The Hypothetical "What-if" MLB Game, 2017
Year in and year out we see teams rise and fall in baseball. Every year we see teams make trades to impact their teams, some for good, and some not so good. We see teams release players only to have them come back and bite them on the rear end. We've seen teams let go of their players and so forth. And sometimes it doesn't affect them. But what if, just what if certain teams hadn't let go of certain players? It is always that situation of if the team had kept that player that he would not have been the same player has he turned out to be. But perhaps the player never would have panned out.
Case in point: the famed Doyle Alexander to the Tigers for John Smoltz trade. The reality of it was the trade worked for both teams. Alexander was huge for Detroit down the stretch in 1987, helping the Tigers win the AL East while Smoltz had a Hall-of-Fame career with the Braves. Tigers fans strongly believe had they kept Smoltz the future of Detroit would have changed from 1994-2005. For me? Hard to say as Atlanta's coaches in the farm were far more stable and effective than Detroit's as it showed over time. So I cannot buy it. So for those who think they may have been screwed in the trade or letting the player go, I will try to put your minds at ease.
WHAT IF: The Diamondbacks had not traded Ender Inciarte, Dansby Swanson, and Aaron Blair to the Braves for Shelby Miller? From the trade being announced until now, I think this was a major fleece by Atlanta. An argument can be made that Inciarte is the best defensive outfielder at least in the National League and he is one of the league leaders in hits and with Pollock injured, Inciarte would be huge for an Arizona team already in the thick of it. Swanson may not have been rushed in Arizona like he has been in Atlanta so if the Diamondbacks waited to call him up at the right time he probably would have gotten more seasoning both with the bat and on the field. So this would have been interesting to see. REALITY CHECK: Honestly, I can't think of a positive for Arizona for making this trade. Arizona would have probably kept Dansby in the Minors for the 2017 season until the September call-ups, to which he would have been a massive jolt OR if they played their cards right, traded him & others for Chris Sale. Inciarte was probably the odd man out in Arizona. Why, I don't know.
WHAT IF: The Red Sox had not traded Travis Shaw and prospects for Tyler Thornburg? Well this has do-over all over it for Boston. The Red Sox needed an upgrade on the pen and Thornburg was supposed to set up for Craig Kimbrel. Well, Thornburg hasn't thrown a pitch in Boston and won't until 2018 thanks to thoracic outlet syndrome and Boston's third base production is dead last. On top of it, thanks in part to David Ortiz retiring, the Red Sox offense isn't the massively powerful juggernaut it once was. Shaw is having a career year in Milwaukee with a .291 avg and 17 HR (with a .911 OPS). The good news for Boston is the bullpen has been fine without Thornburg and the Red Sox lead the AL East by 3 games entering today. Probably more if they hadn't made this trade. REALITY CHECK: It was hard to figure out Shaw would have a huge year in Milwaukee after last year with "average" numbers in Boston in 2016. And add the fact the Sox have Pablo Sandoval's contract hanging over them and unable to move it, they have to get more hope out of the Panda at some point, right?
WHAT IF: The Tigers never traded Eugenio Suarez, Robbie Ray AND Corey Knebel while keeping Max Scherzer in the fold? Okay, I'm a Tigers fan. Anyway, this is what you get if you make constant trades of youngsters while trying to contend for a world championship, somewhat irresponsibly (take note Boston fans as the guy who made these trades made the Travis Shaw trade-just saying). Detroit had been at the forefront of the AL from 2011-2014 and probably had the best all-around team until you got to the bullpen. Now, I will say Suarez may be a product of the ballpark in Cincinnati so it is hard to decipher him. Yes, Ray and Knebel did not pitch well when they were called up, but as we see now, Ray is an All-Star in Arizona (revenge from the Scherzer deal?) and maybe the best pitcher in the NL not named Scherzer or Kershaw in 2017 and Knebel is All-Star closer. And Scherzer is the best pitcher in the NL in 2017. And to think, the Tigers had Scherzer, Suarez, Knebel, and Ray all together in 2014. Maybe the Tigers would have gotten far in 2016 besides losing on the last day of th season for elimination. REALITY CHECK: Easy on on Scherzer is that Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera had heavy contracts they signed with Detroit at that point where the Tigers couldn't afford him. Ray didn't look anything like what he is now. Suarez looked more like a typical utility infielder, but Knebel may have been more of the "oops" on Detroit's part.
