2021 MLB Showdown Set -- Los Angeles Dodgers

 The Dodgers won it all in 2020 and entered 2021 as HUGE favorites to repeat.... and they certainly had all the talent available to do so.... but they couldn't even win the NL West. Instead, their incredible 106 wins (109 in Pythagorean) got them a Wild Card berth. However, they still pushed through to the NLCS before falling to Atlanta. Their rotation is insanely deep, even after expensive free agent Trevor Bauer was suspended. The lineup is deep and filled with stars. Indeed, this is a team that once again leads me to believe that if I was the manager instead of Dave Roberts would have won the World Series!

Especially if they still had Bellinger putting up an MVP-level card circa 2019 rather than a 10 pt Cody B on the bench

Lineup: This lineup is absolutely filthy and takes over from Houston as the best one we've seen. The first six hitters are either OB 9, HR at 18 or OB 10, HR at 19! I've already heard rumblings about plans to take Trea Turner in the first round of our discord league, and I'm fully supportive -- this card can do it all and gives your team a lot of flexibility later in draft while letting you lock in a 1 or 2 hitter. Meanwhile, Seager's 410 point card may be better value -- and shows why he was such a prized commodity in free agency (I'm already excited to make a "hot stove" card for him... if spring training comes back this year). Mookie had a slow start, but finished with a card you'd expect from him and his massive contract -- like Turner, he can do it all, but for 130 pts less because of his position, less speed, and less dynamic chart. Muncy was a deserving MVP candidate most of the year, and his final card is another early round target -- 3 or 4 hitter who can play 2B (with + defense) with B speed for only 450 points? YES PLEASE. Meanwhile, both Turner and Smith are going to get drafted as sub-400 pt OB 9, HR at 18 hitters without being defensive liabilities. Chris Taylor may get drafted before either of them as a do-it-all guy -- he may be OB 8, but he's got so much play across lineups and has a good blend of speed/xbh pop on his chart. Rounding it out is AJ Pollack, who finally upped his OBP enough to get that OB 8 while still having a good amount of power too... Just wild that a 370 point, OB 8, HR at 17 guy is hitting EIGHTH in this lineup. Indeed, these eight guys alone come in at 3140 points (nearly 400 pts per hitter)!

Bench: The main highlight on the bench for me? Seeing Albert in Dodger blue! Unfortunately, that OB6, 14-20 HR card is unlikely to see play unless you're in an NL-only, 10 or 12 man league... or you're playing a low control/low on-base only league. Either way, the card itself looks great (shout out to Matt)! But it can be worse... and does with Bellinger. So sad seeing the 610 point gap between his 2019 MVP campaign and this year's card. The rest of the bench is draftable -- solid OB 9 with multiple positions for Beaty; cheap +9 C who can also be a +2 2B for Barnes; and great middle infield defense for 210 pts in Lux (who I'm hoping takes another step forward in 2022. 

Rotation: Shocking deadline acquisition Max Scherzer finished 2021 with a Pedro-like Tier 1, Control 5 with no doubles card for an ace-level 670 points. He's supported by another Tier 1 stud in Walker Buehler, bringing out the Control 6, Tier 1 card. Backing them up are a pair of Tier 2 starters, including Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw and the NL wins leader for 2021, Julio Urias. Without a doubt, I'm proclaiming these four to be the best "big 4" rotation in the set (sorry Milwaukee). 

Bullpen: The one area the Dodgers fall short of Atlanta and San Fran... but they still have three Tier 2 guys (all with no doubles) and Joe Kelly brings a Tier 1 this year! Give me 2020's big lip Tier 2 foil any day though, just for the attitude alone. I also enjoy seeing (an albeit mediocre) reliever version of David Price in Dodger blue -- he's affordable and has 2 IP, which may get him selected late in drafts. While this may not be a crazy deep bullpen, with their rotation and the lineup.... all they need is four great relievers, which is what they assembled. Again, absolutely bonkers this team didn't win the NL West/World Series.

Overall: The Dodgers roll in well over the luxury tax at 8210 points! It's a running joke on here that every year I see the Dodgers cards, and their underperformance compared to their Pythagorean W-L record (which is 109-53 in 2021), and think "if I was the manager, easily 110 wins and a world series berth." Looking at this year's squad, my self-indulgent egotism is only continuing to swell, as this team looks AMAZING!! From a showdown perspective, definitely my favorite to prevail in any "team v team" leagues and I'd be interested to see them take on fearsome past teams like 2016 Cubs, 1986 Mets, 1998 Yankees, etc.... that said, I still lean tot the 2019 Astros to take them out. Let me know if there are any players you're targeting for your drafts!