healthy and prepared for the trials of the second half. Over on the mound, starting pitchers Trevor Rogers and Anthony DeScalfani have led the way for the windy city franchise. Rogers has thrown 122 strikeouts and DeScalfani has tossed 99 of his own. Both players have an ERA below 3.00 which is a trend for the Cubs with six pitchers with an ERA under 3.00 respectively. The Cubs health is their biggest question mark coming down the stretch for the second half. Be that as it may, the prospect of the Cubs activating Carlos Carrasco, Dustin May and Stephen Strasburg to take the bump for the team is a frightening thought for opposing teams. If things continue to pan out and hold as presently constructed for the Cubs, Chicago is in prime position to be the clear cut favorite to win it all as the postseason draws near later in the season.

NL West as of July 18

Arizona Diamondbacks 11-3-0

Kansas City Royals 9-4-1

Colorado Rockies 8-5-1

San Diego Padres 8-6-0

San Francisco Giants 6-8-0

Arizona Diamondbacks

After two seasons in the cellar of the league, the Arizona Diamondbacks have risen from the Grand Canyon in the desert to emerge as a major juggernaut in 2021. The Diamondbacks have taken a patient approach to this season but their offseason construction of their roster before this season began has paid off major dividends thus far. The electric rising superstar shortstop, Fernando Tatis Jr., can be attributed to much of Arizona’s offensive firepower in 2021. Tatis Jr. is on pace to become the first 40/50 shortstop in major league history which is an absurd notion on its face. Tatis Jr. has lit the plate on fire mashing 28 dingers, 62 RBIs, on a .281 batting average with a very impressive 1.020 OPS. The meteoric rise of Tatis Jr. has been complimented by the wily veteran catcher Salvador Perez putting together a solid season for himself. Perez has hit 21 homers, 55 RBIs, on a .278 batting average and has found the bag more often than not as a big man behind the plate compiling a .804 OPS. Veteran infielder Manny Machado has put forth his regular dominant season this years by compiling 15 homers, 61 RBIs and a .268 batting average. Starting pitching has been a soft spot for the Diamondbacks but they’ve registered solid seasons from the likes of Alex Wood (82 strikeouts, 3.67 ERA), Kyle Gibson (88 strikeouts, 2.29 ERA) and Jordan Lyle (79 strikeouts, 5.20 ERA). The pitching staff for Arizona will get a boost soon however as the franchise just traded for star right hand pitcher Blake Snell from Baltimore and will get John Means back at some point before the end of the season. Snell has great strikeout stuff and Means has a no hitter under his belt this season so the aforementioned duo will be the shot in the arm the franchise needs for their second half push. All in all, Arizona is having a terrific season and will continue to do so as long as they continue to deploy their current strategy in the coming weeks.