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Base Runner

Mid-Season Grades NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers – Half season Grade B+

 

Current Record 57 – 41

 

Last 10 Games 4 – 6

 

Last Season 100 – 62 (1st in NL West lost 0 – 3 to Arizona Diamondbacks in NLDS)

 

The 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers were basically a team littered with some of the best players in MLB with players such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. So what did they do to improve after the shock loss in the playoffs to the Diamondbacks? They added a basic who’s who of baseball with AL 2023 MVP Shohei Ohtani, the most wanted pitcher in the Nippon Pro League Yoshinobu Yamamoto, professional hitter Teoscar Hernandez and one of the AL’s best pitches in Tyler Glasnow. Even after adding all these star players, I still have the feeling the Dodgers should be playing ever so slightly better. They are still top of the NL West and I have no doubt they will win the division and make the playoffs but with the roster they have I think they should be more consistent than they are. Shohei Ohtani is that good a player that it has barely been mentioned that he has not pitched this season, but as a straight up DH he is a run machine that has fit in seamlessly after his record $700million dollar in the offseason. I think it’s a toss up between him and Brice Harper of the Phillies for the MVP so far and I would not be surprised if Ohtani wins back-to-back MVP’s in both leagues within 2 years. With 29 home runs 69 RBI’s and an OPS of 1.033 he leads the dodgers in all offensive categories. With the starting pitching additions the Dodgers seem to have no weaknesses. I would presume the Dodgers will meet the Phillies for a place in the World Series and that should be blockbuster.

Video taken from MLB's YouTube channel

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Arizona Diamondbacks – Half Season Grade C+

 

Current Record 50 – 48

 

Last 10 Games 7 – 3

 

Last Season 84 – 78 (2nd place in NL West lost 1 – 4 to Texas Rangers in the World Series)

 

Last season was the surprise World Series with the Diamondbacks against the Texas Rangers and it could be said both teams massively overachieved to get there. The Diamondbacks are a good team with good players, but they are the level below the superstar teams in the sport. They are playing well however and could be on course to make the playoffs again. Christian Walker is again having another good offensive season with 22 home runs and 68 RBI’s and Ketel Marte is carrying on from a great 2023 season. Surprisingly last seasons young talisman Corbin Carroll who was 2023 NL rookie of the year has gone backwards. Hopefully this is a minor blip as he was so fun to watch and so great in the Diamondbacks play off run last year. At only 23 hopefully this is a slump but with only 6 home runs and a .211 batting average 2024 has not been his year. Pitching wise Zac Gallen continues to lead a good rotation and the Diamondbacks will be looking again to make the playoffs.

San Diego Padres Half Season Grade C

 

Current Record 50 -50

 

Last 10 Games 3 -7

 

Last Season 82 -80 (Finished 3rd in NL West, did not make the playoffs)

 

The 2024 Padres have had to take a step back when owner Peter Seidler died at the end of 2023. Knowing he was dying he wanted so much to see his beloved Padres win and spent a lot of money in attempting to do this. With his unfortunate passing it was inevitable they would not have the money to keep Juan Soto after free agency so trading him and Trent Grisham to the Yankees for a haul of pitchers (the best of which was Michael King) and catcher Kyle Higashioka. This was the biggest trade in baseball in the offseason and obviously a Soto less Padres would always be a different outfit. King has slotted nicely into a good Padres rotation; Yu Darvish was also having a great season before being placed on the restricted list for undisclosed personal reasons. Offensively Jurickson Profar is having the season of his life and made the all-star team for the first time having been in the majors on and off since 2012. His 14 home runs and 59 RBI’s contribute to him leading the Padres in every offensive category. Xander Bogaerts in an injury hit season has been sub-par he surely too good for this to continue. The Padres will be looking at a wild card place but could find this difficult and the franchise adjusts to a new way of working.

Video taken from San Diego Padres YouTube channel

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San Francisco Giants – Half season Grade D

 

Current Record 47 – 51

 

Last 10 Games 4 – 6

 

Last Season 79 – 83 (4th in NL West)

 

It must be hard being a Giants fan as the franchise seems to want to spend the money but keep missing out of big free agent signings such as Aaron (Or as John Heyman calls him Arson) Judge in 2022. Or signing them to smaller deals than expected with Blake Snell this year. Let’s start with Snell as with another Scott Boras client Jordan Montgomery signing for a team in spring training meant that last season’s NL Cy Young winner started off slow but has looked better of late pitching 7 innings only conceding 1 hit during a much better performance. Hopefully for the Giants we will see more of this 2023 Snell. Other starting pitchers Jordan Hicks in his first season as a starter, Logan Webb and Kyle Harrison have all have good half seasons. Offensively they haven’t been as good free agent signing Matt Chapman has settled in fine, but he isn’t going to be a player that upstarts the offense. Hellot Ramos in his first full season is showing promise leading the team in home runs with 14, RBI’s 46 and OPS .886. It maybe another season of missing the playoffs but the fans will be hoping they can finally try and spend some of the money the franchise seems happy to spend. If he doesn’t sign an extension with the Yankees I would not be surprised if the Giants make a move for Juan Soto.

Colorado Rockies – Half Season Grade E-

 

Current Record 35 – 63

 

Last 10 Games 4 – 6

 

Last Season 59 – 103 (Finished 5th in NL West)

 

Another season of altitude where the only thing being elevated is the number of losses for the Rockies. They may play in the most beautiful of scenery 81 times a year however the baseball overall has been ugly. The Rockies are a team you want to route for but its hard to watch at times. There are however some things to be optimistic about and some players hopefully the Rockies can keep for a few years. Ezequiel Tovar looks like a future star his 15 home runs and 45 RBIs alongside his improving defence will make him a player they can build around for years to come. Ryan McMahon looks like a player the Rockies are desperate to keep and its easy to see why. Defensively the rotation has struggled there’s an argument to make that the ball carries more in the altitude of Colorado which doesn’t help the Rockies the reality however is none of the regular starters are pitching to an ERA under 4. Another season of struggle but hopefully some of the seedlings will continue to bloom.

 

Stats taken from MLB.com

The Full Rankings Mid-Season 2024

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1.Philadelphia Phillies A+

2.Cleaveland Guardians A+

3.Baltimore Orioles B+

4.New York Yankees B+

5.Los Angeles Dodgers B+

6.Milwaukee Brewers B+

7.Atlanta Braves B+

8.Kansas City Royals B+

9.Seattle Mariners B

10.Minnesota Twins B

11.Arizona Diamondbacks C+

12.Pittsburgh Pirates C+

13.New York Mets C+

14.Houston Astros C+

15.Boston Red Sox C+

16.St. Louis Cardinals C+

17.San Diego Padres C

18.Cincinnati Reds C-

19. Rangers C-

20.Detroit Tigers C-

21.San Fransisco Giants D

22.Tampa Bay Rays D

23.Chicago Cubs D

24.Washington Nationals D

25.Los Angeles Angels D

26.Oakland Athletics D

27.Toronto Blue Jays D-

28.Colorado Rockies E-

29.Miami Marlins F

30.Chicago White Sox F

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