WHAT IF: The Astros did not release JD Martinez? Best team in baseball with one of the best hitters in baseball the last 3 years? Can't imagine what the Astros would be if Martinez was in the fold with them now. 60 wins at this point? Heck, maybe 2015 would have been a different story for who won the World Series. REALITY CHECK: Martinez wasn't the same player in Houston though many argue the Astros knee-jerked too quickly on him.
WHAT IF: The Brewers never traded Jean Segura to the Diamondbacks for Chase Anderson? This is somewhat of a catch-22 here. The Brewers, already leading the NL Central in 2017 has a bit of a gap at 2B with Jonathan Villar under-performing (though Eric Sogard has been a huge jolt for Milwaukee-never dreamed of saying that!). But, Chase Anderson until getting injured had a great season in Milwaukee. So the question begs, would Segura add on to an already potent offense while the pitching (which can be shaky at times with Anderson) take a hit? Probably not. REALITY CHECK: Segura was fizzling out after having a decent start in Milwaukee in 2012 and the Brewers needed an arm to which Anderson gave them.
WHAT IF: The Giants never traded Adam Duvall to the Reds for Mike Leake? Well, probably dumping too much on any Reds player being good for the park they play in, but similar to Zack Cozart, Duvall has been pretty solid away from Cincinnati. I think this year is a wash in San Francisco, but if you put the numbers Duvall has this year in the Giants lineup (especially in LF), they may be at least around the .500 mark. REALITY CHECK: The Giants needed another arm in the push for a playoff spot. Leake was the guy. And remember, San Francisco is NOT Cincinnati in regards to the ballpark factor.
WHAT IF: The Mets never traded Michael Fulmer to the Tigers for Yoenis Cespedes? Another danged-if-you-do-danged-if-you-don't deals. Cespedes and his bat propelled the Mets to the World Series in 2015. But since then while he still performs at a high level, he is often dinged up and is either day-to-day or DL bound. Cespedes in 2 full years with the Mets has already missed 73 games and probably more when the end of September arrives. Add in the fact the Mets rotation outside of Jacob DeGrom is a M*A*S*H* unit and you put Fulmer (who won Rookie of the Year in 2016 and an All-Star in 2017) in with this group, maybe they stand a chance with Washington in 2017. REALITY CHECK: Mets probably don't win anything in 2015 without Cespedes and given the Mets situation with injuries, Fulmer probably finds his way on the DL.
WHAT IF: The Blue Jays never traded Noah Syndergaard & Travis d'Arnaud to the Mets for RA Dickey? Syndergaard until his injury has taken the league by storm with his stuff. And he is as dominant as any other pitcher in the Majors. And figure that in 2015 when the Jays had David Price down the stretch with Noah. But Toronto believed RA Dickey had the fountain of youth going for him (newsflash: he didn't) and made an insane deal that also netted the Mets Travis d'Arnaud as well. The good part was the Jays ended up with Russell Martin so that doesn't sting as much. But it would have been interesting to see the Jays with Syndergaard (and not Dickey) in the ALCS. REALITY CHECK: Toronto, desperately needing a pitcher in the offensive minded AL East, believed they got the edge over the likes of Boston and the Yankees in 2013. Had they waited 2 more years with Syndergaard, maybe the Blue Jays would have returned to the World Series in 2015.
WHAT IF: The Pirates never traded Jose Bautista to the Blue Jays? Okay, this one is more of the "way back when" as Joey Bats was more effective 4-5 years ago than now. But if you look back when the Pirates were really contending and Bautista cranked the ball, wow. McCutchen, Alvarez, Walker? Maybe the Pirates would have gotten over the hump agianst St. Louis in 2013. REALITY CHECK: Before joining the Jays, Bautista wasn't anything close to the power guy he is now.
WHAT IF: The Mariners kept Justin Smoak? I would also use Logan Morrison as it applies. This one is easier than others because Smoak didn't pan out in Seattle for some reason. He had signs of promise, but never panned out. Though some point to the Mariners playing in a vast ballpark which also probably stunted Adrian Beltre's Hall of Fame resume while he was a Mariner as well. REALITY CHECK: Seattle and Toronto are night and day for a hitter. Smoak is no exception.
It is always fun to think what may have been and in certain cases it probably would have been a dream come true. But at times had these players stayed put, it may have been a nightmare.
But ultimately we will never know.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
