Scoping out the competition:
While the Phillies and Mets battle each other, they will also contend with Washington, who lost Rendon to free agency: less run production. In the pen, they kept the three relievers picked up in July and added free-agent Harris. Translation: they aren’t as strong as last year.
Even thought the Nats have three top-tier starters, Atlanta will be the more difficult opponent. They’ve shored up their bullpen with a $40 million closer and their three pen additions from July. However, the outfielder they signed isn’t as strong offensively as the slugger who returned to the American League.
To their five-man staff, they inked Cole Hamels for $18 million to replace Keuchel, who also switched back to the Junior Circuit. This campaign, though, they may depend on two youngsters pitching every fifth day, and developing hurlers do experience growing pains during their first 60-120 starts.
For the Phils and Mets, new managers and coaches will have major roles with these contending teams. Unfortunately, New York had hired Carlos Beltran and his staff before he resigned due to the sign-stealing debacle. But new skipper Luis Rojas will go into the season with coaches suited for Beltran due to the timing.
Locally, new manager Joe Girardi has brought aboard pitching and hitting coaches with many 162s under their belts, and they work with players on an individual basis. So what should you call 2020’s combination of analytics and old-school baseball to 2019’s number crunchers? An advantage!